Sunday's Bible Verse

The Lord's day. Take time to pause and thank the Lord for the day. The image is the St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Sykesville, MD.

Sunday's Bible Verse

Sunday, the Lord's day. Hope everyone has enjoyed time with friends and family this holiday weekend.  Today's verse is Romans 10:10. The image is the methodist church on Main Street, Sykesville.

Sunday's Bible Verse

Sunday, the Lord's day. Have a great day. Today's verse is Psalm 24:9. The image was captured at St. Barnabas in Sykesville, MD.

Sunday's Bible Verse

Have a great day. Today's verse is Psalm 86:9. The image was snapped at St. Barnabas in Sykesville, MD.

Sunday's Bible Verse

Happy Grandparent's Day. Have a great day. Today's verse is Psalm 89:5. The image is the St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Sykesville, MD.

Monday's Bible Verse

The first day of the week and fall arrives today. Have a great Monday. Today's verse is Hebrews 10:34. The image was captured in Sykesville, MD.

Friday Morning

Finally the rain stopped and we headed out for a few errands. On the way I told Shirley I wanted to go Sykesville for a possible photograph. I saw this possible shot about a month ago while babysitting the granddaughters along River Road. As happens, the image wasn't what I thought it would be. So many times the image in my head doesn't match reality. But all wasn't lost as I came home with some nice images of the leaves and a heron looking for a meal. On the way to do the errands, we saw Sykesville had their equipment parked in front of the fire hall for a nice image.

Feeling my Age

The past week was a reminder of getting older or maybe it was a movie or book I wandered into. It started at the Memorial Day parade in Westminster. I was shooting for westminster.patch.com and before the event started I was wondering how many of the parades have I attended. I figured it was around 53 or 54, which wasn't too bad for an event that was marking it's 144th celebration. Anyways I am shooting pictures when I hear a voice go ``George, how are you.'' It was Sgt. Maj. Melvin Hoffman, a Westminster High School classmate. Our class is planning our 40th reunion this summer. Then it hit me, Melvin was the keynote speaker for the exercises in the cemetery. That's for the older veterans in the county, wait a minute we are older. We are now the people we listened to after the parade. This was heavy on my mind as I drove to Sykesville for another Memorial Day event. During the week, Becca, Shirley and me were busy moving mulch and mowing the yard. We have three birdhouses full of birds. We got to watching one of the houses, as the little ones were making a lot of noise. We took a break and was able to watch them take flight for the first time, as they left the nest. Becca had mentioned how sad to watch them leave home and the parents were off looking for food. Food  for their babies that wouldn't be there when they returned. Getting older and leaving home. Next was the annual fire muster Saturday for the Westminster Patch site again. I am watching the parade and when I start to realize I had shoot a few of the equipment in action and in the case of the two from Westminster, I sat on as a little kid. My grandmother lived next to the fire house and my Uncle Floyd Gamber was a fireman. The fire house seemed to be Uncle Floyd's second home and I have a few memories of our time together when I was little. He would take me down to the fire house and let me sit and ring the bell on the Amercian LaFrance trucks and there they were in the parade. Then the Pleasant Valley's engine went by and now I was really feeling older. Besides seeing the engine in action, I saw it go by the house on Murkle Road  many times answering calls in the Pleasant Valley area. At the muster, I found out Mike Stewart, who owns the engine with his family as grandchildren. Put that together with seeing units from Manchester, Reese, Sykesville, Pleasant Valley and Westminster and I was feeling my age. If they were antiques, what does that make me. I also shot Century, Liberty and South Carroll graduations this week and got to see the students start a new chapter in their lives.

Apple Butter Market

Having traveled to Crownsville, MD on Saturday, Sunday we stayed close to home as we went to the Apple Butter Market in Sykesville. The market started a few years ago on the last Sunday of the month during the warm months. The market has grown and this year they have live music. This past Sunday those attending were entertained by Safe Harbor. The next market is on September 26 and the Jenny Leigh Band will be on hand. The market which runs from noon to 4 is a great place to start your holiday shopping as there are crafts, jewelry, food and baked goods (the coconut cake was great). The market is at the South Branch Park on West Friendship Road in Sykesville.

Carnival Time

The firefighters’ carnivals started a couple weeks ago in Carroll County. They offer a great time to take photographs of children and grandchildren. Also, some great images can be captured at dusk. In addition, next week Sykesville hosts their annual carnival and they will have fireworks on Friday. You can see some of the fireworks from last year in my photographs.