Ralph

I have seen Ralph around the local coffee shop for years.  He arrives early in the morning and meets one or two friends.  Weather permitting, they sit outside and smoke cigars and enjoy the sunshine.

Ralph is a character!   He has a contagious laugh and isn't above a practical joke or two. 

He has the cutest and smallest Shih Tzu that he brings with and that he carefully wraps in a blanket so she doesn't get cold.   This little dog has him wrapped around her little paw.

Meet Ralph!  Despite that gruff exterior, he is a softy!  Just ask his dog!

Thanks Ralph!

Checkers and Chess

Back at the local coffee shop near my home, I arrived one morning early and no one else was there.  The sun was brilliant.  So, I wanted to try a new lens and depth of field images.

I like the shadows, especially with the more vertical perspective.

I saw this and thought, "the little guy is in BIG trouble!" 

Bottles

On my last trip to St. Louis, I stopped at a wine shop I had not visited before.  They were gracious enough to let me wander about and shoot a few images of bottles and perspectives.  And, in fact, this was the store with the darker brick wall from yesterday's post.

Here are a few that I liked. 

The depth of field isn't too bad considering it was hand held. 

I sent them to the shop owner yesterday.  I hope he ends up using them!

For Something Completely Different

Now and then an interesting background catches my eye.  I seem to be drawn to the texture and colors.  Here are a couple that I have taken recently.

The first is the external wall of a building.  The blue is a rain gutter.   The stark blue color contrast and the vertical line caught my eye.

The second is the internal wall of a wine store in Kirkwood, not far from Kaldi's.  Tomorrow I will post a few photos of the wine bottles in the racks.  The owners were very kind to let me wander about the store taking photos. This darker wall had been reclaimed from behind sheetrock and plaster.  It definately added to the ambiance of the store.

Does anyone like these?  Or, am I just getting weird in my old age?  I guess those are not mutually exclusive categories, are they!

Bar Louie: Getting ready to leave St. Louis

I was leaving St. Louis the next morning. And, it had been more than a bit of a stressful day. The sun was shining. It was 78 and almost no wind.

At 4:00 I drove to Bar Louie and decided to unwind and enjoy my last afternoon before the drive home.

As I sat down and ordered wine, I kept looking around the various groups of people looking for someone to photograph. I kept coming back to this woman. I couldn't figure out what it was that caught my eye.

Finally it hit me! She was totally relaxed, reading, studying (I think), and having a martini. I liked it. I may need to take up studying with martini's!

Meet Alison.

It turns out that she is a music teacher and had just finished classes for the summer.  She was waiting for her husband to join her. 

Thanks Alison and have a wonderful, relaxing summer! 

Shaping the World

As I was leaving the Ren Festival in St. Louis, I noticed a potter.  This was old school.  She was turning the wheel with her feet.

I didn't catch her name.  But, it was quite amazing to get close and watch her bring form, shape, and purpose to a lump of clay.  She mentioned her hands were in terrible shape after years of doing this.

It isn't unlike what you do with kids. You mold and shape them.  The process leaves you older and often exhausted.  But, you have created....something precious.

Memorial Day 2012

With deepest respect.

 With deepest admiration

Thank you.

Renaissance Fair 4

It was also good to see so many knights and damsels and....horses.

This last warrior had quite a crowd.     I hate when someone shows up to a party wearing the same thing I am wearing.

Renaissance Fair 3

It was good to know they had drug stores at the Ren Fair.

And, pharmacists.

And doctors to prescribe the medicine for scurvy.

Renaissance Fair 2

This guy had flair (and a Casio watch)

This guy walked around all day looking like that!

This guy was trolling...and he was having some luck!  The Bad Boy look seems to work!