Tag: photo challenge

Worship

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This post inspired by Frank at Dutch goes the Photo

The prompt: Worship

 

When my daughter was 10 months old, we brought her with us to the Christmas Eve service at the local First Congregational Church. In the town we had moved to a few years earlier. She sat on our laps, quietly eating Cheerios, entranced by the other people…the organ music…the choirs…the candlelight. A few months later she was baptized in this same church. We became members and six years later her brother was baptized there as well.

We attended worship services as a family throughout their childhoods. Making friends at Sunday School. Children’s choir. High School Youth Group. Mission trips. Holiday fairs. Christmas pageants. Church dinners. They grew up knowing a church family as well as their own. Who watched them change from toddlers who raced around during coffee hour…to poised young adults speaking from the lectern.

When a new baby is born into a church member’s family, a celebratory rose is placed on the chancel rail in the sanctuary.

Three years ago a rose was displayed…to celebrate the birth of our grandson…

One bright sunny Sunday morning…near the spot…
where his mother was baptized over 30 years before.

chancel rail
June 2016

Delicious

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This post inspired by the Lens-Artist Challenge #41

The prompt: Delicious.

 

So many choices for delicious.

I’ll start with my favorite dinner…

salmon dinner
My favorite dinner: salmon and veggies

 

and one of my favorite fruits…

peaches
fresh peaches

 

and last, but certainly not least, my favorite cookies…

Pineapple Nut cookies
Pineapple Nut Cookies

Frosted Pineapple Nut Cookies…a recipe originating with my Nursery School teacher Mrs. Milton.

The very definition of deliciousness. Even made gluten free.

My daughter baked these for me.
An extra special Christmas gift.

 

April 17th Update:

Recipe for delicious cookies as requested by Shelley at Quaint Revival
Screen Shot 2019-04-17 at 12.03.05 PM

 

 

 

Fire

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Nancy Merrill is hosting a photo challenge. The theme this week – Fire

 
“Parents’ Weekend” (and later, as it became known…”Family Weekend”) for those of us who had kids in college…was a chance to visit at the beginning of the school year. To check in with our college student. Perhaps sit in on a class. Eat in the dining hall. Meet their new friends. Get a small glimpse of what this new life was like. I looked forward to those weekends every year.

However, it could be awkward. For newly independent 18 year olds shepherding their parents around campus. Fortunately, activities were planned. Tours. Speakers. Student performances and Acapella groups abounded.

One year…something extra special happened…

My daughter went to college in Providence, Rhode Island. One parents’ weekend evening we experienced WaterFire. A yearly event that began in 1994. Close to 100 floating braziers/bonfires lit up the river running through downtown. Accompanied by beautiful recorded instrumental music. An almost mystical experience. Definitely unique. And memorable.

 

waterfire 2001
WaterFire Providence
October 2001

Photo: 35mm

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Cake

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This post inspired by Frank at Dutch goes the Photo

The prompt: Cake

 

“Honey, could you please get me a cake of soap?”

I remember my grandmother asking me that question – under what circumstances I have no idea.

I asked her what she meant…and she explained.

It was the term used back in her day. When soap was made in large blocks. A slice for personal use was called a cake. She preferred Camay. And later on, Ivory.

 

 

cakes of soap
Cakes of Soap 2019

 

And…oddly enough…now that I think about it…she was also the grandmother who made all of her grandchildren’s birthday cakes.
Every year. From scratch!
We chose the flavor.
Mine was coconut.

 

1971 oma cake
Oma 1971

 

 

 

 

 

Path

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If you stop to be kind you must swerve often from your path.

Mary Webb

 

I have stopped watching the nightly news. Which is totally unlike me. Usually wanting to know…What Is Going On. The importance of being informed and up-to-date was always at the top of my list. Part of being a responsible citizen.

It seems to me there used to be more balance. The good and the evil. The positive and the negative. Now all I do is wince. Our leaders fighting. Shouting. Accusing. Deaf to the voices of reason…or fairness…or empathy. Especially empathy. Unwilling to even pause and consider a different path.

Nightly Breaking News punches story after story. Announcements line up in 10 second sound bites. Assault…Abuse…Cheating…Lying…. Young child missing…young child found in a shallow grave. Inconsolable parent. Another shooting. Blurry security camera video. One more senseless loss of a sister, a brother.

The news anchor drones on, his face barely changing expression. Night after night.

Rarely would I see kindness…until the final 2 minutes of the broadcast. Showcasing an act of generosity. Compassion. Selflessness.

Good to know there are people still out there…
On a different path.

They deserve more than two minutes of air time.

 

 

walking trail

 

CFFC – Walks, Trails, Sidewalks

 

 

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge – Cute Factor

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This post inspired by Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge. The topic: Cute Factor

Cute Factor! How could I resist this challenge? Absolutely impossible.

 
As soon as my daughter became mobile, she’d crawl…and eventually run…to the front door when she heard her daddy come home from work.
Carrying his guitar. After a long day teaching teenagers how to play notes and chords and…eventually…What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor.

She was ever curious about this guitar which was so often in her daddy’s lap. Capturing his attention. As he practiced and made music. While he sang. To himself. To her.

At times – apparently deciding that enough was enough – she’d toddle over to wherever he was strumming. Press her fingers on the strings…silence the music…and demand, as only a tiny child can…No tar daddy!
Daddy would take a short break.

When he left the guitar case propped open next to the living room wall…
our little girl often made use of this just-the-right-size-for-a-toddler seat.

guitarcase call

 

Funny Faces

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This post inspired by April photo a day challenge

Today’s prompt: Funny

 

When my kids were growing up, they had a birthday party every year they wanted one.

Several actually. One with family. One with friends. Sometimes a celebration at pre-school as well.

Why not? Another year. Another milestone or two.
Time for cake. Presents. Games.
Fun with friends.

One tradition…a group photo.
Squirmy party guests lined up on the couch.

The first take: Smile Say Cheese!

The second: Make A Funny Face! Make A Silly Face!

Always the favorite.

Little children making funny faces never disappoint.

 

birthday-6yr-funny-faces.jpg
Six year old fun

 

birthday-5yr-funny-faces.jpg
Five year old fun

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Roads

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Cee’s Challenge topic this week: Roads: country, freeway, streets, dirt, etc.

 

Running a marathon.
It’s a long road…
26.2 grueling miles to be exact.

Preparation?
Single minded determination, resilience…and hours of training.

My personal experience?
Limited to one as an enthusiastic observer…
Whooping and hollering…Yay!! Woo Hoo!!…from the sidelines.

Along with crowds of cheering fans, I watched as runners pounded the pavement. All ages, shapes and sizes. Clutching water bottles. Sucking on energy gels. Sweaty. Eyes focused.

Squeezed into a space along the marathon route, I waited…for my daughter (Boston Marathon 2008)…or my son (Rock & Roll DC Marathon 2014)…at different spots along the way.
Yayyyyy! Woo Hoo!!
Before hurrying to the finish line….

All those runners seeking a personal best.
For themselves. For charity.
A long road.
An amazing achievement.

 

DC marathon
Washington, DC

 

DC Marathon 2014
Washington, DC
Finish Line

 

Boston marathon 2008
Boston, MA
Finish Line