Day 198: Shanghai at night

"And Shanghai is amazing. I'm a fan of science fiction so when you're there in the night with all the lights and all this modernity, it's like a set in a movie" - Berenice Marlohe

Project 365: #198

One of the benefits of having a husband who travels is the photos that he sends me of the sights and sounds he witnesses. This was on his trip from the airport to his hotel, and the view from his room. It is rather science-fictionish, and from afar could very well be a movie set. It is so exciting, and there is so much to see. One thing he did note is the air pollution is rather like thick porridge, and sadly dampens the excitement of the city. I could imagine the set of a futuristic movie where we humans completely disregard the environment, and end up not being able to breathe the air, for lack of oxygen-giving plants that we have destroyed through our greed. I do hope that this scenario does not become a global issue...while the views in Shanghai are amazing, I rather like my wooded, oxygenated environment.

Day 197: Cats in the treehouse

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath" - W.C. Fields

 

Project 365: #197

The puhdies are rather like dogs, and when I am outside, follow me around to find the next adventure, so they have now discovered the treehouse, and how to get up and down on their own. Campbell just scales the tree, but Mouse is more ladylike, and climbs up the ladder. Climbing/jumping/falling down is less dainty, and usually ends with a bit of a thud in the undergrowth and leaves! They have discovered this is a secure vantage point - and sit observing all those walking unsuspectingly by on the Patriot's Path at the bottom of the garden. They are also a little closer to the squirrels, but have not yet discovered that they are not as light as the squirrels flying from tree to tree...

Day 196: Evening reflections

"The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we inhabit are not only critical elements in the quality of life we enjoy - they are a reflection of the majesty of our Creator" - Rick Perry

Project 365: #196

Every day as I am out and about exploring the area, I marvel at the majesty of creation and our Creator. There is always something truly remarkable and beautiful to see. At the moment it is the changing colours, shown up beautifully in the evening reflections on the water. The air, water, land are things we usually take for granted when we are caught up in daily life, that we seldom see their beauty, and how perfectly they have been created. Only when we stop to reflect do we really notice the intricate detail painted on the canvas of creation. Perfect way to end the weekend.

Day 195: Colours on our street

"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up" - Allen Klein

Project 365: #195

This is a little experiment...the street in gray is bleak, looks like pretty much any suburban street in summer/fall, resulting in a bleak attitude, caught up in the everyday, mundane cycle of life. It is difficult to be positive with this constant outlook...

However, if we take off our gray-tinted glasses, we see the magnificent colour that there is to behold! There are so many colours at the same time, it is uplifting. They brighten the day, and the spirit! It is not difficult to be positive when creation is so vibrant...it is just important to notice it's vibrancy! The humour in it is that you won't be raking up the leaves at the same time...they will gradually fall as the colours change! Just when you think you have raked up all the leaves from one tree, another one drops its load!

Day 194: Jockey Hollow

"History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies" - Alexis de Tocqueville

Project 365: #194

My search for red leaves took me to Jockey Hollow, which is part of a is a National Historical Park just outside town. I was definitely not disappointed, but arrived just before 8 am, and the park is only open from 8 am to 6 pm, so was a little anxious at being out there alone. I am sure it is perfectly safe, but I didn't want to wander too far. This area is steeped in history from the American Revolutionary War. This pic is the homestead from Wick Farm, which was a productive working farm of 1,400 acres. This area became the camping ground for Washington's army of about 10,000 men over 3 winters from 1779 to 1782. Wick House became the headquarters for Major General Arthur St Clair who was the commander of the Pennsylvania Line. You can feel the history here, hopefully a history that will not be repeated! The gallery of pictures that comes out of Jockey Hollow now should grace nature magazines, and it will hopefully not be known again for it's part in a war.

Day 193: Tuba transportation

"I wouldn't want to hear Beethoven without beautiful bass, the cellos, the tuba. It's very important. Hip-hop has thunderous bass. And so does Beethoven. If you don't have the bass, it's like being amputated. It's like you have no legs" - Lou Reed

Project 365: #193

We are back to fitting the tuba in the trunk/boot of the car again - at least this boot is a little bigger than the last one! It brings back memories of having my car (with the tuba in the boot) searched during the 2010 World Cup Soccer match when the girls were going to dance at the stadium...not so easy to explain your way out of that one, except that it could potentially cause some destruction through it's low baritone notes! So exciting that Nicole is playing again, and that there is more than one tuba in the band (four at least), and more than one band too! They clearly understand the worth of the thunderous bass in their music. Band is one of her school subjects. Her past music teachers will be delighted to know that music homework includes recording yourself playing your instrument, so there is no pretending!! Homework is also graded! At least she has grown a little since she had to bring the tuba home a couple of years ago, a tad more manageable now!

Day 192: Field hockey county finals

"We just want to win. That's the bottom line. I think a lot of times people may become content with one championship or a little bit of success, but we don't really reflect on what we've done in the past. We focus on the present" - Derek Jeter

Project 365: #192

This was the start of the 2015 Field Hockey Tournament Championship Game for Morris County at 7 pm last night. No one can say they don't want to win, as everyone wants to win! The Mendham Varsity team has earned the number 1 seed in the county and made it to the final match of the championship to play Madison, the only team they have lost to in the season! This has been a busy season, with pre-season starting four weeks before school in the summer. What a privilege for Caitlin to have been able to be part of the team! It has required a great amount of commitment and dedication six days a week, and at least two matches per week. This match was played offsite on neutral territory - hosted by Boonton High School, and unbelievably professionally organised. Final score 2:1 down, sadly Mendham did not win,  but an amazing match to watch,  so exciting I chewed off all my fingernails! (I also now know why we have field hockey blankets to take to matches, brrr!!)