09/28/2008 Our Poster

Day 024 - 09/28/2008 Our Poster
Originally uploaded by Judi FitzPatrick Studio

Yesterday my sister, my older daughter, my son-in-law, and I walked in the 2008 Greater Boston Memory Walk in support of the Alzheimer's Association, MA/NH chapter. It was soggy but warm; we finished with blisters but such a great feeling.

It was so rainy that the poster didn't leave my sister's car, but here it is for all to enjoy.

If your family has been plagued by this disease, please feel free to comment or vent or just say "hi".

Peace to all, Judi

Meet Me At The Fair

I attended The Big E on 9/21 with my sister and a friend of ours. We were thinking the last time we went there together was probably 5 years ago – not much has changed!

There are two Ferris Wheels on the midway as well as many other rides, games to be played, and rubber ducks to be picked up in hopes of the big prize. We all got the small prize - oh well!

It's called The Big E - real name Eastern States Exposition. All of New England plus parts of New York are represented in agriculture and other local products. Each New England state has its own building where these local products are displayed and sold. For instance - in both Mass and Maine there were lobster rolls for sale, as well as maple syrup. Of course Vermont also had the maple syrup and flannel clothing.

In the aggie portion - cows (including my favorite Belted Galloways), sheep, goats, llama, chicks, and more.

There was also a petting zoo for the young’uns.

The Budweiser and Hallamore clydesdales were all there dragging their wagons during the end-of-day parade around the fair grounds along with numerous floats from which Mardi Gras beads were tossed to excited children (big and small!)

We stayed over 8 hours and still didn't see it all, but we sure had fun! Hope to go back again in the next few years.

You can still go as this fair doesn't close until the 28th. Check the web site for more details, and no need to tell you to have fun!

Peace, Judi

LOCAL NEWS

1. If you live in Massachusetts, please vote in the state primary.

2. If you live in eastern Massachusetts, and are looking for a small-town event on Saturday, try attending Arlington's Town Day. The library will be offering it's annual book sale.

Peace, Judi

Edit:

3. Just found that one of my photos was featured in the RedBubble TTV group a few days ago; you can see the group here until the next featured work is shown.

This is the photo:

What's New In POE Treasury09112008

WhatsNewInPOE Treasury09112008
Originally uploaded by Judi FitzPatrick Studio

Another POEcase treasury created by yours truly. These were the newest items added to the promo forum thread the beginning of the week. First 12 listed are visible, the next 4 listed are in the alternates.

You can find this treasury here until 6:00am Sunday, 9/14.

Peace, Judi

I Was Featured On A Blog Today

Thanks go out to Allie for featuring my Rockport Rowboats 2 on her blog today.

The theme today was boats, I am in very good company with two other members of Photographers of Etsy. I hope you'll check out the blog as well as Allie's beautiful Etsy shop. BTW, everything she sells in her shop benefits a children's charity - what could be better than that?

Thanks, Allie, for the feature and all you do for children and POE.

Peace, Judi

POE Treasury

Hope you'll check out this Photographer's of Etsy treasury. Please go here and check out each item by clicking on it. Seriously - time will run out - this treasury will disappear after 2 days.

Peace,
Judi

Is it really a gift?

I’ll get right to the point – if you give something to someone else and you expect something in return, is it really a gift? I don’t think so, but what do I know?

If you’ve been reading these ramblings, you may recall that last year was the first holiday season I asked to be given nothing and would also be giving nothing material – for Christmas. Instead we agreed to donate to charities. (See this post from last December.)

But prior to Christmas 2007, and at other times of the year, gifts have been given and received. Most people give just out of the love they feel or goodness they want to share and expect nothing in return. Most of the time they might not even remember what they gave cousin Becky 2 years ago or Uncle Jim when he turned 50.

I wish everyone felt this way – after all, ‘tis better to give than to receive. Sadly, some "gifts" come with strings attached. These strings aren’t always obvious, but they are there. Months or even years later it might be thrown in one’s face – I did this for you and I did that for you and you should now do this or that for me. It’s like keeping score in a game of tit-for-tat. Well, sorry, but I won’t play and I don’t think anyone else should play either. Besides, as David Roth (folk musician) points out, shoulding on anyone is a “shouldy thing to do”!

According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, one definition of gift is “Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation”. The second part of that says it all.

Peace, Judi