Penning Photography Daily

Karen & I were the guests of a special couple, Wanda & Don, for a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary.

We had a wonderful time, meeting familiar friends and making new ones. We shared a meal that will live long in our memories as one of the highlights of our lives. An elegant meal like no other.

Throughout the evening, the memories and feelings of the love these two have shared became the tie that bound us all together. We felt loved and we celebrated their love.

Wanda was a tiny girl when she slipped this dress on back then. “98 pounds,” she said, proudly, and rightly so. If you look closely, the bead-work is detailed, delicate and delightful. The sleeves are tapered to a point, “as all girls wanted in those days.” There’s a pearl tiara that’s setting on top of the dress-form, which has a single crystal teardrop at the crown. You can also see the small white shoes Wanda wore on that day of days.

Beautiful then and beautiful now. Love then and forever.

Happy Anniversary, Don & Wanda!

On my walk through the downtown area of Springfield, Illinois, I was passing the Old State Capitol and saw this.

Out of my pocket, I pulled the Panasonic LX3, that is my trusted companion. I did a quick frame and grab, taking just two shots, with slightly different framing.

The redbud tree is what made me stop, then the overcast sky and green lawn drew me in and made it irresistible.

I processed this into an HDR (High Dynamic Range) photograph, to even out the shadows thrown by the rainclouds overhead.

I was gently sprinkled upon by the clouds, but nothing much came of it.

Instead, I made it back to work, and looked forward to seeing this once more.

That’s the nice thing about taking many photos through the week. I always have a treasure trove to dive into, searching for gems such as this.

One of the things I seldom do, is take lunch outside of my building. I usually have too many teleconferences scheduled around Noon because of working wtih folks across the country.

Today was different.

Leah Jones (@leahjones), Amy Guth (@amyguth), Scott Troehler (@scott217) and Leah’s four year old nephew, Henry (no @henryisfour yet) all met up for lunch at Robbie’s on the Square in Downtown Springfield, Illinois. In addition to delicious food, we had fun talking about all manner of subjects.

Amy “makes things with words” such as being a published author, former improvisational comedy writer and troupe member, founder of the Pilcrow Lit Fest, and on! Check her stuff out at http://www.guthagogo.com/ Leah Jones is a whirlwind! At http://www.natiiv.com/ she does Social Media Coaching for Artists, Musicians and Writers. All things new media, that’s Leah. Scott Troehler is director of production & local programming and senior producer at http://wsec.tv a local PBS Public Television affiliate. Henry is a very charming four year old, nephew to Leah.

We talked bunches about much. Sleepover 2.0, improvisational comedy, traveling across five States in a Ford Motor Company Lincoln MKS (the windshield wipers speed up or slow down according to the rain intensity!), all things Abraham Lincoln, local things to see and do, literary festivals, writing a book and how writing the second one is easier than the first, and on and on. Henry put up with us adults with ease. He shared his favorite of the Abraham Lincoln Museum – the Ghost In the Library presentation with real ghosts!

Thanks to Leah & Amy for the invite to lunch. Thanks to our waiter for a nice group photo.

It’s a small world folks, getting smaller and friendlier.

Leah & Henry.

I saw the whistful look in Henry’s eyes and asked to take this.

I do believe that Leah is a very happy Aunt. Henry’s a wonderful lunch companion.

Leah represents I Fight Dragons – note the t-shirt logo – www.myspace.com/ifightdragons Definately worth a listen.

I asked Henry (four years old) if he would take my portrait, and he quickly agreed.

Henry has a neat camera of his own, and quickly figured out my camera – the Panasonic LX3.

It took him all of 5 seconds to compose and grab this of me while we were at Robbie’s in Downtown Springfield, Illinois.

We had a fun Twitter meetup over lunch with Henry’s aunt, @leahjones (Leah Jones), @amyguth (Amy Guth) and @scott217 (Scott Troehler).

Very nice job of portraiture, Henry. My thanks to you, kind sir.

I had a full day today.

We hosted one of my brothers and my sister-in-law overnight. We had fun with my sister Trish and them last night. We continued the conversationt this morning, prior to leaving for Decatur, Illinois.

Our great-neice Mary & great-nephew Charlie were both receiving their first communion at church this morning. A big to-do.

Afterwards. we spent a lovely afternoon at my brother Larry and sister-in-law Beverly’s place, enjoying great food and familial conversation.

Later this evening, Karen & I were hosted by dear friends to a 7 course gourmet meal in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Looking over the photos, there are too many to choose from, but I like this one bunches.

Mary, still in her white dress and veil, giving a super smile for me, and her cousin, my great-neice Charly, looking on in wonder at the veil. The yellow tulips give it the punch of colorthat makes it pop.

Family is good, and getting together with family & friends is even better.

Imagine my surprise when Jodi, one of the folks I work with, brought her camera in to show me this photo.

In the car next to hers in the parking lot, a pair of pigeons had built a nest in a few hours. The nest wasn’t there when the day began, but at Noon, Jodi saw this tableau waiting forr her as she was about to take off for lunch.

Further surprise, when the pigeons didn’t flutter off at her approach. They stood their, newly found, ground.

Kind of them to wait while Jodi pulled her new Pentax W60 camera out and grabbed this pigeon family portrait.

Nice job of having a camera at the ready, and taking advantage of the moment, Jodi!