OK, I seriously hate the Blogger update

I don't know what's happening, but the posts don't work the way they used to. In the post below, I wanted the text on top, and the photos of the lady and her dog at the end. I wasn't smart enough to figure it out.

Facebook Photos in the Park

I decided to offer free FB profile photos in the park, because I could. I had one FB person show up, and a random lady walking her dog. It was a nice morning to sit in the park and enjoy the breeze.

Books and Blogs influencing me these days

I loved "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield.  it's about being committed to your art. Your art is anything you bring a piece of yourself to. So it can be a business, most jobs and the arts like writing and, of course, photography.  If you do anything less, you're not fulfilling your god(s) given role on earth. He talks about "the resistance" as being the habits or thoughts that prevent you from reaching your very best. And how to beat the resistance. Great stuff, highly motivating.

Seth Godin is amazing. Great insights into marketing, and being the best you can be.  I love his blog. I get new entries to it emailed to me automatically (look on the left side, below his bald photo). In his latest book, Linchpin, Seth preaches giving, with no expectation as the way to excel and lead the pack. By doing this, you can become the indispensable one. I pre-ordered the Linchpin book because I liked his stuff and he said all the income was going to a charity. Seemed like a win-win idea to me, so I did it. Not only did I get the book I ordered, Seth made arrangements to send a second copy. I passed that copy on to a friend. A month or two after the book came out, Seth suggested that folks send their first copy along too in his blog entry about emptying your library.  Seth thinks that spreading the idea is more important than his income from the book. And he puts his money where his mouth is. I took his "empty your libarary" idea to the next level by sponsoring a "scholarship" to supply the "War of Art" book to 5 people that were interested in reading it, as long as they agreed to pass it on.I actually sent more than 5 copies out.  Cool stuff, and a great feeling.


Danielle LaPorte is an interesting writer and speaker. Quite the career path! Great insights and Passionate about living to your potential.  She calls her blog "White Hot Truth: Because Self Realization Rocks" I'm subscribed.

The Gaping Void cartoon on the upper right goes to Hugh Macleod's site. He wrote "Ignore Everybody". Great book! About a fourth of it is online here. I've subscribed to his newsletter. He sends it out every day. Sign up for it. 

It's been awhile since I read "The Four Agreements" but it's time to do it again. It's just a few hours. A chunk  of it is new age crap to me, but the core of the book is right on target. Do your best. Be true to yourself. Watch your words and thoughts. Don't let others influence the inner you, either up or down.

Check out Lateral Action. Great stuff. I get their email subscription.

The Artist Farm. Just as with Lateral Action, Great stuff, and I'm on their email subscription list. 


Full disclosure: If you go to any of the Books I linked to above, and make the purchase, I get a kickback. Try the library first. I get nothing for the blogs, but I think they're worthwhile!

There's more, but it's late...

Rolleiflex Goodness

All three of these were taken with a Rolleiflex camera. Gotta love the German engineering! Great images from a camera from the 60s or so!

Commie Cams Rock

Here are some photos done with either my Chinese Holga, or a 1970s era 35mm Zorki 4 Russian Leica Wanna Be. Antique German cam in the next post!

I've been wanting to photograph here, forever

Just got around to doing it after driving by it today. Some of these were done with my lensbaby lens. I love that lens for the way it highlights stuff by blurring the rest of the image

Lyons Twin Mansions B&B, Fort Scott Kansas

I stayed at the Lyons Twin Mansions B&B in downtown Fort Scott Kansas for the Mpix Meetup a few weeks ago. Miss Pat was an amazing host! I don't think you could ask for a more gracious host or inn keeper! From the minute I called for directions to the minute I left, I felt like I was talking with a favorite aunt. You know, the one that asks if you had enough cake for breakfast? and would you want any ice cream to go with it?

On arrival Pat asked what I'd like for breakfast, and when, and gave me a lot of great choices. I swear if I had asked for cake she would have made it!

The mansions have an interesting history and are filled with delightful stuff to pique your interest and add to that Victorian Mansion feel.
If you ever go to Fort Scott, look up the Lyons Twin Mansions, and tell Miss Pat I sent you!
Based on my experience, I'm going to be looking for B&Bs in the future, not the sterile, boring, big chains hotels. 
Here are some photos of the mansions and grounds, just impressions, really, but thought I'd share.

Last but not least, Miss Pat is adding a coffee house/breakfast  restaurant service in one of the mansions, and having a naming contest to name it. Check it out, maybe you'll win a weekend there or breakfast for a month!

Impressions of Fort Scott and Southeast Kansas II

Some more photos from the Fort Scott Area.

You know me and benches! These are all the same bench. Just different treatments. The street was going down a slight hill, so there is this tension created by looking at the flat horizon of the bricks but the street is not level. The first one solves the tension best. 

A state policeman pulled over to make sure I was OK while shooting these old trucks. Didn't undertand what I could find interesting. He said he stopped at the abandoned church a few weeks ago for another photographer. I told him old stuff is like photographer bait!

The Ft. Scott Brick company must have been pretty busy at one time. Lots of brick buildings and streets downtown!