Walks in the Woods

In early December, I had the chance to travel to Maine, where I stayed with my Grampa two nights, and my aunt and uncle a third.  My Gramma passed away at the very end of November, and it rocked my family a bit, so I was glad that going up there to stay was a possibility for me.  

Walked through the woods with my Grampa.  Had long talks.  Deep talks.  Spirituality, religion, learning, politics.  He is a fascinating, experienced, and brilliant man.  I'm so blessed.  

Was able to see him in Maryland at a different aunt and uncle's house a week later, and then again after Christmas in Maine for my Gramma's memorial service.  Hopefully, I'll see him soon, but until then, we've been talking on the phone for about an hour every week, and it's an incredible blessing.

Next weekend I get to visit my other grandparents at their time share in Florida.  Very much looking forward to it.

Planning to start posting again.  It's been a few monthes of a lot of change for me, some changes negative, some the opposite but the way I am coming out of them is overwhelmingly positive.  2013 is shaping up to be incredible.  I've decided it shall be so.

I Saw the Sign

Last night, I was hanging out with some of the other actors in the show.  We were sitting in the kitchen, baking Christmas cookies and listening to holiday music, but our discussion, at one point, turned to 90's music.  And our childhoods.  Someone mentioned the song "The Sign," by Ace of Base.  It got me thinking about some of the photographs that I took in Maine, of road signs on the dirt path, and plaques on the closed-up summer homes.  

 So, the final Maine post became two, and part two commences now :)

I gotta new life
You would hardly recognize me I'm so glad
How could a person like me care for you?
(Why?)Why do I bother
When you're not the one for me
Ooooo, is enough, enough?

 I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong...
But where do you belong?

 Under the clean moon
For so many years I've wondered who you are
How could a person like you bring me joy?
Under the pale moon
Where I see a lot of stars
Ooooo Is enough, enough

 I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the si-ign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong...
But where do you belong?
Oh!Oh, oh, oh

 I saw the sign and it opened up my mind!
And I am happy now living without you
I've left you, oh-oh-OH!
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong

 Ah, Ace of Base.  How I loved you at, like, age 9.  

Oh, this post is the last of the Maine photos!  That is, until I go again.

In the meantime, expect some New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.

Because they are all definite places in my near future!

Just a reminder- please cast your vote about the future content of my etsy store. The poll is in the sidebar.  Thank you!!!

Readfield, Maine, USA

Buoys, Boats and Boots

They all start with B.

You know what else starts with the letter B?  BUY.  The word buy starts with B!  I feel like I'm an old episode of Sesame Street, but just hang with me, I swear this is relevant.  BUY.  Because soon, you will be able to buy my work!  

Yes!  The day you have been waiting for has finally arrived!  I am opening an Etsy store.

So... I originally wrote, as the content of this post, a rant about how no one reads this blog.  In it, I complained and bitched about how my friends don't pay any attention to this page, how so few of them liked it.  In this rant, I was also really upset about how I posted on my Facebook that there was a poll on this page, and only got one response.

And... I totally missed the point.  Those thousand or so friends that don't read this page aren't you.  You are reading this page.  You are one of those magical 50-80 page hits I get per day.  You are one of the people who makes my heart leap as I see my hit counter go up a number, as I watch a little target flash on the map in my sidebar.  You may be one of the 27 amazing Google followers that I have, or the 20 beautiful people who have liked this blog on Facebook.  Even if you aren't one of them, you are here.  I'm thankful for that.  I'm thankful for you.  I do write this blog for my own artistic release, to a point.  But, really, I write it for the occasional comments reminding me that I'm not terrible at my art.  The comments that tell me what I had to say was interesting, or affected someone's day positively. Those little things that take you five seconds make my world. When people leave me a comment and tell me that I've inspired them... I just want to cry tears of joy.  I did once, not going to lie.  Every little page view, poll vote, comment, like and email means the world to me.  So, thank you.  Thank you.  With all of my heart.

By the way, as I said earlier, there is a poll in the sidebar.  Please take a moment to vote and let me know what you'd be most interested to see in my shop. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.  Truly, I mean that.  Thank you!

Pictured: Daniel Garrison and Bill Buck (Two B's!  Mwahahah!)

Readfield, Maine, USA

Walking in an Autumn Wonderland

It feels kind of silly to be posting this today.

Partially, because it snowed yesterday, and partially because this post wanted to be posted yesterday.  As a matter of fact, it was posted yesterday.  I accidentally scheduled it to auto-post in the morning, and hadn't actually finished it yet.  It took me all yesterday afternoon to get my act together, and I didn't feel like putting it up in the evening... so here you go!  Finally, we can go walking in an autumn wonderland.

  Why autumn?  It should be winter wonderland, like the song... right?  Nope.  Wrong. I would like it to still be fall.  I like fall.  It's cool and crisp, but not freezing. Right now, it feels like it's freezing.  And, when it's freezing with no snow on the ground, the world just isn't that fun.  Thank goodness for all of the lovely Christmas decorations everywhere to get us through the day!  They make me so happy.

Anyways, please, enjoy some very autumnal photographs from my trip to Maine!

There actually will be one more post after this with photographs from my very woodsy trip to Maine!  I hope you don't get sick of them.  The place is just so beautiful, and I took more than 500 photographs in about two hours, so I have a lot to share!  I won't share 500, only the best ones will make it here, but I had a lot to choose from.  I was just feeling extremely inspired that day.

Actually, I've been feeling inspired a lot lately.  It's been great.  Maybe it's because I get to act and sing pretty much every day, that could certainly help.  Working and doing what I love tends to put me in an artistic mood.  I love it!

Pictured: Bill Buck and Daniel Garrison

Readfield, Maine, USA

******

Some Announcements

Okay... so... things for my readers to know! 

First off, I have a new facebook page!  You can like me.  I find that nifty.  It makes me happy every time I see that I got a new like!  (I only have 20.... but my blog really isn't popular so those 20 make me happy!!  I love you all!).  I'll be posting each new entry as it comes up, and little blurbs throughout the day.  Fun fun.  Anyways, you can click the little thing in the sidebar, and it'll take you to it.  Or, you can click HERE.

Second, I am running out of Photographer Features.   If you have any interest in photography, take a lot of pictures, or have gone neat places and taken some cool shots, I'm interested in you!  The requirements are really simple.  I've posted a link in the sidebar, but you can also find the information on the facebook event HERE.  If you know anyone besides yourself who you think might be interested, please let them know!  Once again, I'm not a high profile blog, so it's not necessarily going to springboard your career, but who knows!  It might.  Also, if you have gotten a feature before, please feel free to submit again.  You aren't limited to just one go around!

Third (wow... too many announcements!),  I am considering opening a store to sell merchandise using some of my photography.  It will probably be an etsy store.  However, before I do this... I want to make sure that it's not just going to be a money drain!  Please, let me know if you think you might buy some of my work.  As always, you can contact me by leaving a comment on any of my posts, or emailing me at travelandtoile@gmail.com.

Thanks everyone!