splish splash, photo by alexandra valenti

Black and white photography and watercolors - what a great combination.  I love this photo/print.  It reminds me of my days in Massachusetts and Vermont, and all those wonderful swimming holes.  The water is always completely freezing because they are buried so far in the forest and receive a mere 2-4 hours of sunlight a day, but there is something so refreshing and fun about them. 

No matter how cold one was, I would go in.  I wasn't the biggest fan of actually jumping in.  I have only plummeted into a few - most of the time I just inched my way in, which is also the way I get into the ocean.  I loved the ones that had the mini waterfall above or below the actual swimming hole.  I used to make myself lay there and let the water flow over me.  If I could be anywhere right now, I would be in the mini waterfall above the swimming hole off of River Road in Johnson, Vermont, or (and this doesn’t really have anything to do with water or swimming) on my parents deck listening to the sights and sounds of the neighborhood.  Those are two of my really favorite places.