Introducing Peyton

New feet

The photo shoot

Peyton

Peyton again

Modern Maternity Ward

My idea of the maternity ward was a mother in a sterile delivery room with nurses dressed in starched white uniforms and the father anxiously pacing in the waiting room. Everyone has known for years that my view went out the window a long time ago. I have been clinging to my experiences in the the 1950's when my mother gave birth to my younger sister. We couldn't even go into the hospital, let alone visit her, during the whole week she recouperated. We had to sneak around to the back of the hospital and have my mother open the window to see her during that long week. Adopting children did not give me the maternity ward update.

I was not prepared for my experience at the maternity ward this week when my precious granddaughter was born. Lorrie was asked by Andrea to be with her in the delivery room. So, I went to the hospital to pace in the waiting room.

Surprise! We get off the elevator to be met with chaos. I could see a gaggle (that's a word of unknown origin that my father used) of people, small children to teens to grandparents. What was going on? I soon observed that this family outing/reunion was breaking camp. Everyone appeared to be disappointed. Soon a very pregnant girl appeared and led the troops down the elevator. False start!

I was invited into the delivery room where nothing much was happening except the monitors were fascinating. The nurse comes in to do an examination. I decide it is time to leave. Before long my son-in-law, Derek, comes down the hall and tells me that the action is about to begin and that Peyton will soon make her mortal debut.

The old women in the waiting room are talking centimeters like everyone around them were experts in these things. How would they feel if I would engage them in conversation about f-stops on my camera? It is the same thing isn't it - except f-stops are smaller, the larger the number!

Then the families begin to arrive as we await the grand announcement, not by a doctor coming to preside over the annoucement, but by a cell phone call from the intersanctum from an excited grandmother.

Great. Do we now go home? No! We are invited into the delivery room to see the new miracle just minutes old. Those were special moments. Thanks, Andrea and Derek. Calls to the new aunts and uncles and cousins go out. The internet fires up. The word spreads like- wildfire?- No, like, as fast as smart phones can be checked.

Well, we go home. Does the action stop? No. Soon Ben, the photographer, must get to the hospital to get picture of the new-born and celebrating parents. Great pictures, Ben. They are all over the internet within hours.

Nine babies were born in the hospital the same night as Peyton. It was the Harvest Moon.

Next day. Anyway, when I go to the hospital for a visit after work, I step off the elevator at the maternity ward. Amazing, the same gaggle of people are there again. The same family as the night before. The waiting room looks like a college dorm room or perhaps, more appropriate, a house after the girls had a sleep over. Bankets, pillows, candy wrappers, coke bottles and whatever else you can imagine. I see the same grandfather, about 50, a blue collar type, who now hasn't slept in three days. He looks like death warmed over. He is trying to move the troops out again. (This time there is a baby). I consider talking to him and suggesting that he looks like he should be admitted to the hospital himself (that would be a joke). I decide against it when he utters a string of profanities and proclaims that his wife thinks that she has to be the hospital's housekeeping staff and clean up the aftermath of a tornado that his family inflicted on the waiting room. Finally, the family moves out. I shall not forget the tired wrinkled face, pull over shirt with wide blue and green horizontal stripes worn by that poor man both nights of his maternity ward experience.

It isn't a maternity ward. It is a three ring circus and our crew and family was in one of the rings.

How can mom and baby get any rest? (That's why they send them home within 48 hours now.) Friends, neighbors, family, toddlers and nurses all converge in the room. So much for germ control. A trip to the Golden Arches brings a hamburger for the new mother - hospital food just won't do. Again, the smart phones buzz as congratulatory calls come in, the progress of the delivery of a close friend is monitored and to take on the spot pictures of everything. Then out comes the laptop. No respectable, connected parent would go to have a baby without her laptop. Uploaded pictures of the last 24 hours are immediately available to view on the computer. This generation is amazing.

My head is still swimming with all of the new images that have come with this new experience. My image of the maternity ward will never be the same.

Thank you Andrea and Derek for a wonderful new grandchild and some new experiences.

Purple Flowers

I like these paper thin petals with the back lighting.

Monument Valley

A number of years ago, I snapped this photo from an airplane window. Monument Valley, in the heart of Navajo country, is an amazing display of what erosion from the wind and water can do to a landscape. I cannot imagine how some of these mesas and pillars of sandstone have been left standing against the ravages of nature for millions of years. I suppose that the human race is no different. As you view the population as a whole, many are laid low by the savage wind and flood of the forces faced by humanity. Yet, there are examples of individuals and families that resist, refuse to be ground into sand and stand as monuments of strength. They are as amazing as these monuments as they, without recognition and fanfare, weather the daily storms and provide us with examples in our own corner of the valley. Not all the standing are of the same shape and size; rather, they adapt in their own way to remain above the blowing sand below. Thanks to all of examples of family and friends in my circle who, in my estimation, stand in Monument Valley.

Note: Monument Valley is one of those places that I want to visit some day, with a camera in hand.

Reflections

Favorite Tree

Is it unusual to have a favorite tree? This is mine. It is located on the grounds of the Los Angeles, California Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don't even know the kind of tree it is. (Next time I go to Los Angeles, I will attempt to uncover more facts about its origin.) Yet, it is a grand old tree with a magnificent trunk and branches. It has been a favorite setting for pictures of the California grandchildren ever since I first discovered it.

Arch from Holden State Park

Holden State Park in East St. Louis is a nice park with a beautiful lake and a golf course. This photograph shot from Holden shows the club house and the light house near the golf course and on the lake. I enjoyed watching two stray dogs trying to sneak up on and capture a Canada goose from the flock feeding in the grassy open area of the park. The geese, of course, had their sentinals posted and were much too wise to be surprised by the two silly dogs. Several people were out with their fishing poles enjoying the mild early autumn weather. The 400mm lens used for the photograph makes it seem like that the scene in the park is just a short distance from downtown St. Louis and the Arch.

Bridges

We all depend on bridges. We use them in our travel on the highways. There are bridges in music to lead into a change of key, tempo or mood. We must find bridges that will help us over transitions in life, such as marriage, the birth of a new child, conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, a death of a loved one, starting school, graduations, unemployment, a new career, retirement, old age and even death. Those who are happy find the bridges in their own lives and assist in building bridges for others.

Downtown St. Louis from the City Park

Usually it is difficult to get a good photograph during the hours of high sun. On my trip with granddaughter to play in the fountains in City Park, I was able to have a nice cloud directly overhead to filter the harsh light for this photograph of the AT&T Buildings with the park fountains and sculpture in the foreground.

Trip to City Plaza

Yesterday, was Grandpa and Granddaughter Saturday fun day with a visit to the Pirate Exhibit at the Science Center and then a fun visit to City Plaza with its shooting (sometime unexpectedly) fountains of water. The Canon long lens was at hand to catch some of the surprises and fun. This was one of my favorites.

Pebbles left on Jewish tombstone

Visitors to graves of Jewish loved ones leave pebbles on the tombstone. This mizvah (good deed) serves to remind others that someone has come to remember and pay honor to the deceased. According to some Jewish authorities, the act also symbolizes the visitor's kind act of helping to erect a monument honoring the deceased inasmuch as in ancient times graves may not have been dug; rather, the dead body was merely covered with stones to memoralize and protect the deceased.

Self Portrait

With no one else available to take advantage of the setting sun and a rising moon, I snapped this photo of my shadow against the old shed.

Cool Summer Day

It looks cool and refreshing in the middle of summer that will be remembered for its heat and high humidity.

Barbed wire fence among the flowers

Some see the commandments as an ugly barrier to get over in order to play in the yellow flowers. Others, wisely, see the commandments as a warning that playing in the attractive yellow flowers could result in painful cuts and rust-borne infections.

For a boy's pocket

As a boy, I couldn't believe that the Tom Sawyers of the world would carry a frog in their pocket to frighten their mother or sister. If there are boys out there who have the desire, I caught this frog enjoying the last few minutes of sun in a pond at Busch Wildlife. Area It is such a treat to take 15 minutes to go into that area. I always find some new and interesting thing to photograph. It is one of the real advantages of living just across the highway from Busch Wildlife.

From Ground Level

Heat and rain produces unique forms of life in the yard. Here you have the latest variety of mushrooms to appear in our yard.

Red Wing Blackbird

I have attempted to photograph the red wing blackbird a number of times over the years. This is the first time that I have been able to catch a glimmer of light reflecting from the bird's dark eye so that the eye surrounded by the black background is visible. Notice how his feet are clinging to the strand of barbed wire. This species is one of our favorite birds.

QUESTIONS

This home is in Elsinore. Where is Elsinore?
I wonder how old is this tree?

Array of Color

 

I was thrilled with the brilliant and varied colors that were captured with this close-up of a Tiger Lilly.

Something I have wanted to photograph for years.

 

The early Mormon settlers in Utah erected and used tripod hay derricks to move large bundles of hay, animal carcuses, machinery and any other heavy item. Growing up in Southern Utah, I was very familiar with these ingeneous machines. However, very few remain. On a recent trip to Southern Utah a gentleman in the little farming community of Elsinore, Utah told where one of the last remaining Mormon hay derricks could be found. It was a fun find andto photograph in the early morning light.

Bull's Eye

 

Head or Tail?

 

I was able to photograph this beautiful animal in a pasture near Salina, Utah.