Rear Window

I took this view this afternoon from my childhood bedroom window.  This is my parents' backyard covering in several inches of snow.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Jones Family!

Ballet

There are so many wonderful things happening in this photo! 1. My favorite ballet teacher EVER, Clarence is teaching this class 2. This is the main studio at Steeple Arts which is housed in an old church (built 1912) and has been a studio for 60 years or so now 3. This is where I took ballet during 4th, 5th and 6th grade. 4. This is where my Aunt Kathy took ballet as well and her photos are still on the wall 5. All of my favorite students from Birmingham Ballet are in this photo and I miss them all so much 6. One of my favorite dancers and people in all the world Natalie is in this photo...you can not miss her...she's wearing HOT PINK as only Natalie can! 7. This is just a classic ballet photo and there are so many special things about it...what's not to love?!?! =)

No Vacancy

Just an interesting sign outside the tavern in Jeffersonville.

Serenity

I really liked the shadows over the snow and the rocks exposed out of the white and the trees contrasting against it all on the way to the studio today. There's something a little poignant about it all. This was the only title I found appropriate.

Looking though

When I go into the city, I drive to Peekskill and take the train in from there. Its a small town along the Hudson River. On the river, there is a sculpture of what looks like a rusty dome with white pipes coming out of it. One day, before getting on the train I decided to walk down and see what this sculpture is. I was able to walk inside the dome where I discovered the white pipes are actually all different kaleidoscopes. This view is looking through one of them.

Dream

What are your dreams and what will it take to accomplish them? Just a thought on everyone's mind I know lately and luckily I had a picture to coordinate with the sentiment!

Cookie monsters

Tonight was the Cobalt Studios annual Christmas cookie party. Don't worry, its not as much like Faux Thanksgiving. Here is the table before the guests arrived and brought their cookies to add to the pile.

The Laugh

This is what its all about! My friend Mark (seen here howling - as he always does...I feel like everyone in the world should meet Mark and laugh with him...it will change you) and my friend Natalie have both had tough times this past fall...but here we are...laughing our backsides off anyway! These are two of the most petite, delightful humans in the world and I am honored to have had the joy of dancing with both of them before! (sorry about the poor pixel quality but this was an Iphone shot and we will just have to make do...but the spirit of these two is all over the place) I promise better photo next time! =)

True Colors

Of the Season!

I love all of these colors and I thought this would be a fun view today! The title comes from my obsession with GLEE and their version of "True Colors" that recently aired! Hope you are all seeing and believing in the True Colors of the Season.

Now THAT'S a Christmas tree!

Went to the city today and stopped by Rockefeller Center for only one reason.

Woody

If you haven't noticed, the Cobalt house is full of random stuff. Sitting on the floor of the great room is a piece of wood, possibly found outside in this state. Its position on the floor under a lamp helps accent its many changes in terrain. I thought it made an interesting picture.

Christmas Mode

If shopping in NYC does not get you in the mood for Christmas I don't know what will! Taken right before Thanksgiving and oddly enough I have seen this same photo (taken by others) on some of my favorite fashion blogs lately...guess noone can resist the Bergdorf Goodman Windows and a shinny star hanging over the bright lights of a NYC street! Happy Holidays...I am ready!

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I understand how some people feel about Christmas trees. I can't blame them. I think they should be full and large and full of life and cheer. But I still find this funny in its own wonderful way.

My friends enjoy a little bit of irony. I can't blame them, its needed sometimes. I enjoy a little bit of irony sometimes too. While I was in Illinois, my friends in the house decided they wanted a Christmas tree and chose to make it a "Charlie Brown tree." Amy ventured into the woods on our own property and returned with this young spruce. You can't see it too well, but the angel at the top of the tree is causing its crowning branch to comically bend over.

Whatever is going on in your life, remember to find something that makes you smile, even if its the most ridiculous thing you can find.

Differences

Apparently today is all about SNOW on 2views2day...which brings me to the name of my post..differences! Seems to me that people up North and in the Mountains in the West feel like snow is an annoyance! Where as people in the South (where it is very rare) jump for joy, build snowmen, cancel work and school and generally go crazy for snow! Here is the first snow I have ever seen in Alabama in December in my lifetime. While it was not much and did not really stick to the ground...it sure did make this...and many a Southerner happy that day! This is the view from my bedroom window when I woke up Saturday morning! Beautiful!

Six inches

It snowed overnight. We got six inches on the ground and its still here. Snowball fights are inevitable.

Happy Pills

I still have them. Just in case.

Home

This is the house on Main Street where I grew up in Clinton, Illinois. My parents bought the house in 1974 and still live there.

Artifacts

While my dad was cleaning out my grandma's house recently, he cam across this shoe horn. It reads:

United Sample Shoe Co.

2nd Floor Empire Building

Birmingham, Alabama

Peek a Boo

So many magical weird things happening here! Fantasy and fashion at its best! Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Windows!

Illinois: Day 1

This is University Hall at Lincoln College, where I attended for two years. I stopped by the college today after not having seen it in a few years. Not a whole lot has changed.

Stopping through Chicago

I'm back in my hometown of Clinton, IL for the week for my sisters wedding, which is on Saturday. I flew into Chicago and then took the train to Bloomington-Normal where I met my parents. I had a little time in Chicago, so I went to the Richard J. Daley Plaza. Here is Picasso's famed centerpiece of the plaza peeking its head out from around the Christmas tree.

Its after thanksgiving.

Now that its after Thanksgiving and we're now in December, I don't feel guilty about posting this. During redecoration day with Nancy, we got a small Christmas tree to go in my room. The tree is about 18 inches tall and the ornaments are proportional.

Got it!

Of all the great photos I got today during Scrooge (and this is not the best) I am the most proud of this one! Low lighting and these four guys dancing and I am trying to get the photo! GOT IT! I loved the choreography that Mr. Abe Reybold did for this show so I was glad I got a piece of it on the fly today!

Vintage Appliances

I love vintage household items. I bought this old General Electric oscillating fan from dance photographer Mike Van Sleen last June. Van Sleen was once resident photographer for Jacob's Pillow. He's since moved to France, but he came back for a few weeks to clean out his cabin. This was one of the artifacts he had. After a little bit of redecorating last week with Nancy, the fan sits on one of my dressers next to the two glasses under the mirror. It works great, but it needs a new arm for the oscillator. Let me know if you know where to find one.

Practice Perfection

Practice, practice, practice! I love watching the setup for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular Arena Tour! This IS the most amazing rig out there for sure! When I went into the arena tonight around 6pm to check it out (again) I noticed this fantastic site...one single Rockette...PRACTICING all by herself! It was really cool and I thought it made a great photo! There is so much poetry in watching someone perform by themselves to 20,000 empty seats...I love it! Hope you enjoy the picture as well.

Night out

I went to the City yesterday with Brian and Alicia to celebrate Alicia's birthday. We found out about this small bar in Brooklyn called Belleville and decided to check it out. Its a great low-key atmosphere with entertainment all week (although the band had the night off.) This is a place to go back to.

A Few...

Of my favorite things! Since yesterday was Black Friday and I have that song stuck in my head here are a few things I bought, some for me, some for others and a few things already on my desk that make up this picture! I love that old lamp my mom had put back together, I love my Mac (a Christmas present from last year), I love my picture of Autumn and I from 2005 Easter, I love my snow globe of Birmingham, I love my picture from Amy Bailey's, My Scoop "My Favorite Things" party of the two of us, I love my picture of Leslie and Casey's engagement below that, I love my Barney's New York Catalog Wes gave me, I love those leopard print shoes Tony is going to turn into Ruby Red Slippers for me, I love my new silver chain belt that my mom will probably give me for Christmas, I love VOSS water (even though that is tap water and I am just reusing the bottle), and my new favorite color is purple so there is plenty of that in the form of a scarf, tights and fishnets! There is plenty more to show from Black Friday...but I can't...because they are presents for other people! Happy Holidays - May they be Merry and Bright!

Beautiful Day for a Fight!

This was the view yesterday from the lovely home I was visiting to watch the IRON BOWL! After shopping for deals since 6am I slipped in right in time for kick off and boy was it a beautiful day - and view, to watch one of the best rivalries in the country! While my team did not win they put up a hell of a fight against a faster, deeper, more talented team...and it was lovely to watch then do it. I am so happy Auburn showed well yesterday, that the game was close...and hold on to your pants...that Alabama Won! I can't wait to watch undefeated #1 Florida play undefeated (but well tested ((War Eagle)) Alabama in the SEC Championship next weekend. If you think your part of the country has good football...you should have been watching the Iron Bowl! =) War Eagle, Roll Tide!

Deviled

Happy Thanksgiving from my house to yours! My mother made these amazing Cajun Deviled Eggs today and displayed them beautifully on Mama Helen's antique egg dish! Yummy! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Funky Monkey

Benji and Jake's in Koneonga Lake is just around the corner from the Cobalt house. The pizza place and bar is decorated with metal sculptures of different sorts. We went to eat here last Saturday and found this guy in the shadows. (I think Nancy was the actual photographer of this shot. :)

Ooohh La La

All I can say is love! Love these shoes! Updated Ruby Red Slippers? I think yes! We have been talking about things that make us happy lately and I think little unimportant happy things are often the things that make us the MOST happy! So here it is! I am thankful for small things that make me happy...like a picture of over priced (but awfully lovely - and beautiful craftsmanship) red and gold high heels! More to come from this shoot and outing soon...anyone know where we were?

Travel

Yes, we realize we've been behind this past week. That's ok, because Nancy came to visit. On Sunday we went down to the city and had a blast. After all of the walking and eating in Little Italy and Soho, and getting to see the holiday windows being built, we made our way back to Grand Central to take the train back out of of the city. Here is my view of Nancy herself before getting on the train.

The Director

Mr. Abe Reybold! One of the best anywhere I can assure you. Here directing and choreographing Scrooge the Musical for BCT! This was a dance rehearsal and let me say...Abe's choreography is chalenging and delightful to watch! Don't miss Scrooge the Musical at BCT December 5 & 12 at 2pm!

Starry Night

This is officially our 100th view!

Late last night I went outside to try to catch a glimpse of the Leonid Meteor Shower. Unfortunately, it got too cloudy before I was able to see any shooting stars, but I was able to catch a few shots before it got too overcast. This view looks directly East. The bright one in the middle is actually Mars.

O & W

With the time change, its hard to fit a daylight picture in to busy schedules. The former Ontario & Western Railway Station in Middletown is past its prime and sits dark and boarded up. The only light here is the street lamp. I stood out in the cold November rain for this shot.

Getting Ready

BCT is getting ready for Christmas and with the time change and less light...all I ever get now are rehearsal and promo pics! Until then you all may see a lot of BCT! Enjoy! Scrooge is being played by Kyle Holeman and doesn't he look perfect!

Product Placement

This week in class we had a special seminar on lettering and sign making. Yesterday we all chose different signs and recreated them using special sign-making paints. This is Jackie's project. She found hers in an old magazine clipping. I suppose now is a good time to mention that my new MacBook Pro is working very well for me.

Night lights

It was totally dark tonight when I left the studio. Luckily we have a string of lights that leads us down the path back to the house. This shot is looking back toward the studio through the trees.

November Rain

Hurricane / Tropical Storm Ida dropped 4.3 inches of rain on Birmingham yesterday! Birmingham is now a foot and a half over the normal rainfall for the year. I was leaving work yesterday and noticed how all the rain and the lights from the BJCC Concert Hall made everything all bright and shinny! Sorry its from the Iphone again...but with an extra foot and a half of rain lately you can see why I might not be totting my Cannon all the time!

Alternate title for this picture is "Every light in the house is on" because I started singing that song as soon as I walked out and saw this yesterday!

6 strings

Just my guitar.

guess where

Front hall

This is an extra-wide view of the front hallway at the front door of the house. I used the diminishing glass to get this shot.

Brunch

Fountain at V. Richard's during brunch today! I love how the water picked up the sunlight and looks like hundreds of little lights! (side note, as soon as I feel better I promise to get back to the Cannon but for now the Iphone will have to do)

O.C.C.

The one and only Orange County Choppers, made famous by the Discovery Channel's "American Chopper" series, is a short drive from White Lake. It here where the family business fabricates incredible custom motorcycles. I visited the showroom yesterday and took some shots of a few bikes. This is the "spiderman bike," and behind it a chopper made for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Rammer Jammer

Taken with the Iphone about 1/4 of a mile in the air...but here it is (as my good friend Tony Giles, stadium announcer at Bryant-Denny says best, "THIS IS ALABAMA FOOTBALL" (and 92,012 fans respond) "ROLL TIDE"! Bryant-Denny Stadium is the current 4 largest in the SEC, 11 largest in the nation and 17th largest non-racing stadium in the world. It is always packed and it is always loud and they will be adding seats next fall.

Still Life

I haven't posted anything from the greenhouse yet. Yes, we have a greenhouse too. Even though there's nothing happening in here this time of year, there's still a lot to discover.

Main Street

Honesdale, PA. A few of my friends and I decided to go exploring yesterday and found the quaint Main Street of this town with lots of little shops and things to see. This is a row of buildings spanning an entire block without breaking.

A Precious Memory

I came across this beautiful fall sight at Brookwood Mall today in Homewood. It was a lovely arbor full of these red, yellow and green leaves. Each leaf has a memory shared on it about a time with a loved one who has Alzheimer's Disease. It is Alzheimer's awareness month and I became very aware after seeing this beautiful and touching sight and reading the accompanying informational card saying the arbor represents some of the 91,000 people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in ALABAMA. My dear, wonderful, gorgeous grandmother, Helen Jones was one of them. I miss you and missed getting to know you better because of this disease but thank you for all the beautiful memories and things you left for me to remember you by!

Good moon rising

That would be the moon rising over the Catskills on the distance. The buildings under the moon are the Sullivan County Airport which is just over hill.