Monday, October 6, 2008

So Long Summer, 2008


Even in  Alabama, summer's over. Good bye fresh peaches, home grown tomatoes and the Pepper Place Market every Saturday morning. Hello craft fairs, pumpkin displays and scarecrows sitting on haystacks. Sure it's hot enough to be summer , but it's just time now  to "play" fall.  My last chance to post this picture of my little friend from the Pepper Place. He was there almost every Saturday with his grandmother and other relatives. He usually hung out in the back of the truck with a load of cantelopes and as the summer wore on, watermelons. Sometimes when I'd stop by and ask, "Where's my little buddy today?" Grandma would say, "Thank goodness he's asleep in the truck!" He was a tad busy as we like to say. One Saturday his dad even had him on a kiddie leash! The day I took this photo, Grandma was behind him hollering, "Smile for that lady!"  After I was done, he took off like a flash. I contemplated chasing after him, but someone told me that everyone looked out for him and he'd be just fine. I can't wait till next spring to see how he's grown.  Maybe I'll be able to trick a smile out of him next year! So long my little buddy, so long summer!

The Tune du Jour is "Sunny" by Marvin Gaye

33 comments:

Olivier said...

portrait sucré et très beau. tu as trouve un vrai top modèle, les enfants font les plus beaux portraits. Superbe
very sweet portraits and beautiful.you find a real top model, children are the most beautiful portraits. Superb

Eric said...

This is a fantastic candid portrait. I love it.

alice said...

Just perfect.

Webradio said...

Hello Virginia !
SUPERBE PORTRAIT !
Et le texte est symphatique...
A bientôt.

Diederick Wijmans said...

How lovely, Virginia!! A wonderful portrait of this buddy!
(I still cannot hear the music...)

angela said...

I'm not getting the music but just love that composition, Virginia. Just out of interest how cold does it get in Birmingham?

SandyCarlson said...

That's a beautiful photo. That child's face just draws me in. Those eyes are beautiful. Happy, blessed autumn to you!

Tanya Breese said...

What a fitting tribute to the end of summer. Love his eyes!

Janet Kincaid said...

What a great kid! Ah, summer, how I loved thee... See ya next year!

Virginia said...

What, no "Sunny" this morning for my early risers?? He's singing for me right now. Will the next visitors let me know if it's working?? Glad you all like this little fellow.

Virginia said...

Today the music does not play automatically. I think that bugs some people who don't care for music while they blog. Click the little arrow! :)

Angela,
Bless your heart, you are still down. When do you think you will get the kinks out of that computer?
Weather in B"ham in winter ranges quite a bit We have some days of freezing weather. We may have an odd day with snow , but that's not the norm.

Pat said...

That's just gorgeous. So expressive!

Halcyon said...

He is the cutest! I do hope you'll get a shot of him next year.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Music working fine this end. Marvin's dulcet tones are so soothing. We all have our forte with photography and I
am going to suggest you have found yours. Today's image is just enchanting. Like yesterday it's the subject, the child that has been captured so magically. I don''t like studio portraits. Yes you can get the best lighting, but you loose the naturalness and subtely of the subject, especailly with childern. Perfect portrait. I'd happliy visit vritaully an exhibition of "Birmingham kids as caught by Virginia." Are you listening the powers that be out there in Birmingham? Who do I contact?

Hope said...

A wonderful portrait of your little Summer Buddy! I enjoyed your words just as much!

Janet said...

Such a nice portrait of this young boy. So long, summer! (As you say, we are just "playing" like summer is over!) Got to get into autumn colors.

Wayne said...

Too cute V.!

M. CHRISTOPHE said...

A very nice and touching portrait.
My favorit photo today.

Nathalie H.D. said...

Wonderful story and beautiful beautiful portrait. It's such a joy to come here, Virginia!!!

Knoxville Girl said...

what a cutie! great portrait, V.

b.c. said...

that's such a beautiful portrait, i love looking at people

Eki said...

What an emotive moment you captured in this photograph, V. I like how those eyes of his stare at you and the camere. You captured the essence of the boy's personality in this portraiture.

Anonymous said...

What a handsome young man he is. And he will be even more handsome next year, along with the melons being larger and riper and sweeter. It is a really lovely photograph.

Yes, our fall is slipping, almost silently, into winter and I just am not ready for that. But I keep transplanting something each day 'cause I know if I don't do it then it won't get done and to give the plants a chance, I try to transplant things early so they have time to establish roots and grow a little before freezing temps set in.

We had our first frost yesterday. It was a surprise.

Barbara Rahal said...

What a beautiful portrait , those eyes!! Love your style!!! so magic!

Bob Crowe said...

That's just a bloody good portrait. His huge eyes make it special.

Anonymous said...

Virginia, You do a fabulous job with your photos of children! Wouldn't his Grandma love a copy of this? Might give her a whole new prospective. When I first looked in here - last night about midnight L.A. time I hit the play arrow and heard "Sunny" but when I look now I just have a "white" square. Maybe you know what that means - I can't get it to play now. Love your site. Keep up the great work.

Virginia said...

Judy, A few minutes ago when trying out my song for tomorrow I had a lapse with Deezer. What can I say, I am at their mercy. Thanks for being a faithful reader and listener. I have no earthly how many of you listen to the tune du jour but it's fun looking for and listening to tunes to go with my post each day. I am listenting to a tres jazzy one for tomorrow. Hope it loads for ya'll! HInt, a sort of southern, sort of jazzy French song. LOVE IT, hope you will too.

PJ said...

Good evening, Miss Virginia. I have had such a busy day getting caught up on two blogs and then I realized I hadn't commented here. Not everyone can photograph a child the way you do, I think because you bring out the best in people everywhere you go. Being a teacher has prepared you so well for your new career. I'll be looking for your budddy's photo this time next year.

Jim Klenke said...

Hes a cute kid, even has on the right hat.

Virginia said...

jim,
I was trying to be oh so "fair and balanced' regarding the hat that he wore EVERY Saturday. I gritted my teeth and overlooked it!

PJ,
Why thank you dear friend.

It ain't easy pleasing Strangetastes, Lord knows I try!

Ming the Merciless said...

Great shot! We would never have guessed he was a handful from that photo. :-)

dot said...

Your photography is wonderful and the little guy is just plain cute!

Victor said...

Wonderful portrait Virginia!