Welcome To My Story
John Dallas Bowers



Click here to read my testimonial
to Fox Chase and David Chen, MD




Boxing Day 2023. Click here for more of our Christmas story.





A beautiful reunion with a dear friend after 19 years.
Click here to see more.





Thomas Ward's graduation from Villanova University
celebrated by family and friends at Merion Cricket on May 19, 2023



Easter at Overbrook Golf Club (April 9, 2023)
A picture-perfect day to celebrate our Risen Savior with family and friends



L to R:  Jamison Maley, Tad Ward, Thomas Ward, Barbara Bowers, Quinton Bowers, Stan Bowers, Barbara Bowers Ward,
Bridget Bowers, Patty Ward, Jennifer Bowers, Susan Bowers, jdb, Jolene Johnson, Stan Bowers




Boxing Day 2022.
Jennifer and I continued our tradition of present exchanges in the calmness of "the day after..."
Another cherished few hours before she returned to Boston.





June 13, 2022:  On my final night in Boston, Jennifer and I returned to Pammy's in Cambridge.
This charming "new American trattoria" offered us a most palate-pleasing and eclectic prix fixe menu,
and in their preparation and presentation, our three courses fulfilled every expectation.
Danielle, our delightful server, was kind enough to take this photo. My daughter always makes me look better.





June 1, 2022

It was a beautiful day for a visit to The Simple Way, a food bank in the heart of Kensington,
one of Philadelphia's most challenged neighborhoods. Several Spring Garden Soup Society
board members joined me as we met with director Caz Tod-Pearson (pictured),
who walked us through the facility, its mission and history. TSW recently received
a special grant from the Society, and this trip confirmed the wisdom of that choice.



The family gathered for Easter at Overbrook. Click here for a closer look.




The face of 80: click here for more about my seamless entry into my ninth decade





Click here for photos of my trip to Boston (2021)



March 20, 2021: With virtually all signs of Christmas removed, the flag that draped my father's casket
is now back in its place of honor. Twenty-nine years haven't erased the memories, nor the deep sense of loss.





GO WILDCATS!
This plush pullover was a 2021 birthday present
from the Wards. Their son Thomas, my grandnephew,
is an engineering undergraduate at Villanova.





In a burst of enthusiasm and nostalgia, I emailed a snow angel challenge to two old friends,
which they promptly answered with a lovely clip I turned into a video. Click here to watch it.





This 2020 Boxing Day photo was one image from Christmas. Click here to see more.





Thanksgiving 2020 at the Overbrook Golf Club.
Jennifer presented me with this Old Glory face mask.
Hate masks, love the design. She knows me so well.



I took this shot from my driveway as I began my
afternoon walk. I love the way the sun shows the
Norway maple leaves to their best advantage.





Click here for more photos of my summer dinner with Jennifer


As one of Jennifer's Father's Day treats, she arranged for the overnight delivery
of a four-portion "lobster roll kit" from The Clam Shack, a legendary, dockside eatery
on the bridge into Kennebunkport. We have a tradition of getting their take-away fried clams
for eating on the ocean-washed rocks; this was my first opportunity to try the lobster.

Everything was included: a pound of tender, freshly-cooked
and hand-picked lobster from the local waters, four Clam Shack signature Reilly rolls,
mayonnaise, a lemon, and a stick of Kate's amazing small-batch butter
for drizzling. I assembled my first roll for lunch and yes, it tasted just as good as it looks.

One down, three to go!




Another Covid compromise:
moving Spring Garden Soup Society's May 2020 board meeting
from the Fell Room at The Union League to Zoom.
It was so uplifting to hear our agencies going above and beyond to
maintain or increase their food ministries to the hungry in Philadelphia.





A"distancing" dinner from Mission BBQ.
Click here to watch my 90-second video.





What better way to spend a winter afternoon than catching up in front of a warm fire
with two dear friends and hospice compatriots, Nicole Smith Irwin and Tiffany Marron.
It was my first chance to meet Vittoria, Nicole's adorable newborn.





My first documentary: "Bespoke -- the vanishing art of custom-tailoring"
Click here to watch on YouTube (on something larger than a phone!)




Defying the fashion police, I decided to wear my new linen blazer
AFTER LABOR DAY.  Here I am at David and Shamim Weaver's
wedding reception held at Philadelphia's historic Acorn Club.



Come fall, it's time to pick up the leaves. Click here to see more.




Once again, we were blessed to have a lovely family gathering
for Easter at Overbrook Golf Club. Click here for more photos.





My new favorite bow tie, courtesy of my daughter and Vineyard Vines




Christmas 2018
Modeling my new J. Crew denim shirt, a present from Jennifer.
I liked it enough to order another one. It's the perfect style and fit for me.



BOXING DAY 2018
This year's "Daddy-Daughter" Christmas portrait
#FeelingBlessed





ANTICIPATING THE HOLY BIRTH
The barn is slowly beginning to look a lot like Christmas



Untangling my West German candle lights is a Christmas tradition
dating back to our Bryn Mawr gatehouse in the late 1960s.
They're a perfect fit here at the barn
with my other vintage lights and homemade ornaments.


(I took this selfie on the evening of Friday, December 21, 2018)


MY TRIP TO BOSTON (SPRING 2018)

  

Click here or on the images above for highlights of my time with Jennifer (spring 2018)




The official 2017 daddy-daughter Christmas portrait. So happy to have Jennifer home to share the holiday.


Click here to watch a brief video I shot at the grand re-opening gala at Otto's BMW




CLICK HERE to see my video review of the
Felco® #6 and #12 bypass pruning shears.
They are the best tools of their type in the world.



flag


Click here to watch my brief Flag Day video.



Click here to see more of my new friend
 



CLICK HERE (or on the photo above) to see images from my latest trip to Boston




Click here or on the photo above
to see scanned slides from my life
from the 1950s to the 1990s.
This will be a work in progress.





Jennifer gave me a CanoScan 9000F Mark II for my birthday, and it's been fun restoring images
trapped in long-neglected slides. I've begun posting samples (CLICK HERE), but here's my caption
for this treasure from Christmas Day, 1972:

"Who needs Common Core when you're introducing the basics at 26 months."





The official 2016 daddy-daughter Christmas portrait
(Click here to see more images from our blessed holiday)





Click here to watch my video review of the Allen Co. Eliminator All-in-One shooting bag.
Best enjoyed full-screen on a tablet or larger device, with the audio up. Select high-def.





Having missed my annual visit to Boston in 2015,
I was very happy to spend this year's Memorial Day weekend with Jennifer.
Click here to see some photos of our time together.





Celebrating my belated birthday with the family
at the Merion Cricket Club (March 13, 2016)



Mr. Beams Stick-Anywhere lights:  click here to watch my first video review for 2016




Sometimes your dollies and your dog
are comfort enough.
(Jennifer and Mac in our tiny
gatehouse in Bryn Mawr -- January 1974)




My blooming Dendrobium kingianum, a reliable harbinger of spring.
Click here or on the photo above to see the entire plant.




This is what nine degrees looked like at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2015.
Click here to see the full-sized photograph, and enlarge your browser window for maximum detail.




Our 2014 traditional daddy-daughter Christmas portrait.
Click here for more holiday images.





The wild phlox, with their soft blue/violet blooms,
offer a pleasing contrast with the periwinkle.
Each spring they pop up in the most surprising places,
which is part of the fun.


-- CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE SEASONAL PHOTOS AROUND THE PROPERTY --


This was my early morning view from the patio as I was refilling the bird feeder.
God's infinite palette on display.  (Saturday, February 1, 2014)




Light and shadows at the end of a snowy day in Villanova
(December 10, 2013 at the barn)





Drizzly, mid-40s: perfect preconditions for a nap
(the back patio at the barn — December 6, 2013)





Do you have old movies and memories deteriorating on film and VHS tapes?
I encourage you to follow my lead and have them digitized by YesVideo.
If you click on this link, you and I will both get a FREE transfer.
But it's really important to use my affiliate link for this win/win to work.

Any questions? Click here to send me an email.





"HANGING BY A THREAD"
(posted October 6, 2013)
On a walk up to the library via the Radnor Trail yesterday,
I happened to see this dried leaf overhead, bobbing and twisting
at the end of an almost invisible silken strand.
Fortunately, I had my little Canon SD990 point-and-shoot with me,
and among the dozens of photos I took, this is my favorite.





(September 5, 2013)
My favorite Vanderbilt grads at a late-summer reunion on Nantucket
Left to right: Elena, Elena, Jennifer, and Michelle

 

As a photographer and videographer with a passion for storytelling,
I've been increasingly aware of how critical good lighting is
in capturing and communicating the essence and artistry of a scene.
My latest acquisition in this quest for excellence was a 500 LED lightbox
and equally important, an inflatable "softbox" from AIRBOX LIGHTS.
This essential component diffuses and directs the light for an optimal outcome.
I encourage you to click here (or on the images above) to learn more,
and if you decide to order on Amazon (best price), be sure to enter


GWOOFK7M

as a promotional code at final checkout to get a 10% DISCOUNT.
Questions or comments for me? Click here to send me an email.





It was a lovely day to shoot some video at my brother's place.
Click here to take a brief tour of their beautiful property.
Be sure to choose HD (720p) and watch full-screen, audio up.





I discovered this family vacation footage from 64 years ago,
and paired it with Patti Page's poignant pæan to "Old Cape Cod."
It runs three minutes, and you can watch it by clicking here.





Three hours after three years: it was an easy and instant reconnection
with Anne Blair Brown over a delicious and lingering lunch
at the White Dog Café in Wayne on a sunny Friday, May 10, 2013.
She was in town for the Plein Air Festival at the Wayne Art Center,
the event where we met in May 2010. You should check out her work.
Beautiful interpretations of life. Click here to go to her website.


Click here to watch a video I shot while she worked on location.




Thanks to my cousin Bill, who was kind enough to scan the 72-year-old negative,
I now have another great photo of my much-missed grandfather (aka Grandpop Hallahan).
Here is his in 1941 (age 58), casting for trout and landlocked salmon on Lake Kennebago,
just outside Rangeley, Maine. Within a decade, I was following in his footsteps,
and continued to visit Grant's Camps well into adulthood, even taking
Jennifer and her mom late in the 1970s. I hope to return someday soon.

Click here to see what Grant's looks like today.





Stillness and beauty at 8 a.m. when I went out to the patio to refill the bird feeder.
No alteration of the photograph: this is exactly how it looked. (Sunday, January 6, 2012)
Click here to read my reflections on the moment on Radnor Patch.





Our final morning in Kennebunkport

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Click here to see more photos and a brief video of the Cape Arundel Inn.
Click here to see photos and a video from our cruise on the schooner Eleanor.






Another fun family gathering, this one on Easter at Overbrook Golf Club.
Click here for more information and an adorable shot of my grandniece.

 


 
My 16-millimeter Memory series
 
For about a decade beginning in 1938, my father took 16mm movies
of our family, some black and white, but most in color (unusual for the day).
Early in the 1980s, he had the deteriorating film transferred to VHS tape.
With concern for its durability, I decided to transfer those silent images
to a digital format, editing them and adding music and captions.

I've begun to upload these short clips on YouTube.
Click here to begin your journey back in time.

*  *  *

FREEDOM
flag

 

Through the grace of God
and the sacrifice of our citizens

 
Join the NRA
Click here to defend your right to bear arms.
The S&W 442

The Second Amendment:
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING!
(Click on the pistol image for a closer look
at the Smith & Wesson 442 snub-nose revolver)


nra life member patch

Click here to visit my NRA Page


 
 
 
Please continue to scroll down to see more of my story

You Tube

Click here to see assorted video clips of moments in my life.

facebook logo

Click here to visit my Facebook profile page

*  *  *




Ready to start (or move) your website?
I've been with HostGator for years,
and recommend them enthusiastically.


Click here (or on the logo above) to get started.
If you do, I'd love to get your feedback.



 

thomas

Happiness is snuggling my grandnephew
Thomas Newton Ward IV at the barn
after Thanksgiving dinner with the family in 2001

jdb & thomas, xmas 2007

Thomas and I reconnect at Christmas 2007.
It turns out we both love pistols and the piano.



And on May 19, 2023, we celebrated Thomas'
graduation from Villanova University at Merion Cricket

A LOOK AT MY STORY

jdb-1942jdb-1945jdb in 1952jdb-1954

The early years (l to r): Drexel Park, ca. 1942; Ocean City, NJ, ca. 1945; Drexel Hill School, 1952 & 1954

Welcome to my website.

To reach the page of choice, simply click on the link provided.

* * *
jdbllc

Click here (or on the logo above)
to visit my professional website



blogspot
Click here
to visit my blog, which is in its infancy

 

Articles of mine published in The Suburban & Wayne Times

And a piece I penned for Writer's Digest chronicling a big decision in a consequential year 

Other stories I think you'll enjoy...

And now, in no particular order, the rest of my online story...

My journey and vision


Encouraging words are always welcome at
johndallasbowers@verizon.net

mac
I'm not relaxing...I'm thinking.