Phototelegrapher 217

Autumn 2006 will soon be over. The picture, below, shows how the Delaware & Raritan Canal looked Thanksgiving week. All the deciduous trees are now bare, and the unusually warm days we enjoyed during November may be the last.

A few fall photos remain, and their color will continue to fill these pages until winter officially arrives. It was not a spectacular autumn, but there were certainly rewards here and there, awaiting discovery.

The towpath south of Rocky Hill
40.399006, -74.627634

Numerals such as these beneath a picture enable you to locate the scene in Google Earth or Google Maps. Merely copy and paste the line into the location field, and you will go right to the place. In Google Maps, select "Satellite" and zoom in as desired.

At Rocky Hill

Trading Cards

As our family gathered around the table for this year's Thanksgiving dinner, we all noticed a new name card at each place setting. The photographs appeared familiar, and those who frequent this blog will also recognize them. These cards were the work of Kristin, our resident scrapbook archivist, stamping teacher, and gormet chef.

For years, salesmen have handed out business cards, collectors have exchanged sports cards, and amateur radio operators have sent each other QSL cards. One would expect that artists might eventually invent a better product that was individually creative.

So, the newest wrinkle is now Artist Trading Cards. There are only two absolute rules: The size must be 2.5 x 3.5 inches, and they must be traded freely, without cost. Any artistic medium is permissible. Optimumly, ATCs are exchanged in person, so that a new friendship results, but there are also digital trading cards that are swapped via the Internet.

Kristin prefers the old fashioned style made with rubber stamps and photographic prints. We were all pleased with our "priceless" gifts and took home custom-made mementos of a delicious meal.