37 Comments
User's avatar
Mary Aries's avatar

Good eye with your camera!

Expand full comment
Helen Palmer's avatar

love the photos-this could be my little"trashy" yard!

watching Band of Brothers and thinking of my Daddy who fought in Normandy.

a thank you to Bill- he was so young-and dedicated.

Expand full comment
KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

Helen, the photos are precious, aren’t they? Bring to mind Vermont Country Store…

I too started watching Band of Brothers last night! Riveting. We were raised on Victory at Sea with Richard Rogers’ soundtrack. My dad was a prodigy designing model aircraft, brought on board at North American Aviation soon after high school, spent his career there. Growing up near LAX where he worked, there were model airplanes all over the house except for the living room, dining room and kitchen. All were hung nose downward, a loop at the tail. I have my favorites. North American P 51 Mustang hung above my head when sleeping. And I love fly-ins.

On the serious side, we lost a cousin and classmates in Vietnam, but I’m grateful my brother made it home safely. Many to remember this Memorial Day, once called Decoration Day. Very attached to the VA through my husband who served in Germany during the Vietnam era, Air Force, and received stellar care at the VA after his stroke, passed in 12/22.

Young Bill… We say a deep “Thank you for your service.” Most probably his experience was similar to what we are viewing in this Hanks/Spielberg production.

Liza always hits the mark with her posts. ✏️🎨🙏🏽🇺🇸

Expand full comment
KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

P.S. The Six Triple Eight (WWII) and The 24th (WWI) depict true events, both excellent, jarring aspects, segregation, racial violence… I’m Caucasian, my husband Black… Always carrying high alert awareness, then and now interfaced.

Earl actually said growing up he never dreamed segregation would end. We were always grateful to be in California. Not perfect but… He said Louisiana is great place to be from.

Expand full comment
Helen Palmer's avatar

hello, Katherine- I am Caucasian and grew up in Georgia- while I somehow escaped having "Confederate genes" I have many memories of seeing sad behavior as I grew. I hope that by being in CA and Germany Earl was able to avoid the ugly behavior that still exists.

wishing you and your family well and a fine summer ahead. it is very cold in Aspen this evening, but the lilacs are opening.

by the way-that photo of a vine at the base of a stone wall- poison ivy? too high here-8000 feet-for that or kudzu!

HP

Expand full comment
KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

Helen, how kind of you. So kind. Earl seemed able to get along with just about anybody… On our street, one friend told me in their household they called him Saint Earl. That makes me smile. I appreciate your kind wish. He was very grounded in faith, and while he could be chatty at a coffee shop and so forth, he also was well known to be quiet, but when he spoke, it mattered. That popped up from time to time, and it would always surprise me because it would be from people who didn’t even know one another.

My cousin has been to Aspen many times. I’ve never been but may still get there… Bucket list.

I’ll look back at the pictures to see your reference about the vine against the wall.

I worked very long hours in storage today, looking to organize and also gather several things a friend needs… When time to wrap things up, I got myself a nutritious meal and tuned back into Band of Brothers. I found myself trying to fathom how on earth they film these things when the storyline is showing us the thick of the battle. Lots of food for thought… Such deep appreciation, for what brought us to where we are now, but not able to relate to people who seem ready to dismiss it all, seem unable to recognize the value of service and sacrifice to save and preserve the common good.

Be well and thanks for the conversation.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

yep, poison ivy, I think. Although I know the greens growing on the post are certainly that.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Katherine.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Helen. Uncle Bill died in Germany, just after the war was over. So sad.

Expand full comment
KATHERINE H. TERHUNE's avatar

So very, very sad… It’s the sacrifice of which Abraham Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg. My heart aches for you and the family.

Expand full comment
Michael's avatar

Liza, oh what a bucket, a bike, some stones, a fence post and a family photo you have captured to celebrate the spirit of Memorial Day. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Michael!

Expand full comment
stephen kirby's avatar

Among the colored photographs, the third one is a standout winner. One must look very hard for the human intervention in what would be characterized as; A wholly natural view of Nature.

Expand full comment
Leza Danly's avatar

Seeing that sweet photo of your uncle Bill, I’m struck by your resemblance. Holding you in my heart this Memorial Day.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Leza. That's what my family has always said, I look like him and am like him. So sad.

Expand full comment
Elaine Waxer's avatar

Those photos knocked my socks off!!! I was transported to a glorious countryside. Thank you for sharing your getaway.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

thank you, Elaine!

Expand full comment
KittyLiterate's avatar

Exhaling with these lovely photos. Calming. Thanks.

Expand full comment
Charles G Haacker's avatar

"Calming." Perfect word.

Expand full comment
Ward Johnson's avatar

I especially like the bucket on the box and the stones. I like photographs that are not immediately about the object, the "what it is", and more about the composition, the textures. Well done.

My heart fills with sorrow for your uncle, for anyone who dies in a war - any war, for any reason. War is grotesque; it is absurd; it is appalling. We must evolve away from it, and quickly.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Ward.

Expand full comment
Charles G Haacker's avatar

I will also think of your Uncle Bill, along with countless others. I am a Cold Warrior (Regular Army 1961--1964), just a whisker before Vietnam. I was never recalled. Liza, I love your photographs. You are an artist, gifted with "the eye," but take it from a retired pro: Those are great compositions that make you think. 🙂👍

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Wow, thank you Charles. I am unsure of my photos, so that's great to hear, from a pro! And thanks for your service, the Cold War was a scary time!

Expand full comment
larry patriquin's avatar

wow, I love the one of the old bucket, I'm going to print it for myself. what an artists eye. thanks

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Larry!

Expand full comment
Linda H. Davis's avatar

Beautiful pictures.

Expand full comment
Bruce Murray(VT)'s avatar

Thank you Lisa. A photo of beautiful and happy young person makes his service and our loss not only more poignant but a thousand times more real. His life was taken from all of us.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Bruce.

Expand full comment
Emmie Seaman's avatar

Wonderful pictures. Thank you for your ultimate service, Uncle Bill.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thank you, Emmie.

Expand full comment
Sandy Sweeney's avatar

Thank you for sharing your pictures. They were peaceful, with the green of the grass and trees and the sun shining through tree limbs and other spaces. Nature is healing.

Expand full comment
Liza Donnelly's avatar

Thanks, Sandy. Yes Nature is healing, so true.

Expand full comment
KB May's avatar

Lovely!

Expand full comment
Ernst Wehausen's avatar

Delightful colors and composition. Gold star. You made my morning.

Expand full comment