Beckwith Mansion & Estate in Palmyra, New York

Monthly Archives: August 2014

Kids Say

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Kids Say

Art Linkletter was one of my favorites.  He had a show, “Kids Say the Darnedest Thing”, and it always had me laughing.

Church today was no exception.  I loved how a child announced it was her birthday and admonished everyone to wish her a happy birthday.

The other day I saw a family and the youngest told me she was 4 and soon she’d be 5.  I asked her, “What happens when you turn eight?”

She responded, “You have no more birthdays after 8.”

Again, funny when taken in context.

Kids do say the darnedest things.

—–

The elders were our dinner guests tonight.  We (Elizabethe made the soup base) made a cream of scallion soup and I made a scallion, bacon, corn and cheddar cornbread.   Just normal cornbread with some crispy bacon sautéed with the scallions, some frozen corn, and about 1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese.

Today has been terribly muggy.  When I woke this morning it was 80 and raining.  It felt like a steam bath outside, and the heat and humidity have lingered all day.  The only escape from such weather is air conditioning.  The dehumidifier in the basement is pulling a few gallons of water each day.  I figure we empty about 7 gallons a day from the thing.  (This is just water that’s in the air!!!)

Garden Plenty

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Garden Plenty

I have garden plenty today.  I picked a basket so full I could hardly carry it in to the house.  It’s been a nice summer for our garden.

I read this story at LDS Living…

http://ldsliving.com/story/76598-the-sad-truth-about-bullying-at-church

When I was young, I would often hear these two lines spoken by adults:

“Kids will be kids.”

and

“Kids can be cruel.”

After reading this, I thought of the times when I might have been the bully as a child/teenager.  I’m sure I had my moments, for which I’m not proud as an adult.

Then, I thought about the times I was at the other end.  In fact, I was probably the recipient more than the giver.  I actually stopped wanting to go to Primary as a kid in Pocatello after nearly having my eye put out by a rock packed in a snowball.   Later,  right before my 14th birthday, another young man at Mutual broke my arm.  It was a serious break.  I didn’t stop going to Mutual however.  Two very serious injuries – one caused me to stop attending, the other did not.

Since then I have seen many people for various reasons stop going to church.  I’m not privilege to why, but I would hope it was not because of bullies or intimidation.  Sometimes, I think people perceive things wrongly, and stop coming.

Not to long ago, some very serious things happened in my life.  I made up my mind I would not let that stop me from coming to church.  Yet, my perception of certain events leads me to wonder if some members of my ward severed communications with me because of their perception of me as a result of what little they knew about the circumstances.  In any event, I realize that is a pity because their judgment only harms their soul — not mine.

It’s sad when church members pass judgment, as do kids who tease or bully, when we’re taught to love one another.  It’s sad when we don’t embrace that person  and take them under our wing.  I realize it makes us feel uncomfortable.

Years ago I decided to befriend a young man who, let’s just say, was different.  Members of my ward noticed, but that’s not why I became his friend.  My new friend was a good young man and in spite of all his challenges he was pretty cheerful.  One day, he did something at church that was socially awkward.  It wasn’t wrong, it just made some people feel uncomfortable, and perhaps a little embarrassed.

After church a ward leader came up to me and suggested that it was my job to instruct this young man that what he did wasn’t acceptable.  I thought for a few seconds and then said, “Wait,” as the man started to walk away.  I then added something to the effect, “you know, you’re perfectly capable of talking to him.  What he did didn’t bother me as much as it obviously bothers you.  Perhaps he would like to hear it from you directly.”

The article I referenced early had a few “to do” items, but let me suggest some others.

  • If someone doesn’t quite “fit in”, personally make an effort to learn their name.
  • When you see them, smile, call them by name, and talk to them.
  • Ask if they are going to be at ward socials.  And, when you see them at ward socials, smile and say, “Hi”, and call them by name.
  • Encourage others to involve them in activities.

I will never forget my friend.  He was assigned to be my home teaching companion not long after meeting him.  he was the best home teaching companion I’ve ever had.  Our families welcomed him and he took his calling as a home teacher seriously.

No, there’s no reason at all for making people feel unwelcome, unwanted or unloved.

Going Live

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Going Live

I’m in hopes that the new church history web site is going live today.  I want to see it so I can share it.  This is exciting news.

My first task for the day was the lawn, but when I went to load the string in the weed eater I discovered the kid at the hardware store told me wrong.  He sold me 0.095″ string, and this thing takes 0.065″ string, and has a big caution:  USE ONLY 0.065″ STRING.  Off to the hardware store I went.

Upon getting inside, I decided to look for a roll-around battery-powered sprayer for the weeds.  This pump sprayer method is too time consuming and inefficient.  I found one that is not only battery powered, but rechargeable too.  So, I bought it.

I came home and sprayed the weeds, weed whacked, and mowed the law.  Now I am beat.

—–

E-mails arrived from two different people at the church history department.  One wanted more pictures, and the other had a link to the new web site.  It is LIVE!

lds.org

The Church History Landing Page Announces New Site

(Click on the above screen shot to visit the Palmyra site.)

So, I immediately posted the links on Facebook and sent some e-mails, and then I headed out the door to go to the Smith Farm to work on some more photos.

At the Smith Farm, one of my goals was to get some isolated trees.  Do you realize how hard it is to even find an isolated tree there?  Without going in to all of the technical details, I’m going to have to find some isolated maple, cherry, and beech trees in the area.

Another goal was to get some wide angle shots.  Again, the close proximity of the trees makes it… not difficult… but for an interesting view.

copyright 2014 db walton

Panoramic of the Sacred Grove

Although the human field of view is close to 180 degrees, most of that is considered peripheral vision.  The above photo is about 180 degrees, but our eyes only see about the middle 1/3rd as the “view”.  So, when we look at a panoramic like this, it seems a little odd.  There is a lot we don’t notice until it is presented in this manner.

Interesting, eh?

I will have to upload some photos for them so they can comment as to what works for their project and what doesn’t.

D. Brent Walton is a professional photographer residing in Palmyra, New York.  (See www.dbwalton.com)  Brent and his wife Elizabethe operate the Beckwith Mansion, a Tourist Home.  Brent’s work is widely published and he is available to do portraits if you are near or visiting Palmyra.  (By appointment only.)  His landscape work is also available for purchase at www.FineArtbyDB.com.

Palmyra Cemetery

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Palmyra Cemetery

Our guests wanted me to meet them at the Grandin Building at 10am today.  So, I walked down there, but couldn’t help stopping to get this shot…

copyright 2014 db walton

Flamingos in Palmyra

Yes, right here on NY SR 31 a garden full of pink lawn flamingos.  And, with Mardi Gras beads too.

I walked around the Palmyra Cemetery with the guys from the church history department.  They had some angles and shots they wanted me to take.  They were a bit surprised at the size of the cemetery.  (It is rather big for a village of this size, but then, we’ve been around since the late 1700s.)

I managed to find Gilbert’s grave, and they had me take a few pictures of it too.  He was the typesetter for the original Book of Mormon.  His headstone was place in 1990 by a group from Brigham Young University.  I have no idea what became of the original.

copyright 2014 db walton

John Gilbert’s Grave

We also went up to the old cemetery where Alvin Smith and John Swift are buried.  Most of the grave markers there are on the ground, missing, or buried by the mud over they years.  (That would be a nice restoration project.)

From there we went atop Prospect Hill.  They were in hopes I could get a nice picture of the four churches.  Unfortunately, the trees are too high.  I’ll have to come back in the winter when they have no leaves.

After our hike, they departed for the airport and I came home to wrap things up for the day.

Midweek Funk

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Midweek Funk

When I was a teen I used to hate Wednesdays.  They were this midweek funk.  Now that I’m getting old, they still are that way.  It is still a midweek funk.

There is nothing worse than starting a day feeling tired and ready for a mid-day nap when you just got up.  I remember thinking when I was young that Mondays were great, and it was Wednesdays that should be the despised day.

I still think that way.

My networking meeting filled my mid-day, and after that, I had some things to do around the studio.  The guys from the church historic department are still here, but it doesn’t look as though we will be meeting today.

Got a text from them, and I’m right, it looks like we won’t meet again until tomorrow.

It’s funny… you think taking a recreational day on Monday would have helped avoid this midweek funk.  Wrong.

—–

I’m really getting tired of people labeling authoritarian attributes as “liberal”.   They are two different things.  Yes, a liberal can be an authoritarian, as can a conservative, but let’s call a spade a spade.

A meme circulating social media list  several things certain laws and lawmakers want to “control”.  Control is authoritarianism, not liberalism.

Here’s the difference….

A liberal looks at the law and says, ‘Let’s change it because it isn’t working.’

A conservative looks at a law and says, ‘This is a good law and it doesn’t need changing and we need to figure out why it isn’t working.’

An authoritarian liberal says, ‘Let’s change it and force people to obey the new law.’

An authoritarian conservative says, ‘This is the law and let’s force people to obey it.’

One has to look at the issues on a case by case basis.  And, even after doing so, where the fix is to change or keep things the same, most people will agree force (control) is not the answer.

Cleaning Closure

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Cleaning Closure

No temple today because of the cleaning closure.  I spent the entire evening meeting with a client about their new website.  No, this is not a potential web site, but one that has been built using images I shot for them.  It is exciting to see our work being used in a site that is going to get millions of hits a year.

During the meeting, one of the client representatives said they came across many stock images and said, “I bet db walton can do better.”  (Italics added.)

Elizabethe was quite excited during the demonstration of the web site.  She says I’m just being modest, but she’s right.  It is a big deal.  It’s a huge deal.  People all over the world, once this site goes live, will be looking at my work, and if they look at the credits on the site they will see my name mentioned several times in conjunction with the many photos I supplied to them for this massive project.

I can’t tell you more, but when it goes live I will be posting a link.

Let’s just say that photography by db walton llc has taken a giant leap forward.

—–

We had dinner with our guests at Empire (again).  This time, I ordered the Juicy Lucy Black and Blue.  A burger stuffed with blue cheese and bacon.  Whoa!  It was GOOD.

Elizabethe keeps ordering chicken dishes and wasn’t 100% thrilled, but hey, I figure you can never go wrong with a burger.

 Today was quite a busy day, and it looks like tomorrow will be too.

Boldt Castle

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Boldt Castle

To celebrate 17 years together, Elizabethe and I went to Boldt Castle today.  What the GPS reported as a 2 hour 35 minute drive (which is normally correct), was actually closer to 3 hours.  (Note to self:  It takes 3 hours to get to Alexandria Bay via I-90 and I-81.)

copyright 2014 db walton

Boldt Castle

Once at Alexandria Bay, you park, buy your ferry ticket, and ride to the castle.  It takes about 10 minutes to get there by boat, but you may wait up to 30 minutes for the boat.  S0, plan on 10 to 40 minutes before you arrive on Heart (Hart) Island.

The castle was built by Boldt of the Waldorf Astoria fame.  It’s a walking tour so plan accordingly.

There are food concessions on the island, but they are quite basic – sandwiches, hot dogs, etc.  And, if you bring your own food, it has to be consumed at the docks as they don’t allow food or beverage past the gates.

copyright 2014 db walton

Boldt Castle Power House

On our way home, we stopped for dinner at Brenda’s Café on Route 31 just outside Port Byron.  I will be reviewing it for Get It Done On 31(tm)  (http://www.GetItDoneOn31.biz)

As you may guess, we took Route 31 home once we got far enough south.

It was a delightful wedding anniversary celebration.  We’ve decided we don’t do little day trips like this enough and need to do more.

All photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted by D. Brent Walton.  All rights reserved.  Contents of this blog are copyright 2014 db walton and all rights are reserved.  Any use, reproduction, broadcast, reposting, etc., is prohibited unless permission has been granted in writing by the author/copyright owner.  Please photography by db walton llc at www.dbwalton.com

 

Verde of the Chili Kind

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Verde of the Chili Kind

Verde of the Chili Kind is what I made for dinner today.  Sisters Flores and Harline were our dinner guests tonight.  I cooked up a pork butt and some green tomatillo sauce and mixed it all together for a sweet and tangy chili verde.  This also provided a vehicle for sampling some of my hot sauces I’ve recently made.

Speaking of hot sauce, my latest was an apricot-carrot-habanero sauce.  Hotter than my last hot sauce, but sweeter too.

Tomorrow we go to Boldt Castle.  I hope I have the energy for this.  I’ve been so drained lately.

—–

We had a great lesson by Matt Baker in Priesthood Meeting today.  Of course, his lessons are always great.  Today’s was on Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk An Attitude of Gratitude.    It was a good reminder to be grateful… not “grateful for ____”, but GRATEFUL.

This came right after a great Sunday School lesson by Dave Huber about Job.  What do gratitude and Job have to do with each other?  Well, read both – the Book of Job and Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk and I think it will become clear.

Be GRATEFUL.

That’s what I’m going to work on this week.  Being grateful.  Period.

High Priest Picnic

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High Priest Picnic

We had our High Priest Picnic tonight.  It went very well.  We had grilled chicken, salads, ice cream for dessert and wonderful people to socialize with.  I didn’t get a count of how many people were there, but it was a good sized group.  Kudos to those who prepared food and grilled the chicken.

copyright 2014 db walton

High Priest Picnic

Earlier in the day, Elizabethe and I took our friend Louise out to lunch at South of the Border in Newark.  (Note:  This was one of the better tasting meals I’ve had there. )

Lunch and a picnic all in one day makes it hard to lose weight.

Monday Elizabethe and I are planning a trip to Boldt Castle up in the Thousand Islands Region.  We’ve never been up that way so it will be a new experience.

 

 

Spice

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Spice

One of the reasons the new world was discovered was that Columbus was looking for spice.  Yes, a new trade-route to the Orient so they could acquire spices.  Imagine how bland food would be without spice.

This year in our garden we planted several types of hot chili peppers.  What is interesting is, they grow very well in this climate.  I’m wondering why a climate like Spain’s was so concerned about acquiring spices.  Perhaps they didn’t know how easy many of them are to grow, or perhaps they were searching for the more exotic spices like nutmeg and cinnamon?  Who knows.

My habanero peppers are ripening at the rate of about 4-6 per day.  That’s a lot of HEAT.  My poblano peppers are getting big too.  (They make great chili rellenos.)

From now on I think I will have hot peppers in my garden.  You can always dry them, but when you grow herbs, garlic, onions and hot peppers, you have items that literally will spice up most any dish.  The capsaicin in the peppers also has medicinal values too.  Add these ingredients to tomatoes, certain other fruits,  rice, other grains, etc., and you turn the mundane in to the tasty.

—–

I shipped the loaner tilt-n-shift lens back today.  It was really surprising that the post office had an option for over night (i.e. tomorrow, Saturday), but no option to guarantee delivery by Monday.  They could guarantee it for delivery by Tuesday, but not Monday.  It’s no wonder they are losing money.  Next time it is going to be FedEx or UPS.

 —–

I substituted for a friend at the temple tonight.  The first session was quite packed, and it was a well attended evening.

Introducing myself to a new worker, when I told him my last name he said, “We are staying tonight at… at… Beckwith Mansion?  Does that sound right?”

“Yes, that’s my place,” I informed him.

It’s nice to know the word is making its way around that we’re the place to stay if you are going to the temple and looking to stay overnight.

So, if you are going to the Palmyra Temple, and need a room for the night, make sure you give us a call.  (315) 359-5280.  You can also go our main page at http://www.beckwithmansion.com .  Call for rates and say, “I read Brent’s blog”, and tell us when you will be visiting the temple.