Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Looking Backwards

From the Heath: photo by Cliff Hutson
From the Heath: photo by Cliff Hutson


The end of the year is an excellent time for most of us to take stock of the things we have done over the past twelve months. One can look back and ask some hard questions. Did you grow and learn important truths about life, and who you are? Did you take meaningful steps toward accomplishing your hopes and dreams?

One of my aspirations for 2018 was to post to this blog every other Wednesday, and, with this entry, have achieved it.

'Why do such a thing?', the astute reader may very well ask. It could be said that this blog is, in a sense, my gift to you the reader. It is a gift of my talent and my dedication. But, the truth is that i do it to amuse myself, and to keep my mind occupied.

I began this endeavor in 2007. The early years were quite spotty. And, during 2010 - 2014 most of my writing was devoted to "Rambles with Holly"; probably the stronger of these efforts.  As I write this, I see that the page views for the all time history of "Pictures and Words" are only 25,732. Not a heck of a lot, and there is only one follower. Still, it has been fun.

Many musings of this sort include a "top list" of some sort. I am going to do five. This might make an interesting Venn diagram as there is a strong correlation between what I feel was some of my best writing garnered some of the most views.

The Top 5 of 2018:


“Eating Well”

“Long Haul Dining”

“a·nal·o·gy”

“Reading Log 2017 (Plus Robots)”

“Southern Greens”

They are all about food or books. I wonder what that says about me?

Food Photography: photo by Cliff Hutson
Food Photography: photo by Cliff Hutson

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Reading Log: November 2018

Beneath the Peaks: photo by Cliff Hutson
Beneath the Peaks: photo by Cliff Hutson
“Beneath the peaks, white bands of fog clung to the contours of rock.” 
 -  The Feral Detective


The books I finished reading in November 2018


November 2018 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson
November 2018 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Dark Sacred Night,” Michael Connelly

“The Feral Detective,” Jonathan Lethem

“Yosemite Fall,” Scott Graham

“The President is Missing,” Bill Clinton and James Patterson

“Crime Partners,” Donald Goines

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Where's Cliff?

The Mall: by Cliff Hutson
The Mall: by Cliff Hutson

Lost


No post again this week. This time, I got lost at the mall.


Stuck


Or, was I stuck on the MTA?




Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Reading Log: October 2018

The books I finished reading in October 2018


October 2018 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson
October 2018 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson




“Black No More,” George S. Schuyler

“Killers of the Flower Moon,” David Grann

“Hell’s Angels,” Hunter S. Thompson

“Holy Ghost,” John Sanford

“Up the Mountain Path,” Marianne Dubuc

“The Feather Thief,” Kirk Wallace Johnson 

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

The Shoe Designer

“Hey, I put some new shoes on
And suddenly everything is right”
 - Songwriters: Jim Duguid / Mathew William Benbrook / Matt Benbrook / Paolo Giovanni Nutini

New Shoes


"Outdoor Chill" Laces: photo by Cliff Hutson
"Outdoor Chill" Laces: photo by Cliff Hutson

Who amongst us does not enjoy a pair of new shoes?  I know that I do and I recently got to design them as well, basically from scratch. 

Chuck Taylor All-Stars


Inner Body: photo by Cliff Hutson
Inner Body: photo by Cliff Hutson

Chuck Taylor All-Stars were one of the most iconic shoes of my youth. Times were simpler then, so we had a choice of two - black or white; as I recall. However, as with most other things, that palette has significantly expanded.  Now, I even have a pair with wool uppers in black and white plaid that Converse created in a partnership with Woolrich.   

Feeling the need for another pair of shoes to wear at work, I was going to buy a plain classic model when I discovered that one could actually create a customized version of their very own. Thus I was launched into the world of shoe design.

Blank Canvas


Blank Canvas: photo by Cliff Hutson
Blank Canvas: photo by Cliff Hutson

The driving force behind my design is that my go to work "uniform"is a green shirt, and that I wear a walnut colored Stetson in cool weather. Rightly or wrongly, I decided that it would be fun to have the shoes reflect this. 

Outer Body: photo by Cliff Hutson
Outer Body: photo by Cliff Hutson

Thus the outer body is green and the inner body is brown.

Both Sides Now: photo by Cliff Hutson
Both Sides Now: photo by Cliff Hutson

Was very conservative with the remaining twelve (12!) options, leaning to what I felt was traditional. That is except for the laces.

Finished Product


New Shoes: photo by Cliff Hutson
New Shoes: photo by Cliff Hutson

The laces are described as "Outdoor Chill". When I saw that name I just kind of automatically clicked on that choice. They are wilder than I thought they would be; and I am not sure where the "chill" enters in to it. However, they, of course, can be easily switched out if I grow tired of them.

Other than that I am very pleased with my creation.