All the World's a Stage

I was looking through photos we have taken this year -- working on the old farmhouse, getting the pond house ready for sale, trying the possibilities of gardening in the new place, working, working working....and having some fun with the goats!  We have, literally, thousands of these photos. I think I have every stage of development of sunflowers, melons, goats, and of course the emergence of the old, broken, abandoned farmhouse property, into a place full of character.  We have photos of cold days, hot days, gray-sky days, blue-sky days and crazy-sky days.

Interesting Sky

Storm Anticipation

Blue Skies

In many of the "photo albums" I find at least one shot taken with the "fish-eye" lens.  I particularly like these shots because we can see more of the scene, even though we sacrifice "true view" for this distorted view.  I like the way the photos are framed in the black edges of the lens' view. Though people tend to hate how they look with this lens, I think it adds a lot of fun to the photos.

Joe with Baby Melon

Neighbors and Friends

Sharing a Meal

As  I was sifting through the albums, I was conscious of my time limitations today....I cannot simply chill all day, looking at photos...I have a date with my daughter to see my son and daughter-in-law in their roles in the musical, "Bye Bye Birdie."  As I kept reminding myself of this commitment, and the time limitations, I thought about that line from Shakespeare's "As You Like It,"

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Well, I think with each stage of life I find there are indeed things I like...as well as those I don't like so well.  2010 has certainly been testament to that! But I think if, indeed, all the world's a stage, my own little part of that world could well be called, "theatre in the round," .... or ..... "three ring circus," ..... depending on your perspective... 

Joe Building Fences

Joe Hanging In There

Joey Giving Me "The Eye"

Judy and Judy

Judy at Poultry Swap

As You Like It....