Amy Pollard Photography

AN OLD FRIEND

amy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:56:45 +0000

My horse Irish is showing her age. Still a beauty but her lines are beginning to dip and sag in places that were once robust. She has been with me a long time, 19 years going on 20.

Irish II

Mane

IrishV

The hanging tree

IrishIV

Irish I

Irish VI

THERE’S A LOBSTER IN MY KITCHEN

amy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:10:04 +0000

Back when we were visiting my mother in the beginning of the month, a small but growing lobster made its way into our luggage. Winston as it is now called has grown from a finger-sized lobster to full grown in the span of 3 weeks. All while soaking in a bath of water on my window sill. Amusing, yes, now I want to know who does the dissecting so we can see what kind of growth hormone lies within Winston’s innards.

Scary lobster

Lobster in sink

Glowing lobster

Water bath

PORTRAITS OF JORDAN

amy — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:52:43 +0000

A few portraits of my daughter Jordan who was recently home for a few weeks. The day before yesterday Alli and I waved goodbye to Jordan as we watched her from the observation deck at the airport go through security. Jordan is now back at school in Los Angeles and there is no telling when we will have the opportunity to enjoy her company again. Thank goodness for skype!

Peace,

Amy

Jordan

Jordan II

Hands with bangles

GEESE IN FORMATION

amy — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:35:31 +0000

We have a large number of geese wintering over near us so it was not a surprise when I heard their honking overhead a few days ago. Even though autumn has come and gone I thought I would share this recently rediscovered information from an old file titled “inspiration”. The author is unknown. I hope you enjoy it.

Limbs with geese

This fall, when ou see geese heading south for the winter-flying in a “V” formation- you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way:

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in “V” formation, the whole flock has at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone- and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs- with people or with geese flying south. Geese honk from behink to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What do we say when we honk from behind?

Finally- and this is important- when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshots, and falls out of formation ,two other geese will fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help or protection. They will stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or dies: and only then do they launch out on their own or with another formation, to catch up with their flock. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

There are 5 lessons we can learn from geese- and use countless times in non-threatening and non-confrontational ways:

1. People who share a common direction and sense of common purpose can get there more quickly.

2. It is harder to do something alone than together.

3. Shared leadership and interdependence give us each a chance to lead as well as an opportunity to rest.

4. We need to make sure our ‘honking’ is encouraging, not discouraging.

5. Stand by your colleagues in difficult times as well as in good.

You really CAN learn a lot from a goose.

Peace,

Amy

POST HOLIDAY PEACE

amy — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:26:16 +0000

The holiday season has passed and with it the busyness that goes along with Christmas, leaving the quiet of winter to follow. I just returned home from visiting my mother and siblings, while picking my eldest daughter up from her journeys abroad. It was my first Christmas without all of my children to celebrate with. Not an exciting milestone but one that I know will be repeated in years to come. Tired and stiff from late night partying and the long drive home, I headed out to feed my animal friends. Peering over the load of hay in my arms I noticed the southern sky was filled with soft pink clouds. By the time I ran in to get my camera and come back, they were gone but as I turned to leave I saw the moon, not yet full, but bright with some of the pink clouds still hanging on. Dusk was settling in and the crunch of dried leaves underfoot was all that could be heard as I finished my chores in the moonlight.

Peace,

Amy

Dusk

OGRE JUICE?

amy — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:03:13 +0000

A few days before Christmas and we are all busy doing our Christmas preparations. I take a break and tuck into my lunch, a smoothie much like the one in this image. My daughter Kendall comments, “UGH!! that looks like something an ogre would drink!” Her younger sister Alli, busy on the ladder decorating the tree, turns and with her deadpan voice says, “No, it looks like what comes out of the ogre’s nose.”

Personally, I think it is a pretty green that tastes good too, as long as I don’t think about green goo coming out of the nose of a monster. Just in case you are interested this smoothie is made with banana, mango, clementines, and parsley.

So what do YOU think, ogre fodder, ogre snot or fabulously fresh lunch?

Fabulously Fresh

RAIN, EGGS, AND COWS

amy — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:46:50 +0000

The wipers rhythmically slapped the windshield as I cornered the bend by the Clous farm. I have passed this scene a thousand times and many of those times said to myself, “I’ve got to come and photograph this place”. So why, in the rain, I decided that today was the day is a mystery even to me. Go figure. When inspiration strikes I gotta go with it, so once armed with my camera, I headed back out across the rising waters of the Battenkill. This farm sits in a unique setting that I always appreciate when I pass by. The house and barns sit opposite a large pasture, usually populated with cattle and horses, that rises up in a patchwork of trees and old stone walls.

On my way back I made two more stops, one for a tree that can only really be appreciated when it is naked of leaves. I got an interesting shot of the tree but struck out on the third locale. The light was seriously uninteresting at that point so I’ll go back another day.

Eggs

Clous Farm

Posted

FIRESIDE PIGEONS

amy — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:04:56 +0000

Pigeons on a cold winter day in Chicago cozy on up to a fire for warmth. Do they huddle together for warmth, companionship, or did one bird just have a great idea and the others followed?

Today is the first of many single digit temps and I am thinking about those folks that I have been seeing huddled together, much like these birds, in downtown Saratoga Springs. Although I have seen homelessness, never before have I been aware of it so close to my geographic home. The images and thoughts in my head of people having to endure the cold haunt me. I make my donations and send out a wish for them to find a warm fire and to have peace in the midst of it all and I wonder if that is enough.

Stay warm,

Amy

Fireside pigeons

GROOVY GREEN GOODNESS

amy — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:12:12 +0000

Today I got back in the groove. The green groove that gives me energy and puts a smile on my face. Today’s green refreshment came from kale, not my fave but still filled with fresh, wholesome goodness nevertheless.

The story behind the green smoothie addiction began a few years back when I was working at a local organic farm. Greens of all sizes, shapes and flavors would flow through what is called the washing station. In the case of greens, that meant putting them in a large water tank to rinse off any dirt. Being sensitive to energy and color, I would find myself blissed out while being surrounded by the vibrant energy that was radiating from the freshly picked plants. The colors? don’t even get me started. All I knew was that I REALLY liked the energy the plants were putting out but when I took them home and cooked them the energy disappeared. From one synchronicity after another I found out about green smoothies (http://www.rawfamily.com/) and the rest is history!

Peace,

Amy

Swiss chard in the washing station

WINDOW INSTALLATION

amy — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:19:56 +0000

Yesterday an old and crumbling window was replaced. Hooray! My husband did all the work. I got to watch his feet go up and down and up and down. I don’t know anything about construction so I am very happy and filled with appreciation that my partner does and am really enjoying that bright and shiny new window.

Peace,

Amy

Appreciation