V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #36: Wild Card

February 18, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

This week, I am giving you a carte blanche…well, sort of… there’s a catch. Go back over the last week’s worth of posts or so, and notice any words or phrases that repeat themselves. I’m talking adjectives, or verbs, maybe nouns. For example, when I look over my posts leading up to writing this one, […]

Restoring Balance

February 17, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

Fog has dissipated, as has the rain. Hallelujah. Although it is still overcast, we decide to take a drive, cameras in tow. Goose Island State Park is our planned destination. It has just the right combination of driving and walking trails. This is also where we saw the Whooping Cranes, so maybe we’ll get lucky […]

My Heart’s Song is…

February 16, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

…a little orange bird. (Altamira Oriole and Vermillion Flycatcher from personal collection. For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Color of your choice.)

Sushi

February 15, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Four days of fog, followed by a day of thunder storms, and I am stir crazy. “Let’s go for a drive. I need to get out.” I grab my camera and open the door, immediately accosted by a wet wind. It has turned cold. There won’t be any picture taking today. We go for lunch, […]

A Photo a Week: Depth of Field

February 12, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Nancy Merrill’s challenge this week is: depth of field. Hope I have captured the concept with these images taken in the summer

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #35: Balance

February 11, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

I don’t think I’ve possessed good physical balance since that time I went down in tennis and cracked my kneecap, despite physiotherapy’s best efforts. Now that chronic illness has been added to the mix, I’ve learned to live without that certainty. I’m wobbly; what can I say? Balance in other areas of my life, however; […]

CFFC: Orange and Pink

February 8, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Cee like to challenge us every week with her Fun Foto Challenge. This week she wants orange and pink in the same image. Naturally my mind goes immediately to grandchildren, who have no qualms about combining bright hues. This one’s sleeping bag even fits the criteria. Nature also dips her paintbrush in multi-colours to celebrate […]

Dynamic

February 7, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Fuchsia captivates,delicate veins erupting –explosive orchids. (For Cee’s Flower of the Day)

Of Pelicans and Life

February 7, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

Ric spots them first – an almost endless line of birds heading our way. American White pelicans! They gather as a group just above where we are stalled, waiting for the ferry, and circle the area before continuing their journey. As one group leaves, another follows in a seemingly endless stream. “There must be thousands!” […]

Flower in Waiting

February 6, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Asserting fragrance,waiting on winged visit –flower hosts stray ant. (For Cee’s Flower of the Day)

Dear Child

I know a little girl,whose hair in ringletsfalls, unkempt from lackof brushing; who standswhen she should be sitting;who laughs with defiance whenchallenged, her dark eyes gleamingwith mischief; who holds her chin uphigh and stamps her feet, arms foldedin protest when she does not get her way. I see that little girl,have watched her play,with a […]

Re-de-fine-d

Ask me how I’m doingand I’ll say “fine”, notbecause I’m actually fine,but because “fine” is the onlysocially acceptable response. If I said that I have been lyinghere, for three hours now,willing my body to move,that would elicit unsolicitedadvice and tarnish my “fine”. I’d berate myself for breakingmy promise not to moan,knowing that complainingprovokes a compulsive […]