Friday Shoot-Out--Main Attractions

"Pray, pray to the Lord with me, because the whole world needs prayer. And every day, when your heart especially feels the loneliness of life, pray. Pray to the Lord, because even God needs our prayers."

— St. Pio of Pietrelcina

The main attractions of Vineland are trees, lakes, and a shrine to Padre Pio. Actually, the shrine is technically in Landisville which is right next door. I included a shot of trees and a lake near where I live. I also included a shot of a building that reflects many of the buildings in my area.

I wanted, though, to focus on the Padre Pio shrine of which I included some photos. If you are interested in learning more about Padre Pio, there is a nice website about him at http://www.padrepiodevotions.org/index.asp
which is where I got the above quote. Aside from the interesting story about Padre Pio, there is another more local story of this shrine. My boyfriend John has an Uncle who lives in Delaware. A few years ago, his wife died. They had been married several years and had several children. He has at least thirty grandchildren now. Everytime he is in this area, he stops at the Padre Pio shrine and prays for her. He still cries for her.

I am not Catholic. However, in visiting this place, there is a feeling of peace and love. I like it because it is outside which somehow appeals to me as opposed to inside a church.

Hope you enjoy!

Friday Shoot Out--Food

For this shoot-out, street food in South Jersey, is, in one way, best represented by produce stands! Where I live in Vineland, there are many of these as well as farmed land. It is one of the things I love about it! Especially the fields of sunflowers which are in their infant stages right now. One of the pictures is of the farmland, just a piece of the vast expanses found in Vineland.

I also shared the Vineland produce auction, one of the biggest of the area. This picture is of one building among several. Then, Five Points Farmers Market. It is called five points, I believe, because five roads used to converge there; however, one of the roads is now blocked off.

The picture of Pat's was taken for multiple reasons. I pass by it everyday and my eyes and thoughts are always drawn there. Some places hold their ghosts. In the sway of the shredded plastic and the ravaged wood of the sign, spirits echo its past existence, reminiscent of loss. Yet, around its decay, life goes on.

Enjoy!