stories, photographs, adventures…the next chapter
Inspired by Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #80: Leading Lines
…give us a chance to see some of the leading lines you’ve captured…position them to lead the viewer where you want them to go…
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Walking Paths
Through shadows in the Spring…
Over sand in the Winter…
Always a path to follow.
Inspired by Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #79: A Window with a View
…Share with us photos you’ve captured through windows.
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As I have mentioned before in several posts, I enjoyed a photographer’s paradise last summer when visiting the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. Twice actually…as there was so much to see I had to return! Not just to photograph, but to experience.
Why couldn’t history lessons be this fascinating back in high school?
For this challenge, I will include two images.
The first was taken while walking across a double-lane wooden covered bridge. It was built in 1845…a weathered sign warns bridge crossers riding horses or automobiles not to exceed 10 miles per hour.
I discovered a window about halfway across the bridge…offering a glimpse across the pond beneath.
The second window was in one of the 39 buildings situated throughout 45 acres of museum grounds.
Showcasing a small sample of the vibrant, colorful flowers blooming in one of the 22 gardens on the property.
Inspired by Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #78: Special Spot Shots
Now we are looking forward to seeing Your very special spot shots – maybe a room in your home, a garden, a mountain, a city, an exhibition, a lovely café…a place that is special to you!
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While taking on this photo challenge, I came to the realization that my “Special Spot” had changed.
At first, I thought…Coronado Beach! I have such warm and wonderful – and yes, special, memories from the half dozen times I vacationed there.
I have posted about this slice of heaven on the US west coast several times.
However, I have not been back to Coronado since 2006 and it is unlikely I will be able to make a cross country trip again.
Time for a new special place…
I live on the US east coast…relatively close to a beautiful beach. I will admit, it’s not as beautiful as Coronado…but it still ranks up there.
From October through December of 2016 we lived in a rental across the street from the sands of Hampton Beach. A temporary stint of “living at the beach” while we waited to close on our new condo under construction a few towns away.
It was off season, so we practically had the beach to ourselves.
Peaceful.
Perfect for afternoon walks.
A seat on the sand for contemplation.
Mesmerized by the waves while my imagination ran wild with plans for the future.
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Yesterday afternoon I decided to take a ride back to Hampton Beach…
Dressed in layers for a cold, windy, winter walk.
It happened to be low tide. The lowest tide I’d ever seen.
I was not disappointed.
It seems I still have a Special Spot.
Now…close to home.
Inspired by Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #77: Favorite Photos of 2019
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Choose my favorite photographs of 2019?
That’s a tough one (which I made a bit easier by not including family photos).
I managed to pare it down to 15(!). It was an especially exciting year as I dove into the world of macro photography. An additional photographic challenge.
I am curious…which one is your favorite?
1: January…ice crackling on the river…
2: February…a welcome color display…
3: Early Spring…signs of nature coming to life…
4: May showers…
5: Summer sunsets…
6: Butterfly on zinnias…
7: The magical pond…
8: Sunflower parade…
9: Amber waves…
10: Crunchy path…
11: Fall arrives…
12: Watch your step…
13: The cactus blooms!
14: Late Fall fantasy edits…
15: Last, but not least, back to where the year began…with the crunch of ice.
Inspired by Lens-Artists Challenge #76: On Display
This week, we invite you to explore On Display. Share with us photos you have discovered.
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I have posted many times about my visits to the Shelburne Museum this summer. One of my favorite spots on the museum grounds was the General Store.
Below are displays of items that would have been for sale in the early 1900s.
If these displays could talk….
Inspired by:
Lens-Artists Challenge #75: Nostalgic
…I look forward to seeing the nostalgic moments that are most special to you. Past holidays, times with family and friends, travel moments, or just something that reminds you fondly of days gone by – it’s your call. Give us a small peek into the things you’re nostalgic about.
V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #76: Music
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Get out the red and green sprinkles!
And the tiny chocolate chips!
Cookie sheets!
Cookie cutters!
Start the music!
It’s Time!
When I was raising my children – and by the time each was around 2 years old – we made Christmas cookies together as a family. Simple cream cheese sugar cookies.
We used the same aluminum cookie cutters I used when I was a child.
Our tradition? I made the dough the day before so it was easier to roll out.
My daughter – and then my son – learned how to use a rolling pin and press a tree or bell shape into the flattened dough.
Let the decorating begin!
Creativity was serious business.
The teenage years sparked unique decorating ideas such as the occasional anatomically correct gingerbread man. Ahem. All in good fun though…
Every year we were accompanied by the Sesame Street Christmas Sing-Along album pumping through the speakers (yes, we had speakers in the kitchen!)…and the clicking of the Canon camera.
My husband, I and the “kids” continued this annual family tradition for over 25 years…always accompanied by Big Bird, Cookie Monster (of course!) and the rest of the gang.
Cookies in the making. Oven warming. Four voices singing – the muppets’ lines memorized to perfection…
It’s that time of the year
When we all want to hear
A Christmas sing-along…
Or
Count, count, count — counting the days,
Count, count, count — counting the day…
I’m counting the days, ’til Christmas day is due…
(just a sample taste of this fabulous album – released in 1984 – just in time for our family).
A bit of nostalgia I never tire of revisiting.
Both in pictures and in song.
Inspired by Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #74: Abstract
Feel free to go beyond the traditional realistic image of an object, scene, or element. Take a photo of anything that catches your eye and allows you to express your artistic view of the world. You can also focus on details which are normally ignored and make your viewers use their imaginations.
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What do we have here?
Outside…one summer day, camera in hand…a glint of sun dancing across the surface as I catch it.
Or an afternoon spent inside…pouring over art for sale.
Inspired by Lens-Artists Challenge #73: Cold
We look forward to seeing your interpretation of “cold”. It could be snow and ice, or a frosty window pane, or even your favorite flavor of ice cream!
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What a timely topic this week…
A recent walk turned crunchy as I navigated around an icy mess in the nearby woods. Freezing temperatures had recently followed close behind a cold rain…trapping the remnants of fall leaf survivors.
But I know it’s only a matter of time before the scene…once again…showcases a familiar blanket of white.
Inspired by Lens-Artists Challenge #72: Waiting
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Over 20 years ago I received a Christmas cactus as a gift. I was encouraged by the fact that cactus plants have a reputation for survival.
In other words, it would be hard for me to kill it. As I often did with houseplants – unintentionally – much to my continuing dismay.
I think it flowered that first year, but rarely did it bloom as advertised…supposedly at Christmas time. So there it sat on a living room shelf…near the window…or away from the window…for years. I pruned it. Or I didn’t. No matter what I tried, my cactus remained…well…green. Dusting the branches didn’t help either.
But thankfully it stayed alive. For the most part.
When we moved several years ago, it mysteriously started showing signs of color and bloomed gloriously at our temporary beach rental that November. I thought the placement by a sunny window made it happen. Or perhaps it was waiting for us to downsize. I’ll never know for sure.
This October, I pruned my aging cactus and pumped it full of plant food at its spot by a sunny window. And I waited.
Nothing.
Waited some more.
Until one day I noticed buds…sprouting on the tips of almost every branch.
My visiting grandson was dutifully impressed (as only a 3 year old can be) when I announced: LOOK! Buds! They will turn into flowers! This is so exciting!
Another week passed.
I watched and waited. Carefully watered. Not too much. Not too little (just guessing at how much “enough” really was)…
Then, last weekend I noticed an explosion of sorts from one of the buds.
Waited another day.
And finally today…two days later…
A complete flower…
…with more to come.
Definitely worth the wait!
Inspired by Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #71: Creepy
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I have one old example and one new example of creepy for this week’s challenge…
Inside Creepy
It was mid-morning on my day off.
I was sitting at the dining room table minding my own business. That is to say…finishing a mug of coffee and reading the local newspaper. A luxury I looked forward to.
Quiet. Peaceful. The sun shining outside…throwing a shaft of light through the window into the room.
I was all alone.
Or so I thought…
Until I noticed a soft buzzing sound that didn’t seem to make sense. I looked out the window. Nobody there. The street…empty.
I went back to reading. But I couldn’t concentrate. The buzzing grew louder…like the sound of blowing through paper folded over a comb. It seemed to be coming from above. I glanced at the ceiling and as my eyes shifted to the corner, I saw something moving.
Something dark with tiny skinny legs (?) and maybe a wing (?). Poking down from the corner of the ceiling. Trying to join me while I finished my coffee. Making its way through the wallboard between the dining room and the second floor.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed a dark discoloration extending from the corner out a few inches. And as I got nearer to the squiggling grossness, the buzzing increased.
I was…alarmed…to put it mildly.
I called the local exterminator, who arrived within the hour.
It turned out to be a wasp…
And, as we discovered later when we repaired the ceiling, a wasp with a large family in a very creepy nest.
Outside Creepy
Low tide at the ocean usually reveals all kinds of hidden treasures.
During a walk along the beach one day this summer, I discovered – amongst the seaweed and shells and stones – the remnants of lobster traps. Old lobster traps. Broken. Slimy. Icky.
Downright creepy in the afternoon light.
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 