Beth

Romancing of Lighthouses

2011-04-05T19:05:00.001-07:00

It has been awhile since my last installment of my Lighthouse series. While I was visiting relatives in California we took a ride down the coast to see the Pacific Ocean. On our travels we came upon this gorgeous lighthouse. Pigeon Point Light Station or Pigeon Point Lighthouse was built in 1871 to guide ships on the Pacific coast of California. It is still an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. Pigeon Point Light Station is located on State Route 1, south of Pescadero, California.

Besides looking after the light and fog signal, keepers at Pigeon Point also served as tour guides several days a week for visitors who came to get a look at the lighthouse. At least one keeper found some entertainment in this distraction as evidenced by a reporter’s account of his visit to the station recorded in an 1883 edition of the San Mateo County Gazette. "Our escort was of a very talkative disposition and took great pride in dilating upon the wonders of the establishment. As we stood inside the immense lens which surrounds the lamp, he startled us by stating in impressive tones that, were he to draw the curtains from the glass, the heat would be so great that the glass would melt instantly, and that human flesh would follow suit; we begged him not to experiment just then, and he kindly refrained."

Jesse Mygrants requested a transfer from Point Arguello to a station where his daughters could attend school. The Lighthouse Service complied and assigned him to Pigeon Point in October of 1924. One of these daughters, Jessie, recalls her father helping her with homework at a small desk in the watchroom as the giant lens slowly rotated just overhead.

In December of 2001, two large sections of a brick and iron cornice located high atop the tower fell to the ground, prompting the closure of the tower and the area immediately around its base. The following year, the lighthouse was listed for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. California State Parks and Peninsula Open Space Trust filed a joint application for ownership of the lighthouse and received the National Park Service's recommendation in 2004. Two non-profits appealed the decision, but Pigeon Point Lighthouse was officially transferred to the state in May 2005. The California State Parks Foundation is currently spearheading a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign, in partnership with State Parks and the San Mateo Natural History Association, to restore and reopen the historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

This lighthouse was a surprise for me in my visit. Being from Massachusetts we have many many lighthouses but nothing as grand as this one. As all have wonderful romantic stories I’m sure this one holds many many also.

references:

lighthousefriend.com and wikipedia

Uncle Steve’s Homemade Pizza

2011-03-26T23:24:00.000-07:00

When visiting my Aunt Ellen and Uncle Steve, the one thing you can depend on is good food. Whether it is a huge Brisket meal or homemade pizza. Today we chose homemade pizza baked by Uncle Steve.

Fresh ingredients from the market today.

And the process begins.

Now comes the kneading of the dough. So glad I was watching.

Now for a little surprise.

Did you catch that…….its the surprise. Pepperoni and fresh mozzarella cheese wrapped inside the crust…….Oh I can’t wait until its done.

Add the shredded mozzarella and the pepperoni.

(said with an italian accent)

Ready for the oven on 475 degrees. My mouth is salivating. A few minutes later, DONE.

Can you see the surprise….its there in the crust. Let me tell you, it was scrumptious.

Lets not forget the delicious salad my Aunt Ellen made….tasty orange flavored virgin oil and lemon vinegar with baked beets too. Very different and very tasty.

Traveling across the country to visit family is awesome, and the food that comes with this visit is even better. Thanks Auntie Ellen and Uncle Steve for making me feel at home and for feeding me all these wonderful foods. I’ll be back in a hurry.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-21T04:08:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-30T06:08:00.001-08:00

I'm speechless

Still Celebrating 3rd Prize

2009-09-21T09:31:00.001-07:00

The Art show was this weekend and there was my photo with the third place ribbon.

When I photograph and someone compliments my work I sort of brush it off.......not actually believing it. I'm sure all artists are like this....this gives me some nice recognition and a quick thought that maybe some people do like my work.

Yellows my favorite color this month.

This was posted along with my photograph. All the artwork that was in this show was beautiful. I was so happy to have one hanging amongst the others.

3rd Place

2009-09-17T06:39:00.001-07:00

Sometimes 3rd place is awesome.

I usually like to blog about others but today its all about me. I just received a phone call letting me know that I won 3rd prize in a local Artsfest. I was shocked and elated at the same time. I've entered my work for the last two years just hoping to sell some pieces but never won anything. Now my photograph will be hanging at the Art Show with a big fat ribbon on it.

Here's the photograph.

This was taken on the Jetty on Martha's Vineyard. The little boy is my nephew who happened to be doing a little jig on the rocks. I didn't notice the sailboat in the background until I looked at the photo on the computer.

Of course my parents thought it should have been first place, but 3rd place is fine with me.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-24T04:21:00.001-07:00

Romancing of Lighthouses

2009-05-27T19:44:00.001-07:00

In my continuation of writing about lighthouses my next installment is one that I love. When I lived on Cape Cod back in the early 1980’s I would see this lighthouse daily and when I went out boating would pass it on our trips.

Channel Point Lighthouse is a Faux Light, a replica of Brant Point Light.
Apparently, a local resident decided a Lighthouse was needed to mark Channel Point near the edge of the shipping channel entering the Inner Harbor of Hyannis. According to a Hyannis Tourist Information Guide, the Lighthouse was established as a private aid to navigation and is not a official Light recognized by the United States Coast Guard.
Since the Lighthouse is not a official navigational aid, the “Bug” Light has also been called the Lewis Bay Lighthouse and the Hyannis Inner Harbor Light. Lighthouses were named for the geographic location they marked as a general rule. Therefore, Channel Point Lighthouse best describes the location to warn mariners away from.
Unfortunately, there is no information to whether Channel Point Light is actually used by navigation entering the inner harbor, yet when we visited the harbor, the Light was Flashing Green to mark the point after sunset which supports the Hyannis Tourist Information Guide assertions. Regardless of whether mariners are guided by Lighthouse or not, the Inner Harbor is a crowded harbor of refuge with Ferries, commercial fishing vessels, and 180-plus pleasure crafts moored at the Hyannis Marina.

When I was photographing this lighthouse from all angles I realized how different it looked. Tell me what you think.

From these angles it looks congested with city life.

The angles below are my favorite. More solitude.

For me each photograph takes on its own story and they look like different lighthouses. So depending on where I was standing, this lighthouse had many lives.

Wordless Wednesday.

2009-04-08T04:11:00.001-07:00

Aren't you glad winters over!!!!!!!!

The Birds are!

The Joy of a Grandchild

2009-04-01T19:27:00.001-07:00

To those that really really know me well, they know that babies aren't my thing. Not only babies but any type of little one. The farther I am the better. But since having a grandchild I am finding my soft side......softer than when I had my own kids.

Here's a list of the best part of having grandchildren.

1. When they poop, I don't have to diaper them, just kiss them.

2. When they cry I can hand them to their parents and just kiss them.

3. When they are hungry, you guessed it, I hand them to their parents and kiss them.

4. When they visit, I just kiss and hug them and then they go home.

How absolutely fabulous is this. I can love and kiss and squeeze all I want and then home to my nice quiet home. Got to love grand kids.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-18T03:15:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-11T04:27:00.001-07:00

The Romancing of Lighthouses

2009-03-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

My next installment of lighthouses is one that is in Beverly Massachusetts which is on the Northshore. I found this lighthouse very interesting because instead of being round it was square.

Hospital Point, in Beverly on Boston's North Shore, derives its name from a smallpox hospital built there in 1801. The hospital, used as a barracks in the War of 1812, burned down in 1849. It's believed a watch house was previously located there as early as 1711. The area was the site of an earthwork fort that saw action in the fall of 1775 when the British ship Nautilus fired on the town. Cannons at the point and at Fort Lee in Salem were fired at the Nautilus, which ran aground as the tide fell. The vessel escaped when the tide rose again.

Besides its importance as an aid to navigation, Hospital Point became known as a sort of lovers' lane. One local newspaper reported in the early 1900s that "Many a Beverly maid's heart was lost and found on the rocks beneath the faithful light.

On May 1, 1927, the lighthouse officially became the Hospital Point Range Front Light. A rear range light, created by adapting discarded lightship equipment, was installed in the steeple of Beverly's First Baptist Church, a mile away.

The light, seen through a window in the steeple, is 127 feet above mean high water. The additional light was lined up by incoming mariners with the front range light, as an added guide to Salem Harbor.

The steeple was the only part of the church to survive a disastrous fire in 1975.

Don Decker, a former Coast Guardsman who serviced several lighthouses in the area, says that his least favorite light to service was the Hospital Point Rear Range Light in the church steeple. The steeple was a favorite nesting site for pigeons, making it a very unpleasant place to visit, says Decker.

Arthur Small, whose wife was killed at New Bedford's Palmer's Island Light in the hurricane of September 1938, became keeper in 1939 after he had recovered from his own injuries. During World War II, Keeper Small maintained a shore patrol in the area and had to check the lights at Derby Wharf and Fort Pickering in addition to Hospital Point. The keeper's house was enlarged during the war to provide barracks for 20 men.

The lighthouse was automated in 1947, and since then this tidy lighthouse station has been home to the commander of the First Coast Guard District and his or her family

Admiral William B. Ellis and his wife Dorcas lived at the lighthouse for a time in the 1960s. Mrs. Ellis told the Boston Traveler:

One night the beacon went out, and I felt as though I should put a lantern in the tower, as they did in the old days. But a repair team from the Salem station came over and repaired it immediately.

While the lighthouse is easy to drive to, the grounds are not open to the public, with the exception of one day early in August each year, when an open house is held as part of the week-long Beverly Homecoming celebration.

Thanks to New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide where I got all this information. http://www.lighthouse.cc/
Lots more information is available in Jeremy D'Entremont book, "The Lighthouses of Massachusetts."

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-25T04:24:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-11T07:53:00.001-08:00

I do want to shout and scream, but I won't

Baby Jace

I've been Shmapped

2009-02-07T03:45:00.001-08:00

I am delighted that one of my photos has been selected for inclusion in the newly released sixth edition of Schmap Boston Guide: The photo is from my flickr page and it so exciting.

My photo is listed under the financial district. How exciting.

Click on the little picture above and go to the financial district, click arrow until you see my photo. My name is there for a credit. yahooooooooo.

Winner Announcement

2009-02-06T04:22:00.001-08:00

We had several winners and I needed to use the "Rodometer" and he pulled out AltheaP (Janine) Congratulations and you have won my Love written in the sand flat Magnet.

Here is the full size photo.

I want to thank everyone who entered and left comments. Once again you all have left me hysterical. I was hoping this was a cupcake.

February Contest !!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-04T02:51:00.001-08:00

Another Contest, yeaaaaa. I love them. Being a photographer of course my contest is related to photography as always. I have posted a photograph of part of an item. I will let you ponder over the object below and leave comments on what you think it is.
After 2 days, if nobody has guessed it, I will post another photo of the same object only a bigger area. Again you can leave comments and ponder over that one.
Then on Saturday, February 7th I will reveal the complete photograph and hopefully the winner. In case of a tie, I will use the Rodometer*..........that is my Boyfriend who will pick the winner out of a bucket very fair and square.
Here is the first photo.

Winner will receive on of my magnets.

Thanks for entering.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-21T04:04:00.001-08:00

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-01-07T04:07:00.001-08:00

Baby, its cold outside!!

Gay Head Light (Aquinnah Light)

2009-01-03T06:31:00.001-08:00

This is another installment of the Romancing of Lighthouses. This lighthouse is very close to my heart because I've been visiting it every year since I was a child. Martha's Vineyard is one of my favorite places. These photographs of the lighthouse and the cliff were all taken by me.

The handsome Gay Head Lighthouse stands in one of the most picturesque locations in New England, atop the 130-foot multicolored clay cliffs at the western shore of Martha's Vineyard.

Massachusetts State Senator Peleg Coffin of Nantucket requested a lighthouse at Gay Head in 1796 because of the heavy maritime traffic passing through Vineyard Sound. The passage between the Gay Head cliffs and the Elizabeth Islands was treacherous because of the long underwater obstruction called Devil's Bridge that extends out from Gay Head.

Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton asked for, and received, $5,750 from Congress for the lighthouse. A 47-foot (57 feet to the top of the lantern), octagonal wooden lighthouse was erected on a stone base, along with a wood-frame keeper's house, barn, and oil vault. The light went into service on November 18, 1799. The initial keeper, Ebenezer Skiff, was the first white man to live in the town of Gay Head, which was populated by Wampanoag Indians.

Skiff complained that the cellar of the keeper's house was flooded much of the time, and that clay collecting on the glass made it difficult to keep the lighthouse's lantern clear. Also, to help tend the light while he was on various errands, the keeper sometimes had to hire local Indians for a dollar a day. For his troubles, President Thomas Jefferson awarded Skiff a raise in 1802, from $200 to $250 per year.

Skiff remained at Gay Head for 29 years. He served for a while as a teacher for local children, mostly Gay Head Indians. In 1829, his son, Ellis Skiff, became keeper at $350 per year, a higher salary than most keepers received at the time.

In spite of the powerful light, shipwrecks happened with regularity in the vicinity.The worst of them happened in the early morning of January 19, 1884, when the passenger steamer City of Columbus ran aground on Devil's Bridge, a treacherous ledge reaching out from the Gay Head Cliffs.

Twenty minutes later, 100 persons on board had drowned. Some managed to hold onto the rigging long enough for lighthouse keeper Horatio N. Pease to arrive with a crew of Gay Head Indians in a lifeboat.

A number of people were saved by this crew and by the crew of the Revenue Cutter Dexter, which soon arrived on the scene. The wreck of the City of Columbus remains one of New England's worst marine disasters.

William Atchison became keeper in 1890, but had to resign due to a mysterious illness a year later. His replacement, Edward Lowe, died at 44 only a year after becoming keeper. A few years later, four children of Keeper Crocker Crosby died within 15 months.

Belatedly, it was decided that the cause of all these illnesses was the extreme dampness of the keeper's house. The 1856 brick keeper's house was torn down and replaced by a wooden house in 1902. The new house was built on a much higher foundation so it would remain dry.

Charles Vanderhoop (at right, U.S. Coast Guard photo), an Aquinnah Wampanoag Indian, became one of the light's most popular keepers.

According to historian Edward Rowe Snow, Vanderhoop and his assistant, Max Attaquin, probably took one-third of a million visitors to the top of Gay Head Light between 1910 and 1933.

The wives of Vanderhoop and Attaquin each had two children during their years at the lighthouse.

Bill Grieder's father Frank was keeper from 1937 to 1948. In an interview in 2000, Grieder remembered keeping busy at the light station:

There was always some work for me. I used to polish brass. I learned to light the lighthouse, and I taught my mother to do it. There were times when my Dad was sick -- my Mum would go up to light the light or I would go up. Of course we had an assistant keeper, but if you couldn't call on him you did it yourself.

I went up to help whitewash or paint the tower, and mow the lawn of course. Lug the kerosene up in the tower. Polish the lens. It had to be cleaned and dusted all the time. We had a dust cover over that. In the wintertime we used to put glycerin on the outside of the [lantern] glass, so if you got rain it wouldn't ice up.

Another job I used to do was to take people up in the tower. My Mum used to do it too. We didn't have to do it but it was kind of a courtesy. Mostly anybody who stopped in we'd take up.

Joseph Hindley succeeded Arthur Bettencourt and would be the last keeper at Gay Head, leaving when the light was fully automated in 1956. The dwelling was razed after automation.

The best views of the lighthouse and cliffs are from a scenic lookout near the small strip of shops and restaurants at Gay Head.

The cliffs are closed to the public because of erosion concerns, but the lighthouse is opened by the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from one hour before sunset to a half hour after sunset, from the summer solstice to the fall equinox.

Keepers: Ebenezer Skiff (1799-1828); Ellis Skiff (1828-1845); Samuel Flanders (1845-1849 and 1853-1861); Henry Robinson (1849-1853); Ichabod Norton Luce (1861-1864); Calvin C. Adams (1864-1869); Horatio N. T. Pease (assistant 1863-1869, principal keeper 1869-1890); Frederick Poole (assistant, c. 1884); Calvin M. Adams (assistant c. 1872-?); Frederick H. Lambert (assistant, c. 1870s); Edward P. Lowe (1891-1892); Crosby L. Crocker (1892-1920); Charles W. Vanderhoop (1920-1933); James E. Dolby (1933-1937); Frank A. Grieder (1937-1948); Sam Fuller (assistant, c. 1940s); Arthur Bettencourt (1948-?); Joseph Hindley (?-1956)

NEW YEARS EVE 2008 STORM

2008-12-31T11:38:00.001-08:00

I thought this was going to be a wordless Wednesday but since we are having a huge New Years Eve storm, I wanted to show a few of my photographs from my ride home from work. This is where I work at Harrington Brothers, or as I like to call it, Harrington Sisters.

As you can see our cars are full of snow and this started about 10am and this was at 1pm. Below is the ride home.

Below is coming down my street. The first photograph you can't even see the car in front of me.

Well its 2:30pm on New Years Eve day and its still coming down strong. As I look out my window there's a white out. The weather report says it should stop about 6pm tonight..........Hopefully my guests will be able to make it over to my home so we can celebrate the new year together and I hope everyone has a safe and healthy New year.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-31T06:24:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to all my Friends and Family

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-24T05:09:00.001-08:00

Mysteries of Lighthouses part 2

2008-12-15T10:00:00.001-08:00

The romancing of lighthouse is continuing as promised. I'm am truly enjoying this series because when I photograph these lighthouses, sometimes I just stare at them and fantasize about living there years and years ago.

My next lighthouse is Nobska Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse is located in Falmouth Mass. I was absolutely shocked when I looked up this lighthouse address as I have passed by this street for the last 20 years of my life never knowing there was a lighthouse off the street.

Woods Hole, with its deep harbor, developed a substantial whaling fleet in the early years of the nineteenth century. Besides the local maritime traffic, Nobska Point was passed by a stream of vessels crossing through Vineyard Sound, bordered by Falmouth and the Elizabeth Islands to the north, and Martha's Vineyard to the south. In 1829, the year the lighthouse was established, it was reported that more than 10,000 vessels passed through the area.

Through much of the nineteenth century, the keepers had to count the vessels that passed the light. On one day alone in 1864, Keeper Frederick Ray counted 188 vessels -- including 175 schooners -- passing the point.

Oliver A. Nickerson had the longest stay of any keeper in the station's history, from 1874 to 1911. A 1908 article described the duties of the keeper's daughter, Florence Nickerson. For the previous seven years, she had been the official "observer" at Nobska, keeping track of all the vessels passing by in daylight hours. "She is shrewd and kindly," said the article, "one of those Yankee girls who fear nothing and take life cheerfully." Besides her observational duties, Florence kept house at the station and tended a flock of chickens.

In August 1935, Keeper John M. Scharff and Assistant Keeper Waldo Leighton rescued a man who had fallen overboard from his sailboat in a squall.

The Coast Guard took over the management of lighthouses in 1939, but civilian keepers remained at Nobska Point Light until November 1973.

Osborne Hallett was in charge from 1955 to 1968, and Joseph Hindley was his assistant. Hindley took over as keeper in 1968. When he retired in 1973, Hindley was believed to be the last civilian lighthouse keeper in New England. His career in the Lighthouse Service dated back to 1927, when he was an assistant at Whale Rock Light in Rhode Island.

The light was automated and the Coast Guard keepers were removed in 1985. The last officer in charge was Charles Tebo, who lived at the lighthouse with his wife, Gina, and their two young children. After automation, the station became the home for the commander of U.S. Coast Guard Group Woods Hole, which was renamed in 2006 as Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England.

The lighthouse has been "adopted" by the members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-02, and there are occasional public open houses in season.

Keepers: Peter Daggett (?-1849); William Davis (1849-1853); William Ferguson Jr. (1853-1861); Frederick Ray (1861-1874); Oliver A. Nickerson (1874-1911); George I. Cameron (assistant 1910-1911, principal keeper 1911-?); John M. Scharff (1925-1955); Waldo Leighton, assistant (c. 1935); George T. Gustavus (assistant 1911-?, prinicpal keeper1939-1941); Joseph G. Hindley, Jr. (assistant, c. 1956-1968, keeper 1968-1972); Osborne E. Hallett (1955-1968)

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-03T04:00:00.001-08:00

The Mystery of Lighthouses

2008-11-30T03:52:00.001-08:00

I've been photography lighthouses lately. They possess a kind of mystery and romance to them. I've always been mystified about them and always wanted to live in one or go inside them. What kind of people live in them. Each lighthouse has a story and I will be writing about all the lighthouses that I come across.

I first got interested in lighthouses when I went on a Whale Watch in Plymouth, MA. There was this lighthouse in the middle of the harbor.

This lighthouse is Duxbury Pier Light nicknamed "Bug Light". I thought this name was adorable.

Frank A. Grieder, a Maine native, became keeper in 1930. The Grieders brought their belongings from Maine to Plymouth in a Model A Ford, and the keeper's wife and children took up residence in the Rocky Nook section of the city. In an interview in 2000, Grieder's son, Bill, remembered his father's days as keeper of "The Bug."

The thing that I used to get a big kick out of was when it came in foggy. We had a huge brass bell up on the tower, and it worked like clockwork. You'd wind it up, and it had a big hammer. You'd wind and wind and all of a sudden it'd go "whammo!" and the whole tower would shake. You'd lie there at night and wonder, "How am I going to sleep?" And next thing you know you'd gotten used to it. And when the fog cleared and they shut the bell off, you woke up.
At low tide you could walk around there and pick up lobsters and sea clams. Of course if you were out on the flats you always kept your eye on the tide because it came up quite quickly.

Fred Bohm, later at Deer Island Light in Boston Harbor, was keeper in the late 1930s into the 1940s. The historian Edward Rowe Snow claimed that Bohm rescued 90 people from drowning in a single year, including 36 Girl Scouts.

One windy night Bohm heard a scream for help. He rushed out to see a woman swimming toward the lighthouse from her capsized boat. Not able to row to her in time, Bohm dove into the water and swam to the woman, who was unconscious by the time he reached her. Bohm brought the woman back to the lighthouse where she gradually came to. In her struggle to stay afloat she had lost her bathing suit.

As she regained consciousness, the woman's first words were, "Where are my clothes?" Keeper Bohm answered, "I don't know, but you're lucky to be alive." Later that night the woman was safely ashore with borrowed clothes.

In December 1942, Bohm and a companion were heading for the mainland to pick up provisions, but nearly drowned when their boat began to leak. A lobsterman rescued the pair, but the keeper lost two fingers from frostbite.

Coast Guardsman Harry Salter was keeper at "The Bug" in 1944. He has written a booklet about his time at "The Bug," called simply Bug Light. Salter was at Duxbury Pier Light when the hurricane of September 1944 hit, battering the isolated station with 30-foot waves. He described the scene:

The gigantic waves were hammering this stout little light station unmercifully. It shook so bad we had trouble keeping the oil lamps lit... The heavy seas on the east side were striking against the light, then crashing up under the catwalk and tearing away at our boat that we had previously lashed high on the davits.

Salter went out on the deck in an effort to secure the boat. A wave opened the trap door near him and Salter fell through. Fortunately another wave drove Salter against the ladder, and he was able to climb to safety. Salter gave up on saving the boat and watched the hurricane from inside the tower for the next few hours. He and the other keepers surveyed the damage later and found that the boat, the fog bell mechanism, and the outhouse were all gone.

The lighthouse was automated in 1964 and the keepers were removed. A modern optic replaced the Fresnel lens. Over the next two decades Duxbury Pier Light fell victim to much vandalism and seabirds made themselves a home in the interior.

In 1983, the lighthouse was slated by the Coast Guard to be replaced by a fiberglass tower much like the one that had replaced Boston Harbor's old Deer Island Lighthouse. The Coast Guard had estimated that a renovation of the current structure would have cost $250,000. A group of concerned local residents formed Project Bug Light.

Aided by Congressman Gerry Studds, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and State Senator Edward P. Kirby, the group convinced the Coast Guard to alter their plans. A five-year lease was granted to the preservation committee. The Coast Guard sandblasted and painted the structure and did some repair work in 1983; the work was completed in 1985. The Coast Guard spent $100,000 to refurbish the lower half of the lighthouse. Project Bug Light raised $20,000 from local businesses, as well as sales of T-shirts and bumper stickers, a fashion show, baseball games, and raffling a painting. They used this money to restore the upper parts and the interior, including the rebuilding of the roof and the catwalk. At the same time solar power replaced the older battery system. The fog signal was also converted to solar power.

In the late 1980s vandals broke into the lantern room, leaving it susceptible to leaks. The weather deteriorated the wood interior so much that all the wood had to be removed, leaving bare iron walls.

After a few years Project Bug Light virtually dissolved as an organization, and the five-year lease expired. In 1993 the Coast Guard again talked of replacing the lighthouse with a fiberglass pole, or at least removing the lantern room. This time Dr. Don Muirhead of Duxbury, an avid sailor, spearheaded a new preservation effort. The Coast Guard again refurbished the lighthouse in 1996.

Project Bug Light is now responsible for the care of Plymouth ("Gurnet") Light as well, and they have changed the name of the organization to match the mission. Founder Don Muirhead died in 2000, but the volunteers of Project Gurnet & Bug Lights, Inc. continue to do maintenance at the light and to raise funds toward the continued preservation of "The Bug."

In the fall of 2001 Project Gurnet & Bug Lights, Inc. hired the Campbell Construction Group of Beverly, Massachusetts for another major renovation of the lighthouse.

Joints in the caisson were repaired by caulking and welding, and over 1,200 pounds of rust was removed from the lighthouse. All the paint was removed inside and out, and three new coats of paint were added. In addition, several inches of guano were removed.

Duxbury Pier Light remains an active aid to navigation. While it can be seen distantly from the Plymouth waterfront, it is best viewed from the harbor cruises and whale watches out of Plymouth.

Keepers: William Atwood (1871-1878); John A. Richmond Jr. (assistant 1872-1873); Oscar Marsh (assistant 1873-1874); S. J. Atwood (wife of William) (assistant 1874-1878); George Manter (1878-1881); Milton Reamy (assistant 1878-1881); Benjamin B. Manter (1881-1884); Henry H. Sampson (assistant 1881-1882); Edward L. Gorham (1884-1887); Amasa S. Dyer (1887-1888); James H. Bagnall (1888-1891); Michael J. Curran (1891-1892); Edwin F. King Jr. (1892-1895); George A. Jamieson (1895-1897); Mills Gunderson (1897-1902); Joseph F. Woods (1902-1903); Willis Higgins (1903-1904); George E. Kezer (1904-1909); George E. Howard (1909-1910); Fred C. Brown (1910-?); Frank Allen Davis (?-1920); Frank A. Grieder (1930-1934); Fred Bohm (c. 1930s); Homer Hathaway (1942-1943); Harry Salter (Coast Guard, c. 1944); ? Jovie (Coast Guard, c. 1943); Ellis Woods (Coast Guard, c. 1943)

Thanks to New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide where I got all this information. http://www.lighthouse.cc/ Lots more information is available in Jeremy D'Entremont book, "The Lighthouses of Massachusetts."

Boomers and Beyond Team Sale

2008-11-13T12:58:00.001-08:00

Shopping from your keyboard
Here's a special opportunity for all of you online shoppers who want to save gas and shop from your keyboard instead. Check out It's a Wonderful Sale this holiday season when you shop the BBEST Limited Time Sale and find handmade and vintage treasures for everyone on your list, quickly, easily, and at remarkable values. So pull up a chair, get comfy and find the joy that the BBEST (Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team) has to offer! BBEST artists are talented individuals who sell their products in the homemade goods marketplace known as Etsy.com.Here's how this special event works. First, if you have not yet registered as an Etsy visitor, go to http://www.etsy.com/, and click on Register. Now you're ready to begin!Check out the BBEST HoLiDaY HuNt for registered Etsy buyers. THREE WONDERFUL PRIZE PACKAGES will be given away.These BBEST Team members have generously donated the fabulous holiday gift item collections seen in the above photo.

Kathy's Krafty Kreations, http://kathyskraftykreation.etsy.com/
Beth Peardon Prods, http://bethpeardonprods.etsy.com/
ZudaGay, http://zudagay.etsy.com/
Yankeegirl’s Watercolors, http://yankeegirl.etsy.com/
Firefly Glass Design, http://fireflyglassdesign.etsy.com/
Sixsisters, http://sixsisters.etsy.com/
Sassa Lynne at Etsy, http://sassalynne.etsy.com/
Van Fleet Street Design, http://vanfleetstreetdesign.etsy.com/
joonbeam, http://joonbeam.etsy.com/
GinaBEE Supply http://ginabeesupply.etsy.com/
Precious Quilts http://preciousquilts.etsy.com/
Onawhimsey http://onawhimsey.etsy.com/
Chauncey Design, http://chauncey.etsy.com/
artmixter, http://artmixter.etsy.com/
JN Originals, http://jnoriginals.etsy.com/
Lemachi Designs, http://lemachidesigns.etsy.com/
Hemlock Hollow Creations, http://hemlockhollow.etsy.com/
Ghi-Goo-ie Designs by Joni Stinson, http://jstinson.etsy.com/
Talking Dog, http://talkingdog.etsy.com/
Anna’s Jewelry, http://annasjewelry.etsy.com/
Rosegardenfae, http://rosegardenfae.etsy.com/
Night Sky Jewelry, http://nightskyjewelry.etsy.com/
The Button Hole, http://buttonhole.etsy.com/
Kittyd, http://kittyd.etsy.com/

TWO ways to enter. NO PURCHASE REQUIRED.

RULES:Play this way . . . Holiday Hide & Seek:Simply hunt through the shops below and look for the BBEST avatar seen to the right. It is randomly placed in one listing item photo slot in some of our shops.Find the avatar. Copy the listing ID of each item. When you've found 10, convo (contact) the BBEST shop with that list, AND come to the sale discussion on Etsy (click on link to get there) and post that you've done so. Do not reveal any hidden avatar locations to any eligible players. Your name will be entered into our random prize drawing! Limit: one entry per Etsian.EXEMPT from this method of entry are those team members who have a hidden avatar in their shops. EXEMPT from both methods of entry are joonbeam, chauncey and sixsisters, who are the team leaders and organizers of this sale and game.Play this way . . . Support Handmade.Save money. For every $1 you spend in our participating shops, listed below, your name will be entered into the random prize drawing. All three prize packages will be given away.

You must enter BBEST in the notes to seller upon checkout.
Only complete dollar amounts (i.e., $7.65 = 7 entries) from each shop count. No amounts less than $1 will be combined between or among multiple shop purchases.
The final sale price dollar amounts coincide with your entries. In other words, regardless of when the discounted price is finalized, the discounted total dollars determine the number of entries. (For example, some sale transactions are handled via convo / reserved listing with the sale price, others purchase and get a revised invoice.) If a shop has a mix of sale (reduced price) items and non sale items, all purchases do count toward your dollar amounts.
Excludes shipping/handling costs. Item costs only.
Only purchase dollars from transactions with the shops in this list and made between 12:01 a.m. Etsy Time, November 12, 2008 and 11:59 p.m. Etsy time, November 17, 2008 qualify.Winners will be announced on our team blog: http://boomersandbeyond.blogspot.com/ on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at NOON Etsy Time. You must come by and look for the winner's Etsy ID names listed there. Winners have 3 (three) days to convo (contact) the teambbest shop with their mailing address, or they will forfeit their prize and subsequent names will be drawn.You can play either or both ways. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.Each shop owner has their own sale style and terms, which you will find in their shop announcement.We are all convo friendly. Do not hesitate to contact us with your questions or requests!

Thank you for shopping with us and HaPpY HoLiDaYs!Participating BBEST Team Shops for It's A Wonderful Sale 2008:

ART:
Yankeegirl’s Watercolors, http://yankeegirl.etsy.com/
On A Whimsey, http://onawhimsey.etsy.com/
Purelypainting, http://purelypainting.etsy.com/
Sixsisters, http://sixsisters.etsy.com/
Van Fleet Street Design, http://vanfleetstreetdesign.etsy.com/
Fairy Frond, http://fairyfrond.etsy.com/
Althea Peregrine, http://altheap.etsy.com/
Jean Levert Hood, http://jeanhood.etsy.com/
Lemachi Gallery http://lemachigallery.etsy.com/
Heron Kate, http://heronkate.etsy.com/
Artmixter, http://artmixter.etsy.com/

CRAFT SUPPLIES & CREATIONS:
Circle In The Sand, http://circleinthesand.etsy.com/
GinaBEE Supply http://ginabeesupply.etsy.com/
The Button Hole, http://buttonhole.etsy.com/
Lemachi Designs, http://lemachidesigns.etsy.com/

FABRIC & YARN ARTS:
The Knotty Sheep, http://theknottysheep.etsy.com/
Sassa Lynne at Etsy, http://sassalynne.etsy.com/
Precious Quilts http://preciousquilts.etsy.com/
Asianexpressions, http://asianexpressions.etsy.com/
Whimseys, http://whimseys.etsy.com/

GLASS:
Firefly Glass Design, http://fireflyglassdesign.etsy.com/
Chris1 http://chris1.etsy.com/
Nonnie’s Treasures, http://nonnie60.etsy.com/
Chauncey Design, http://chauncey.etsy.com/

HOME DECOR ART:
Jill’s Treasure Chest, http://jillstreasurechest.etsy.com/
joonbeam, http://joonbeam.etsy.com/
Glitz n Glass, http://glitznglass.etsy.com/
Lord’s Living World, http://lordslivingworld.etsy.com/
The Wild Hare, http://thewildhare.etsy.com/
Talking Dog Productions, http://talkingdog.etsy.com/
The Good Old Days, http://goodolddays.etsy.com/

JEWELRY:
Sending Love Gallery, http://sendinglovegallery.etsy.com/
Kathy's Krafty Kreations, http://kathyskraftykreation.etsy.com/
Magdalene Jewels, http://magdalenejewels.etsy.com/
Night Sky Jewelry, http://nightskyjewelry.etsy.com/
Hemlock Hollow Creations, http://hemlockhollow.etsy.com/
The Filigree Garden, http://thefiligreegarden.etsy.com/
Rosegardenfae, http://rosegardenfae.etsy.com/
Kittyd, http://kittyd.etsy.com/
Ghi-Goo-ie Designs by Joni Stinson, http://jstinson.etsy.com/
maryeb jewelry designs, http://maryeb.etsy.com/
Anna’s Jewelry, http://annasjewelry.etsy.com/
Wrist Wrap Works, http://wristwrapworks.etsy.com/

PHOTOGRAPHY:
Beth Peardon Prods, http://bethpeardonprods.etsy.com/

POLYMER CLAY ART:
ZudaGay, http://zudagay.etsy.com/

My Baby's Grown up

2008-11-05T17:32:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I find blogging very difficult and very hard to come up with subjects but I can never get enough of my family. I talk a lot about my daughter but not much about my son. He's my first born, January 24, 1981. There isn't one day that I never saw him without a smile. OK when I had to diaper him, he'd fuss and cry because I was keeping him from playing, but mostly he was the happiest and funniest child. I know all moms think their children are far advanced than others, but he was truly an over achiever when it came to physical achievements.

He was born in January and was walking perfectly by November. His father bought him a 2 wheeler bike with training wheels when he was 4 and by the end of the day his training wheels were off. He surely had a need for speed. He had me running ragged trying to keep up with him.

By the time he could walk we put him in ice skates which he loved. He's been playing hockey most of his life and decided he wanted to be a goalie, which horrified me, but he was so good and natural in the position. He played youth hockey through high school.

He was an avid water skier also and played any sport he could.

My son has seen many challenges in his life. He was in a horrific car accident which he broke his neck and was lucky to be alive and to be walking. He was in a halo brace for 6 months. One year later he decided to take a ride on a motorcycle and crashed it and broke his back. Another 6 months in a brace. Well he decided to slow his life down a bit after that which was music to my ears. After getting over these physical and mental challenges he's had through his years, he has turned into the most caring and beautiful person. He's chosen a wife who happens to be the most wonderful person and has a stepson whom he loves dearly.

He will be 28 soon and I'm so proud of all his accomplishments and all his challenges that he's conquered my heart is swelled with happiness. They are expecting their first son in February which will bring more joy to this boy who has become a tremendous man. Love you David.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2008-10-29T03:52:00.001-07:00

Out With the Old, in With the New

2008-10-21T08:22:00.001-07:00

The changing of seasons is always a shedding of the skin for me. Mostly with Spring and Fall, those are the two seasons that really make changes in what I see in the world. As most of you know my photography is based on nature as I'm inspired by it daily and seeing all the changes in the seasons is a photographers paradise.

Anticipating Spring is always almost heart wrenching for me. The end of one season to the next especially winter into spring is a religious experience for me. When life comes into bloom and the flowers start popping. The air is getting warmer and the birds start chirping.......just like a rebirth.

Now that Summer is leaving and Autumn is coming I'm starting to feel sad that the warm air is moving out and all the flowers are leaving. The trees speak to us with all their glorious colors reminding us that soon they will be shedding their leaves and await a whole winter season and then come back to life in the spring. The colors of the trees that surround me remind me what a miraculous world we live in. Below are some of the brilliant colors I'm come across......from autumn wildflowers to glorious trees.

ContestContestContest

2008-09-10T17:27:00.001-07:00

Announcing the winner of my Contest

~~~~Suz from Whimseys~~~~

Congrats and a surprise magnet is on your way.

Here is the complete photograph

Thanks all for playing I hope you had fun.

As promised today is Friday and here's more of my photograph. Thanks to all that have guessed. Hope your having fun.

One thing you all know about me, is I love contests. So here is another one. Being a photographer of course my contest is related to photography as always. I have posted a photograph of part of an item. I will let you ponder over the object below and leave comments on what you think it is.
After 2 days, if nobody has guessed it, I will post another photo of the same object only a bigger area. Again you can leave comments and ponder over that one.
Then on Sunday, September 14th I will reveal the complete photograph and hopefully the winner. In case of a tie, I will use the Rodometer*..........that is my Boyfriend who will pick the winner out of a bucket very fair and square.
Here is the first photo.

So HAVE FUN and keep guessing, I love reading all your funny comments.

**Rodometer is my boyfriend who will pick the winner out of a bucket very fair and square.

Butterflies Are Free

2008-07-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

What is it about a butterfly that captures your vision.....makes you stop in your tracks and just look at them....It is their grace and beauty....I've learned quite a bit about butterflies today. I visited the Museum of Science in Boston and went into the butterfly gardens. When you walk in the butterflies are just everywhere, landing on your head and your hands. What beauty they possess in their wings and on their bodies. The funny part about the butterfly is their life span is so short. Once out of the larva state, its only one week or so. How sad that their beauty isn't around longer than that. Here are my photographs of some of these beautiful butterflies.

So next time you see a butterfly, take in all its spectacular beauty because it will be gone before you know it.

CONTEST #2

2008-05-04T11:07:00.001-07:00

Alot of you guessed the correct answer and I had to use the Rodometer. THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST IS DAYNA FROM Scottie Acres She will be receiving a surprise magnet. Congrats Dayna. Here is the full size photo. Hope you all had fun and thanks for entering.

As promised on Tuesday I am posting another photo that will reveal a little bit more of the item. Please leave a comment with your guess. I will leave this up until May 15th and will then post the winner. In case of a tie, I will use the Rodometer*.

One thing you might not know about me, is I love contests. So I decided to do another one. Being a photographer of course my contest is related to photography. I have posted a photograph of part of an item, quite a small part of an object. I will let you ponder over the object below and leave comments on what you think it is.

After 2 days, if nobody has guessed it, I will post another photo of the same object only a bigger area. Again you can leave comments and ponder over that one.

Then on Weds, May 14th I will reveal the complete photograph and hopefully the winner. I will be away but will be checking my blog and if you are having a very hard time, I will leave hints along the way. In case of a tie, I will use the Rodometer*..........that is my Boyfriend who will pick the winner out of a bucket very fair and square.

Here is the first photo.

The WINNER of the contest will win a beautiful 2" square glass magnet with one of my prints. Will be a surprise.!!!!!!! I'm sure you love surprises.......have fun.

**Rodometer is my boyfriend who will pick the winner out of a bucket very fair and square.

Feature Artist Katz's Kreations

2008-04-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

It only seemed natural to have a blog feature on a family member. My sister Nancy is Katz's Kreations......that is Katz like in Gates, not Cats. First I'll give you a little history about Nancy. Even as a young child she was very talented in many different fields. Growing up she was a ballet dancer and also excelled in Gymnastics and competed regionally through her high school and also through a private gym. Also in her high school years she was a half time dancer and participated in all the high school musicals. She especially loved her drama classes and started to think about Choreography. By the time of her senior year she was co-choreographer for the high school musical "Mame". During her college years she was a Baystate Bombadier Cheerleader. Baystate Bombadiers were a farm team for the Boston Celtics. Her love for the stage continued through college when she got her first starring role as Sandy in "Grease". After college Nancy took a break from her theatre to raise her beautiful Daughter but never left her heart. She started performing in local community theatres beginning with her role as Grace Farrell in "Annie". She was also in the cast of "A Christmas Carol" for 3 years in the late 90's for the North Shore Music Theatre where she currently works. Today she is actively choreographing and has been for the last 15 years. Below is a photo of Nancy and I.....me being on the right.

Nancy's creativity didn't stop with just the theater. She discovered that she loved making jewelry. She started off making items for herself and enjoying this as a hobby. Little by little family and friends requested items and she decided to make a small business because her inventory was growing. Her workmanship is impeccable and I feel her items are very different and unique. She learned about Etsy in her travels and introduced it to me. We've both been on this journey through Etsy together.

***

Nancy is growing in her creativity. She is branching out in her shop by selling Candle Tealight Holders. She is designing her tealight holders with the process of Decoupage and also as a bonus, a matching ACEO. Please visit Nancy at KatzsKreation and discover all the beautiful pieces of handkrafted original OOAK items.

ACEO's

2008-03-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

First I need to apologize to my blog for neglecting him or her.
Second, I need to verbalize my new love. ACEO's. Whats an ACEO you ask...ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These cards have one main rule - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches - the size of a trading card. Well when I first started seeing these small small items, I thought to myself....hmmmm, WHY.
The reason for this is, of course, that Art Cards are made to be traded! But while artists were happily trading cards, the general public was left out in the cold, having no Art Cards to trade. A group of artists realized this, and quickly made their cards available for sale at remarkably low prices so that everyone could join in the fun!
Cards are also sold either as originals or editions. Make sure you know which you are buying! If it is a print it should say so, and it should be numbered and signed, usually on the back.
Art Cards can be a riot! Artists from all over the world are creating, and now selling these little gems in different mediums and of different subjects. Watercolor, Oil, Acrylic, Colored Pencil, Pastels, Pyrography, Pen and Ink, Sketching, Collage - the sky is the limit. Abstract, Surrealism, Outsider Art, Impressionism, Expressionism -every style you can think of - and then some!. Every interest and subject is covered! Extremely collectable Pocket Art, you can't stop at just one! (All information was taken from http://www.art-cards.org/)

Well given all this information I was just dying to join the bandwagon of ACEO's and I have been brought into a new world of art that is just a joy to be apart of. To incorporate my photography into these small works of art is alot of fun and has started all my artistic juices to start flowing and boy are they flowing. Here are a few on my ACEO's.

Another way I've been creating my ACEO's is with my old stamp collection. I've had many of my stamps for over 45 years and have incorporated them into my works of art. To view more of my ACEO's please come visit my Etsy Store.

and the WINNER is~~

2008-02-27T04:14:00.000-08:00

There was a few of you that got the correct answer and Rod, my DBF picked the winner...It is JOON......she was "Scout" in the comments. Of course she guessed John Bon Jovi on a really bad day, but as you can see, he was having a really good day. Congrats Joon.

Here is the real photo. I was at his concert and he was singing right beside me. No he wasn't in my living room or me in his, but I did feel very close to him. LOL Doesn't he look like he's looking right into my eyes, oh I mean my camera. heehee This was fun, thanks to all that entered.

~CONTEST~~

2008-02-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

Another contest........Below is a photo of a famous persons eyes. Please leave a comment with your guess. I will leave hints if no one can guess and if several people guess, I will pick a name out of a hat to determine the winner. This was not taken from any magazines, this is my actual photograph. After the contest is complete and we have the winner, I will then show the whole photograph. Also, if nobody has a clue, I will give hints. This contest will run through Wednesday, Feb. 27th.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Good Luck~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You prize will be my magnet below.

NOTE!!!!!! Please leave your email address or etsy store name if you think I don't know you. Thanks.

Through the Viewfinder TTV

2008-02-18T18:18:00.001-08:00

One thing I enjoy with my photography is learning about new formats of photography. I have been reading about TTV, through the viewfinder. Before I even knew what that was I was seeing alot of these images over the internet and was very much attracted to that type of photography. At first I thought it was "Photoshop" trickery but it is actually a photograph taken by using two camera. OK, now how do I get started. First I had to purchase an old Kodak Duraflex Camera, so onto Ebay I went. From what I read I wouldn't have to spend more than $20. My did I have good luck, I spent .99 cents, no other bidders....great. Then my next challenge I have to build a contraption to block out the light and also be long enough for my lens to get a good focus on the other lens. Sounds confusing...well here is an example
of that it looks like.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/russmorris/sets/72157594183839823/

The above website is where I learned how to make my contraption. I used black thin poster board for mine and taped it to my camera since I am awkward and don't have long arms. Still challenging and uncomfortable. Hopefully in time will be better. I have listed a few of my TTV's. My daugther who was nice enough to model for me and whom I think is a natural beauty anyways. I think the effect is amazing and I'm learning to play around and hopefully my subject matter and my technique will improve. But I'm definately having fun trying.

Below is more TTV

For Emily Michelle

2008-02-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

Dearest Emily,

Today is a wonderful moment for me as your mother. You called me late last night to tell me that your engaged. How wonderful that makes me feel. Its almost like it is happening to me thats how close I feel to you. We have a wonderfully close relationship that I cherish everyday. You have become a beautiful and talented young woman and to watch you grow into an adult is something I will cherish for years. My memories of you are etched in my mind so clearly that I can recall conversations and emotions of these memories. I still can picture you clearly in my mind, your birth, you at 2 years old sitting in a chair at the hairdressers getting your first haircut, your first recital, your first loose tooth, your first homerun.....I could go on and on. I am thankful for you, Emily Michelle, my beautiful daughter, a woman now and starting your own life with the love of your life. I wish you so much happiness, joy and love and I know this new path your taking will be everlasting. I love you dearly, Mom

My Piano

2008-02-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

My sisters and I grew up in a very musical family. We all loved to sing, but of course some of us shouldn't, including myself. Some of us have wonderful voices, some played the violin, guitar, but what I fell in love with was the Piano. Actually it was my sister and I. Every Weds we would walk together to take our lessons from Mrs. Stein. She was a wonderful older lady who taught us classical to boogie woogie. Of course I wanted to learn Smoke on the Water, but that wasn't happening. I just wish I kept with it....as I grew older my priorities changed. But my love for my piano is still alive. Sometimes I sit and play but I never get bored just looking at it.

My First Feature Artist

2008-02-07T06:02:00.000-08:00

My first feature is Olivia, owner of The Filigree Garden. The moment I went into Olivia's Shop I felt romance. Her jewelry peices have a sense of history along with beauty. It all started when Olivia was small, she loved rummaging through her mothers jewelry draw, thinking she was in a treasure chest. She loved to see and feel all the wondeful gems. She would make simple pieces for her dolls. When Olivia was in her 20's she took a silversmithing class, however, at the time she was working with fabric. She makes bags, childrens clothing, pillows, curtains and slip covers. She says "Fabric is very tempting to me, I love all the colors and textures." Olivia just recently has returned to her love of jewelry with needing to repair her own jewelry and having her late mothers collection. Being a big fan of handmade and locally produced items, an internet search brought her to Etsy. She states "Its very satisfying to give new life to forgotten things"

One of the reasons I loved this shop is Olivia's items contain an element that has been "rescued" from a broken piece of vintage jewelry which is a big part of their beauty and also makes them one of a kind. So far her Etsy experience has been wonderful. She loves being apart of her BBest team. She mentions that being with so many vibrant, artistic and interesting men and women over 40, keeps her going when she starts to feel old, it reminds her and all of us, that there is so much to look forward to.

Olivia's other passions are Photography and Writing.

Please take a visit to Olivia's shop, The Filigree Garden http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5373919

Vintage and old photos

2008-01-29T16:03:00.000-08:00

I've been fiddling around trying to perfect some vintage and old tyme photos. So far this is what I've created.

I get alot of enjoyment experimenting with all the resourses that are available in software. I can get different effects from the same print. Thats very exciting to me.

Contest

2008-01-28T16:51:00.001-08:00

Take a look......thats me in the center......Can you tell what I was taking a photo of? Hmmm might be very easy...But I'm going to throw in a little lemon twist.....be specific!!!!

Winner will win one of these magnets........perfect for Valentines Day. Leave your answers in the comment box. Good luck!

The winner of the contest is Precious Quilts.....thank you all for guessing.

My Sandwriting

2008-01-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

My Sandwriting was started about 7 years ago with my family on our vacations on Martha's Vineyard. During this time I would have alot of fun by writing everyones name in the sand and then snap the photo right when the wave came in. This is where timing comes in. Of course on more than one occassion I would have to redo these over and over again because the ocean waves kinda do what they want. Over the years many people have requested I write their childrens name, their last names, their hometowns etc. Sandwriting has turned into quite a big part of my photography and I enjoy it immensely.

Below is a few examples of sandwritings that I've created.

2008-01-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

My family has been going on vacations to Martha's Vineyard for over 20 years. Its a place we all feel is home. Its a place were we all get together and play games and go to the beach and pretty much do the same thing every year......what makes us love it so much? Must be because its being with the whole family at the same time. We fight, scream and end up laughing every time. This is a tradition that is going to continue with my children also. They love the island and make sure they come every year also. So I guess Martha's Vineyard means family and thats why I love it so much. Here is a little snippet video of us enjoy our summer.

My Photography

2008-01-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

At the age of 13, my father bought me my first camera. This camera changed my life. I began taking pictures and was hooked. I would shoot pictures wherever possible. Because of my need to learn more about photography, I took classes all through high school. My father saw my interest and decided to build a makeshift darkroom in our cellar where I spent much of my time. I soon became the photographer of the family, and over time I got married, had children and didn't have time to spend on my photography. However, since my children are grown and on their own, I decided to start taking pictures again, utilizing all of the new media available. Because so many things changed in the world of photography through technology, I decided to take additional courses to catch up to the next generation. Armed with my new digital camera and computer software, I went to work taking portraits and landscapes. One of my most popular work has been my sandwriting photos. I did it for fun on Martha's Vineyard during family vacations, but then got so many requests for personalized writings that I decided to sell them as well. I like being creative by taking advantage of technology and putting my art into many different forms, such as magnets and notecards. I'm spreading my wings through various mediums on the internet where people can view and purchase my art. There is nothing that gives me more gratification than for someone to enjoy my photography.

Beth

Romancing of Lighthouses

Uncle Steve’s Homemade Pizza

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Still Celebrating 3rd Prize

3rd Place

Wordless Wednesday

Romancing of Lighthouses

Wordless Wednesday.

The Joy of a Grandchild

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

The Romancing of Lighthouses

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

I've been Shmapped

Winner Announcement

February Contest !!!!!!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Gay Head Light (Aquinnah Light)

NEW YEARS EVE 2008 STORM

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Mysteries of Lighthouses part 2

Wordless Wednesday

The Mystery of Lighthouses

Boomers and Beyond Team Sale

My Baby's Grown up

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Out With the Old, in With the New

Contest~~~~Contest~~~~Contest

Butterflies Are Free

CONTEST #2

Feature Artist Katz's Kreations

ACEO's

~~~~~~and the WINNER is~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~CONTEST~~~~~~~~

Through the Viewfinder TTV

For Emily Michelle

My Piano

My First Feature Artist

Vintage and old photos

***Contest***

My Sandwriting

My Photography

ContestContestContest

and the WINNER is~~

~CONTEST~~

Contest