Good Stuff.

I am spending time at Camp Jewell for the weekend.  The Bartons were kind enough to put me up for a few days.  I came down for Labor Day Family Camp.  Family Camps are one of the great things about Camp Jewell.  My good friend Ray Zetye runs them and he does a bang up job.  It was so nice to see all the familiar families yesterday.  Where else can you go and have everyone be so friendly to each other.  

The photo today was taken at Freetown State Forrest in Massachusetts.  I have a friend who works for a national magazine and I did an assignment on spec for her.  It looks like I might have a chance at having some of the photos accepted.  That would be my first publication which would be great!

Today was another early morning.  I got up at 530 which is better than the 430 I got up at yesterday.  I am staying with the Bartons for a couple of days at Camp Jewell.

It is Labor Day Family Camp which is great.  It is a chance to relax and see some old friends.  

I am currently trying to decide where to move.  I am so fortunate that Dean, my landlord, is allowing me to stay in Turners for the time being.  I would like to move back to Northwest Ct or the lower Berkshires but have just not found the right living situation yet.  I have to be around people.

On Monday after work I went to the blue hills state forrest in Mass.  It was very nice.  I am trying to get back into shape.

I promise to try to post some pics later.

Thanks for reading.

Tuesday ended up being outstanding. I spent almost all day in Newport Rhode Island. I went and hiked the Norman Bird Sanctuary. The cliff ridge hike was incredible. The views at the end are great. I will post some pictures later.

I had dinner with Mike Rosow. It was very nice. We went to the abbey grill in Freetown, MA. I split an appetizer with Mike, Calamari and also had the clam chowder and a seafood pasta with all kinds of exciting crustaceans.

I got up at 4:40 this morning for work. I am an early bird but even this is early for me. I am over at Marcus and Claudias after finishing up work.

I appologize for not posting a picture with this blog but you can check out a new gallery I put up at turningpointimages.com/boston vacation.

Thanks for reading.

Good Morning.

Today I slept in.  That is 7:30 for me.  I have plans to go to Newport, RI for the first time today.  I am also looking forward to joining Mike Rossow for dinner in Freeport, MA.

The weather has cooled down quite a bit.  It is a welcome relief. 

Breakfast was good today.  I had a bagel with peanut butter.  One of my favorites.

Do you ever find yourself longing for more.  That there has to be more out there.  If I could just grow a little more, get a little more security, have a little more self confidence, just a little more money.  I pray for contentment.  To have joy as I journey through life.  To enjoy what I have.  To be amazed by the things that come my way every day.  The sunset over a beach after a storm.  To be faithful to God.  This is what I want.

Great long tired day.

Tonights sunset was amazing.  Really tired now but great day.  Just finished working on an assignment for spec for a national magazine.  Doing freelance is fun.

I have tomorrow off and am planing on visiting Newport, RI.  I have never been there before.  Looking forward to it.

Talked to June today.  It was nice.  She is looking for work in Oregon.  I pray that things work out for her soon.

Hiked today at Blue hills State Forrest in Mass.  Amazing area that I will try to explore more latter on.

Photographed at Canton Ma High School.  Went well

Till tomorrow.

Today was an ok day.  

I went to church which was great, for now I am attending 1st baptist Amherst.  I had luch with Daniel and Chris afterwards.  I love the number of ethnic restaurants that are in the amherst, northhampton area.  We went to a vietnamese noodle place.  It was ok, I just wasn't crazy about the dish.  

This evening I went to take pictures of the Freetown State Forrest for a magazine assignment from a friend of mine.  I was not thrilled with my work.

Tomorrow I am shooting at Canton, Ma high school.  It will be good to be working.  I hope tomorrow is better than today.

This is another in my series of flag shots.

Great day though I forked over alot of dough to fix my rear brakes.

I finished this book the collectors today.  I enjoy Washington DC murder mysteries, like this book.  I finished it while waiting for my car to be fixed.  Tomorrow I am going to hang out with Marcus and Claudia, Eli will be coming along as well.  We will play some kube, cards, and eat well like I always do at the collins house.

I just found out that Mike Cahill with wife and baby in tow are moving into the area.  That is great. 

I talked to Ryan last night.  He is trying to find work in NYC along with Sam.  Well you know what they say.  If you can make in in New York you can make it anywhere.

Tomorrow morning I am going to try to hike a trail before going to Marcus and Claudias.  I am trying to hike 20 trails in three months.  I am trying to take off some of the pounds I gained while at Hallmark.  This will be trail 2.  To reach my goal I have to finish up by November 24th.  I will take some photos along the way and maybe post them.

I am so thankful to have the friends and family I have.  I hope I never take them for granted. 

So I decided that it would be best to start a blog so that my friends and family can keep up with me.  

As I blog I will try to include an image each time. I took this image when I was in Boston a couple of weeks ago.

My name is Joe Don Richardson.  I live in Turners Falls, MA and I am a photographer.

I am excited that I started my new job with McGrath Studios last week.  I am doing school portraits.  I am very thankful to have this job.  

I hope to be able to build up my own client base on the weekend when not working.

I was hoping to visit with the Jacksons today and photograph freetown state forrest in Mass. but unfortunately my car is acting up.  I took it by the shop today and Bennie, my mechanic, was busy but said I most likely have a bad rotor.  At least that sounds right, I don't know much about cars.  I am a photographer so cars are another breed of animal.

I just sat down and had a warm peanut butter cookie with ice cream at Bart's on Main Street in Greenfield.  It was amazing.  I am always impressed with the kindness and happiness of the man who seems to run the place, I should ask him his name.  Just not now.

My friend Eli biked to Canada last week.  Wow.  I wish I had that kind of stamina.  I am trying to loose a few extra pounds that I gained while attending Hallmark.  I just finished up ten of the best months of my life at the Hallmark Institute of Photography.  It was great.

I ate lunch at the thai place on main street.  It is healthy and good and resonable, at least for New England.

I got my work schedule for next week.  On monday I am in Mass in Canton.  I have Tuesday off.  On Wensday I am in Norwich, ct.  On Thursday I am in Tempelton, MA and Friday at Windsor, CT.  Lot of traveling.

Things are good over all.  I look at all my classmates at Hallmark are doing and am envious, but I am so fortunate to have a full time job with benefits.  I have been blessed.