Thinking of you tonight, Boston. Your beauty, your history, your spirit, and most of all, your resilience. From my time living in Boston, I know that Patriot’s Day is always the best day of the year–the city at its finest–so it’s hard to wrap my head around what happened today. Thoughts and prayers are with the victims, runners, and residents who were affected by today’s senseless acts..jpg)
Boston Public Library at Dusk, Copley Square, October 2012
.jpg)
When I was in first grade, my class studied Africa. I still remember learning about all of the animals, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Tanzania. It’s weird the things that vividly stick in your mind from 27 years ago. So, when my nephew’s class invited me to share photos and stories about my 2010 trip to South Africa and Botswana, I welcomed the opportunity to return to the same first grade classroom. They are just finishing an intensive study of Africa and I was impressed by all that they knew. Amazingly, my first grade teacher is still teaching there as well…maybe I’m not so old after all! Being back in my elementary school was definitely a trip–everything seemed smaller and the hallways (with the same maroon tile floor) still smelled the same. I saw the blacktop where I played hours of kickball and hopscotch, the field where I demanded to play soccer with all of the boys, and the flagpole where we began every school year by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
As you can imagine, I have a million photos from Cape Town and safaris in both Botswana and South Africa, but I pared down my presentation to focus on the animals that we saw, explain what a daily safari schedule is like, and include some fun stories and videos. Happily, all 42 students (huddled together on the rug while sitting “criss-cross applesauce”) seemed to love it. There were lots of oohs and ahhs for baby zebras, giant snakes, hippos, rhinos, crocs, wildebeests, leopards, and more. They had plenty to say too–first graders are known for their love of sharing verbose comments or stories–but they also had some great questions as well. I also shared a few photos from my visit to a preschool in a rural South African village, and we compared some similarities and differences between the it and their school. Overall, it was a great way to spend a Monday morning! Here are a few (I showed them about 100!) photos from my slideshow.
Do have any vivid memories from elementary school? Share them with us!.jpg)
I spent some time floating in a warm, tranquil part of the Atlantic Ocean two weeks ago and I never wanted to leave. Which may explain why I was so envious of and fascinated by this gorgeous orange leaf just drifting through a blaze of turquoise on its way out to sea. I chased it out as far as I could until it got too deep and I had to give up the photo chase. Happy Friday…here’s to finding your own calming vision this weekend.
Leaf, Dominican Republic, 2013
As promised I’ll be sprinkling the blog this spring with some great ideas to get your photographs off of the computer screen and onto your walls. Friends and clients are always looking for new, inexpensive ways to display their favorite images, whether they hail from a professional shoot or your iPhone. Last week, Pinhole Press introduced a pretty cool solution. Pinhole is a division of Mohawk Paper, so you know you can’t go wrong with the paper quality, but they also do a nice job printing photographs. Let’s be honest, many companies fail miserably at printing photographs. I find Pinhole’s overall aesthetic–from font to product design–to be modern, clean, and crisp. As a professional photographer, I’m lucky to have to a plethora of professional labs that design hundreds of custom products, but I believe that Pinhole offers everyday consumers easy access to unique, high quality products that are difficult to find elsewhere. They didn’t pay me to write this, I swear! I trust Pinhole to print some of my clients gifts and I also love many of their unique photo products, from coasters to wine labels to flashcards.
So what’s the new fun product? Pinhole’s new Celebration Collage, which makes it so easy to create a photo wall at receptions, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, or any big event. With a little planning, you can wow your guests with a unique design customized to any space. The decals peel and stick for simple wall placement, almost like reusable wallpaper. I’d use a more concise pattern than their example above, but you get the idea. You could shape the decals into your wedding date, your new initials, or the big number for a birthday celebration. You could create a shape that is a tribute to the venue or the couple (a lighthouse for a beach wedding, the shape of the island for the Vineyard, Nantucket, etc). You could also choose photos that highlight your wedding colors and thus add another layer to your design. The possibilities are endless! Does this product light your creative fire? Can you imagine where you could use it in your home?
Photos courtesy of Pinhole Press
[…] to brighten up your walls in a fun new way. This spring, I’ve been blogging a bit more about ways to get your photos off of your computer and up onto your walls. I find inspiration all over NYC, but this wall in the Lilly Pulitzer store (could there be any […]
It’s a big day in the Greig household. My daughter turns two today. I’m not one to make a fuss and throw a huge party that she won’t remember, but it’s nice to mark the day with some reflections on what a wonderful journey she has led us on over the last 24 months.
To CMG,
It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year since last year’s birthday post…even if it feels like you went from a baby to a teenager. Ok, not quite; but still, a big year. A year of your first steps, which have now progressed to running and jumping. A year of listening to your vocabulary expand from your first word–bubble–to nearly full sentences. A year of reaching for handles on your tippy toes, and now being able to open doors. A year of asserting your independence and testing boundaries. A year of dancing and singing to your favorite music (you might have perfect Farrell family pitch). A year of discovering your favorite book characters, whether George, Madeline, Corduroy, or Llama. A year of outgrowing all of your clothes far too quickly, you tall girl. A year of playing with your neighborhood friends, and learning how to be “nice, no pushin”. A year of discovering and adoring your cousins–the best playmates of all. A year of heart-melting sweetness: “Yuv you Mommy–kisses” paired with wild sass “NO, I do it.” And a year of discovering your city–on foot, in stroller, on bus or subway–”Bagels! Whee Slide! Museo! Di-o-saurs! Gym! Church! Shake Shack! Duckies! Train!”
A year of pride, for both me and your dad. Life is adventure, and you make it even better.
I’m sure the next 12 months will zip past as well; but for now, Happy Birthday to my adventurous, sweet, funny, energetic, independent, and sassy TWO year old. Please continue to keep us on our toes. I know you will.
XO
Hi Sarah,
I wanted to thank you so much for coming to Duffy. So sorry I couldn’t be there but the birth of my granddaughter took center stage! I heard it was a great visit and the children really enjoyed it. More exciting news! I’m retiring after 38 years of teaching in West Hartford.! Life will be different! Let me know the next time you’ll be in the area. Perhaps we can meet over coffee!
Best regards, Michele