It was one of those recent days where it was somehow storming and sunny all at the same time.  Beautiful, really.  My friend Jenn called and asked if I had any city photos she could have.  I then suggested we wonder through the neighborhood on this gorgeously dreary day.  It was fun to get on the streets again and photograph.  The streets of Philly are where this entire photo adventure of mine started many years ago…..  I was much bolder then… See “Don’t Talk to Strangers” series.

My most frequented corner store:

Check out this awesome door made of, I assume, bench ends.  Very cool!!

From the Spring Garden El stop.  Many years ago I was kicked off the El at this very station for taking photographs.  A friend and I were “written up” by a cop and told never to photograph on the El again. Haha!!  I will say that, at that time, I was using a giant 4″x5″ camera with a hood over it.  And, I was attempting to photograph the people on the train.  Wow, I really was bold back then!

Cool PBR advertisements at Spring Garden (designed by various different artists).

You can see the El steps and, I believe, some of the new art school that they are building on Front Street.  Oh, and a bit of the city line on the left….  This shot really shows the dark cloud, bright sun contrast that was happening that day.

Water from a fire hydrant…

Gamer…

Kensington.  Does it look like I am jailed in or jailed out? 

My amazing, beautiful, fantastic, funny & kind grandmother (I can’t say enough about her!), very unfortunately, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.  Ughh… I hate to give that terrible word a capital A but since it was named after a physician and is the proper punctuation I will leave it be….for now…. :/

ANYWAY, we went to visit my grandmother at her now home, Arden Courts – Warminster.  If you have a family member that suffers with this destructive disease and are looking for help and care, this is a wonderful place!  It is clean, the staff is really nice, the food is good, the residents get their own bed and bathroom, it is not overcrowded and there are always an array of fun and creative activities going on day and night.

I am so glad that we took these photographs!  Though Kylie (my niece) and my nephews will never get to know first hand just how fantastic their great grandmother was…. I am glad that there will always be many great stories and, of course, photographs.

By the way, I will let you know if any of the photos make it to the magazine!! 

FINAL COUNTS:
Money:  $1141.76

SEPTA Tokens:  6

Buttons:  1 purple

Earrings: 1 set (yep, really)

Foreign Coins:  1 Aruba & 1 Australia

$1 John Adams:  3

Oldest Year (that I found): 1954

Quick “Photo Booth” Photo of our Savings (feels more like a win!):

Anyway, we finally are deciding to “cash in”.  Below is a look at what we have saved.  Carl & I both thought that it would be fun to have a contest to see just how much was saved.

So, here is the contest:

- HOW MUCH?  (Guess within $10 and receive an 8×10 photograph (we can discuss of what once you win!!)

OTHER FUN GUESSES (Guess the correct amount and win a 5×7 photograph)

- HOW MANY SEPTA COINS?

- HOW MANY $1 COINS?

-  HOW MANY FOREIGN COINS?

- HOW MANY BUTTONS?

- HOW MANY EARRINGS?

-  YEAR OF THE OLDEST COIN I FOUND?

Oh, and if you want to win some drinks in Fishtown as well, check out Carl’s blog and vote here:

http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/07/09/coinstar-time/

Good luck!  Oh, and we plan to cash them in tomorrow!!

And then, of course, I took some just for fun….

The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how much they love them while they’re alive. – Orlando A. Battista

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today. – Dale Carnegie

All of that said, my husband, Carl, actually planned a surprise 30th birthday party for me on July 3rd.  And, let me tell you, I was SHOCKED!!  I truly had no idea and was completely overwhelmed by the entire event.

The party was an intimate gathering of family and friends at Top Hat in Old City.   The plan to get me there involved an intricate series of ridiculous lies! …. I mean, emails, with a fabricated Dutch character named Sebastian Fruehoff (aka: Seb).  The story was that Seb wanted both Carl & I to work together with him to design a website and take photographs for a new event venue near our home,  Front & Palmer.  The plan was to meet at a bar in Old City on Saturday night.  Looking back at those emails makes me laugh out loud!  I was actually excited for that job that never happened!  Oh well…. 

On the way up the stairs to the bar, something didn’t feel right to me.  I had seen that the door to the bar said something about “private events” and I asked Carl if we were at the right place.  He wouldn’t give me a clear answer about the name of the bar, etc… and I told him I didn’t want to go in because I was afraid we would be interrupting a private event.  Near the door at the top of the stairs, I saw presents and balloons and told Carl that I didn’t want to go in there because there is a private party going on.  It was then that he, quite literally, pushed me into the bar and I saw everyone there and they yelled “surprise!”.  I had to turn around, nearly in tears, because I was so shocked.  And, honestly, that shock still hasn’t completely worn off.

It was an amazing night and birthday that will always be remembered well.  I never thought that I could be so surprised before…. but they sure pulled it off.  It seems I have some sneaky and deceptive friends and family!  Either that or I am completely oblivious!

Here are a few fun photos from the night:

The mad planner, Carl, & I:

My oldest (and crazy rock star) friend, Jenn & I:

My parents:

My sister & I:

My other set of parents and sister!  (Carl’s mom, dad & sis)

Some of my favorite girls & I.   Attn: old Celebrity Kids clients….. you might recognize them.

Anyway, those are just a few.  For a better story and more photos check out CARL’S BLOG!

http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/07/05/melissas-30th/

" Wrinkles merely indicate where the smiles have been."  - Mark Twain

If I have seen you recently, you may already know that Carl & I are finally participating in the Greensgrow Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for the first time this year.  An explanation (taken from the super cool and free, Grid Magazine) is as follows:  “a mutually beneficial arrangement between community members and a local farmer(s).  In exchange for payment, a CSA farm provides a “share” of produce and other farm products during the growing season.”

We are doing a half share (full shares available).  So, basically, every other week, we pick up a portion of local crop shares.  All of the food is seasonal, fresh, & absolutely delicious.  Also, it feels good to support local farmers and other local businesses.  Besides veggies, the share often includes items like cheese, butter, tofu, seitan, yogurt, eggs (from the chickens on the farm), bread, and, apparently sometimes local beer (I assume PBC or possibly Yards – both are great!)

I highly recommend that everyone that loves fresh food participate in a local CSA.  I have been labeled a bit of a “veggie/ csa pusher” recently and am proud of it.  I get excited for each pickup!  You never know what you will get and it is fun to be creative with cooking and try new recipes.

For some great information on Philadelphia locally grown food, check out:  http://www.fairfoodphilly.org/

Or these sites seem to be good for finding local CSAs in your area: http://www.localharvest.org/ and  http://www.farmtocity.org/

Oh, and, of course, if you haven’t already, watch this movie!  FOOD, INC.

I warned you, I am a pusher!! 

Anyway, before eating our yummy food, I took some photos.  Enjoy!

Here is a glimpse at what we got with share 1 & 2

lonely mushroom….

Put ‘em all together and you got a delicious salad! 

Las Vegas: http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/05/11/las-vegas/

Zion National Park:  http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/05/14/zion-national-park/

The Grand Canyon: http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/06/02/grand-canyon/

Sedona:  http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/06/05/sedona/

Williams & Phoenix:  http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/06/06/williams-phoenix/

Sadly, we have very few photos of us together.  We just kept taking photos of each other…  Anyway, here are 2 of his photographs because every blog post needs some imagery!

This is me staying warm by the fire and updating my travel journal:

More headstands….. this one is on our trip to Sedona.  After hours of driving, this felt good for my circulation and on most of my body…. but not so much on the top of my head.  Pebbles hurt!

In a nutshell, if you are interested of course, (otherwise skip to photos) this was it:::

Day 1: flew into Vegas & rented a car – stayed at the Luxor on the strip – saw Conan O’Brien’s “Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television” tour at the Palms Casino.

Day 2: drove 200 miles to Mt. Zion National Park (bathroom stops included Mesquite, NV and  St.George, UT ).  Set up camp at the Watchmen Campground @ Zion.

Day 3: Hike, hike, hike!  We hiked Mt. Zion all day.  It was spectacular!  The trails included:  Watchmen Trail, the Lower, Middle & Upper Emerald Pool Trails, the Grotto and the Riverside Walk Trail.

Day 4: Drove along the most frightening and simultaneously the most beautiful drive of my life (literally at the very edge of the canyons and cliffs).  Drove over 250 miles to The Grand Canyon (southern tip).  I was in complete awe of the entire drive.  It was so desolate and magnificent.  We arrived at the Mather Campground and set up camp.

Day 5: Hiked part way down the Grand Canyon via the Bright Angel Trail.  I felt a little sick that morning (after camping in 30 degree temperatures!)  We both did a great way down but the way up was absolutely grueling.  Carl did great but I thought I was going to die right there on the trail.  Shew!  That was tough.  We hope to go back one day and camp at the bottom for a night.  I will certainly prepare better for that adventure!

Day 6: Drove to Sedona!  Along the way we stopped at:  Tusayan, AZ & Williams, AZ.  I definitely recommend a short stop in Williams if you are ever planning a trip.  Cute town!!  The entire drive was beautiful drive, of course!  We stayed at The Sedona Motel (I also recommend this place).

We hiked the Cathedral Rock Trail that day.  This was the absolute highlight of the trip for me!  A short .7 mile trail with a 600 ft elevation change.  It is labeled as “strenuous” but it is so beautiful there that it truly does not feel that way at all.   There was actual climbing involved (hands and feet involved) but I felt as if I had skipped up and down the entire trail.  It was an absolute pleasure to climb and the view at the top was magnificent.  I felt at peace and calm there at the top.  I have safely stored that in my memory as one of the very few “happy places” to go to in my mind. 

We also saw the sunset from the Airport Mesa.  Yep, you guessed it, fantastic!

Dinner at a Korean Restaurant, Mago Cafe – recommended!

I could live without the tourist-y stuff that covers a huge section of Sedona but I completely suggest a trip there for its natural beauty, quirky places and celestial/ new age vibe.  As someone told us before we went, “you will probably giggle a lot”.  I really enjoyed it there!

Day 7: Hiked….  we think that it was Boynton Canyon but that isn’t official and we kind of made our own paths….  We also went to an amazing Vegan Cafe, D’Lish and indeed it was D’LISH!  Loved it there!!!  I wish we had this in Philly.

Drove to Phoenix and checked into the super fancy Radisson Hotel in downtown Phoenix.

Day 8: Walked all around Phoenix, saw a movie and got free tickets to a Arizona Diamondbacks game and a ride on a rickshaw!  Flew out of Phoenix and back to good old Philly!

Anyway, here are just a few randomly chosen photos……

Vegas!

All of the amazing architecture in Vegas and I preferred watching shadows on the wall…. (thinking of John Lennon now…)

Juniper tree @ Cathedral Rock in Sedona….. lots of vortex energy!  If you’ve never heard of vortexes in Sedona it is worth googling!  Or, let me google that for you….

This defines our trip!  The top of Cathedral Rock trail.  Took off my shoes and did a headstand.

Carl & I at the top.  We got to be all alone up there for about 15 minutes.  It was great!

]]> http://melissahassey.com/2010/06/our-southwest-adventure/feed/ 4 http://melissahassey.com/2010/05/fundraiser-for-hope-afloat/ http://melissahassey.com/2010/05/fundraiser-for-hope-afloat/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 20:29:14 +0000 melissa http://melissahassey.com/?p=3150

RIVERSHARKS!

I know, I know…. this blog is well overdue, but I truly have been really busy!  Anyway, out of fear that my mom & other members of my family might physically hurt me if I didn’t post some photos soon…. here they are!

On the day that Kylie was born, I headed over to my sister & brother in law’s house to help watch their two boys, Gavin & Ethan.  We waited anxiously for updates and I helped to keep the boys entertained by singing “Happy Birthday to Kylie” and then “Happy Birthday to Worms” with them, which they thought was hilarious.  My dad was there as well.  In this picture, you can see just how hard Pop-Pop was working. 

Once we received the call that Kylie was born, my mom and I went straight to the hospital.  These photos were taken through the nursery window within one hour after Kylie’s birth… beautiful and so alert already!

Proud parents:  Allyson & Ray

and a few more….  that’s my mom on the left and me on the right.  We didn’t have a lot of time for portraits as we had to leave soon after.  I didn’t take a whole lot of photos because, honestly, I just wanted to see and enjoy her (without my camera!)

Five days later, I ventured back to the suburbs for more “official” photographs of Kylie and her brothers.  My sister had mentioned that Ethan had a “scratch” on his nose.  When I arrived, he had scabs all over his face and Gavin had a bruise on his head!  Haha… boys!  Anyway, I touched them up for this photo…. but not the others as, well, that is just who they are.  When don’t they have cuts and bruises?  Behold, the miracles of photoshop:

I’m adding this one because it makes me laugh.  I think I should submit it to http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ : )

Both boys are really so good with Kylie.  They both want to help out by getting diapers and holding her bottle, etc…  They also like to give her hugs (and yes, I touched Ethan up a bit on this one too):

Big & Bigger brothers!

And, finally, a few of Kylie Elizabeth all by herself:

And, last but not least….. her adorable feet!

Are we good, now, Mom? 

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