The geese fly by my window

The geese fly by my window

over the wetlands

over the pink clouds

that sit softly on the horizon

they are large groups that instinctively form into 

the classic v formation

or sometimes a straight line 

of a mere four

They are a certain portender 

of things to come and

things to go 

the lovely autumn leaves

ablaze with colors like fire

will fall to be replaced with

the browns and grays of winter

It will get very quiet

very cold and very sad in those early days of November

when too many people I loved died

I will celebrate and remember

my mother, Junie

Paul and Steve's father Poppie

and my father, Timmy

I will not dread November

or be sad in November

as I once was

they would not want that

I will live for them

I will live with them in my heart

I will carry the love they gave me

into the world

100 cards and the beauty of a real store

Last weekend when I went into The Concord Bookstore Jill looked at me, beaming, and said "We just sold you 100th card! " The Concord Bookstore has always been one of my favorite shops in town. It is also one of the few stores that has remained virtually unchanged and hasn't closed it's doors. I have lived in Concord for 25 years and the first to close in my time was the 5&10. When I was working in the old black and white darkroom at Anderson Photo, Kristen Anderson and I would eat lunch at the counter; the best blt's ever and a mound of french fries to die for. The waitresses were old and grumpy and at the same time wonderful and familiar. Other stores that have since closed are The Mary Curtis Shop, Open Market, Placewares, and The Harness Shop.

Now for the good news......stores that are significant to me and are still there. The Colonial Store, The Cheese Shop, The Pot Shop ( may have the name wrong) Artinians, The Toy Shop, Vanderhoofs and The Cambridge Trust and of course, The Concord Bookstore.

A few years ago I saw a bumper sticker that resonated for me and one I try to live by. It's simple and wise, " Think globally, shop locally." If we get all our books online or at big chains like Costco or Barnes and Noble how can independent stores like The Concord Bookstore survive? It's easy for me, I would rather flip through through a book, try on a nightie or get personal help with my finances than order online. Call me a luddite, it's ok with me but please consider my favorite bumper sticker and shop locally.

Why I Love Mornings

I love the quiet

the promise of another gloriously long day

stretching before me like a lazy cat

I love the light

how subtle it can be

or how crisp and cool it can be

with it's exacting shadows

geese fly by my window

a bunny hops tentatively from the black berry bushes

the clouds that hover on the horizon

give way to peaks of sunshine

there are things to be done

I do not care

all that matters in the first hour of this new morning

is coffee in my cozy pajamas

snuggling with my sweet pups

and watching the wind

as it makes the trees sway ever so gently

this morning has it's own rhythm

slow, slow, slow

hands wrapped in the warmth of my big mug

the first cup of coffee

the promise cup

sure is sweet.

Day turns to night

On September 22nd at 6:28 pm I watched the sun set ever so slowly over Stage Harbor in Chatham. Like a last breath it slipped behind the trees leaving little mention of it's whereabouts.The sky faded to an unsensational palette of muted colors, the palest pinks and blues.

Behind me the setting sun reflected on the glass door of a house named " The Centaur". Glowing in a blaze of orange, pink and gold, the door looked like fire was dancing on it.

Then, as though that was not enough, in the eastern sky, the moon rose over The Monomoy Trap Company building. The stark beauty of it reminded me of an Andrew Wyeth painting.

The first day of fall, blustery, cold and utterly unsensational, gave quite a show as day turned to night.

What I will miss when I die

My writing group, a brave band of five, has started up again with my friend and writing teacher, Barbara O'Neil. We meet every Wednesday at The Concord Library from 9:30 to 11:00 am. The writing practice is based on Natalie Goldberg's book "Writing Down the Bones" More details on the practice are in my post dated February 10th, 2010.

The prompt was " What I will miss when I die" This is the unedited version of what I wrote.

The feel of a warm kiss on my cheek.

hugs from my beloved boys

the green in peter's eyes

Alex's "hello beautiful" greeting over the phone

Teddy's soft fur

the smell of the ocean

the sun on my face

and the cry of a gull

poppies swaying in the breeze,

my camera

endless meanderings on my bike early in the morning

before most of the world has awoken

I will miss all of the beauty

and none of the ugliness

I will miss words

reading them

writing them

hearing them

I will miss snuggling up by the fireplace in winter

lighting candles for dinner

making soup

I will miss my husband

collecting stones

and wampum

and shells

picking up a roll of film

at the photo store

I will miss making art

writing notes

finding the perfect card for someone

I will miss color

and sherbet sunsets

and hours on the boat

I will miss the morning light in my bedroom and warm blankets on my skin

I will miss more than I know

more than I could ever imagine

and I vow not to waste

a minute of this precious life

this life that is a gift

my gift

every minute of it

life

it is a precious gift

I will not waste it.

The Frances Roddy Show, three's a charm

They say " Three's a charm". Last year I submitted work to The Concord Art Association twice. After my second rejection I wrote a blog about artists putting themselves out there. (January 30th, 2010 ) Knowing two other artists, one a painter the other a photographer, whose names did not appear on the list made me feel better. I knew I was in good company. It's astonishing that a relatively sleepy town like Concord has such a popular and prestigious venue for artists. I'm not saying it's like getting into the Decordova Museum but it's certainly a feather in the old artist cap.

Victoria Munroe, who has a fabulous gallery on Newbury Street in Boston, curated the show. It's by far one of the best shows I've seen at the Concord Art Association. Not only did she curate the show, she also decided how it should be hung. How a show is hung; what pieces should go together, whether it is thematic or random is incredibly important. Victoria did a brilliant job with this. The many volunteers who executed the actual labor, hauling, measuring, nailing and hanging deserve our thanks as well.

If you can't make it to the show it's on the Concord Art Association website. Go to www.concordart.org and go to 2010 Roddy , view exhibit ( I'm in the upstairs gallery )

The show will be up until October 17th.

Double celebration forever on September 24th!

Yesterday I turned 58. It was an Indian summer kind of day. Temps went into the 80's and the sun felt hot on my back as we hiked to the top of Mt. Wachusett with Peter and the dogs. This morning it struck me that yesterday was also the 2 year anniversary of my retirement from 20 years of teaching photography, interdisciplinary studies, video production and fine art at Cambridge Rindge and Latin H.S. I was not in a classroom teaching. I was on the top of a mountain! I was collecting maple leaves for mono printing. I was photographing the blaze of a single red leaf in macro mode. I was feeling strong and fit as I made my way up some steep and challenging parts of the hike.

I felt so much love yesterday. Birthday greetings came in the form of texts, face book messages, songs over my cell phone, emails, cards and presents sent from afar in bubble wrap. I even got

a salutation all the way from Copenhagen. One of my favorite students ( yes, I confess... ) in my last Freshman Fundamentals of Art class sent me a Face Book message " HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope you are having a great life and continuing to do art! " My best friend sent me scallop earrings and Paul said he didn't want to give me another pair of earrings and he didn't have a present for me yet. He then said " I know you've been wanting to get that Canon G12. Maybe we should get you that for your birthday. YEEHAW, works for me!

When I woke up this morning I realized the significance this 2 year anniversary of my retirement. I didn't need to take a " personal day" for my birthday ever again. Now everyday is a personal day and no one can criticize me for taking too many sick days. I am free. Free to write, take endless walks with my beloved pups, friends and family. Free to get on my bike at 6 am to photograph and come back whenever I want.

So now my birthday will always be a double celebration. Mary Oliver says " Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? " PLENTY!!!