I’ve gone through thousands of small towns in my fifty years of traveling America. One of the things that always catches my attention are the faded signs of the past on an abandoned building. I am always tempted to stop … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #101 – Ghosts Of The Past
If I were to open a new restaurant today, I certainly wouldn’t call it the “Sanitary Restaurant”! I’m sure there are some places that are proud that they don’t get any serious violations by the health department, but I’m also … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #93 – The Sanitary Restaurant – North Carolina
I think it is about time for another Yin/Yang story. Looking at the flower basket above immediately reminded me of this topic. For those of you who might not be familiar with this topic, I give you a short explanation … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #77 – Yin Wang Again…
May 16, 2017 – For some reason I am thinking of Dad today, so I thought I would pen some thoughts about him here. The first job I remember Dad having was working in a small sand casting shop making those little post office doors you still see in your local post office. I’m sure he made thousands and thousands of them. They were made of brass and as a result, he regularly got what he called “brass chills”. That is when he was over exposed to all the brass fumes coming off the melting material. His “chills were frightening to … Continue reading My Blue-Collar Dad… 1950s – 60s
I graduated from college in 1970 and for the next 16 years I led a bachelor’s life. A good part of that time was dedicated to my fishing years with the rig above. I built a custom interior in the van for sleeping and hauling all the junk required. The 1976 Chevy van was my third new vehicle I had purchased. I traded in a 1973 Chevy Laguna, which replaced my 1970 Mustang. Yeah, in those years you pretty much wore out a vehicle in three years. Getting to my fishing years, eight months a year I was on lakes … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #45 The Fishing Years 1975 – 1985
I think the flower above is an Oriental Poppy, but if I am wrong, please let me know. But, this flower was the cause of one of my most serious fights with my wife in our 35 years of marriage. It came in 2003 and totally surprised me. We were in our homestead three years, and I decided to help my wife with some weeding of her flower beds. Before I go any further, I need to tell you that my wife was a SERIOUS flower gardener. Back to the story. When I saw some thistles growing in her beds, … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #41 Oriental Poppy?
One of the most difficult things about living in retirement, especially for us elder orphans living in a retirement community, is “time drift“. I don’t know if I invented that phrase, but it certainly applies to me at this time in my life. I can count on one hand the number of people who have come into my apartment for a visit in the last three years. That, and the fact that I am mostly inept at things socially, means that I live my life almost totally on my own. Days just seem to drift into weeks, and weeks into … Continue reading RetComLife – Time Drift
I love finding 100-year-old murals during my travels across America. This one was from a nearby town of Bedford, Indiana. They claim to be the “Limestone Capital of the World”. I don’t know about that, but I do know that … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #91 – Indiana Limestone
I know I am using plenty of clichés here, but I think you get the idea. Go to the big city, and they spend big bucks to keep the above flower out of their lawns. Being basically a country boy, I love the diversity of a country lawn. It is not just one boring plot of the same old grass. I remember when we first moved into our country homestead in 2000, there was a yard pump in the side lawn with wild violets around it. When I left in 2021, almost the entire 3 acres were covered in violets … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #44 – One Man’s Trash…
In some ways, graphics a hundred years ago were not that much different than they are today. The mosaic above is proof of that. This picture was taken at the Wright Brothers National Museum in Dayton, Ohio. It is a place well worth a visit. Continue reading Mosaic of Life #88 Dayton Heavenly Bikes
I think this is one of my most artsy photographs I have taken. It is kinda in the vain of my many reflection pictures. But, this one was taken through a large window in the Terminal Tower building lobby in Cleveland, Ohio. Below is the exterior view of the building. Continue reading Mosaic of Life #89 – A Mosaic In A Mosaic
Sometimes you get lucky and click the shutter button at just the right instance. That pretty much describes today’s mosaic. Several of the reenactments I have visited have booming cannons, but I never realized how dramatic they were. Yes, when … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #87 It’s All About Timing…
Just when I think I have photographed the most complex “Into The Depth” flower, another one come to take the “Most” title. If I were to make an abstract painting that described the complexity of my mind, it would probably closely resemble this picture. Just so you know, this picture was not modified in the least from when it was taken. Continue reading Mosaic of Life #86 – The Most Mysterious
I have found out that Lego is not just a bunch of blocks, but instead it is a creation yet to be discovered. It took about 4 hours to build this 771 piece LEGO Icon Succulents. It was a very peaceful 4 hours. Yes, I know this is a “kit” that has probably been sold to thousands of different people. But this is just what I needed almost a year ago to finally push me in a different direction. It was the beginning of the process, and I’m certainly glad it happened. Continue reading Mosaic of Life #78. Lego Beauty
RJ's Corner - Having My Say 