stories, photographs, adventures…the next chapter
January marks a new squares challenge from BeckyB: JanuaryLights.
The challenge is to post square photographs of words ending in light.
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My entry for today was taken the day after Christmas in Washington DC.
On a walk back from a neighborhood park, the sun started to set.
When the streetlights came on, I was ready.
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 Sunshine’s Macro Monday #22
One of the many memorable parts of spending Christmas 2019 at my daughter’s home was her amazing cooking and baking.
The menu: extensive (even included a cheese course!).
The vegetables: fresh…and, in this case…the nutritional powerhouse cruciferous variety.
I decided to document.
The roasted Brussels sprouts (along with cousin cauliflower) were seasoned to perfection and enjoyed by all.
Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week Challenge: Clouds
IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO OR TWO (OR MORE) OF CLOUDS.
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A parade of clouds and little puffs behind them they follow as their Mother.
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Inspired by Frank at Dutch goes the Photo: Holidays
The challenge for this week is to bring out the magic that you find in the season and share it with one another!
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A good friend of mine has a saying: Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a season.
I would further elaborate.
It can bring out the goodness in people. The willingness to share with those less fortunate. The willingness to share an extra smile. Doing what they can to brighten someone’s day. Bringing real meaning to the greeting Happy Holidays.
I spent the week of Christmas in Washington, DC at my daughter and son-in-law’s home. Surrounded by love-infused holiday festivities…marked by delicious meals, cookie decorating, present opening, cooking and baking side by side. Playing pretend with my grandson. Reading stories. Building Lego cities. Singing Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
One night we all went for an early evening walk…parents, grandparents, 3 year old and two dogs.
A holiday season highlight…a once a year magical moment.
Photo a Day: Festive
Yesterday was Christmas…and this sweet pup named Taco was part of the festivities.
Among his many fine attributes is a willingness to just go with the flow…
Which included dressing up for the occasion – at least long enough for a photo – to text to his humans (my son and his girlfriend) who were away on a trip.
Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week Challenge: Christmas Memories
IN A NEW POST CREATED FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE ONE OR TWO OR MORE PHOTOS OF YOUR CHRISTMAS AND/OR HOLIDAY MEMORIES.
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Christmas memories fill up my photo albums. All the best ones involve my family…when our children lived at home and we celebrated together.
Choosing just a few was indeed difficult…
One of my favorite memories was the year my son was a fast moving – very curious – toddler. At the tender age of 13 months, he was able to dash from one end of the living room to the other, quicker than we could catch him.
The Christmas tree presented a special challenge that year…as he was fascinated by those shiny things hanging from the branches. As well as the colored lightbulbs strung on green wire. Which he could unscrew, shouting HOT! HOT!
Barricades were in order…until we removed them on Christmas morning.
Which presented the perfect opportunity for ornament inspection and removal…while daddy and big sister were opening their stockings and getting their pictures taken.
However, nine years later….he was the expert at hanging the ornaments up ON the tree.
One more special memory.
Inspired by Frank at Dutch goes the Photo: Common
I thought that it might be interesting to go for something rather Common… Whether it is the every day, common object or the things that you have in common, or crossing the town common…
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During a recent visit with my 3 year old grandson, I noticed a small basket of crayons.
Common drawing tools for budding young artists like him.
Not too much has changed from decades past…except they’re now washable (!) and labeled in two languages.
Still fun to peel off the labels, break them in half…and use up one’s favorite color first.
I noticed the pink crayon was almost gone.
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….
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 