52 Week Smartphone Challenge : Week 31 : Friends and Family

Telling the story of someone you know well is sometimes the hardest story to tell.

My sister-in-law and her husband are travelling to the Outerbanks of North Carolina this month to vacation with her husband's close friends. They have rented a large home and will all be residing together. Her husband's friends are all physicians; paediatrics, surgeons, internists, etc. They are doing COVID-19 tests and self quarantining each family until the trip commences. But I think the risks are too high with COVID-19 still running amok in the United States, but they are determined to go. Per New Jersey state executive orders, they will self-quarantine for another 14 days after returning.

Seven days of isolation, risk of infection, 14 days of isolation. Is it really worth it for 7 days with your friends? In any case, we won't be seeing my sister-in-law, not even in her backyard, anytime soon.

Near the end of August, despite all my protestations, my daughter will be returning to the Oberlin College campus for the fall semester. We plan to drive to Oberlin (Ohio), unpack, ensure our daughter is all set, then drive back; all in the same day. Per New Jersey state executive orders, we will self-quarantine for 14 days after returning.

That look on my wife's face, that's her worried look.

The light in the photo by theonlyD800inthehameau is captivating. It gave me the initial impression that he had created a painting.

Submitted as part of my 52 Week Smartphone Challenge.

52 Week Smartphone Challenge : Week 30 : Exit

"Every exit is an entry to somewhere else". Be inspired by the Exit this week.

Flounder Brewing was the first local micro-brewery in Somerset County. They started small. I remember that it wasn't too long ago when the only way to get Flounder Brewing's beer was to subscribe to a text-based mailing list. On no set schedule, seemingly at random, I would get an email with the one ale offered. The date and time would be listed. We would do our best to make it to the brewery with to stand in line waiting for our turn to fill our growlers.

Over time, Flounder added more tanks, expanded to the garage next door, added to their tap list, and cleared a small space inside the original space for a small taproom. Word spread, and soon the Flounder Brewing Co. taproom became a space for Generation X adults to hangout.

Soon, Flounder Brewing Co. will exit this space and start their new adventure in the new space they are building at the Carriage Farm.

Check out theOnlyD800intheHameau's "tatty door" post.

Submitted as part of my 52 Week Smartphone Challenge

52 Week Smartphone Challenge : Week 29 : Depth of Field

Depth of Field is a great way to isolate your subject. Instead, for the challenge though I want you to use DoF to make a subject appear part of something larger.

I don't know why this truck was parked on the side of the entrance to the Brick Farm Tavern. I don't know who owns it. Except for the "General Motors" badging on the side, I have don't know anything about the model year or model of car. But the truck was pleasing to my eyes, and I could tell it was an American Classic.

I added some fading and faux film grain to add to the vintage feel of the image.

Check out theOnlyD800intheHameau's watering can experiment.

Submitted as part of my 52 Week Smartphone Challenge