You just have to live and life will give you pictures.

– Henri Cartier Bresson –

I do not have many pictures for “Photo Friday” this week. My excuse is lots of rain, too many details to attend to, and then this mid-February slump where my motivation has not exactly been up to snuff.

It’s like the cold rainy weather has sucked all the energy out of the air.

This may not be great photography weather, but it does set up well for writing. So I have been focused on the new book (see yesterday’s video reading), on preparing for next week’s message at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, my weekly men’s Bible-study group, and next month’s upcoming lecture series during Lent (more on this later).

This first photograph was taken down near the Tar River. It’s a great example of why I enjoy the denuded look of these trees in the winter. All the many shades of gray and multiple layers of trunks and branches as a backdrop.

Then one of the “probably needs a haircut” side yards along Saint John Street as we walk up toward The Town Common. There is a happy place between overgrown and over-manicured and, while it definitely leans toward the former and the need for some TLC, it represents one of the endearing aspects of the historic district.

I cooked the steak to celebrate Monday’s house closing (see “Goodbye, Wake Forest“), then a couple of pictures featuring this week at the Saint Patrick renovation. We now have a small deck off the kitchen door, and another set of friends, Anne and John, stopped by for an impromptu tour.

Finally, another one of Tarboro’s ancient trees, this time on The Common at night.

So, happy Valentines Day to everyone reading this post. The Beatles may not have been 100% right when they sang that “All you need is love,” but believe me, love does get us most of the way there – DEREK