River Catches Lights at Dusk

It’s been a week of bridges on the blog. Here’s one more. I thought the lights in the river look impressionistic. A soft focus on the bridge. Need to keep tripod or brace better against the light pole to avoid camera shake. You know how I like it when the sky grows dark and the lights come up. And I like to catch reflections.

Once known as the Homestead High-Level Bridge over the Monongahela River, it was rededicated in 2002 to honor The Grays Baseball Team of the Negro League so is known as the Homestead Grays Bridge. Built in 1936.

“It is notable as the first bridge to utilize the Wichert Truss, which uses a quadrilateral shape over each support.” says wikipedia.

Three Dog Ride – Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

WordPress puts out the Weekly Photo Challenge and this week it is UNIQUE.

I tried to find photos that seemed a tad quirky and not an everyday shot.

Some may be familiar to you if you follow the blog. One of a kind?

Fun to go fishing for some examples for unique.

At the Penguin Tank- Zoo — Some kids watching the Penguins at the Zoo. No relation!

Work Boots Planter on Arlington Ave. Pittsburgh

Food Truck Night Boa Constrictor — At the Food Truck Festival in Columbus. Still don’t get why you’d walk around with a Boa Constrictor draped around yourself.

Carrot Duo — Why I photographed the twisted carrots on this placemat is beyond me……

Fuzzy Dice and Crazy Hat — Fuzzy Dice in the Fourth of July Parade
Lewis Center, Ohio

Black and Gold Rosary in Bloomfield Religious Store (STEELERS colors for those who don’t live here)

Unique Backpack at the Food Truck Festival Columbus OH

Sneak Peek at the Black and Whites and a Thank You to All

The photos are hung in the gallery with care.

The show’s Opening Reception is 12:30 Sunday. Hope to see you there. That’s it for the rhyme.

I know many of you are far away but send good thoughts. I am grateful to all my supportive friends and family who cheer me on.

Know many have teaching, work & family obligations or will be too far to come but am looking forward to seeing those who are able to make it!

Groundhog Phil needs to make sure there’s no snow or ice.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the show possible-

Linda K. who nominated my work to the Art Committee (a good knitting friend)

Tom U. @ pixel.river images- Your archival pigment on the rag paper make the photos stellar

Mark and Jennifer at Panza Gallery who made an all out effort and framed and matted to make the show look so polished and professional.

Thanks to Steve who helped load the car before school and drove to Millvale Wednesday to take the photos I tried to switch out in frames. HA!

Charlotte T. the coordinator and the entire Art Committee at the First Unitarian Church. (At the risk of spelling anyone’s name incorrectly I will thank the committee)

My neighbor Joaquin with the eye, thanks for showing me how to use a tape measure properly and for helping me select the groupings.

Skumps, Groundhog!

Just a couple of days left to prepare for the big day. Groundhog’s Day! You know he’s going to see his shadow and predict 6 more weeks of winter.

Preparations are in full swing in Punxsutawney PA. There are other groundhogs who try to share the limelight but Punxsutawney Phil is the REAL groundhog prognosticator of the weather. Just about 85 miles Northeast from downtown Pittsburgh.

When Steve and I were at Grant Bar in Millvale, this was the special on the chalkboard. This is a local brew made in St. Mary’s PA at STRAUB. You can take a virtual tour of their brewery here

The bartender brought one out and allowed me to photograph the label. No groundhogs were harmed to make this brew.

Got Bridges?

Just a few. Here are some bridges that cross the Allegheny River. Since I showed the one closed yesterday, it seemed to make sense to post a shot of more bridges.

If you want to read about Pittsburgh Bridges, click here .

Taken from Mount Washington, Duquesne Incline observation deck just last week.

And the Tenth Street Bridge in the Tom Cruise movie (Jack Reacher) isn’t in this shot but here

My Maps App Took Me Here to Cross the Mon?

(I think I read somewhere- don’t use alliteration? Mmmmmmmmm.)

How did I end up here, looking to cross the Mon?

I couldn’t believe it when I landed right in front of this sign. Bridge Closed. It was just getting dark.

Turns out this bridge to Donora has been closed since 2009!!! The way you have to go now is a four mile addition to the trip.

The Monongahela River winds all around the place. I’d crossed it at Homestead at the beginning of my journey.

Then I found out later this bridge is slated to be demolished.

With the help of my son’s MIL, Marlene, on the phone in Hardy, Virginia, I found the Monessen Bridge and wound around and up and over to Donora.

You can’t always trust your Maps App. At least the sign didn’t say BRIDGE OUT! It was one of three routes. Better try a different one next time. I read about the major supports having deteriorated. Maybe the maps app just wanted to show me it for a photo op?

Took this right out of the passenger window

Weekly Photo Challenge: Love

Love, love, love.

All you need is love.

Love is all you need.

I liked the Paris bridge photo with all the locks on it posted on WordPress’ Daily Post that tells what the weekly challenge is. LOVE!

My thought was some wedding couples. Went to the archives.

As I looked for the pics to post I saw a series I put up last Father’s Day and since it is Murphy’s 11th birthday I decided that he would be the one to best illustrate the definition of love.

I know Max and Mingus and Coltrane
and Rumpy Dog will agree I made the right choice for today’s challenge. Not sure how Isobelandcat feel about Murphy.

Happy Birthday Murphy. With much love from your family. You exemplify love! Pure and unconditional love.

Last Sliver of Sun

Before I drove up the mountain, I went to one of my favorite spots on West Carson Street. This is what made me decide to head up to Mt. Washington to catch the incline in the snow as the sun set.

Thinking About Pie on National Pie Day

I emailed my friend Rob to see if he had any updates for National Pie Day this year. He is the only pie judge I know. Official, that is.

Just a year ago he was guest blogger with the National Pie Day post. When I went to retrieve the post and his photos with Willard Scott and Keegan Gerhard, I remembered how a fellow blogger helped me out that day. No visible pictures had posted when I published the guest blog, just blue boxes with question marks. I saw them on my computer but no one else could see them on theirs!

Thanks to the expertise of Chicago John from the Bartolini Kitchens Blog we were able to see Rob’s photos last year.

And although I knew it was National Pie Day today, you see what I came up with this year?

The idea of pie. The possibility of pie. Contemplating the making of pie.

What’s available in the larder?

A lone can of pumpkin?

A few apples for school lunch?

Tons of citrus, some grapes. There are raisins in the fridge but raisin pie has zero appeal to me.

So here’s my offering, Rob.

A pretty pie plate in the afternoon sun and the mere suggestion of a pie to be created. Great for the calorie count, if one were so inclined.

It’s Cold Outside!

This is the first meal I ate in Zagreb when I visited Matty. I must have had the spoon in my hand when I took the photo?

Thought this bowl of hot soup looked inviting for this way below freezing January night. I shot all those vacation pics with a Canon 20D and I miss that camera. The shutter eventually failed and I even had it repaired but it failed again. I just liked that camera.