Blogging | The Beauty Around Us

Meeting a Blogging and Facebook Friend for the First Time

I met a blogging and Facebook friend for the first time yesterday morning. Eileen and I began reading and commenting on each other’s blog posts in December 2009. Eileen has three blogs, of which I read most often the blog entitled “Viewing nature with Eileen”. Eileen and I became Facebook friends in September 2010.

Eileen and her husband, Michael, live in Maryland. They are in Pennsylvania on vacation. Their vacation plans included visiting two Pennsylvania State Parks —Cook Forest State Park and Presque Isle State Park— and meeting me, if possible. Another Pennsylvania State Park was added to their itinerary, when Eileen and I made plans earlier this week to meet at Kinzua Bridge State Park.

I met Eileen and Michael at Kinzua Bridge State Park yesterday at 10:00 am. Kinzua Bridge State Park is located near Mt. Jewett, PA in McKean County. It is the home of the Kinzua Viaduct. The Viaduct, once known as the longest and tallest railroad structure at 2,053 feet long and 301 feet high, was partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003. I drove to the park from my home in Warren, PA. Eileen and Michael drove to the park from Clarion (where they stayed while visiting Cook Forest State Park). While at the park we walked across the Kinzua Viaduct (now known as the Kinzua Bridge skywalk); we viewed the bridge and its ruins from three observation platforms; and we walked through the Visitor Center.

Eileen and Michael on the Kinzua Bridge skywalk

Kinzua Bridge skywalk and bridge ruins
(view from first observation platform)

We walked down to the lower observation platform seen in the photograph displayed above.

Kinzua Bridge skywalk and bridge ruins
(view from second observation platform)

On our way to the Picture Taking Platform under the skywalk, a colorful scene stopped me in my tracks.

A nice woman took a picture of the three of us
and the remaining support towers from the Picture Taking Platform. I LOVE the “3D” effect behind us.

I reciprocated the favor by taking a picture of the woman with her father.

A side view of the Kinzua Bridge skywalk and the bridge ruins

Eileen and Michael told me that they visited Kinzua Bridge State Park, with their young son, many years ago. The park looks a lot different now, compared to when they first visited. Their first visit was several years before the tornado hit that knocked down the railroad bridge. A train still traveled across the railroad bridge on their first visit.

We departed each others company, after visiting Kinzua Bridge State Park. Eileen and Michael headed to Presque Isle State Park; I returned home.

I am glad that Eileen, Michael and I were able to get together, albeit for a short time. We enjoyed each others company and conversation, while taking in picturesque views.

It’s a Small World

Every now and then I am reminded what a small world it is that we live in.

I photographed a wedding this past Saturday afternoon. Twice during the weekend, I was reminded it’s a small world.

The first reminder happened on Saturday evening, after returning home from the wedding. I learned that a groomsman was a friend’s husband. Amy, is a Facebook friend, whom I have met in person a couple times. Our relationship mainly, though, is online on Facebook. Around 8:15 pm Amy posted on my Facebook timeline: “Didn’t recognize me today did you lol”. No, I didn’t recognize Amy! I did give her a double take, though, when I was saying goodbye to the groom’s mother. Amy was standing there, as I said goodbye to Sheila. My eye kept wandering to Amy. I felt I knew Amy but couldn’t place her. I wish Amy would have told me who she was! I asked Amy, if she was friend or a family member to the bride or groom. Amy’s response was that her husband Jason was in the wedding. Up until then, I knew Jason as only Jason (or JJ). I didn’t know his last name.

The second reminder happened on Sunday evening. A girl, who dated my oldest nephew many years ago, messaged me via my Facebook photography page, “The Beauty Around Us”, after seeing the photograph of the wedding party that I shared on Facebook. Kayla wrote: “This is Kayla. I am not sure if you remember me or not, but i saw the pictures you posted of a wedding you just did and my niece was part of it. I told her I knew you.” Kayla’s niece was one of the bridesmaids.

Small world, isn’t it!

How Long Have You Been With Your Hair Stylist?

I had my hair cut and colored today at Styles Unlimited. My hair stylist was Brenda, who has been my stylist since September 1998. Brenda styled my hair for the first time on my wedding day. Brenda and I converse with each other, while styling my hair. We bring each other up to date on our families and vacation plans. My last hair appointment was late January. My hair was holding up OK, but it was definitely time for a cut and color.

How long have you been with your hair stylist?

Six Years

blogging

Today marks a 6-year anniversary for me. I published my first blog post on March 1, 2009. My blog was entitled “Linda’s Photo Journal” at that time, and I used the Blogger platform to publish my blog posts. I migrated to the WordPress blogging platform in October 2012 and created a new blog entitled “Days to Remember”. I republished “Linda’s Photo Journal” blog posts into the new blog. In November 2014 I went live with “The Beauty Around Us” website, which soon afterward incorporated my “Days to Remember” blog. “The Beauty Around Us” website makes use of the “Photography” premium theme that I purchased for $68.00 in February 2013.

Throughout my six years of blogging I have maintained the original intent of my blog, that being “to capture a moment in time and place, preserving that moment through my photographs and words, so that I might share that particular slice of time with others”. I like my blog’s new home, as part of “The Beauty Around Us” website.

A No-Go

It got really cold last night. I saw local friends on Facebook recording temperatures as low as -20. At 8:00 am our thermometer read -11.9 degrees.

By noon the temperature had risen to 20 degrees, and I decided to run a couple errands. I put on my winter coat, hat, boots and gloves. I opened the garage door, opened our back door and walked across our partly snow-covered driveway to my car. I opened the driver’s car door and slid behind the steering wheel. I inserted the key into the ignition and turned it. I heard a click and nothing more. A second attempt to start the car yielded no sound at all. I have a dead car battery. I guess those errands will have to wait!

UPDATE: Well, I am surprised. Bob came home from work. I told him that my car battery was dead. He went out to the garage and tried the ignition. The car started! We did notice, though, that the clock in the car was 2 1/2 hours behind. I took care of the errands I wanted to do earlier today. Bob accompanied me.

The Beauty Around Us

I have been busy. For the past few weeks I have been working on the creation of a new website. “The Beauty Around Us” is that new website. It went live last night. “The Beauty Around Us” will showcase scenic photographs taken during my travels. In addition, my website will showcase nature photographs. My goal is to display these photographs in an organized manner via photo galleries. “The Beauty Around Us” includes a blog, which I plan to utilize on a weekly basis. I envision my blog posts taking the shape of one photograph accompanied by a pertinent quotation, saying or poem.

Whenever a new blog website is announced, the question always comes up whether or not the blogger will maintain two blogs. I intend to continue the “Days to Remember” blog, which I began in March 2009. “Days to Remember” is a photo journal blog that provides a glimpse into my life both at home and on the road. “Days to Remember” is a much more verbose blog website than “The Beauty Around Us”. I hope that each of you will follow both of my blog websites.

UPDATE: When I wrote this blog post, I did intend to maintain two blogs. Somewhere along the way that intent changed because maintaining two blogs just wasn’t working. I moved the “Days to Remember” blog, as an integral part of the “The Beauty Around Us” website.

A Break from Vacation Blog Posts

The intent of my blog is to capture a moment in time and place, preserving that moment through my photographs and words, so that I might share that particular slice of time with others”. With that intent in mind, I realize I have been negligent in sharing with you what has been happening since the day we came home from our North Carolina vacation (on May 19th) and the present time. I am going to take a break from blogging about our North Carolina vacation in hopes of catching you up on the happenings since then. I will complete the blog posts about our North Carolina vacation at some point in time, hopefully not too far in the distance!