This post inspired by Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge. The topic: Flower of Any Kind
I’ll admit it was strange to view flowers in anything but color, but I decided to explore my favorite flower photos with an open mind. And eye.
I was intrigued to discover how much I was drawn to the black and white version of the two “tulip survivors” from our former home. The two that were still bursting through the hard packed side yard after more than 30 years.
Backhoes. Dump Trucks. Front Loaders. Construction Cones…everywhere!
Sunday morning
Birthday morning visit to the National Zoo. Lions…no tigers or bears…but monkeys, alpacas, an orangutang, cows, goats, donkeys, elephants and a gorilla family…oh my.
Afternoon with family from near and far. Sharing a small boy’s celebration of a third year of living life. Joyfully. Playfully. With energy to spare.
Blue eyes full of fun, love and mischief. Hints of his mother long ago, but mostly just uniquely him.
Grampa and I fly home tomorrow.
We will look through the hundreds of photos we took.
Back in the 1970’s my boyfriend went on a cross country road trip with his best friend. They intended to make it all the way from the East Coast of the US to the West Coast. In an orange Ford Pinto.
They drove as far as Wyoming and realized they were running out of time. Before starting for home, my boyfriend insisted on stopping at a local arts and crafts store to buy a souvenir gift.
A small handmade metal sculpture of two grinning figures, crafted by a local artisan.
Which he gave to me – his girlfriend of 2 years – a few days later…
This post inspired by V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #51: Green
This was the view outside my home a few days ago.
The color green is everywhere.
Spring time explains it…before the heat of summer dries the grass to a crispy brown.
There is something comforting about blue + yellow.
I chose green as the color for my first bedroom-of-my-own when I was 11 years old. Emerald green carpet. Green diamond patterned wallpaper (which I loved, even though it aggravated the paper hanger). The only green in the house. A marked contrast to my sisters’ purple and pink florals.
The woods I explored. The leafy tree I climbed. The grass I sprawled out on. Looking up…studying cloud formations.
I loved mushrooms. He did not. I think it was the texture, because when I chopped them up into really small pieces…he didn’t spot any in the tuna casserole.
If his eagle eye discovered any recognizable mushroom sections, he calmly plucked them out. And arranged them in a semi-circle around the edge of his dinner plate.
When his grade school education included a science lesson on what constitutes a fungus, his delight in passing on this gem of information was palpable.
It didn’t stop me from eating mushrooms however. Fungus or no fungus. They are delicious. And nutritious.
One day last year, during my walk around the neighborhood, I spotted a clump of wild mushrooms.
Nancy Merrill is hosting a photo challenge. The theme this week: Nostalgia
When I was five years old, my Opa and Oma gave me a charm bracelet.
At least I think I was 5.
My clue?
A birthday cake charm with 5 candles that pop up if you push the lever underneath it. Pushing up with a just-the-right-size 5 year old finger. I especially remember the charms with the movable parts.
They added charms to the bracelet for many years. Birthday gifts or just because. Each charm meant something special. Several were souvenirs from their trips to Europe.
Such sweet memories…
A bicycle…I loved to ride.
A baby shoe…as I used to wear.
A mailbox…Opa and I were penpals.
Ballet shoes…my short lived stint taking lessons.
Piano…5 years of lessons and all I can still play is Chopsticks.
My favorite is the deck of cards charm. With actual cards inside – at one point I took them all out to check. And then put them all back.
It reminds me of O&O, as I called them. But especially Opa, who taught me everything I know about cards, game strategy and how much fun it is to play.
Although the 6 ½ inch bracelet no longer fits my wrist, it will always make me smile as I recall how it came to be.
(Photos taken with my new Canon EOS RP Mirrorless Full Frame DSLR. Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM lens)
This week share a favourite song or piece of music that is connected to a favourite genre of yours, or just share a favourite piece of music or song with us.
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It is really difficult to choose a favorite music genre. I guess it would depend on my mood. If it’s for dancing at a wedding reception. Or keeping me company on a car ride. Or background when writing a blog post. Or cleaning my office. Or drowning out the highway noise outside my window. There is music to the rescue for any occasion!
The genre that rises to the top of my list most often: folk rock.
For today, I settled on a (relatively) recent musical discovery of an American singer/songwriter/guitarist who joined my list of favorites.
She has much in common with the favorites of my youth…Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Bonnie Raitt….
Although she originally appealed to a more country music audience, I happened upon her music about 20 years ago when I heard this song.
I was hooked.
I have seen her perform several times in the last decade. Lucky for me – and the audience – she included This Shirt on the set list every time.
Mary Chapin Carpenter
performing This Shirt
Originally released on her album “State of the Heart” in 1989.
On March 13, 1994 – the hottest March 13th on record for San Francisco – my husband and I climbed Coit Tower in Telegraph Hill. All 210 feet. To reach the observation tower at the top – with its 360 degree view of the city.
We had just arrived in California for a much anticipated weeklong vacation. Jet lag hadn’t set in yet.
The long climb…well worth it.
Coit Tower Telegraph Hill San Francisco, CA
(FYI: that’s Christopher Columbus standing guard….)
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 