A Father, Photographer and Computer Geek living in Chester County (PA).
My Photo Journal of images taken in Chester and Lancaster Counties, including Covered Bridges, Barns, Nature, Fine Art and Events. Images can also be found on VisitPA.com and ExplorePATrails.com.
This is a recent photo restoration I did of the US Air Force Graduating class (Sqdn 3710 – Flt 0011) at Lackland AFB from February 1969.
The original image is 10 x 20 inches, and as you can see, was torn in half, and not stored flat, which lead to a lot of cracks in the emulsion of the paper.
Graduating class (Sqdn 3710 – Flt 0011) – Lackland AFB – February 1969
I took me about 30 hours to get the final result that you see, and several good audio books.
If you are interesting in getting your own photos restored, please feel free to contact me for a free consultation and quote.
On Saturday (7/27), I had a chance to revisit “The Rectory School” in Pomfret CT, for the first time in 18 years, when I had attended the 75th Anniversary ceremonies.
This time, I was there to mourn the death of a beloved teacher, “Swish” White, who helped to shape this young teenager back in the late 1970s.
It was a small sweet ceremony held at Christ Church, located right across the street, where I once sat in the pews, twice a week for three years.
Memories flooded my mind, as I looked around the old church with it’s beautiful stain glass windows and vaulted dark wood beams reaching high into the ceiling. The chosen music echoing in the air.
I sat with my daughter and Peter Rosengarten, listening to the tributes to Ms. White, for all the wonderful things she had done during her lifetime as a Wife, Mother, Teacher, Tutor, Mentor, Musician and Friend.
During one tribute by Mr. Groom, he made reference to the school play “Oliver” directed by Mrs. White, and how she was able to temporarily ‘tame’ the boys, and harness their energy into something wonderful.
Of course, Peter and I had to starting poking and pointing at each other, like the little school boys we had been, bringing a chuckle to those in attendance.
I was also very fortunate to be introduced to Ms. White’s daughter, Jesse, when I was still a student at the school, and the two of us have remained close friends for over 35 years, and becoming an adopted “Aunt” of our two kids.
At the luncheon held after the Service, I was able to chat with some of my teachers that I had not seen since 1995 or before: Mr. Groom, Mr. & Mrs. Seaward, Mr. & Mrs. Washburn and my first tutor Ms. Barker!
How does one cram half a lifetime into 5 minutes of conversation!
Eventually, Peter, Madison and I, found Jesse and told her we were going to walk the campus, and not to leave without saying good bye.
We walked to the colonnade, a common meeting point so many years before, and looked out at all the changes, trying to describe them to Madison.
Peter was far more versed in the changes, since he had just at a son graduate the year before.
For Madison, it was a chance to see where Daddy lived for three years of his life, including two surviving dorm rooms, and enhanced stories from Peter.
After about an hour, we head back to the church, and found Jesse, packing up for a more intimate family reception down the road.
We chatted some more, trying to comfort Jesse as much as we could, and updating our information so that if there were a need, we could easily communicate with each other.
Finally, it was time to depart.
We hugged and kissed and went our separate ways – Peter to a local comic book store, and my long drive home with Madison.
To Mrs. White – Thank you so much for those various seeds you planted so long ago! They have taken root, and continue to grow because of you. You will be greatly missed!
Last year, in early May, there was a dense cloud cover over the whole area, but the small group of us, still managed to have some fun with night-time photography.
Early in the week, the weather reports suggested that once again the Chester County area was going to have clouds, and as Sunday approached, watching the reports, I was skeptical.
By Sunday afternoon, I started to see posts from folks wondering when and where to meet, and it was agreed to meet at the usual location, the Boat Launch side of Marsh Creek.
All afternoon, I was looking at the sky, and by 7:45pm, I left the house.
While I drove along Creek Rd (282) heading north, I could peek through the trees, and began to think that our atmospheric luck was beginning to change.
As I turned right on N Reeds Rd, and looked over my shoulder into the horse field, I was greeted with this –
Hilltop Sunset – Super Moon 2013
I continued down the park road, and turned into the front parking lot,nearest to the lake, and was looking for tripods.
Passing the first group, I did not see anyone that I knew, and continuing on until I thought I recognized a truck, and then I saw a friendly wave.
After parking, I got out of the car, walking over to Dan and Brian, shaking their hands in greetings.
Canoes at Sunset – Super Moon 2013
We chit chatted as I unpacked and setup.
It did look like a good night!
Not perfect, but it will do, and for the next two hours, I had some fun with the event!
Canoes at Super Moon Rise 2013 – 03
Canoes at Super Moon Rise 2013 – 02
Canoes at Super Moon Rise 2013 – 04
Canoes at Super Moon Rise 2013 – 01
I knew I could not stay out late, and said my ‘goodbyes’, and headed home.
While driving back along Creek Rd, the brightness of the full moon pierced the leaves of the trees, making me think of a quick picture to end the night.
Eventually, I found myself in the small parking lot across the street from the new Minquas Fire Company Station House.
I was about 5 minutes late, but what are you going to do…
So starts the second week of Summer Vacation, and it is raining…
Since vacation has started, my kids have eaten more bandwidth than food!
What to do?
Well, being the frugal person that I am, and seeing that we had 5 ripe bananas…
I Googled three recipes, printed them up, and had the kids review the recipes, and create a common ingredient list:
5 Ripe Bananas
2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 Stick Melted Salted Butter
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Vanilla
Preheat Oven to 350ºF. In large bowl, mash the bananas; Mix in the Eggs, melted butter, brown sugar, baking soda/powder, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour mixture into buttered loaf pan, and bake until center is cooked and crust is deep brown (60+ mins).
This helped Logan with this reading, while Madison learned more about units and measurement conversions!
What was also fun, was to comparing ingredients, such as white vs brown sugar, and deciding which one to use.
They also gotten to use a mortar and pestle to ground the fresh cinnamon, which was finished off in a coffee grinder.
I encouraged them to taste it, and explained why it was not a good idea to try the fad trick of trying to swallow a tablespoon!
And let us not forget the mashing of the bananas!
During clean-up, we also had the chance to “test” the classic Baking Soda vs Power with vinegar trick!
As I set up and measured, the kids kind of knew what was going to happen, but they were still very eager to see what would happen!
Finally, as the bread pan went into the oven, we used some of the leftover flour, to test our drinking glasses for fingerprints!
Update
I have since started this post, and the lights in the house flicker off and on because of the storm passing over us.
The house is beginning to smell good!
Update 2
The loaf is out and the smell!
The kids don’t seem to understand ‘cool down on a rack’…
