Photo of the Day - July 5, 2013

Rainy Day in Fort Myers

Joel and I took a long weekend trip over to Fort Myers while the girls went up to Orlando to Universal Studios.  Both of us wanted a weekend where we did absolutely nothing.  So we got our wish!

I drove across Alligator Alley and about 20 minutes into the drive, torrential rains greeted us like a wall of water.  It was very scary driving across the alley but I kept the car in front of me in

my site, we drove about 40 mph and I cranked up the music while Joel snoozed.

The rains continued for most of the weekend, with an occasional break in the clouds.  That is when I took the opportunity to pull on my workout clothes and take a 2.5 mile run around the property where we were staying.

During the rains I sat on the screened in porch on one of the most comfortable chaise lounges I

have ever sat on, with a sweet smelling candle burning, watching the wildlife and reading a book.

This blue heron was fishing in the rain and he let me take these photos of him as he tolerated me.  I tried to be as quiet as possible and he got fairly close to me.  But, as with all wildlife, he wandered away in search for his dinner.

Photo of the Day - June 28, 2013

Grace

I did not take this photo, but felt the need to post it because my cousin Michael took this with his iPhone and it was such a great image that I had to share.  We were having a nice family dinner and of course, Michael couldn't put his iPhone away, so he was playing with it and just reached up and snapped this shot.  Great eyes, huh?

Photo of the Day - June 22, 2013

Girl's Night Out
 

Art. It brings people together. It makes you think. It gets people talking. It is also an excuse to have alcoholic beverages and be social.

Rachel and I decided to attend the opening night of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Visual and Media Artists Fellowship Recipients exhibition at the Museum of Art l Fort Lauderdale. We started by picking up Samantha and heading

over to the Riverside Market in Sailboat Bend. We had a couple of hours to burn so we relaxed on the couches, shared a bottle of wine and snacked on tasty sandwiches.
 
By the time that we arrived at the Museum there was already a healthy crowd in attendance. I never know who I will bump into and that is part of the excitement and surprise of these events. Rachel and I ended up losing Samantha as we wandered through the exhibition, which was by far, the best I have ever seen in my quarter century at the Broward Cultural Division! 

There were 14 artists in total on exhibit from the five counties -- Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and and Monroe. There were very interesting pieces -- one in particular was a performance piece where the artist sat at a desk, flipped through her journals and sketchbook, then rhythmically ripped out the pages and ran them through a shredder. People were fascinated with the artist and stood and watched for very long periods.

There was another exhibition upstairs by Bunny Yeager, but that was not open to the public at the time we were there. I was a bit disappointed but gives me a reason to return! 

Rachel and I drove home in silence. Each lost in our own thoughts. Not upset, not emotional, just quiet and perhaps sleepy. All in all, it was a very satisfying evening with my grown up daughter.

Photo of the Day - June 16, 2013

Happy Fathers Day

The Leshinskys celebrate EVERYTHING, so of course we HAD to celebrate Fathers Day!

This year we gathered in the living room with my Dad in attendance too!  He had recovered so amazingly well from his broken hip and surgery, that he was able to walk (very slowly and with assistance) down the five stairs to my living room and to the dining room with a walker.  For a 94 year old, he has unbelievable strength and will.

We enjoyed watching as my Dad and Joel opened their presents and then we had ice cream cake!

Photo of the Day - June 10, 2013

A Day at the Beach

After two months of stress and two weeks of rain, I felt that I needed a day alone at the beach.  I have quite a few vacation days so I decided to use one for myself. 

Adina was working at the JCC, Rachel was in Indiana attending a wedding and Joel was busy designing ads for a freelance job.

When I checked the weather and found out that it would be a bright and sunny day, I emailed work and said that I would be out (I had already told them the previous week too!).  I packed up my chair that has an

umbrella.  I packed a small cooler with yogurt, fruit, water and other snacks.  I tucked my book into my bag along with lots of sunscreen and I was off to my favorite spot at the end of Commercial Blvd.

I couldn't have picked a better day.  There was a breeze, the water was warm and very few people.  By the time that I was ready to leave the beach, my inner calm had once again returned.  Something about soaking in salt water and feeling the sun on my skin brings me back to my roots and grounds me.

Photo of the Day - June 1, 2013

Happy 33rd

Another year, another anniversary.  What to do?  Well, this year we started the day with breakfast on the Pier at Commercial Blvd.  We found a parking spot nice and close since it was so early and we sat in where we could watch the folks who do their workouts on the beach.  I had the view of the side of the pier and the ocean.  If I could, I would live on the beach, but then I would be terrified during hurricane season!   But a girl can dream. 

Thanks to a the girls, we ventured down to Hollywood for dinner at Bistro 1902.  It is a French restaurant, and thanks to the GroupOn that the girls bought as a surprise, dinner came with unlimited wine and champagne!  Of course Joel doesn't drink, so I polished off a few glasses of champagne and then a few glasses of wine and switched back to champagne.  I think I giggled all the way through dinner.

I did convince Mr. Leshinsky to walk up and down Hollywood Blvd. so that I could have fun with my iPhone.  Sometimes I feel guilty for leaving my Nikon at home, but other times I am surprised at the quality on iPhone.

At home the girls were waiting with presents for us!  They had wrapped them with Justin Bierber wrapping paper!  I was still giggling at that point!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project 365 - March 10, 2013

Chasing Shadows

 Today was the first day that I got out of bed after three days of fighting a cold.   It wasn't that bad, but I am glad that is over!  I watched more movies than I ever have.  I think my favorite was the 1932 film Grand Hotel with John and Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo.

Anyway, I digress . . . today I was completely immersed in the arts.  This morning I went to the Broward Center to judge the Carbonell Scholarship applicants.  It was a three hour session with four of the board members and wonderfully talented high school seniors who we interviewed and then watched them perform anything they chose.  I always find this day a privilege to see our budding youths with their passion in the theatrical arts.  The winners will be announced the night of the Carbonell Awards ceremony!  

When I got home, Adina decided she was going to teach me to paint.  I was game.  I have always wanted to do watercolors.  I thought that I could take some of the images I have shot and paint them.  I tried and she was very patient with me.  I really did get into the moment and time just disappeared.  We were painting for about two hours.  But the smell of the turpentine was getting to me (Adina was doing an oil painting).  So we decided to take a walk.

I grabbed my camera and Adina grabbed her bike and off we went.  It was a perfect time of day with a clear blue sky and a setting sun.  Everything was glowing.  So I decided to chase shadows.  These are the images that I made today.  I played a bit in Photoshop, but just to enhance, never to change the image.