Dom … Part the 2nd

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Greetings—

—And salutations! It's been a while, sure. Hope you had a grand and safe holiday season.

I thought I'd jump back into the photo-blogging fray with a portrait of my new(-ish) friend, Dom. Regular readers will know that we saved him from being shelter-bound about six months ago. He's settled in nicely and he's allowing his personality—and his quirks—to finally shine through, now that he knows he has a loving home.

This Wednesday marks my first attempt at getting him over to the vet for all those things that vets do. Do wish me luck, won't you? He has claws. Sharp ones! ;-)


LISTENING TO
"Starship Trooper" from the 1997 album Keys to Ascension by Yes
((From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

Autumnal Spirits

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Greetings—

All dream-like beside the ground
We see huge spirits all around
Entrancing spirits
Their musty bones beyond the dreamscape
Be transparent
The feeling is vanishing
And with a slight rustle
So too will the spirits vanish
Wavering and grieving
Say goodbye with a backward glance
And smile for the spirits
For one day
They will return

Today's photo — captured on November 2, 2011 — is a debut showing from "The Celtic Camera" private archives.

LISTENING TO
"Why" from the 2006 album Wild Orchids by Steve Hackett
(From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

Joy and Context

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Greetings—

Nothing is
And never what it seems to be
What is
And what should not have been
The flowers ache for frozen delight
And heaven ponders
The sleepy dew drops
All invisible near the grave
I find entrancement under the earth
I reach
And absorb dream-like visions
Beneath the water
Where the light comes from
... the next life is waiting

LISTENING TO
"Inner Garden II" from the 1995 album Thrak by King Crimson
(From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

Sleepy Hollow

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Greetings—

The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition of a figure on horseback, without a head. It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon-ball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War, and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind. His haunts are not confined to the valley, but extend at times to the adjacent roads, and especially to the vicinity of a church at no great distance. Indeed, certain of the most authentic historians of those parts, who have been careful in collecting and collating the floating facts concerning this spectre, allege that the body of the trooper having been buried in the churchyard, the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head, and that the rushing speed with which he sometimes passes along the Hollow, like a midnight blast, is owing to his being belated, and in a hurry to get back to the churchyard before daybreak. Such is the general purport of this legendary superstition, which has furnished materials for many a wild story in that region of shadows; and the spectre is known at all the country firesides, by the name of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
~Washington Irving

Happy Hallowe'en!

LISTENING TO
"Run Like Hell" from the 1979 album The Wall by Pink Floyd
(STREAM: Delicious Agony Progressive Rock Radio)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

Mr. Macklin

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Greetings—

Mr. Macklin takes his knife
And carves the yellow pumpkin face:
Three holes bring eyes and nose to life,
The mouth has thirteen teeth in place.
Then Mr. Macklin just for fun
Transfers the corn-cob pipe from his
Wry mouth to Jack's, and everyone
Dies laughing! O what fun it is
Till Mr. Macklin draws the shade
And lights the candle in Jack's skull.
Then all the inside dark is made
As spooky and as horrorful
As Halloween, and creepy crawl
The shadows on the tool-house floor,
With Jack's face dancing on the wall.
O Mr. Macklin! where's the door?
~Mr. Macklin's Jack O'Lantern by David McCord

Just our little decorative contribution to the season.

LISTENING TO
"Ωmegaman" from the 1981 album Ghost in the Machine by The Police
(STREAM: Delicious Agony Progressive Rock Radio)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

Evolving Season of Growth

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Greetings—

This little guy was harvested last year — right about this time — and frozen. This coming weekend he becomes our first pumpkin pie of the season!

LISTENING TO
"Darkness" from the 2002 album Up by Peter Gabriel
(From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

Framed Creation

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Greetings—

Shall not the night call forth
Eloquent dreams and
Dangerous nightmares?
Listen!
A red rose quivers
In black solitude
And the ocean dances to my lover's laughter
Listen!
So dark against the dream
Yet bright and vibrant
In its being ...
... just being
Look!
Dark and black and red
Among the spirits of the dead
And the living
The vision is hard and cruel
Yet soft and sweet
Damn it! Will you just look ...
... and listen?

LISTENING TO
"Piano Concerto #3 In C Minor, Op. 37 - 2. Largo" from the 1961 album The 5 Piano Concertos (Fleisher; Szell: Cleveland Orchestra) by Ludwig van Beethoven
(From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

If I Only Had a Brain

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Greetings—

I could wile away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain
~Harold Arlen

(Background by "Wizard of Oz Rentals")

LISTENING TO
"The Great Gig In The Sky" from the 1973 album Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
(From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

Dominic

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Greetings—

Say hello to the newest member of our family, Dominic, aka Dom (aka Dom-dom).

Dom is a 3 year old Maine Coon who we saved from having to go to a shelter this passed Sunday. He has settled in quite nice so far and is by far the friendliest, snuggliest kitteh I've ever been owned by (cat "owners" will get this).

Besides doing our good friends a favor and taking him so he wouldn't have to go shelter-bound the main reason we took him was to be a mouser (what can I say—we live next to fields and a cemetery). I think he's already earned his keep in less than a week, as I suspect he's caught at least one mouse so far, possibly more.

Besides, I just love the species and have always wanted one.
Now, all I have to do is get him to stop taking his half of the bed out of the middle! ☺

LISTENING TO
"Come Away" from the 2003 album To Watch The Storms by Steve Hackett
(From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.

The Ring

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Greetings—

This is my new wedding band, recently given to me by my one true love, Raven (@celticsongs).

Not long after our first anniversary (many years ago) we fell into what has become a tradition where, ever year or so (usually whenever the time feels right) one or both of us get new wedding bands. Usually it happens at Ren Faire or an Irish Fest ... and it doesn't happen until that one ring is seen and calls our name. We've never had — nor ever will have — fancy-schmancy bands or diamonds or any of that crap; we're a simple folk with simple needs and all of our bands have reflected our Celtic/Gaelic heritage.

About two months ago I happened to look at what was then my current band and it said to me, "My time is up ... time for a new one." So this year it was my turn and last weekend it was off to Ren Faire we went. Due to a number of things that I won't go into right now it was quite the adventure obtaining a new ring; it was work! But it was well worth it and symbolic of the work we put into our relationship ... the type of work that has allowed us to be together as long as we have.

Thank you, my love. Today's post is dedicated to you. Accept this as a symbol of my continued commitment to the best person to ever come into my life. While a bit corny the following poem really does sum up my feelings towards you ... and us:

“I love you,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you
Because you have done
More than any one
Could have done
To make me good
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.”
~Roy Croft

Oh, for all the photography nerds out there; this photo is comprised of 11 shots taken at different focus points and then combined in Photoshop.

LISTENING TO
"Baby Hold On" from the 1977 album Eddie Money by Eddie Money
(From The Celtic Camera collection of fine tune-age)

Sláinte,
Gareth — The Celtic Camera Photography

Most photos seen here on "The Way I See It" are available for purchase as wrapped canvas, mounted or framed fine art prints, mugs, cards, T-Shirts and much more. Personal and commercial licenses are also available. Simply click on the image above and follow the "Buy" button.