The 366-day photography challenge: week 27

This week's update to the 366-day photography project: Saturday morning, I ran my own little private bakery, as I got ready to co-host coffee hour at church. My two baking projects were pineapple brownies and craisin-oatmeal cookies.

Sunday at St. Martin in the Fields church with a guest priest, Father Isaac Ihiasota. He talked about two things: his personal background and about fear. He is originally from Nigeria. He had been rector of St. Stephens Church in Niagara Falls until he resigned in December 2014 to become diocesan vicar and a vicar of a small African-American church in Richmond, Virginia.

Father Isaac's appointment was abruptly canceled because he was "looking to rent a house in a white neighborhood, not a black neighborhood." He said that, even before he began working, he was fired. In New York State, ministers cannot collect unemployment insurance benefits. Father Isaac said that he had to take early retirement. Father Earle, he said, has been a big support to him.

On the topic of fear: "The opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear... fear can blind us and put us in chains."

"Do not be afraid," said Father Isaac.

Monday morning's citrus discovery: this vivid red tangerine. It might be a blood tangerine.

Its vivid color is lovely to look at, and the fruit tastes delightfully sweet.

For a brief time, on Monday evening, it looked as if the sky had turned blood red behind the tangle of trees.

Tuesday morning found a group walking along Spicer Creek at River Oaks golf course.

It was a mild winter day.

Only a small amount of snow and ice remained in the water.

One of the problems here is that the grass is mowed right to the water's edge. The result is soil erosion and grass clippings going into the water, which clogs the creek. A better choice would be to establish a riparian zone of native plants, with strong deep roots, to protect both the water and the soil from erosion.

We walked through the Whitehaven Cemetery along the creek, to the Niagara River, where Spicer Creek begins.

Our companion for the journey.

Here are the creek walkers, except, of course, for me.

It is a good, wide creek at this point.

Here is one of a few foot bridges along the creek.

On Thursday, I went for painting class to Stella Niagara. I was startled to see little signs of life in a garden. It seemed to be a bit early for these lovely plants to start growing. Nevertheless, I felt gleeful and hopeful that spring will come.

We had our painting class in the dining room. It has a huge display of teapots.

Two bears and a well-dressed Lady Piggie.

Sunflower tea party.

This one is a little more stylized.

I really like this cat face on a teapot.

We paint birds. This is my rendition of a lovebird under a silvery moon. The painting itself still needs to be tweaked a bit to get a little more contrast in the sky around the great big moon.

On Friday, I got ready for a big weekend adventure. Off to Cleveland. At the beginning of my journey, I walked down the linear bike path and crossed a bridge over Woods Creek.

It snowed on Friday.

I got on the bus and headed to the downtown bus terminal. There were a group of Amish people waiting for the bus to Cleveland. They had come from a variety of places. The couple in front of me, as we waited to board the bus to Cleveland, came from Canada.

The man behind me was lugging an enormous suitcase. He said that he had been on a mission trip with people from his church to Cameroon. Cameroon was very hot. I asked him what he liked about Cameroon. The food, he said. It was delicious. He showed me a photograph of the food that he took on his smart phone. It looked delicious. He said that he took pictures of his food so that his fiance would figure out how to prepare his new favorites for him. 

Downtown Cleveland has a giant chandelier over a street.

Here is an interesting historical marker in downtown Cleveland.

Allen Theater has a well-decorated ceiling with lots of fascinating images.

Trevele Harp had been a machinist and he was studying mathematics in college when he got involved in community organizing. He said that there are two types of power: unilateral power (power over) and relational power (power with). The desirable type of power is relational power because it is inclusive and it draws in people. How do you choose leaders? People who are directly affected by a problem being addressed should be the leaders. They have the best understanding of a problem because they live it.

Maria Smith, on the left, is an attorney. She said that the community lawyering style uses the legal system as a tool for people to empower themselves. Nozomi Ikuta, on the right, is pastor of Denison Avenue United Church of Christ. She describes the church as humble and that people gather in the kitchen.

Joyce Robinson works as a volunteer coordinator. She is a veteran and she was homeless for fourteen months. She said, about being homeless, "You lose every tangible thing and a part of yourself. It's hard to get that back." She has had a place of her own for a year now. She said that she wants to help seniors, who are "quickly becoming the largest homeless population." "Employers don't like to hire older people," Joyce said.

Case Western Reserve University... for part of a teach-in on nonviolence...

I was fascinated by the wood and by the conversation about the upcoming Republican convention that will be held in July in Cleveland.

Gathering at a Mexican restaurant.

Dinner at a restaurant featuring Salvadoran and Colombian foods. Yummy pupusa!!!

Next week: who knows? Tune in next week!!!