FOREWORD:

IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH ABOUT BUGS, THIS POST IS NOT FOR YOU!
It's been a little while since I've gone through my photos, and I thought you folks might enjoy the unseen world that is all around us. Yes, I mean bugs, insects, spiders, and the like.… Read full post »

Ok, this is NOT political, it is NOT news, it is NOT fiction. Please, sit back, grab a beverage, relax, and put on some awesome music. For those who used to live in the Northeastern U.S. and miss it, here is the first ten in a series of twenty photos taken… Read full post »

*UPDATED*

FOREWORD:

IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH ABOUT BUGS, THIS POST IS NOT FOR YOU!

Continuing from Part One where we looked at some of the crawly things I've discovered. I think you folks will appreciate this one a bit more as it has to do with… Read full post »

*Updated 4/14/09 - To fix a slight timeline error I did not catch in the proofing. Sorry about that. BS

Author’s Note: The following is based loosely on fact but is a work of fiction. The specific characters and events portrayed here are entirely the product… Read full post »

First, thank you all so much for the amazing turnout on my last photo post. I love nature, and there is such a rich diversity here that I am thrilled to be able to bring some of it to all of you.

For this post, besides some typical and not-so-typical… Read full post »

There are quite a few folks here at Open Salon who are going through a very difficult time. Whether it is rehab, treatments for cancer, or bad karma, I wanted to present something to make you smile. To enjoy the beauty of nature. Particularly after my last post,… Read full post »

*UPDATE*

Many of you wonderful people were kind enough to not mention that I had two of the same picture in here.  My apologies, #4 and #7 were not supposed to be the same shot.  I've replaced #4 with the proper photo, you have my apologies.  :-D 

I promised ten… Read full post »

OK, you've all been waiting for this one. At least I THINK you have. This one deals with some of my favorite photo subjects, as you'll see. We'll start off with the Monsters, since there are actually only two here. From the beasts, we'll go to… Read full post »

Ok, ok - I'm a little behind schedule. But Stephanie (our very own O'Stephanie from OS) asked for birds. Christine (merwoman) put up a fabulous post of some winged wonders that were wowie! So, here is my own meager post of recent shots for Steph.

 … Read full post »

Photo courtesy of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Wow - "All Natural" has a new meaning.

Last night, on the local news, came this wonderful story. Apparently PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has sent a letter to Vermont Ice Cream… Read full post »

Ichneumon Wasp on Queen Anne's Lace - using Nikon D40x with 55-200mm lens 

Blue-billed duck shot in Balboa State Park, California.  Same camera and lens. 

Sunset in Central Vermont, shot with a Panasonic DMZ-LC20 point-and-shoot.

Cuckoo Wasp on Qu… Read full post »

This is for all you folks out there who haven't made the cover yet - you know who we are. :-D

The Cover Of The Open Salon
(A parody of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show's "Cover Of The Rolling Stone")

(ah ha ha I don't believe it...… Read full post »

Some folks have asked me about the expectations for fall foliage this year.  My answer so far has been, "Well, we are expecting leaves to change color again this year.  Your guess is as good as mine as to when it will happen and how fast."

Actually, foliage usually starts the… Read full post »

November in Vermont usually makes me long for warm sunny days. The temps have just started dipping into the 30's during the day and down to 20 at night. So naturally, I wanted to recall some very warm, wonderful memories.

… Read full post »

I decided to spread some good feelings and generate some interest for my adopted home. Here is my pictorial essay of Central Vermont, changing with the times. All photos are copyrighted 2008 by Bill Schwartz, all rights reserved.

SPRING:

SUMMER:… Read full post »

Foreword:

The photo, which inspired the poem, is a work of my dear friend Jan.  Jan is an exceptional photographer and a most wonderful person - you can find her photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/janoid/ and I heartily recommend a visit.  Photo copyright 2006 by Janoid - all rights res… Read full post »

I'm going to preface this rant by saying that this year, I have no real stake in who takes home the cup.  My favorite team, the New York Rangers, got bounced in the first round and my backup team, the Boston Bruins, got bounced in the second round.  Since my "last… Read full post »

This is for Odette, who likes spooky stuff.

The Cellar

Can't go there anymore.

I won't go down the cellar,

I've bolted shut the door.

It's cold down in the cellar,… Read full post »

“I’m a loser.

I’m a loser.

And I’m not what I appear to be.”

The Beatles

Yup.  It’s true.  I’m a loser.  L-O-S-E-R.  I lose things.  All. The. Friggin’. Time. … Read full post »

Today, I read several moving pieces on Open Salon.  Now, this is not something unusual - in a typical day I usually read at least a couple of posts that touch my soul in some manner.  Today, it was micalpeace that got me thinking.  Also, JK Brady wrote about meditation and… Read full post »

This weekend was an awesome weekend.  It was one of the few times since November that it was not only warm enough to go out shooting photos, but it was sunny and relatively cloudless.  With everyone else in the house occupied (Victor was off doing a show, the wife and daughter… Read full post »

Photo courtesy of http://www.jewishbazaar.com/antique-background-hebrew-wedding-ring-2433-prd1.htm

 “David “ (she  pronounced it Dah-VEED, in the old way), “when are you coming home?  I made kugel just the way you like it.”  David rolled his… Read full post »

I’ve worked in I/T for a very long time now.  I started as a computer operator, which was a job that kept me moving.  I couldn’t sit still for very long, as there were tapes and disks to be mounted, and dismounted, and filed, and retrieved.  There wer… Read full post »

The Bridge - An Open Salon Comment Story.

Da Rules:

The story must evolve completely in the comments section, and comments must continue the flow set by the previous comment - you can feel free to give the story a twist, but you cannot instantaneously change it… Read full post »

I read a post today from scanner where he wondered if he saw his best buddy, now gone, in the clouds.  I've seen quite a lot of interesting stuff in the clouds.  Some of it was silly, and some of it made me wonder if maybe we don't get the occasional… Read full post »