COMPETITION has never been my strong point but lately I have been finding myself entering some blog contests, giveaways, blogging about my photographs, and hoping that there are people out there who like them.  I suppose it might be self-validation after all these years.

Here are two that I actually visually enhanced.  I will show the original and then the enhanced.  These are for a "color" contest on a site called CCC Group (Color Combo Challenge) on Facebook.


I am supposed to use the colors from the color chart below.

The Original Photograph

Enhanced

The Original Photograph

Enhanced

This is the color chart I was supposed to follow.

What are your thoughts?

LOOSING DIRECTION - MAY 15/2012 - PSALM 145

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM MY COLLECTION OF NEW YORK CITY STREETSCAPES

HE SAVES THE LOST

                     

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises 
    and faithful in all he does.
 The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

        

                                        

 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

                                         

 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does. 
 The Lord is near to all who call on him, 
    to all who call on him in truth.

                      He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; 
         he hears their cry and saves them. 
                      The Lord watches over all who love him, 
        but all the wicked he will destroy.

                      My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
       Let every creature praise his holy name 
       for ever and ever.

Weekly Photograph - 5/8/2012

It has been a long time since I have blogged for lack of inspiration.  I thought that since I have so many photographs saved I would do a weekly post about them.  A pic a week, if you will.  Many of my photos are in New York City because that is where I used to go so often and there is never a lack of inspiration.  Although God has shown me so much beauty right here where I live, He is also showing me the other side of the coin.  I would love to share.

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. —Proverbs 31:9




God has called us to active duty (1 John 3:18). When we sense His prompting to help someone, we should be willing to say, “I believe God wants me to help you.” 




We are at our best when we are serving others.

MY SECRET SANTA GIFT - CHRISTMAS 2011

My secret santa gift was handmade by Bon Jean Creations.

As you can see, Bonnie, did an amazing job and sent me exactly what I love.

My Little Miss Revlon Doll is dressed up in her Christmas outfit now.  I do have to get her a pair of shoes to match.

The beautiful oven mitt is personalized and we already used it on Christmas day and now, everyday.

Thank you so much Bonnie!

This has been so much fun.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

My earliest Christmas memory is when I was about 5 years old.  My brother and I shared a bedroom with single beds on opposite walls.  Our stockings were "hung" on top of our chest of drawers as well as Santa's cookies and milk.  I was so excited I could barely sleep so when I heard the jingle bells from the stockings, I so wanted to peek but I kept my eyes tightly shut.  I don't remember if I jumped up to look after the "movement" silenced but I don't think so.  I knew I had to wait for the morning.

A couple of years later, I woke up one night and found my mom in the kitchen, sewing doll pajamas.  It did not dawn on me until I got those pj's for my Suzy Walker on Christmas morning, that Santa was really my mom and dad. "Big Sigh"  I told my brother and he answered me by punching me.  How dare I say that there was no Santa!!
We were always very fortunate as children on Christmas because we received presents from many relatives and we always got what we wanted.  Dolls, bikes, toys.  
My dad was a Tool & Die Engineer and handsomely paid.
What I did not get was the REAL reason for Christmas.  Jesus Christ♥  That was a true loss for us.

One Christmas when I was a teen, there were many family problems so it seemed no merriment, no tree.  My best friend, Bobby and I went out and purchased a tree on Christmas Eve for $3.  This was in 1961.  I was 15.  We set it up, put some ornaments on it.  The next morning, the tree was standing there and all of the needles had fallen off and were on the floor.  We got a dead tree!!  Appropriate for that year, I guess.
Christmas got a whole lot better when my girls were young.  Jenifer and Jodi would run into the living room, jumping up and down and clapping with glee.
At that point, I was religiously confused but knew that God was there for me.
It thrills me to hear when someone shares that their young children know all about Jesus' love.  My grandsons know this also.
I am grateful to know the "reason for the season" is our Lord.  At this time in my life it comforts me.

The story behind the photos

There are so many people who post photographs but yet most don't tell the story behind the photograph.  When did you take it?  Where were you?  Who were you with?
I have posted two new photo ACEO's and each one has a special meaning.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86138309/aceo-christmas-angel

When Cole was born 18 years ago I purchased this angel for his very first Christmas.  We have always called her Cole's Angel. When I opened an account on Ebay way back in 2001 I called myself NoahsarkColesangel.  I hope to give this to Cole when he has his own children.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86139295/aceo-candle-in-my-dreams-and-memories

This photo was not taken by me.  Back in 1996 I met a young man named Alan.  He was an art student at William Paterson College and my adopted daughter Kerry was also an art student and she met him there.  I had the opportunity to have a conversation with him when he told me that he was looking for his biological mother.  He gave me a little information and after some phone calls I was able to find her since she lived in this area.  They met and became friends. It was miraculous because he said that he had a memory of being torn away from her and that was what happened.  His adopted family were very warm and loving people also. 
He gave me this photo in an 8x10 size which was actually a school project.
When he graduated his parents gave him a new car as a gift.  A sports car.  He took full advantage of that car for its speed and he was killed in a very tragic accident.  He was a beautiful person and I am posting this in his honor.  He had a very bright future that was cut short because of that love for speed.  I will always remember our talks.


So those are the stories behind these photographs and I would love to know if knowing the stories would make them more meaningful or if posting them as is with no background is the way to go.

The Bronx-You can't go home again-Part Two-The corner candy store

Image taken from google images.

Back in the 40's and 50's we had "corner candy stores".  There was one on almost every corner.  The one that we went to was owned by a man named Philly Lapin and he and his family lived in the same building where his store was located, much like the photo above. 


When you walked into the door, the soda fountain was to the right.  It was very small with maybe 6 stools.  That is where Mr. Lapin stood whenever I saw him.  He always wore a white full apron that looked pretty worn for wear.  He wore wire rim glasses and otherwise, pretty non-descript.  He made the best chocolate malteds and chocolate egg creams.

You don't know what an egg cream is?  It did not contain eggs or cream either.  Chocolate syrup, milk and soda water.  It is imitated today but it just doesn't taste the same.

He had a few turning racks with clear plastic bags filled with plastic toys from the time.  My favorite was to collect the little foreign dolls and I had a ton of them. I have seen some on ebay for tons of money.  Of course, back then, I got the girl toys and my brother got the soldiers and cowboys.

He had one large card rack for those special occasions.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85063825/lot-of-10-vintage-birthday-greeting

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85036717/vintage-christmas-greeting-card-with

There was one table with a few chairs and that is where my mom and grandma would sit and chat while my brother and I drank our chocolate malteds with our pretzel rod.  The malted was so thick you could scoop it up with the pretzel and there is just something so yummy about that sweet and salty.

The store was not anything like the soda fountains we see today.  It was really kind of dark with neon lighting.  We got ice cream cones in the real sugar cones of yesterday.

Chocolate candies filled with raspberry jelly, a treat called Halva which is truly an acquired taste and memories for a lifetime.

Most of the time we would go to the candy store every day after school.  This was the 1950's, we ate a lot of chocolate!  It is a very sweet memory.  If I think about it hard enough, I can almost walk through that door and smell the goodies.