A Very Pregnant Pause


Christmas Lights   
I’m way overdue on an update of The Swiss Avenue Project. Several holidays have come and gone — Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, MLK, President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, even my own birthday — without so much as a peep about what’s going on. So, let’s get caught up.

I’ve been building quite a backlog of images to process over the past several months; so many that I’ve come to the realization that I need some help; this project is simply too big to complete without help. More on that in a moment.

November and early December provided. . .

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Vewwy Scawwy! Oooh, It's Halloweeeeen!


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This is our first Halloween on Swiss Avenue. Well, almost. Last year, we did something else — completely forgettable — and returned home around 10pm to the thundering silence in the aftermath of last year's revelry. But it was our loss. We won't miss another.

Halloween on Swiss Avenue is not to be missed.

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New Photos In/Old Photos Lost — Sorta


Picture 11    
It has been a while since my last update and I want you to know that I’ve been working very hard to shoot newer, bigger, better, faster, and much improved photos for The Swiss Avenue Project.

Back in May, I had a hard drive failure that caused me to literally start over shooting every home and business again. I’ve since taken measures that will prevent that sort of thing from happening again. Short of a nuclear or EMP attack, I should be good to go, though I’m ever on the lookout for hard drives that might fail.

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Woo-hooo! What a Weekend!


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Starting last Friday night, this was one busy weekend.

The Block Party for residents of the Historic District kicked off another Mother’s Day Home & Garden Tour. Never have I heard so many people together using their “outside voices” inside. It was loud and fun and just a wee bit crazy. Not way crazy. Just a wee bit. But I will say, antiques did get broken. I can attest that it was an accident, though. It was simply a matter of hundred year old materials giving out. And that’s all I’ve got say. So don’t ask. My lips are sealed.

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Yard Sale - Bargains Galore


yardsale-sculptures   
The Multi-Family Yard Sale held recently in Peak’s Addition seems to have been a success. Lots of people were out and in a buying mood.

My personal favorites were some small — well, not that small — sculptures of a rather whimsical nature.

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The Snowball Picks Up Momentum


snowball    
I’ve been pushing this snowball all by myself for a few months now, figuring I could do it all. Well, turns out that this is a much bigger project than I ever had planned. And, suddenly, I am meeting people who are excited about The Swiss Avenue Project and want to help.

That help is shaping up to be of both the official and the unofficial variety. It’s amazing what happens when you peel yourself away from the computer and get out and meet people. Of necessity, I spend a lot of time in front of my Mac creating the final images you see here on the site. But getting out and meeting people on my walk through the District photographing homes has been the key to making things happen.

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An Open Letter Revealed


jumping    
Hello, again. I wanted to jump in here and let you know that there’s plenty going on behind the scenes. I’ve been creating more prints as I’ve been able. I contacted the president of the Peak’s Addition about a week ago and, today, the president of the Swiss Avenue Historic District. Starting a dialog about the project is my main goal.

I know this is an ambitious project — I’m the one doing it, after all. But I believe I can finish at least the first “phase” on the Historic District by the annual Tour of Homes on Mother’s Day.

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Planting a Seed


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The Swiss Avenue Project is just a germ of an idea, sprouting its first leaves, and is ready to begin life and grow on its on.

In the past couple of weeks I’ve begun shooting homes on Swiss Avenue, experimenting with this technique and that, exploring different ways of showing them off at their best. As I’ve accumulated a number of images, I’ve shared them with friends -- other photographers, mostly -- for feedback on what works and what doesn’t.

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