Peter J. Crowley

The Daily November 13th. Now that is a Big Cookie.

11.13.2015 by Peter J. Crowley // 4 Comments

A Life in Photographic Art my second book

That cookie is as big as your face! No it isn’t grandpa. Come look in the mirror. A little smile a big bite on to the next adventure. The cookie is from Marconi’s on a visit there we stand in line we order Inara do you want a cookie? There is a rack on the counter way above her. Yes a chocolate one. There are chocolate chip, oatmeal in the rack I say they don’t have chocolate. “Yes grandpa in the basket” there by the cash register is a small basket with chocolate cookies high above her head? How she saw them no clue.

Lots happening images adventures over the end of Autumn. Moms birthday they pick me up as I get in the reports from the back seat begin. The pumpkins have rotted and the tops fell inside “Yep” there is a definitive way she says yes. A couple miles of updates, school friends etc. Lunch at Mekong 125 Columbia St NW Sticky Rice a bit of sugar. Maybe a taste of mommies and my lunch. A fortune cookie and off to the Capitol Dome to walk the stairs, ride elevators. Grandpa the door opened on the other side. Silly elevator trying to fool us laughing we go to another elevator and the door opens there’s mom. Off to the market. Getting out of the car I have a camera, camera bag, a bag of groceries, my coffee cup the Honda is low to the ground I struggle a bit with balance, Kirsten “You got all of it.” From behind me “Grandpa put the coffee cup in grocery bag.” Problem solved. She is sharp. We have a routine when I get out, I look over the seat and say See you later alligator. She says I’m a frog we laugh. Today I say see you later……..she waits for it a little smile eyes focused “frogigator” surprise her face lights up. Laughing she repeats frogigator. Walking up to my apt. I can hear her talking turning I look back her window open she hollers “see you later frogigator.” It is a new word, our word our goodbye.

A wholly bear at Nisqually back in September. We put it off the pavement over by some trees.

This year the frog is a Penguin. Off to Boo Bash at The Hands on Museum

I am a proud grandparent I am amazed by her intelligence, compassion. My best friend Carl died on Halloween I got the call when Inara was visiting I start to cry immediately she is hugging comforting me empathy. I am a lucky man. Due to ankle problems I couldn’t go trick or treating with her a hug and a smile that’s ok grandpa get better.

Peace pjc

Photographic Art Halloween 2009

The State Fair, Upside Down Traveling Through the Imagination

10.14.2015 by Peter J. Crowley // 6 Comments

September twenty first three kids, two moms and a grandpa join thousands of others at the fair. Food, Fun, Colors Sounds and Scary Rides.

Well scary for moms and grandpas. But not for the fearless 3’s a trampoline triple flips “higher, higher.” She wants to go on the slingshot 200+ feet in the air. Mom “you can go on it when you are 25.” “I’m 36 [inches] this year and can go on the giant slide.”

Meeting up we talk about what to do first. But the friends watch in wonder of so much going on hands held contemplating the rides. We can do that, not scary fun rides fast. The quiet thoughts evaporate and the fun begins.

All that is cool isn’t scary, there are tractors to plow the fields of imagination. With three kids the harvest is bountiful. The barns with piglets feeding on the video screen if you can’t get close, bunnies, birds and wonder. More then you can absorb in just one day “Grandpa Grandpa look at ………………… Faster faster Grandpa Grandpa.”

Sometimes the story is told with images, you can hear the laughter, feel the warmth and connection between children. Little hands, big hearts sharing each others joy and fear. At 3 you see clearly just seeing without the filters, walls, fear imposed and taught to you. I strive to be 3 seeing with my eyes and my heart. Telling the story with images for many more than three years.

The Ferris wheel at night shot at extremely high ISO a bit of grain [noise the new language] I knew it would be there I wanted the grain. The feel of film an understanding of the light my element.

Bacon certainly one of the most marketed foods lately, Vodka, Perfume gotta be Bacon. The Fair is not about low fat or cholesterol. The flavors of the fair enhance the air a potpourri of the senses. In the 70’s I had a couple friends who would raise a pig or two a year, fed on garden scraps and from a couple fine restaurants. I would only eat Bacon at their house. Once you have had home grown well the plastic package of chemistry from the market is not edible. A slab on the cutting board smoked out back. Cut your own how thick what ever you want. Jerry Garcia on the stereo Sunday mornings …………….Drifting a bit here.

The Tiger Coaster with Mom and her friends Just fun, just fun. enjoy pjc

Photographic Art Walkins Glen 1973

Notes and Quotes, A 3 YO World View.

08.21.2015 by Peter J. Crowley // 8 Comments

Leaving after an afternoon with me she stops on the walk outside and squarts down examining something looking back she motions me to come over gets up takes me by the hand to the spot where there is a dead earth worm. In a very solemn voice “it’s a worm he is dead. It is very sad.”

Transition is a big thing for 3YOs from PJs to clothes, etc screaming, whining as mommy brushed her hair to go away for a weeks vacation. Standing there watching sipping on my first coffee mommy finishes she hops down and says to me,

“I Farted in Mommy’s lap”

Transition from a toddler to a pre school-er is tough so many changes so many new responsibilities. So much more right out there on the horizon, almost reading, almost able to swim. “I don’t want to wear those shoes!!” This refrain will be a constant. Learning to tell time I hope will make picking shoes and other changes easier.

Sitting in the car while mommy pays a bill we talk of plants, animals simple three Y.O. talk she explains the difference between nocturnal, and diurnal. Golden earring on the radio she asks grandpa do you like this music? Yes I do, do you? ” Not so much.” Wednesday is concert night in Sylvester Park downtown. Spinning, dancing, running, collecting feathers “grandpa where is your camera bag? Where can I put the feathers?

Cereal in the car, a frozen corn dog, pizza slices at the park an ice cream followed by a Gelato we walk back to the car.

“Grandpa can we go to the restaurant?”

Not really hungry but she likes the ambiance of cafe society. She is after all my granddaughter. Not tonight maybe tomorrow. What are you doing tomorrow mommy? We are going on a bike ride. From the back “We can stink on the bike trail.” Laughing mommy says we shower after the bike rides. She will be here soon we will be going to the restaurant after my Dr. appt. enjoy pjc we certainly will

Photographic Art Flowers, Fauna, Nature she smells all flowers even the plastic ones in stores.