Mr. & Mrs. Greenwood?

It has been a busy week to say the least. We've been mostly playing because Nick has been off work. No time for blogging. Besides, the heat has been downright awful lately. Apparently it left our hometown & has followed us up here. Nick says "temperaments flare when temperatures rise..." I hate to admit it, but he is right. It is easy to dwell on the dripping heat when there is no air conditioning--no breeze even. In order to cool our temperaments & temperatures, we escaped to local pubs & shoppies around Baltimore. Here is a list of some of our escapes:

Ellicott Mills Brewing Co. sits amongst a line of historic buildings. Reminiscent of historic St. Charles, it feels like home here. Great beer & good people.

Fell's Point boasts a long list of must-see-places. The Bowery Antiques & Collectibles houses some truly one-of-a-kind-finds. I bought some stemware to be used for the wedding. (Yes, I am actually doing some planning out here.) I also decided that in my next lifetime, I will travel with Nick full-time collecting these vintage items. .
Also, Max's Tap House was a sight for sore eyes--or taste for parched lips--offering more than 100 brews. (Do you see the pattern here? Vintage shoppie, pub, charming shoe store, bar... Now you know the secret to my success. Do you really think he would willingly follow me with all this shopping? Not likely. You must lure him with a Honey Orange Ale or Imperial Stout.)

We ate at Liquid Earth (yes, I know it sounds bizarre but it was quite tasty.) The Espresso Chai Smoothie will soon be replicated at the Orf-Schaub residence in the near future. Schaub-Orf, Orf-Schaub...what a horrid hyphenization. We were thinking of nixing the two all together and going with something like Greenwood or...how does Mr. & Mrs. Leatherwood (borrowed from my honeymaking friend) sound?

BB

really??

Some days I wonder what the hell we are doing out here. Did we really leave our home for the wilderness? To sleep amongst the trees? Under the stars? Are we really traveling around in a rattling jeep & returning every evening to what appears to be a popcorn stand? Really?

I turn to look at Nick & he slowly nods his head "yes, yes we are".

beekeeping Pt. 1

"You're gonna' put me on the Internet?", he said after I asked him if I could photograph him collecting honey from the hive. Well, only a couple of people actually read my blog, so it's no big thing I answered. Needless to say, he agreed. His name is Mr. Rick Leatherwood. His family owns Ramblin' Pines--otherwise known as our home away from home for the last 4 months (only 2 of those accompanied by yours truly). The Leatherwoods have been here since 1864. There are approximately190 acres in total he says as we ride through fields boasting wild blackberries & wild asparagus. He lives in a log cabin between the tall trees with his dog, Bud.

"Believe me I've been stung, if you're a beekeeper, you've probably been stung at some point," he says as we approach the wooden boxes that I later discover are the hives.As he lights the smoker, the most important tool of the trade, I begin to think about the movie "My Girl" (1991) when Vada's best friend dies from an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Maybe this wasn't such a smart idea. I don't recall ever getting stung; I wonder if I am allergic. He did not have an extra bee suit. But he didn't seem worried, so I didn't say anything. He puffed the smoke all around the hives. "Bees think their hive's on fire, you see, so they go in & eat as much as they can because they must leave."He carefully pries off the lid, whistling. He peers inside & notices that it is completely full of honey! A great harvest will come from these hives, which is good news because meanwhile the sting bugs have ruined his crop of fruit from the orchard. The top section (a.k.a. Super) is capped off with wax & incredibly heavy--that is how you know it is ready for harvest. Rick says that each section of this rig will produce approximately 5 gallons of honey.

He leaves me with 2 handmade beeswax candles & a little jar of fresh honey. Phase II will entail a contraption he calls "The Slinger". ((stay tuned))

xoxo - BB

backpack, backpack...

Guess who got a new backpack?!

Yes, I am now trail-ready & completely self-sufficient...I carry my own water, bowl, & extra treats in case I get hungry. What do you think?

it evens out in the end...

We can now add Virginia & Pennsylvania to our list of charted territories. Along the way, I have learned the art of building campfires, roasting marshmallows, & melting bottles. The educator in me finds inspiration for future art lessons at local art museums & galleries (the photos are from the Baltimore Art Museum). Nick has been a good sport about visiting these venues. I guess he sort of owes it to me for all of the mosquito bites & late nights I have endured.

smokey smokerson...

Meet the Italian Model by Emile-Auguste Carolus-Duran, or as I like to call him, Smokey Smokerson. We saw this portrait at the Baltimore Art Museum today. I wonder how many cigarettes he smoked while being painted. I'm thinking 10 to 12.
Anyway, I am posting this to announce that Nick is (as of today) a month cigarette-free.
He would like to take this opportunity to thank e-cigarettes for allowing him to inhale nicotine without all of the harmful side effects. For all my smokers out there who know how delicious a cigarette can taste paired with a nice malt beverage, try it. If Smokey Smokerson were alive, I think he would like puffing on one. He would probably enjoy the menthol flavor best.

loveliness...

A front stoop is a special place. It's where friends gather & morning coffee is sipped. I think I'll pretend this one is mine for today.

triptych...

click on the image to view high res

{ a triptych is a series of 3 prints hung together}

Three is a good number. Right? It is my mom's favorite number. She does everything in 3's. Other reasons to love the number:

1. It's lucky, you know, "3rd times a charm"
2. No one jumps to the count of 5, they jump on 3

3. In photo lingo, the "rule of thirds" almost always makes an exceptional photo

Note to self: make sure there is a 3 in the wedding date. And yes, I am bored, why else would I go on & on about numbers?

what was that?!

You hear a lot of crazy noises in the middle of the night out here. Last night, I think I heard an angry owl murdering a muskrat. Their battle was loud & ferocious. I'm telling you it is true. Nick heard it too...

ooohh...ahh...

Our 4th didn't quite go as planned. We arrived hours early in Columbia & spread our blanket in the primmest of locations. We were just feet from the band, overlooking the lake with a water fountain in clear view of the pending fireworks display. As time passed, blankets continued to cover every speck of ground. There were hundreds and hundreds of people. All is good until the lady on the loud speaker tells us (& about 5 others) to move our blankets because of "fire code regulations". Really? Needless to say we were thrilled to watch the display from the car. Then we spent hours in traffic. Wonderful.

Oh well, at the end of the night, good music has the power to mend all that ails us.

firecracker drawings...

Ms. Vivian (our "landlord") says no fireworks on the campgrounds. But it doesn't truly feel like the 4th without some sort of explosive material on hand. So we settled with some sparklers & a few snap bombs. As darkness fell, I mounted my camera on its tripod & practiced writing with the light of the sparkler. Stay tuned for more firecracker drawings...

P.S. We wish everyone a safe & happy 4th!

Love.

inner harbor...

"inner harbor"

Crazy how these massive ships are just parked like cars downtown.

diana...

"photographs open doors into the past but they also allow a look into the future." -Sally Mann

I found this little camera in Fells Point. I just had to have her. Isn't she a beaut? She takes 35 mm film (much less expensive than medium format) & can shoot 72 images/roll. I am so excited to try her out!

wheat...

Perhaps a field of wheat would be a nice backdrop for wedding photos...

on the road again...

It's always bittersweet--this coming & going. This was the view out of my window as I approached St. Louis. I am packing now to depart from this place I call home. With a feather in my hair and a suitcase filled with things I wish I had on the last trip, I bid adiue to my amazingly supportive family & friends. For I am off to another Land...to our island in the woods.

BB

since I've been gone...

"Ol' Blue"

Our adventure is put on pause as I travel back to Missouri.

It's really strange, but I think I miss the Command Center. Don't get me wrong, I do love the whole sleeping-in-an-actual-bed situation, but it's just not the same here now...((sigh))

It is nice to see some familiar faces for a change. Since I've been back I have attended a funeral, visited with my mama & papa, enjoyed my front porch with Olive & friends, & gotten reacquainted with the TV, stove, & my hairstraightner.

I also had 5 rolls of medium-format film developed. I thought I would post this one first. This is one of the white horses that greeted Nick every morning while skateboarding with Windy. I wonder what they thought of the skateboarding duo. Nick named him Ol' Blue, but I think he looks more like a Henry or a Herbert.

lace up those shoes...

Tonight's tribute goes to Nicholas, my adventurous & wise future husband.

(Wow...that feels weird to say)

Although the past 30 days have been spent TV-less, microwave-less, & makeup-less, I have learned two things:

1. Perseverance is a quality that makes for a good person--and ultimately a good marriage.

2. This might have been exactly what I needed before lacing up my sensible shoes and stepping into a new chapter of my/our life.

a machete...

Nick bought a machete today.
We took turns swinging it around like we were some kind of crazed forest ninjas.

I keep it by my side to ward off strangers and other creatures of the night.

bowchikiwowow...

This one goes out to my mom.

If you know her, you understand.

a little package...

Just when I thought I had lost all connection to the outside world, this little package was delivered to our "front stoop". Inside I would find a couple of bills, some art exhibition opportunities, & a notice to serve jury duty. Really? Duties? I'm not dealing with duties right now.
I'm on an adventure.

the ocean...

Beautious Maximus.

summertime & the livin's easy...

Did you know that there's no air conditioning in the wilderness?

Nick's been talking about buying a window unit for the Command Center. Now that's what I'm talkin' bout. We could just strap it to the side of the tent.

This fresh cantaloupe is the only thing keeping me from throwing a hissy fit to try and convince Nick into an alternative lodging situation--perhaps a nice hotel suite or a little B&B. We could secretly move into a Walmart and sleep on some of the lawn chair display models at night like the movie Where the Heart Is (2001). Shoot.

old architecture...

As we were driving around today, we stumbled upon this old mansion. I might use some of the photos as references for future artwork.

Tonight I am sitting alone in the forest posting these photos for you. I am reminded of the Twilight series. (Yes, I am admittedly a fan of the books--although I do agree that the movies are straight corny at times.) Every time I hear the rustling of leaves, I turn, expecting a mysterious vampire to suddenly appear. Where's my pack of wolves/shirtless group of hunky protectors?

Oh well, the mosquitoes haven't left much for the vampires anyway.

more for the collection...

I am in love with these vintage frames I found online.

More to come...

wings of fancy...

I thought I would share some of the fanciful creatures we saw at Brookeside Gardens over the weekend.

{Please note that as I upload these photos at 1 AM, I am being attacked by moths who think they have found their mates on the screen. Oh, the joys of this nomadic lifestyle...}

P.S. Stay tuned, there are many more photos. I filled my SD card and took one roll of medium format color film with my Fisheye lens on the Holga.

P.S.S. Thanks for reading.

BB

strawberry fields forever...

Today we traveled to the 19th Annual Strawberry Festival in Sykesville, Maryland. For the past two days I have been looking forward to this. I mean who doesn't love strawberries? But, unfortunately I have to report that the festivities did not meet our expectations.
There were no chocolate covered strawberries to be found. No strawberry ice cream, no strawberry margaritas, not even a strawberry-eating-contest.
Ok, there were strawberry shortcakes, but the line was never ending. Instead, I bought this quart of strawberries and called it a day.

movin' on up...

Today we decided to move uptown...

Out of the wilderness you might ask--well, not exactly. We are now located at Site 22 on the sunny side of the forest. I am happy to announce that the Command Center now has access to water AND electricity!

We're in business now, baby.

a collection...

Looking over some of the pics I took this past week, I realized that I have numerous photos of archways. I guess I am subconsciously drawn to them. I am also collecting photos of native moths & butterflies.

Anyway, here are a few from the series.

alongside the road...

Living out of a bag is not easy--conditioner, q-tips, contact solution, all the things you knew you shouldn't have brought but knew you couldn't live without. It's just not easy. Today I am thankful that I brought this hat. I guess Nick is right about the uselessness of accumulating "stuff". Living like a nomad makes you grateful for the few things you do have.

P.S. The flowers were picked from the side of the road. Nick has veered off the path several times so that I can gather wildflowers (really they are just weeds) for our homestead. I have to spruce it up somehow...right?!

funky findings...

Ellicott City.

To celebrate Memorial Day, we traveled to this funky little town where brightly colored shops & cafes line the twisting cobblestone streets.
We ate lunch at the Trolley Shop (Crab Cakes & Blue Moons)...yum...

There were several cute little shoppies.

A Journey from Junk & Sweet Elizabeth Jane were freaking adorable.

Poor Nick sat while I awed at the abundance of nick-knacks and home goods.
I bought a retro kitchen timer, a small coin purse, a hand-painted clothes pin, and a notebook.