the big ball – 2013
New Year's Eve means the big charity ball in South Charleston, Ohio. Every year, a Civil War period ball is held to benefit the South Charleston Opera House.
I've shot the ball a few times and every time, I struggle to take good images. The light is low and there is a lot of motion. Still, it is beautiful to see and one of my favorite events of the year. Those of you with very good eyes might notice that my good friend Debbie is playing in the band. That woman has skilz!
You can see the entire set of photos at this link.
cupcake day
Tomorrow is National Cupcake Day. In honor of the event, my co-worker Jen made these gorgeous and delishious dark chocolate and peppermint cupcakes. Being a firm believer in the concept of breakfast cookies and brownies, I added cupcakes to my list of approved breakfast foods and dug right in.
It's good to
be an adult by age and a kid at heart. Thank you Jen!
happy valentine’s day
I hope it is a good one.
we had a ball
New Year's Eve, I took a friend up on an invitation to attend a Civil War ball held annually in SOuth Charleston, OH. I am not a reenactor and I really didn't know what to expect.
I don't think that I have ever used the word "enchanting" in my entire life. However, enchanting is the only word that really covers my experience. The ladies in their hooped skirts and the gentlemen in their tails and dress uniforms were a spectacular sight.
Just a little costume failure. Nothing that a couple safety pins couldn't remedy.
The ball was held in an old 1880's era opera house and the proceeds from the door charge went towards the upkeep of the building.
The small music group played throughout the evening and the guests waltzed and danced reels non-stop.
The ball is held twice a year, on January first and mid summer. I think I will plan on joining them again and again. After all, we can all use a little enchantment in our lives.
happy new year!
I had a fantastic New Year's Eve. For the first time in several years, I actually went out. Really! We normally stay home on New Year's Eve and have some family over for a fun evening of hanging out, eating and drinking. However, this year, I received an interesting invitation that just could not be turned down. And so, I braved the cold mean streets of Ohio and ventured out into the dark evening, only to find a lot of light and great music. I'll tell you more about my evening as the week goes by. How about you? What did you do for New Year's Eve?
holiday sweets
Good morning folks. I hope your holiday preparations are winding down and that you have plans for a relaxing time with family and friends. Our shopping is done and we are putting the finishing touches on wrapping. So, I think we are in pretty good shape for Sunday's main event.
I'll be travelling over the next week and posting might get a little spotty as I am driving from Ohio to Georgia and back. I'll make posts along the way and let you know what I am up to. However, they might not be daily and they might not be first thing in the morning as usual.
Have a fantastic holiday.
grilling time
If you have ever lived in the US for an extened period of time, you probably know that labor Day weekend is the official close of the summer grilling season. That is not to say that we won't fire up the grill a few more times before winter sets in. Any back yard BBQ from here on out is considered post season play.
I didn't grill anything over the holiday weekend, but my Friend Jim and I did run into another kind of grill and I thought you might enjoy a few shots.
Enjoy your Thursday Folks. The weekend is only a day away.
memorial day
Here in the U.S. we are in the midst of a long three day holiday weekend as we celebrate Memorial Day on Monday. This is a holiday dedicated to remembering our veterans that fought and died for our freedoms, beliefs and security. We celebrate with mixed emotions. Thinking of the death of those we have loved is tempered by the unofficial start of the summer season. On one hand we think about loss and sacrifice while on the other hand we make the most of the long weekend by opening our pools and firing up our grills. It's that duality of the holiday that can often be confusing for me.
I make a point of visiting our local cemetery over the holiday weekend. Springfield has a beautiful national cemetery that seconds as an arboretum. On this weekend more than any other, people visit the cemetery. Families lay flowers and the occasional cherished object on the graves of those that are dear to them. As in many American towns, local veterans groups place flags on the graves of every veteran. The flags are a stark reminder of how much sacrifice has been made on our behalf.
More than the memorials, the statues, or even the grave stones, the flags get to me. They are a dynamic symbol, full of life and movement in stark contrast to the markers and stones containing the names of the dead.
They can not be easily dismissed from memory as we devour our holiday picnics and play at our summer games. We remember them.
tim mcmurdo 