Have you ever seen a baby...

...giode?

Thanks to www.cvpro.tv for the rock!

Yet another, for shell lovers...

...from Sanibel Island, again, yet this one seems almost petrified. The crackling is most peculiar, but the colors are quite true.

Probably, most likely...

...this is the subject of my next large painting.

It is also a 'for-show' photo, which I have cropped differently, because I have been working diligently to get a show of my mature digital work.

The Extreme Beauty of the Abalone

I may have shown this before, my abalone shell on one of my very apropos abstract backgrounds. Actually, it was my mother's abalone shell, which she acquired in the mid-1950s.

I guess now, it is considered an 'antique'.

I've kept it clean and photographed it a number of times, but never shot the outside until the other day.

What do you think? (Click to enlarge)

The colors inspire me to paint (but it's still too HOT here in Chicago to do it the way I do, as Leonardo did, with layers and layers of glazes, each less than a hair's breadth), so I thought I would give you ALL this benefit, instead of trying to sell it to just one person.

Nature, with all of her vagaries, continues to have no match in Man!

And didn't the Creator really do some marvelous beauty...unlike Man's idea, loaded with pancake make-up, mica glitter and the FALSEST of false eyelashes?

More of Last Evening, in Rogers Park

Sherwin Avenue Garden Path

Windows

Wildflowers at Jarvis Beach

D-Day...not forgotten, never to be forgotten!

I did not forget about the thousands who gave their lives for our freedom on June 6, 1944. Computer 'gremlins' prevented me from posting.

These soldiers sacrificed the ultimate gift to Man--their lives--while our current President failed to even make mention of that fact. He cannot, you see, because he is NOT an American, not at all, in his heart (or lack thereof).

My Dad was not in the war 'over there'. He was here, in the States, in Milwaukee, being a police patrolman, and in 1953, he became a Detective. He, too, died...16 years ago yesterday, June 7th.

My Dad's Patrolman Badge

This time of the year is always sad, but for a President to make things worse by disregarding those who gallantly fought so that some 'COLD FISH' like him could end up in that office?

Unconscionable! And unforgivable!

Up Close with Roses

These lovely, old-fashioned roses can be found on the grounds of Lake Shore Rehabilitation Center, 7200 N. Sheridan Road.

The bumble bee might live in the neighborhood, too!

A peek inside

Come inside my daffodil...

...said the girl.

Daffodil: photographed at the Gateway Centre, Rogers Park neighborhood, Chicago

"I will show you the simple meaning of life."

Tonight's marvelous dinner-in-a-bowl!

Yesterday, I plopped two nice-sized chicken breasts into a pot of filtered water, adding six garlic gloves, a small chopped onion, and a good dash of crushed red pepper. I let that begin to boil, then turn down the gas to let it simmer. When the chicken is tender, it's done, and the end result is a wonderfully flavored broth.

Tonight, I removed the chicken breast (only one left!), and placed 1/4 bag of 'saifun' into the cold broth. (Saifun are mung bean noodles, relatively inexpensive and better than ramen noodles). I also added a cup and a half of frozen broccoli, four sliced Crimini mushrooms and one small chopped fire-roasted red pepper.

Note: The saifun must sit in cold water or broth for about ten minutes before cooking, in order to soften.

Next, I brought it all to a boil, then let it simmer for about 10 minutes after adding the chicken breast.

No added salt (I'm sure there's enough on the frozen chicken breasts); relatively low in calories; some healthy green veggies, and WOW, it photographed well, too!

What a great tasty dinner I had!

This lovely beauty...

...escaped the confines of the Emil Bach House tulips (see previous post) and now resides on the neighboring property.

You get a chance to 'look inside', if you've never done that.

There is certainly more Truth in a single tulip than in all politicians, isn't there?

A sincere thank you to my readers...

...who come from all over this planet! Thank you, so very much!

For those few who may have some appreciation for my photographic efforts, may I offer you the following:

These are river rocks, which I have selectively gilded. They lay in a bowl of Chinese white porcelain. The largest is 1 and one-half inches.

This is a handmade glass bead with gold leaf that I was given in late 1996 by the artist. I am so sorry I do not remember his name, but I became extemely ill that day, with a 105 degree temp. The bead is approximately 3/4" high, just to give you an idea. Click for enlargment!

This egg (1 and 1/16 inches high) was also a gift from another artist, and though it is brownish, I find it very lovely, don't you? Again, click it to enlarge it.

When I do this macro-photography, and see the 'other worlds', I tend to remove myself from the concerns of today's world.

Quite frankly, though I visit the sites, I do not care anymore what Michelle Obama is wearing. She is ill-advised re: fashion.

I do not care any longer regarding what Barry Soetoro (or whomever he may be) is doing. He is extremely ill-advised re: the office of the president of these United States.

*********

On being called a racist...

Yes, I am a 'racist'--a HUMAN racist--because the only race I recognize is the HUMAN race.

No one's color matters to me, as long as they act as if they are human beings.

If, and when, they revert to 'animalism', as so many have recently, it is then that I take umbrage with them.

When anyone begins to feel superior to another, I take umbrage with them.

When anyone attempts to dominate another, I take umbrage with them.

When anyone, especially anyone in the political arena, attempts to dictate to me--oh, yes, I will take umbrage with them, especially if they obfuscate (LIE!).

Drop the race crap, politicians, because no matter what color we are, we are all participants in the HUMAN race!

Today, in Rogers Park

This lovely front garden resides at 1522 W. Sherwin Avenue, and, of course, it changes dramatically as the seasons do their changing thing. Today, it looked like this:

forsythias, tulips and daffodils! It is always lovely here!

Later, I found these three white tulips. How many of you have ever looked closely at a tulip?

Click to enlarge and just do it!

I vowed that, on my way to Evanston to pay the bill for this internet connection, I would shoot this Christmas wreath again.

Hello, Ald. Joe Moore, and your cronies at Gateway Centre! Christmas was almost FOUR months ago!

But then, I noticed again (though the photo is from Sunday), that Ald. Joe Moore, who is notorious for "posting" in the neighborhood, still has NOT sanctioned the removal of this sign, THOUGH THE VOTES ARE ALREADY IN, COUNTED AND PUBLISHED!

How PROGRESSIVE!

Perhaps Bill Morton, at the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce, may have something to say about this, but I am afraid he's too busy photographing coffee cups at Charmers!

Clue: Uniting the community, Bill? Ya workin' on that, YET?

Sunday's Surprises in Rogers Park

This gorgeous magnolia on Sheridan Road, near Greenleaf Avenue, looks fragile...kind of like Poland right now. But it is durable and strong, as are the Polish people!

My favorite Hosta bed on Sheridan Road just south of Chase Avenue shows no sign of damage from the recent hail storm. The Hosta is also durable and strong, much like the Poles, and keeps 'coming back', even when it looks as though it has been beaten to the proverbial pulp!

Then, as I looked down at the sidewalk (always have to watch my step!), I found this little gem on Morse Avenue, just east of Sheridan Road.

It's a tiny copper bit of Rogers Park history, embedded into the concrete. I've Googled and Googled, but can find no mention of "Simpson Bros. Co.", nor can I figure why the term "Chamber of Commerce" applies, as to my knowledge, there was no chamber in Rogers Park during the 1910s or 1920s, which I assume is the period during which this sidewalk was 'laid'.

Perhaps, someday, I'll find the answer?

Something nice to look at...

There is so much garbage in the world of politics, isn't there?

For a visual break from the faces of 'all the usual suspects', I give you an extreme close-up of what I was told is a synthetic rock from South America. In reality, it is only 1 and 13/16" wide.

Enjoy the colors!

Before I stop this day...

...I'll leave you with some small photos to look at and ponder the wonderfulness of the Creator of this magnificent Universe!

This shell fragment is about two inches across. Now you understand why I am very happy with my Nikon P-80!

And, because I feel my day is done, I will watch this:

It is the best way for me to retrieve some part of what can only be considered LOST.

Bill Morton: Are you hitting here at Another Thousand Words, again?

It's all in the glass!

After more than a year, I am very pleased with my Nikon P-80!

Below are some glass rocks which I partially gilded with variegated gold leaf. They're small, less than 2" life size, but they did come out quite well, don't you think?

These are available in 8.5" x 11" borderless prints. If you're interested, e-mail me at:

RPFreeSpeech@gmail.com