"Down Memory Lane"

 

Today I have a blog post that is special to me, and I hope that it will be special for you, too.

My book, "Down Memory Lane A Nostalgic Memoir of Life in the Southern Appalachians," was recently republished by Hoot Books Publishing. This book is about the "joys of growing up and growing older and about the people and pets along the way that inspired (me) and touched (my) life in a positive way."

In this republished version of my book, I added more chapters with more memories, and I also added several personal photographs for the first time. A picture does often seem to be "worth a thousand words," so I believe these photographs do help me tell my story much better. The photos were taken not only by me, but also by my husband, Greg, my brother, Nick, my mother, Jean, and my father, Bill, as well as others.

I tried to include as many wonderful memories of my life in the beautiful Appalachians as I could, but even after I'd finished revising my book, and had sent it in, more memories kept coming to me, and I still have hundreds of photographs that I could have included in my book, but didn't.

So, each time I write my "The Art of Positive Living" blog post, I plan to include a photograph, along with a description, similar to what is in my newly revised book. (However, some, but not all of the memories in my book are accompanied by a photograph.)

~"Down Memory Lane" Feature-

Here is a picture that could have been in my book, but isn't.-

(Since we've just had Valentine's Day, I thought that this photo would be very appropriate for this blog post.)

I attended my brother and sister-in law's wedding when I was lucky enough to catch my new sister-in-law's bridal bouquet. No wonder I caught it, because I remember how high I leapt up into the air (and I'm not that athletic!), determined to catch the bouquet. It paid off, since only three months later, I was married to my sweetheart, Greg!

"Moments come and go, but memories last forever." -Unknown

FYI: 

"Down Memory Lane" by Becky Arnott (For more information about this book, please click the widget above.) 

Cookie from Our Local Food City Bakery

Valentine's Day may be over, but we can still love and cherish our loved ones every day!

Positive thought: "God loves you. I love you. God bless you, and have a wonderful day." -Julie Green (Ditto! -Becky A.)

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, February 26, 2023, Becky

Sharing a Favorite Photo, with Love

Welcome!

Someone recently asked me what my favorite location for taking photographs was. My answer is that I really don't have a favorite location because I just love taking pictures wherever I am, both at home and away from home. There's an opportunity for picture-taking everywhere if we just look around us.

Also, I was asked to share my favorite photo. I could answer it this way:
"Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow."-Imogen Cunningham

With that said, I did select one photograph from several of my favorites to share on this blog post.

It's one of the photos that I featured on my "The Art of Positive Living" blog, a post entitled "Positive Memories" (8/7/16). I took this photo at my niece's beautiful wedding a couple of years ago in one of the most romantic cities in the world, Savannah, Georgia.

Although there was a professional wedding photographer there taking pictures, the family had wanted me to take photos, as well, since my photographs, in their words, "make the ordinary extraordinary."

Even though I wasn't a professional photographer* then, I did my best, and I took a lot of pictures, trying not to miss any important shots.

In the above photo, the couple is taking a stroll around the beautiful grounds after the ceremony. I followed them around, and was lucky to have captured the image with my camera.

My steps in taking this photo are:
"I walk,
I look,
I see,
I stop,
I photograph."
-Leon Levinstein

The above quote really is pretty much how I take all of my photographs.

In case I need to tweak up any photos, I go to a free online editing site for lightening up, etc. the images.

However, I'm investigating something I just heard about, an innovative compact camera that a new company Light has developed since I'm always looking for new ways to improve my photography. It even works really well in low-light conditions.

From taking a family group photo when I was only nine years old, to taking informal photos of my parents opening gifts from each other when I was a teenager, to taking pictures with my husband, Greg, during our travels, I can happily say that I'm hooked on photography.

In fact, photography is in my blood since my father was an avid photographer when I was growing up.

In conclusion, model Christie Brinkley in her book "Timeless Beauty" sums up my feelings about photography this way: "I love to grab a camera and walk around looking for beauty. I find beauty everywhere....I am transported by the magic and light, and I...feel enlightened both physically and spiritually by the beauty."

I couldn't have expressed it any better myself!

*To check out more of my photos, please see the heading "Photography" on my website, www.beckyarnottartist.com . Many of my photos are on iStock .com which is part of "Getty Images."

Positive thought: "Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world."-Bruno Barby
Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, September 4, 2016, Becky

(This blog post is under the copyright of Becky Arnott, 8/27/16.)

A Trip to Fabulous Savannah

The past couple of days, Greg and I went on a trip down South, to fabulous Savannah, Georgia to attend the wedding a family member.  It had been a while since we had been to Savannah, and we had a wonderful time.

We spent the night in a charming historic Victorian inn, Collat House on Forsyth Park which is known for its antiques and decor.

A Resident Cat

The Room Where We Had a Restful Night's Sleep

A Continental Breakfast in Our Room

Nice View from Our Balcony

F.Y.I.
Collat House on Forsyth Park
703 Whitaker Street
Savannah, GA 31401
Contact: Christie Register
(912) 657-2564
www.forsythparkhouse.com

After breakfast, we went across the street to visit picturesque Forsyth Park.

A little later, Greg and I joined relatives for a tasty Southern meal around noon in downtown Savannah.

Afterwards, we had time to walk around and further explore this wonderful city.

By then, it was time for the beautiful outdoor wedding which took place on one of the several squares in Savannah.

After the wedding, the lucky couple left for a honeymoon in Greece.

An elegant reception in an old house followed, a few blocks from where the wedding was held.

Greg and Me, Right Before We Went into the Reception 

This fantastic trip to Savannah was one that Greg and I will never forget.  It reminds us to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to us and to keep our loved ones dear.

Positive thought: I hope all mothers everywhere had a blessed Mother's Day, and I'd like to wish my own mother a very special happy Mother's Day.
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky