Photography | NealEnJoy

Exploring and Encouraging a Healthy Life Marked with Joy

Posts tagged ‘Photography’

Rainbow Joy

Last evening I went to a fun but bittersweet farewell party for good buddy Ellie Covington (who is Texas-bound, Galveston).

After a torrential downfall forced the party onto the carport, the late-stayers ventured out onto the dock by the marsh and saw this …

(Do you see the second one to the right?)

Of course, we all had to get a little silly.

I quickly texted the pic to my fam and got this response from daughter Emily (mother of grandtwins Madison and Mathew) from the other side of Savannah:

“We can hold it too!”

The joyful promise of a rainbow!

May the excitement and happiness of children be with us all, especially Ellie as she makes her move to the next successful stage of her life!

Category:

In Our Own Backyard, The Joy and Wisdom of Children

Tagged with:

Don’t Tell ME You Can’t Tell I Teach at an Art School!

(Van Gogh)

(Michelangelo)

Last evening, I grandson-sat Daniel (8) and Gabriel (5) while daughter Amy and son-in-law Orte went fancy gallivanting around town.

First, we played a quick game of basketball in the 110 real feel (Neal feel!) Savannah heat, quickly realized we were idiots and ran back inside.

Then we ate a hasitily prepared supper (I like the word “supper” in the summer south so much better than sometimes-pretentious “dinner”), consisting of peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and scrambled eggs and microwaveable bacon. (Okay, so maybe not the healthiest Savannah summer supper choice.)

Afterwards, I broke up a third fight over what level to play a video game (Skylanders? Huh?) and threatened pain if they didn’t stop. (Do grandchildren anywhere take grandparents’ threats seriously?)

Finally I suggested drawing pictures. Daniel immediately bought into the peace ploy, quickly pulling out the tools.

We went to work.

D and G:

Me:

To be honest, I think I felt more pressure since I teach as an adjunct at an art school (SCAD–Savannah College of Art and Design). Allright, so maybe I teach ESL (English as a Second Language) there. But still, it’s an art school.

Daniel’s first (of nine pieces!) finished work of the evening:

“Spyro Super Fire Balls.”

Gabriel’s first (and only): “Morning Apple Orchard” (which looks a little like “Spyro Super Fire Balls”):

(“This makes my hand hurt,” he exclaimed, upon completion–and immediately lay down under the dining room table to rest.)

My first work, “Spotted Dog with a Bad Attitude”:

The muses inspired, and the art continued to roll out.

Daniel: “Let me brainstorm on what to call my next one.” (Two second pause.) “Sharp Tooth Spyro!” And so it was.

“Mega Bolt Cynder”:

“Destroyer Horn Spyro”:

Daniel wasn’t the only one the muses attended to:

“Green Tree Circle of Life”:

“Self Portrait”:

When we finished, Daniel and I curated an art gallery in the sun room. (We barely heard Gabriel as he kept yelling from the playroom: “Stop drawing! Stop drawing!”)

At one point Daniel looked at me and said, “This is SO much fun! Don’t you agree, Abu?”

My artistic heart melted.

Category:

Humor, The Joy and Wisdom of Children

Tagged with:

The Island of Little Library

I’m trying to keep my brain healthy (don’t start) by taking different routes when I’m going places–driving or walking. (I’m not sure if it really helps or not, but it’s fun seeing new sites and recovering from getting lost.)

This morning, I thought I was driving back home (to historic district Savannah) from daughter Amy’s house (on nearby Skidaway Island) by taking a left when I usually take a right. (Is that a good idea?) “I think this will probably lead to Isle of Hope and then though Sandfly back downtown.”

It didn’t.

But it took me to a small island I had not discovered before: Burnside Island …

… and a little surprise.

A tiny library! Miss Coni’s! Right there in a shady, wooded spot on the side of the road.

I was mesmerized so of course had to visit a bit.

I chose an age- (and brain-) appropriate book …

… and sat down to read.

Such a fun (and intellectual) way to spend a few lost moments.

Category:

In Our Own Backyard

Tagged with:

Five Friday Happy Bringers — 5/22/15

MAY — an incredibly joyful month, don’t you think?

Five Reasons for Happy:

1. An early morning walk along the McQueens-Tybee Island trail (between Savannah and Tybee Island–10 mins from my apartment).

2. Grandson Daniel in his end-of-year Who Am I? Research Biography presentation. (He was Paul McCartney, btw.)

(Okay. okay, maybe I helped him a little with the tri-board.)

(He could only get such coolness from his grandfather. Seriously.)

The kids had to explain their research, poster-board-presentation-style, to the folks in attendance.

They do that kinda stuff nowadays in 2nd Grade?! Research?! All I did in 2nd grade was spend a year of trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to stop crying for mama.

3. Being a judge for the 2015 Savannah Authors Anthology. Such fun!

(I want to be a judge … full time. And get paid. Exorbitantly. Call me if you or yours need high-end judging.)

4. Getting 2015 Beach Ready.

5. Seafood at Safe Harbor in Mayport, FL. (After taking the ferry across the St. John’s River on the south end of Amelia Island.)

Safe, Joyful Weekend ahead to you all!

Category:

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Tagged with:

Five Friday Happy Bringers — 5/8/15

I love the month of May. There’s something hopeful, potential, expectant about its very name, “May.”

And here come a few more of my Joy Causers this week:

1. Granddog Spyro.

2. The difficult (for me) but truthful freedom of this declaration:

3. Incredible sand art outside one of the classroom buildings at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design).

This is a collaborative class project called “The Art of the Spectacle.”

4. Loving every moment of Grandson Daniel’s performance in the Savannah Children’s Theatre Dance Program Recital, “Dance Around the World” last weekend.

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

Can you see D in the lower right hand side of the dance teacher’s selfie?

(Shouldn’t that really be called an “usie” or a “themsie”?)

5. Coffee and beignets at Huey’s on River Street this morning.

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

Okay, I LOVE New Orleans, but our beignets here in Savannah are fritters better than theirs at Café du Monde.

YOU SIMPLY MUST KEEP READING BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW MORE THAN MY USUAL FIVE HAPPY BRINGERS.

6. Enjoying the simple beauty of the community Trustees Vegetable Garden (across from my place on East Broad Street here in Savannah).

7. Daughter Amy’s birthday celebration (with a lil help from grandson Gabriel).

8. Robert’s homemade (first time ever) egg rolls.

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

photo courtesy of http://www.robertsnapspot.com

Yum!

9. Rejoicing in the incredible ability to breathe deeply.

MAY you have many reasons to smile this Mother’s Day weekend!

Category:

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Tagged with:

Five Friday Happy Bringers — 4/10/15

“An April Weekend.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful? (Although a bit like a Harlequin Romance novel.)

Here are five causers (is that a word?) of my present joy.

1. A couple more examples of neighborhood nature joy near me in historic district Savannah:

2. An incredible Easter. Here are my four grandies–Twin Madison, Gabriel, Twin Matthew and Daniel.

More random Easter 2015 pics:

(Unhappy and Happy)

3. Easter afternoon, after church and food stuffing, seeing beautiful deer in daughter Amy’s backyard on Skidaway Island.

4. Later, my Easter tradition with Robert of having late Easter evening dessert at a nice restaurant/lounge (The Mansion in Savannah).

5. The ability to find good.

A joyful April weekend to you all!

Category:

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Tagged with:

Five Friday Happy Bringers — 4/3/15

Quick explanation. Why do I, each Friday, post my Five Friday Happy Bringers?

Honest answer: I’m selfish.

Selfish in that, I truly believe, the more we are appreciative, the more we SPECIFICALLY express our gratitude, the more GOOD flows into our lives. I’ve seen that principle flow perfectly SO many times. I keep a daily Thanksgiving Book (some people call it a Gratitude Journal). It’s a phenomenal practice.

So here’s what I’m THANKFUL FOR this week.

1. Grandparents’ Day at Savannah Country Day School yesterday.

So I was to meet Donna at the playground at 8:45 so we could walk in together, but she was running a little late. I stood there, seeing all these folks walking past me, thinking, “These people look OLD. My goodness! It’s SO COOL they recognize the seniors.”

But I said hello to each and every one of the elderly. And I felt ELATED when I realized they thought I was one of the Official Greeters (and not a senior-something.) But then Donna arrived, and we walked into the “Media Center” (what’s wrong with “Library”?).

These people were, well maybe in their 60″s or 70″s!

Wait, I’m there too. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

But what fun! Daniel and some of his friends:

Daniel, with Nana and Abu:

The agenda:

Daniel’s biography research project is on Paul McCartney,

Daniel shared the closing “Thank You for Coming”:

What Grandparent Joy!

2. Next, walking over to younger grandson Gabriel’s Easter Egg Hunt across campus (G is Pre-K.)

Again, what part of “Smile as if you are normal” don’t they understand.

.3. Okay, I’m on a GR (Grandparent Rampage). Yesterday afternoon took me to Calvary Day School and the egg hunt of grandtwins Matthew and Madison.