If I had my druthers, I would never choose a large McMansion in which to live. My first choice would be a storybook cottage. I think it’s the Hobbit in me. I love hobbit and fairytale cottages. This article appealed to me. Continue reading Storybook Cottages
Just posted my latest in East County Magazine on the forward movement of Alpine becoming a K-12 district, bypassing the Grossmont Unified High School District (GUHSD). http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/15141 It seems obvious to me that the GUHSD has misused funds intended for an Alpine High School. The other side of the coin is that the Alpine Union School District has some pretty serious financial woes. So, my … Continue reading Alpine Unification: I don’t have the answers for today’s education issues; do you?
I wonder how many people still order prints to make old fashioned photo albums? Or scrapbooks? And how many of you order photobooks instead? Or do most of you leave your photos as digital images out there in the virtual world? With Instagram, iPhone photos, and everything digital, my guess is that the vast majority of photos remain virtual images. Am I wrong? I love … Continue reading Where do all those photos go?
I attended the Descanso Planning Group meeting last Thursday (Julie, you said you’d meet me there. I’m still waiting for you!). The company proposing a local solar farm in our community had a representative who briefly spoke about the plans. On one hand, I was relieved to see it is not the scope that is planned in other areas, but still, I have my reservations. … Continue reading Updates to Solar Farms
After an up-and-down year in 2013, I’m digging 2014. So far, not just “so good,” but great. We lost several people last year — my Uncle Kikie, Cousin Ken, a few friends, but the hardest for me was my sister, Marion. A year ago, if someone had even suggested that Marion would be gone, I would not have believed it. She was the invincible one. … Continue reading Life 101- It’s a Circle, Indeed
Who knew there is so much drama with school boards and tiny community groups? I guess whenever you get two or more people together, there will be conflict. Especially when money and power are involved. My experience lately of covering these types of things make me realize the power plays that go on even in the smallest of organized groups. Here is my latest story … Continue reading School Boards and Town Groups
My passions are writing and photography. I am by training a photojournalist, but have been learning more formal photography techniques over the last seven years. I had a great session on portrait lighting the other day (with a great photographer named Rob Andrew). I also had the good fortune to photograph a beautiful model named Brooke. Lighting is, of course, the first key in any … Continue reading Photography Lessons: Portrait Lighting
Getting more involved in my community and learning about what is happening around me has been one the biggest blessings of my retirement. Before, I got up at the crack of dawn, commuted 45 minutes to work; spent the day in a windowless office; drove another 45 minutes to get home after maybe running a few errands in town; then had about three to four … Continue reading David and Goliath
One great aspect of my retirement and recent freelancing is getting to know more about my local community. I have finally had the chance to see what is going on locally and meet those who shake things up. I’ve become amazed with the level of things that happen at the local level in a small, rural community. One person here in Descanso who makes a … Continue reading My New Friend Duncan
I went to the cinema to see a movie with my sister, Lisa, today. We saw “August: Osage County” with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. I rarely go to the theater to see movies anymore; and I say this as a true movie lover. My thoughts on this movie: the acting was phenomenal. The story line was interesting, but they blew it with the ending. … Continue reading August: Osage County
Sharon A. Penny 