Father and daughter... with a gaggle of geese brandishing bountiful backsides.
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"They say that from the instant he lays eyes on her, a father adores his daughter. Whoever she grows up to be, she is always to him that little girl in pigtails. She makes him feel like Christmas. In exchange, he makes a secret promise not to see the awkwardness of her teenage years, the mistakes she makes or the secrets she keeps." ~ Anonymous
On a cool winter's day we find a young daughter and her dad roaming around the park. It is a gathering place for all types of water birds, including a large noisy gaggle of geese. The child is entranced by these fat and fluffy fowl who flirt with shaking stubby tail feathers and honk harmoniously, all the while trying to be the dominate diva of the group. The little girl can't stand it; she has to grab a bunch of those feathers and wrap her arms around at least one of those waddling bodies to feel the softness. Perhaps she has a stuffed duck or goose at home or maybe her dad has read her The Ugly Duckling or the rhyme Old Mother Goose: Old Mother Goose,
When she wanted to wander,
Would ride through the air
On a very fine gander.
Of course, it is most likely the fact that she is a child.. who is curious and who wants to touch those lovely white feathers. So she takes off and a toddle run with her protective father right behind. The geese do not seem to fear this tiny tot... why should they? She is barely taller than they are and these geese are used to being admired by human children and fed by adults. She has no food, so they simply march away in an unhurried fashion, fanning out and away, keeping just out of reach of her wistful hands.
The child may not remember this day when she grows up... but her father will.
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Two 4 Tuesday: Adult ~ Child
A walk though the forest.... daddy and daughter. Norfolk Botanical Garden. “Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.”
Joseph Addison (English Essayist, Poet, Dramatist and Statesman, 1672-1719)
Caught on a hot summer day... a very tall dad and his tiny, but very independent daughter on a stroll under the big pine trees at the botanical garden. She toddles, he stays close but tries not to hover. She is learning to walk on her own and seems quite pleased with herself. He is proud, protective, watchful.... ready to swoop her up at a moments notice but trying to seem nonchalant about it, especially when she glances up at him.
She is precious in her flowered sundress and tiny shoes. She doesn't have to hold his hand to feel secure, she just has to know her daddy is there. Besides, she wants to show him what a big girl she is, so she shows off her best marching gait. They are off to see the brightly colored play houses with swinging horses, slides, tea sets and toy chairs to play with. Daddy will keep her safe and push the swing.
They are the quintessential "odd couple" and yet perfectly wonderful together. I hope she will remember this day when she grows up.... or that her mom has a camera too and caught this moment.
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Carmi's Theme ~ "candid"
Resisting temptation... a universal problem for kids and dogs the world over. Valencia, Spain
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"The trouble with resisting temptation is it may never come your way again." ~ Korman's Law
The dog plunges into the shallow water of the pool and splashes with glee. The small boy, his companion, stops at the edge of the water. His new tennis shoes, his clean pants, his fall jacket.... none of these are on his mind, but he knows his mother will have a fit if he follows the dog. Suddenly, the dog stops and turns to look at his boy... he grins and wags his tail as if to say... "Come on in, the water's fine! Don't worry about your mother! She won't mind! Really! You can tell her that I made you do it! Come on in, let's have some fun and if we take the long way home and sit in the sun we may be able to be dry and she will never be the wiser!" My, my what a naughty little dog to tempt his boy in this way. He must know how difficult it is for the little tyke to resist jumping with both feet into any large puddle. So tell me how is this story going to end!
This is another photo from my brother's travels, this time in Valencia, Spain. It just shows us how universal childhood antics as well as animal antics are. This scene may well be repeated in many countries throughout the world... probably with similar results! Another "candid" photo for Carmi's theme this week.
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Carmi's Theme ~ "candid"
A beautiful bride with an unlimited flower budget.
(Click picture to enlarge) “The earth is like a beautiful bride who needs no manmade jewels to heighten her loveliness...” ~ Kahlil Gibran (Essayist, Novelist and Poet. 1883-1931)
The Setting: The Rose Gardens at Norfolk Botanical Garden
The Time: May through July, Any given year.
The Subject: Weddings, Brides, Love is in the Air.
Beginning in late May and extending through July, the scenes are repeated over and over. Brides flock to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens for wedding portraits and often, for the wedding itself. The rose garden is one of many venues available and is planted with hundreds of rose bushes in all shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, white, cream and everything in between. Tree roses, hybrid teas, old English roses, floribundas, fragrant and vibrant with color fill the space. Wide lush green grass walkways all lead to a central gazebo covered in tiny, yellow, delicate climbing roses. To one side is a stone building with stairs leading up to a low roof where a string quartet sits, the beautiful strains of The Wedding March and other classics wafting through the air. The large stone wall near the steps is covered completely with masses of ruby red climbing roses interspersed with leaves of dark emerald green. It is a royal place, a magic place, a perfect place for a wedding. No need for a floral budget here.... the flowers ARE the cathedral with blue skies and fluffy clouds as the ceiling and the soft green grass as the carpet. Simply add guests and the wedding party and in one simple step... a wedding.
Even if the wedding is held elsewhere, this is a favorite place for wedding portraits. On this day, I saw no less than three brides in various areas of the garden. Her photographer was set up far to my left and in front of me, posing her for a silhouette shot. I was using my long lens with no flash and was far enough away to be unnoticed by anyone. Everyone was shooting the flowers, as was I, but I thought there was a story here. Such promise in her pose. She was radiant, even without seeing her face you could tell this was so. I wondered what she was thinking. Was she simply excited, happy, anxious? Or was she taking in all the beauty of her surroundings and making mental notes to remember this day as well as her wedding day. Did the fragrance of the roses send her to the same imaginary world of perfection it always seems to send me? I couldn't help sending her candid silent wishes for a long and loving marriage filled with much happiness and joy! Oh, yes... I DO hope she got to have her ceremony right here.... no place could be more perfect.
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Carmi's Theme - "Candid"
How many of us have done this... or at least wished we could? "If each man or woman could understand that every other human life is as full of sorrows, or joys, or base temptations, of heartaches and of remorse as his own . . . how much kinder, how much gentler he would be."
~ William Allen White
It's a hot sultry day in the city..the air is heavy, no breeze; it's been a long day of work. Walking home from the subway, perhaps a short cut through the park to see some cool green grass and beautiful flowers or a fountain or two.....she spots an empty bench and stops to rest a moment. Maybe the warmth and the smell of freshly tilled earth reminds her of her childhood in a small town far away; her eyes close... just for a moment... to remember that place and time, the people she loves. That's all it takes, just a few seconds and sleep takes over, the worries of the day fade and dreams abound. Oh, that we all could have such blissful, quite moments in the midst of our busy days!
Carmi has picked "human" for his theme this week. I took this picture a couple of years ago, in Brooklyn. I loved how relaxed this woman looks and have often wondered what her day was like, was she in the park for a specific reason, was she waiting for someone? It just seemed like a special moment, captured unawares... waiting for the perfect time to be shared.. that would seem to be now.
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I have no idea who this fellow is.... nor the fish!
(Click picture for larger view) "Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.
It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. " ~ Unknown
A cool breezy day at Mt. Trashmore park, the geese honking in chorus, seagulls fighting over food and the ducks.... swimming and just being ducks. There is a dog barking and next to the dock a man is fishing. I've never seen anyone fishing here before.... feeding the gulls, running, walking dogs, skating, flying kites, racing model boats... all these things, yes, but fishing... never. I thought, "Now, this guy won't have much luck with that noisy dog and the noisy geese and that loud carousel set up." And yet, right before we left for the day, I saw him with pole bending... rolling in the line as fast as he could; his already overly excited dog was beside himself bouncing back and forth and barking even louder. This was the result of his efforts... a fish. Since I have only fished on the side of my grandfather's pond or the catfish ponds down in Pungo, I only recognize catfish. So both the man and the fish are strangers. Just as I snapped this photo, trying hard to be discrete, he saw me and grinning, posed for a second shot!
The luckiest creature of the day was the fish... he had his picture taken for the world to see and regained his freedom in the lake a moment later!
Submission for Shutterday topic "strangers, not necessarily in the night".
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..... And they only fell out once!
(Click picture for larger view) "Love bravely, live bravely, be courageous, there's really nothing to lose. There's no wrong you can't make right again, so be kinder to yourself, you know, have fun, take chances. There's no bounds." ~ Jewel Kilcher
Take a hot day late in the month of May, add sunshine, a breeze, water, a pontoon boat, a huge blow-up float and kids. What do you have? The perfect recipe for fun. These two little boys were the daredevils... their parents may have held tight to the side grips on their ride, but not these two... they ride the choppy wake with arms raised high over their heads. What fun! Not my idea of fun, but obviously theirs. Give me the camera, a long lens and solid footing on shore... I'll stick to that.
Submission for Thursday Challenge topic "fun". (end of post)
