White Flag

As many of you noticed yesterday I didn't post a photo.  You can probably guess what that means...

Yup.

I'm not keeping up with this project anymore.  Why?  Because its making photography seem like an assignment.  Homework.  Something looming over me left to complete. That, my friends, is the opposite of what I had hoped to achieve doing this.  While 365 projects can spur creativity and create an outlet for talent they also host evils that plague the mind and spirit of what it used to love.  I have no regrets and lord knows that just thirty-plus days of this project was monumental enough considering I am in school full time, working night shifts, and pregnant.  So facing an addition to the family later this year, the NCLEX-RN, and lord knows what else, I can already feel this project become intense and pressuring.  So I am calling in quits while I'm ahead.

My appologies to anyone I may have let down, but I hope you understand!

In the mean time you can always see my photographs (just not on a daily basis) at my photography blog NEKPhotography.blogspot.com  and you can participate in my photo contests and read me regular real-life blog at CabinFeverVermont.com.  

- Jen

Thirty Eight

Waft verb.

1. To cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water.
2. To convey or send floating through the air or over water.

Smoke from a nearby chimney wafts through the valley just before sunrise.  It was well below zero and I was standing in thigh deep snow when I took this photo.  Brrr....

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: direct

Thirty Seven

*Due to a laptop who's display is only intermittently working and a freak snowstorm I had to dig into my archives today for this one.  Hope you don't mind!*

Historic adjective.

1. Having importance in or influence on history.
2. Historical.

Historic downtown Saint Johnsbury, Vermont.

An HDR photo taken during the summer of 2010

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: waft

Thirty Six

Fetch
    1.  bring: go or come after and bring or take back
    2.  to go for a certain price

"Wanna Play Fetch With Me??"

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: historic

Thirty Five

Crossroads  noun.
A road that intersects another road.

Around here there are some crossroads without a stop sign or much more than a road sign planted in an unusual place.  Its not like there's much traffic to contend with or people who don't know where they're already heading.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: fetch

Thirty Four

Determined adjective.

1. Marked by or showing determination; resolute.
2. Decided or resolved.

This cactus plant is the most determined living thing I've ever encountered.  Why?  Because two years ago my mother sent it to me as a gift.  UPS dropped it off at our doorstep while my husband and I were away for two days.  It spent two days outside in subzero temperatures.  My mother in law rescued it and gave it to us when we returned.  I nursed it for days (and mind you have I no green thumb) as I watched pieces of the poor plant die off and crumble.  Weeks later it seemed to stop dying.  With just a few stubs left I noticed it was growing!  Now, two years later, it has flowered for the first time.  Now that's what I call determined.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: crossroad

Thirty Three

Cozy  adjective.

1. Snug, comfortable, and warm.
2. Marked by friendly intimacy

I can't think of any better word to describe this photo other than "cozy".

This is an HDR photo of my cat laying in our windowsill as it snows.  

Why can't life for people be this simple?

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: determined

Thirty Two

 Jelly noun.
 A soft, semisolid food substance with a resilient consistency, made by the setting of a liquid containing pectin or gelatin or by the addition of gelatin to a liquid, especially such a substance made of fruit juice containing pectin boiled with sugar.

While I am a fan of jelly doughnuts my favorite are Boston Creams. 
And yes, I did go and buy a doughnut just for this. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: cozy

Thirty One

Station noun.

1. 1. A place or position where a person or thing stands or is assigned to stand; a post
   2. An area where a person is assigned to work.
2. The place, building, or establishment from which a service is provided or operations are directed
3. A stopping place along a route, especially a stop for refueling or for taking on passengers

This is the old train station in Island Pond with the sun reflecting off it near the end of the day.  It used to be a grand station with eight or nine (according to older people in town) sets of tracks that served dozens of freight and passenger trains a day going all the way from Montreal to Portland, ME.  Now there are two sets of tracks and no passengers.  The train still  travels through a couple times a day and stops to switch conductors (the Candian conductor and American Conductor... you can only operate a train in your respective country), but the station is now partly a bank, partly the historical society's office, and also holds a town office for the UTGs (Unified Towns and Gores - about half a dozen 'towns' that have 20 people or less in them that share joint local government).  You know... I'd love to see what this station was like 100 years ago. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: jelly

Thirty

Round adjective

1. 1. Being such that every part of the surface or the circumference is equidistant from the center: a round ball.
   2. Moving in or forming a circle.
   3. Shaped like a cylinder; cylindrical.
   4. Rather rounded in shape: the child's round face.
   5. Full in physique; plump: a round figure.

There are quite a few round barns in Vermont.  This one always seems to have cows in front of it.  There is another one, freshly painted, farther north that I want to photograph.  The only problem is there's not an easy way to reach it without walking right through their front yard! 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: station

Twenty Nine

Vegetable noun.

1. 1. A plant cultivated for an edible part, such as the root of the beet, the leaf of spinach, or the flower buds of broccoli or cauliflower.
   2. The edible part of such a plant.
   3. A member of the vegetable kingdom; a plant.

Just some plain old cucumber slices.  

I am honestly not much of a vegetable person, especially lately.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: round

Twenty Eight

Daylight. noun.

1. The light of day; sunlight.

2. Daybreak. Daytime.

Daylight is a blessing I've learned not to take for granted after working night shifts.  

It is also the essential element that dictates almost all of my photography

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: vegetable

Twenty Seven

Cuddly adjective
huggable, embraceable

A cuddly moment between my husband and his dog.  

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: daylight

Twenty Six

Graphite noun.

A soft, steel-gray to black, hexagonally crystallized allotrope of carbon with a metallic luster and a greasy feel, used in lead pencils, lubricants, paints, and coatings, that is fabricated into a variety of forms such as molds, bricks, electrodes, crucibles, and rocket nozzles. Also called black lead, plumbago.

Rather than going with an obvious photo of a pencil I actually went out and purchased a pencil sharpener (because I didn't have one) to get a different perspective.  Its about as close to an "action" shot as you can get for 'graphite'. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: cuddly

Twenty Five

Wind  noun.

1.  Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air parallel to or along the ground.
2. A movement of air generated artificially, as by bellows or a fan.
3. . The direction from which a movement of air comes.

I love when you can see the power of the wind animated, in this case its blowing  the freshly fallen snow off of the trees and into the roadway. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: graphite

Twenty Four

Detailed adjective.
Characterized by abundant use of detail or thoroughness of treatment

A detailed, tiny, heart-shaped button on a hand made, crocheted baby's sweater at the baby shower I attended this weekend.  Little intricacies like this make me smile.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: wind

Twenty Three

Signal noun.

1. 1. An indicator, such as a gesture or colored light, that serves as a means of communication.
   2. A message communicated by such means.
2. Something that incites action.

Sometimes life is nothing, but waiting for a traffic signal to favor your direction.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: detailed

Twenty Two

Distress verb

1. To cause strain, anxiety, or suffering to. 
2. Law. To hold the property of (a person) against the payment of debts.
3. To mar or otherwise treat (an object) to give the appearance of an antique or of heavy prior use

Years of harsh weather and abandonment has distressed this lonely house sitting next to the tracks. 

I am not sure what this building was ever used for.  It sits directly on this set of tracks and on its other side is a rail yard with four or five other sets of tracks.  No other building is anywhere near it nor is there a way to reach this building except by traversing a tree covered hill or by train.  

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: signal

Twenty One

Stun verb.

1. To daze or render senseless, by or as if by a blow.
2. To overwhelm or daze with a loud noise.
3. To stupefy, as with the emotional impact of an experience; astound

This horse was a little stunned to have his photo taken while he was eating.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: distress

 

Twenty

Painted adjective

1. Represented in paint.
2. Covered or decorated with paint.
3. Excessively made up with cosmetics.
 

Grafitti painted on the side of a rail car.  

I am never able to decipher the cryptic lettering, but find it strikingly interesting

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: stun

Nineteen

Consistency noun.

1. 1. Agreement or logical coherence among things or part.
   2. Correspondence among related aspects; compatibility:.
2. Reliability or uniformity of successive results or event

The consistency of the sun rising is something I have faith in everyday.  

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: painted

Eighteen

Natural adjective.

1. Present in or produced by nature.

Naturally curly hair.  No make-up.  It doesn't get more natural than this.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: consistency

Seventeen

Five noun.

1. The cardinal number equal to 4 + 1.
2. The fifth in a set or sequence.

Route 5 pointing towards home.  

It's impossible to get photos of road signs while driving so for this one my husband was driving as we were returning from the grocery store.  I didn't wan't to do something cliche like five objects in a photo so I decided there is nothing more fitting for this word than the sign for the route we live on.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: natural

Sixteen

Fluid noun.
A continuous, amorphous substance whose molecules move freely past one another and that has the tendency to assume the shape of its container; a liquid or gas.

Snow, in fluid form, melted on the deck railing.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: five

Fifteen

South noun.

1. The direction along a meridian 90° clockwise from east; the direction to the right of sunrise.
2. The cardinal point on the mariner's compass 180° clockwise from due north and directly opposite north.
3. An area or region lying in the south.

South, the direction the chilly winter wind is not pointing lately. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: fluid

Fourteen

Blanket noun.

1. A large piece of woven material used as a covering for warmth, especially on a bed.
2. A layer that covers or encloses

A blanket of snow covers the countryside.  

St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: south

Thirteen

Rusty adjective
1. Covered with rust; corroded.

Wood's store in Lunenburg Vermont.

It's long abandoned with a corroding and rusty sign.  

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: blanket

 

Twelve

Pair noun

1. Two corresponding persons or items, similar in form or function and matched or associated

A pair of perfectly comfortable paws.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: rusty

Eleven

Underneath 
   noun.  The part or side below or under.
   adjective.   Lower; under.

The view from underneath the Taftsville Covered Bridge.  

I had to climb (tumble) down a sixty foot hill to a gushing river below to get to this location.  While most shots others take of this bridge are facing the other side of the bridge, where a road passes along the river side beyond that waterfall, I chose the difficult path laden with trees and thistles.  It was well worth it because the view is actually much better underneath the bridge at that vantage point than anywhere else. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word of the day: pair

Ten

Note  noun.

1. A brief record, especially one written down to aid the memory: took notes in class.
2. A brief informal letter.

 A little note from my husband's great aunt that she just sent us.  

There's nothing I love more than getting letters in the mail. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: underneath

Nine

Fence noun.

1. A structure serving as an enclosure, a barrier, or a boundary, usually made of posts or stakes joined together by boards, wire, or rails.

An old fence line in a field in Reading, Vermont.  

The yellow tint is from the the sun rising over the hills

Tomorrow's randomly generated word is: note

 

Eight

Cross noun.

1. 1. An upright post with a transverse piece near the top, on which condemned persons were executed in ancient times.
   2. often Cross The upright post with a transverse piece upon which Jesus was crucified.
   3. A crucifix.
   4. Any of various modifications of the cross design, such as a Latin cross or Maltese cross.
   5. A medal, emblem, or insignia in the form of a cross.
2. The Christian religion; Christianity.

 

 

St. Anthony's Church in White River Junction.  

Lots of lens-flare happening here, but still beautiful

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: fence

Seven

Kitchen noun.

1. A room or an area equipped for preparing and cooking food.
2. A style of cooking; cuisine: a restaurant with a fine French kitchen.
3. A staff that prepares, cooks, and serves food.

Making some mini cheesecake deserts for the guys at the fire station.  

Baking seems to be my new hobby and the firefighters seem to like that too. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: cross

Six

Cow  noun.

1. The mature female of cattle of the genus Bos.
2. The mature female of other large animals, such as whales, elephants, or moose.
3. A domesticated bovine of either sex or any age.

Just some cows down the road in Norwich, Vermont.  

I love photographing cows, or any livestock for that matter. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: kitchen

Five

Mainstream noun.

The prevailing current of thought, influence, or activity

 "Main Street" Woodstock, Vermont after a light snowfall.

A pedestrian crossing the street allowed me to stop in the middle of the road and be able to pull up my camera for a quick shot so I didn't even have to get out of my car for this photo.  This town is always bustling with people, especially tourists. 

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: cow 

Four

Crystal noun.

1. 1. A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts.
   2. The unit cell of such a pattern.
2. A mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz, having a crystalline structure, often characterized by external planar faces.

 Crystal trees (actually hand blown glass) illuminated in the window of the Simon Pierce Gallery in Quechee.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: Mainstream

Three

Curve noun.

1. 1. A line that deviates from straightness in a smooth, continuous fashion.
   2. A surface that deviates from planarity in a smooth, continuous fashion.
   3. Something characterized by such a line or surface, especially a rounded line or contour of the human body.

 A curvy stream near the Connecticut River in Thetford, Vermont

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: Crystal

Two

Thousand noun.
The cardinal number equal to 10 × 100 or 10³.

 A thousand berries, or seeds, or whatever they are, on the bush in my front yard.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: Curve

One

Life. noun.

1. 1. The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism.
   2. The characteristic state or condition of a living organism.
    

 Every year my mother sends me a plant around Christmastime.  

Its the only thing bursting forth life this time of year in my home.

Tomorrow's randomly generated word: Thousand