Day 365 - Where it all Began

If you are a follower of this blog, you are aware that starting early in October, I started to study for my Marriage and Family Therapy License.  This lasted from all of October and most of November, ending on November 22 when I took the exam.  So here we are at the close of 2013 and when I got home from work, there it was.  My License:

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

So I was so pleased that I was able to include this as one of the last pictures for this blog.  But I wouldn't want to end the blog here with just this image.  No I thought that for the last picture for 2013 should be where it all started.

Yes 365 days ago we traveled down to this location for the very 1st picture of this blog.  However a year brought some changes to the theater.  Do you know what changed?

Thanks to all who have followed this blog.  I do hope you have enjoyed this images as much as I had taking and processing them.  May you all have a Great and Blessed 2014 and check out my new blog "My Black & White World in 52 Weeks"

Thanks

Tom

Day 364 - Breakfast at Crackerbarrel

Can you believe that today is the 364th day of the year?  That means that I only have one more day left for this project.  Amazing.  Anyway, today I found myself heading to the local Crackerbarrel to have breakfast with my youngest and her husband as this will be their last full day in the area, before heading back to their home in Old Indy.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Then after breakfast, I dropped them off at my oldest daughter's home, then on the way back to my house, I thought "Why not one more farm scene:

Thanks for stopping by

Tom

Day 363 - Kricks Bakery

For the last 20 years, we have driven by Kricks Bakery.  Never stopped by to purchase any baked goods there, yet sometime around 2008/2009 the Bakery closed it's doors and has stood there vacant. A reminder of how companies that were able to survived for over 100 years found their demise in the early 21st century.

The Bakery was founded in 1888 and when it incorporated it employed up to 7 people and had an annual income of $400,000 per year.  Why they closed their doors after serving the Bethlehem area for 110 years, I have not yet been able to find out.  However if you know of any history of the bakery located on 720 Stefko Blvd, in Bethlehem, Pa.  Add it here.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Thanks for stopping by

Tom

Day 362 - Marly!!!

Since the weather here has turned and there is road salts, and tractor trailers flinging ice all over the roads, I've parked the boxster or the winter.  So today, I was wiping dust off the car:

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

 Then I saw him.

Marly

Hmm does this mean I will be visited by 3 ghost tonight???

Have a great day

Tom

Day 361 - The Nittany Lion and The Alumni

Today I spent some quality time with my youngest daughter who is visiting from Indiana. We had some father and daughter time together as we did some shopping.  Then on the way home we saw a statue of the Nittany Lion, sitting on a bench in the middle of Mountain Hawk territory.  So as my daughter is a loyal Nittany Lion Alumni, we just had to stop for a photo op.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Thanks for stopping by

Tom

Day 360 - Merry the Elf on the Shelf

Twas the day after Christmas

and all through the house,

all the gifts have been opened

and the trash has been thrown out.

The Grandchildren are all nestled 

safely in their parents home,

While Josie and Justin visit with them

and thell them stories about Christmas gnomes

So Nana and I decided to set down,

to enjoy a glass of wine and watch a show about cape town.

When out in the dinning room there rose such a clatter,

That I sprang from my chair to relieve my bladder.

While on my way towards the bathroom,

I noticed to my right, Merry the elf still in her costume.

There she sat nestled against some old Christmas wrappings

with a drink between her legs and almost napping

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Then she quickly recovered and jumped to her feet,

then flew off heading towards Ohio Street.

But I heard her explain as she flew out of sight.

It's time to head back to Christmas Town,

so to all a good night.

See you next year!

Thanks for looking

Tom

Day 359 - Christmas Day Dinner

Today was Christmas Day.  Since we do our family events on Christmas eve, we had our friends from THAINEPA and Lehigh University Students over for Dinner:

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

My wife made the food and I set the table.

Some of are friends helped in the kitchen

Ready for dinner

Our after dinner photo op.

An enjoyable time with our fiends

Thanks for stopping by

Tom

Day 358 - Christmas Eve

Today after spending the afternoon and evening with some of our children and grandchildren, we headed out to our church for our 10 PM service.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

On the way there we stopped to admire this

simple yet effective house decorated in

white lights

Next we stopped at the library to view

the traditional manager scene, reminding

us why we celebrate Christmas

Then off to church where at one time was

the most popular service, with no room to sit

now finds a almost empty church, yet

still filled with the joy & celebration of

the season.

I pray that you all have a very Merry Christmas

and a most prospers New Year.

Thanks for Stopping by

Tom

Day 357 - Pre-Christmas Luncheon with Lehigh Thai Students

Today some of the Thai Students from Lehigh University came over for a Pre-Christmas lunch as they will be in New York on Christmas Day.  We cooked and they cooked and shared a good afternoon together talking

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Thanks For stopping by

Tom

Day 356 - At the Bethlehem Library

After stopping in for a open house Christmas gathering, the wife and I headed down to the Bethlehem Library for some photo opportunities on a very warm, but rainy day.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

A stop by the Advent Wreath

Then holding hands with the children...

Then one last shot crossing the street.

Thanks for stopping by.

Tom

Day 355 - Bounce U

Today we headed over to Bounce U to celebrate our youngest grandchild's 3rd Birthday.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Having fun

The Birthday Girl

Help me dad, I'm stuck

Finding a place of refuge

Mommy and daughter having fun

Time to eat.

Thanks for stopping by

Tom

Day 354 - Historic Buildings in Easton

On day 354 I thought I would take a drive down to Easton and look at some of the older architecture there.  

The building on the left was built in 1864, this Italianate mansion is an opulent testament to the merchant’s status in mid-nineteenth century America. Originally the home of Thomas McKean, cotton merchant, in 1867 the mansion was inherited by his daughter, Jane Young. At the time of her death it was sold to Howard A. Hartzell, who converted the first floor for commercial use. On the exterior, ornate window trim (shelled window hoods), mansard room, and large-scale brackets are typical of the Italianate style that dominated pre-Victorian architecture. For a time, this location was well-known as Abel’s Ice Cream Parlor. It now houses River Grille restaurant.  

The Building to the right was built in 1900.  In 1907 Charles J. Montague moved his book store that he purchased in 1902 which became  Easton's largest and best stocked book/stationary store. It now houses Sogo Fusion Lounge.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

4 image HDR -1, 0, +1, & +2

Thanks for Stopping by

Tom

Day 353 - As the Snow begins to recede

So today was the start of the warm-up to the weekend.  So as I looked outside, I noticed that some of the evergreens are beginning to emerge from the recent snow falls we have been having:

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

That's it for today

Tom

Day 352 - More Wintery Scenes

They are calling for a warm-up to happen this week, with temperatures rising to the 60s by Sunday.  Along with the rise in temperature, they are also calling for rain.  So before the snow gets washed away, I thought I would go out and get some additional winter shots from around the area.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Thanks for stopping by today.  See you tomorrow.

Tom

Day 351 - More Snow

Today we got another 3.5" (8.89 cm).  That makes a total of 14.5" (36.83 cm) since the 1st of December and it is not even officially winter yet.  So after clearing the driveway of snow and cleaning the car, the wife and I went to visit a shut-in to give her communion, then headed down to Bethlehem for a winter shot:

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

As we were walking down to the site, I peered into

a restaurant to see only empty tables

Fresh snow in Bethlehem

Thanks for looking

Tom

Day 350 - 5171

While out this morning heading to the post office, I was crossing a Railroad, I noticed out my left eye, Engine 5171 heading down the track.  Quickly pulled off the road, jumped out of the car and was able to grab these shots:

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

Thanks for stopping by.

Tom

Day 349 - Sunday Afternoon in the Christmas City

Well the snow started yesterday @ 10:30 AM and it snowed all day.  At 22:30, after about 6" (15.54 cm) of snow,  it switched to ice.  This left about about .8" (2.032 cm) of ice on top of the snow.  I was so glad to have prepped the snowblower for this storm.  After clearing my driveway and a couple of my neighbor's driveways, the wife and I went out to do some birthday shopping for our granddaughter and pick-up a new N gauge engine for my train display down in Bethlehem.

All images are taken with the EOS-M w/EF-M 22mm  @ Aperture Priority set to f/3.5

This was taken @ 00:15 as the

storm was coming to an end from

our bathroom window.

Shutter Speed 15 sec.

Downtown Bethlehem on a Sunday

So brass entertainment playing Christmas Carols.

Thanks for Stopping by.

Tom