Our Nation’s Diversity as Seen in our National Parks As a Traveling Photographer, I have had the opportunity to appreciate the diversity of our Nation’s natural and historical beauty. Join me in a view of this range of beauty. 

Please note that in the TITLED version of this video, Mary Lou has labeled each National Park location.

In Buffalo, NY, there is a spot called Riverworks. In Riverworks are the Buffalo Grain Silos and all the equipment used to operate those silos. The images in this essay are pictures of the particular silos where, looking through the windows, you can see wall chalk art/paintings. These are my favorites. The images have been edited in Lightroom and Photoshop because shooting in through the wired mesh covered windows was shooting into a space with limited lighting coming in from some 20 feet or more away or more.

We live in a world where colors are everywhere. So commonplace that we seem to ignore and take for granted how colors mold our world, affect our moods and shape our artistic expressions. Without colors, life would feel empty, lacking the richness that makes it so beautiful, captivating and inspiring. Thus, the main objective of my photo essay is to remind us thru photographs to appreciate the beauty in the simple moments. Make life not just something we live, but something we truly experience. Color spectrum is more than just visual element. It is a fundamental part of how we experience and interpret the world around us. In essence, colors illuminate the word wonder in wonderful, the love in loveliness and the magic in magical. 

Every summer I look forward to the County Fair. It is a magical time to see the best summer has to offer in our little part of the world. The food, the rides, the entertainment, the competitions, and the animals are so exciting to see. Here is a little snippet of things I have seen. I hope this entices you to go to your County Fair this year. Enjoy.

In March, I challenged myself to take a picture every day. It was a good experience and this is the result.

Nature gives us spring.
Even purchased tulips become a gentle reminder —
the sun will shine.
Spring is on its way.

The giving of joy.
See their colors. Curves.
Silky texture.
We smile. Our senses open.
Aware of the cheerful greeting.
We breathe in.
And out.
Observing.
Their rooted connection to the cycle of life.

The dance of change begins.
Imperceptibly, the blossoms transform.
The vibrant hues darken to rich, earthy tones.
Stems – once erect – now bow.
Petals unfurl, surrender, wither.
Yellowed leaves reveal the inevitable.

Nature changes with acceptance.
A quiet lesson whispered —
in the ephemeral dance of a tulip.

When you lose a spouse or someone significant in your life, everything becomes sort of frozen in time. Little by little you must move on. I lost my husband of 47 years unexpectedly last year on May 8 (2024). The day he left us, the redbud tree outside our window had started to fully emerge its red heart-shaped leaves from pink blossoms.

My small garden became a sanctuary of metaphors and peace. Discovering blossoms holding one another for support or reaching up toward the light helped me navigate through what became “My Year of Magical Thinking”, after I read Joan Didion’s book on grief.

Daisies were my husband’s favorite flower because they made him happy. He knew our daughter was going to have a baby, but didn’t live to see her born this past December. She was named Daisy, and he would have been so delighted.

The flowers and blossoms you see here are the gifts I received from nature starting on May 10, 2024, and began with the Redbud tree.

People are everywhere. As I travel out of town or locally doing photography of anything and everything, but mostly animals and flowers, I always encounter people and don't we all! And people are interesting. They do many and varied things.

The PURPOSE of this essay is to show you some things I found people doing, such as: reading and relaxing to biking, skating and fishing, plus chatting, strolling, playing music, dancing, painting and basically doing their thing.

Hopefully, you will enjoy seeing your fellow men and women doing some of their favorite things, some of which you too may do as well.