Oienkwa with Chief Louis Louis

Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. This is one of the most beautiful cigar store Indians I have seen. The store website says it is the most photographed icon in Fredericksburg. This past Sunday evening while on a photo-walk testing my new Nikon FE 35mm film camera, with a Nikon 24mm AIs lens, I happened upon him and took this picture with the FE. One of the nice things I've noted about this lens is the seeming lack of distortion for a wide-angle lens, as I have sometimes encountered. Oienkwa is the Mohawk word for tobacco. I smelled smoke from the Olde Towne Tobacconists shop and stopped in. There were a few gents gathered in the back of the store enjoying their cigars. I bought myself a fine stubby and enjoyed it on the photo-walk; an indulgence for many Sunday evenings.

Street Minstrel

Corner of Caroline and George streets - Fredericksburg. Very good I can't exactly say what it was she played and sang. Almost like a jazz-folk singer as he voice rose and fell. She said it was something she had put together. It was a treat for this day.
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Remembering 9-11

I recall the photo above was taken after 9-11. I was an ROTC Instructor. Word came to the classroom of a terrible plane crash. We left the area and found a TV nearby where we witnessed the mayhem around the Towers of that morning. We saw the second plane-bomb strike and realized it was no accident. I recall my feeling of dismay and wondering whether I would be re-called to Active Duty. In the days following, the cadets painted a life-sized scene of the NYFD firemen with the American Flag hoisted above the rubble for all to see -- and to remember.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ground_Zero_Spirit.jpg

Now, ten years later, and for almost the past five years, I have labored in support of our War on Terrorism. Lest we forget

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Ring of Fire

"I fell in to Ring of Fire -- Oh, but the fire went wild." This lady was the best hooper! The pick of the show.

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Hula Hoops & Streamers

Carroll Creek Park. The festivities for Frederick "In the Street" kicked off the evening with a great jazz-rock group at the amphitheater-- and on this side of the creek -- ladies with an assortment of Hula Hoops and Streamers. In the background one can see the blue skies breaking through the clouds that appeared this evening as we finally escaped from the dreary days of five straight days of heavy rain in the wake of Tropical Storm Lee and flooding throughout Maryland.
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Serene Scene

This beautiful scene is the picture of serenity. It was one I came upon while giving my newly acquired Nikon FG 35mm film camera a little road test (1970s vintage). This intermittent creek runs into the Monocacy. Pools made a nice reflection of the wooded section and of the light in the background where the woods open up to wetlands. I only had about an hour to shoot a roll of 24 frames and got this quite by chance. I consider it to be one of the best I have captured. I borrowed a very nice Nikon 50mm f1.4 from my buddy for the test--which happens to be one of the best lenses made. Long live film!
msc

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Kayak Fishing at Rivers Bend

Frederick
Rivers Bend is one of the lesser used parks here but very beautiful The paved walkways wind along the bank of the Monocacy River and tributaries in the park. I especially appreciated today this scene of the fisherman in his blue kayak. It reminds me somewhat of the Southfork of the Kentucky River that flows behind my home. My kayak awaits me there and the promise of peaceful days pursuing my finned friends -- Smallmouth
msc

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John Hanson

First Presiding officer of the Continental Congress. 1781-1788. This is a new statue at the Frederick County Courthouse. It is marked 2011. Hanson had moved to Frederick in about 1769. The statue uses the name first President of the United States, but this cannot be considered in the same light as Geo. Washington for there was no office of such when he was elected. He is more like the Speaker of the House.
msc
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Morning Prayer

From Ps 95:6 KJV. Often used at morning prayer. Methodist Church on Benz & Second
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The Muse

I happened by a small store in town named "The Muse". I thought is name fitting for this blog. It means and instance of a musing, a contemplation. source:
1300-50;  Middle English musen  to mutter, gaze meditatively on,be astonished <Middle French muser,  perhaps ultimatelyderivative of Medieval Latin mūsum muzzle>
msc
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Golden Gears 56 Victoria

This afternoon I stopped by the Everedy Square to admire cars on display by the "Golden Gears" club. This was my pick. The owner had the original bill of sale. Note the tray in the window. All they need is a car-hop with roller skates.
My neighbor had an old Ford like this (Pete Hemple-maybe a basic Ford -- about a '53). Sometimes he would let me go with him. One evening we went to Parquette Drive-In where they brought out trays just like the one on this old Ford. Parquette became a favorite of our in later years.
msc

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