The Observation Deck

Sharing time with one's loved ones is special indeed. Dad and I just came back from the Metroparks with some photos of winter's waning days. Hopefully, you will share in our experience together as these photos of Lakewood and near-Lakewood reveal the beauty of late winter.

All photos personal property. Usage requires permission.

See the photos HERE:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... ruary-2008

Thanks Gary (and Bob)

Stan,

Let's just take a moment to thank you for your encouragement over these last few years in getting us involved with this project, and so many other things around Lakewood. Dad and I send you our best wishes always!

Gary, to a great extent, you've been the heart and soul of the Deck. You have been a welcome contributor to the newspaper and a darned fine entertainer at our gatherings. I can't imagine the project without you.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr


nice job.



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dl, Jim, Stan:

Thank you all, sincerely, for your kind words.

Since going through a few major life changes, the Observer has proven to be a great "virtual family" and support system for Dad and me.

I suspect that a great many others who contribute to this wonderful project feel the same way. Some may seem to feel included simply by reading, and others, by writing, photography, advice, and in any number of ways.

Thanks for posting that photo Jim. To me, that was the shot of the day. It was the last photo I took in the Emerald Canyon today. The snow was kicking up and the camera was getting soaked, but I saw the shot and the composition at once. With that swirling snow, the image took me back a century, to the impressionist painters of Paris. That's a shot that sometimes takes years to find.

Now, the cryptic question of the day, would seem to be whether that's an island there in the middle of Rocky River, or some long-lost albino Lake Erie sea serpent?

Gary, thanks for sharing those photos -- they're absolutely breathtaking. I could almost hear the soft snow crunching under my feet as I clicked onto each image.

As much as we all complain about winter, perhaps we need to take a cue from nature. Maybe we actually need to take advantage of this brief time just to slow down a bit, take a breather and re-group.

Thanks for reminding me how quietly beautiful something so simple can be!

Natalie,

Thank you.

Gary

Grab this one from the card. Yes it is shot in full color.

This is what the old timers would call "the Emerald Canyon with a platinum finish."

I must have shot it before the debates.






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Jim,

Beautiful.

Thanks for posting so many canyon shots during the different seasons. It is a beautiful reminder of the simple, yet sublime gifts, that surround us.

It also is a reminder that we are custodians of a sacred trust. Old Mother Earth is getting kind of tired, and she needs our help these days more than ever.

But not too much help. Sometimes, we need to leave a few things alone too.

Sometimes, we just need to pause for a moment...and think simply, if indeed, we need to think at all...

Spring is coming soon, but not just yet. Each season has about 90 days equally, give or take a few days of transition in the mix. For a more few weeks at least, the beauty of winter is still ours to enjoy.

Gary Rice wrote:Jim,

Beautiful.

Thanks for posting so many canyon shots during the different seasons. It is a beautiful reminder of the simple, yet sublime gifts, that surround us.

Thanks for the kind words, and beautiful thoughts.

What we have makes Lakewood so different from most other places it always amazes me how blind so many can be.

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