SHS Photo Challenge 9

Scavenger Hunt Sunday . . . still playing the handicapped card  . . . to a degree.  Two photos are straight from the archives, one is just a week older than new, a collage created this week and one bona fide fresh shot.  Will not be able to drive for a couple of months yet, so my photo ops are very limited.  Thank you to all you gracious folks for still letting me play along.  Ashley, from Ramblings & Photos announced this weeks prompts as Waiting, Candid, Knife Fork or Spoon, Foliage and Rule of Thirds.

Here are my submissions for this weeks hunt . . . 

1.  Waiting

From the archives, a group of children in period costume waiting for the horse-drawn wagon at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario. The village is an expansive representation of 1860's life along the Saint Lawrence River.

2.  Candid

A simple collage of candid photos of my great-nephew Leighton getting snuggles from his Grandpa on his 2nd birthday.


3. Knife Fork or Spoon

Didn't have to leave home for this one.

4.  Foliage

Another archived shot from last year at this time . . . after first frost the rose hips shrivel up while the green leaves hang on a little longer.

5. Rule of Thirds

Heading east for an early morning appointment . . . sun is just rising.  I really love this shot.

Well folks, there you have it.  Be sure to check out the fabulous entries linking with Ashley Sisk.

5 Minute Friday - Grateful

It's been a few weeks, but this Friday I am joining Lisa Jo, the Gypsy Mama to write for a few minutes on her prompt "Grateful".  Click the link below to get the "rules" to play along.




Ready . . . GO!
Grateful.I have so much to be grateful for and wonder  . . . can I possibly say what I want to in just 5 minutes.
Two weeks ago I had a total knee replacement . . . a procedure that will undoubtedly change my life for the better.  The leadup to the surgery was frought with fears of spinals and catheters, injections and staples and  . . . pain.  How pleasantly surprised I was to find the majority of the things I feared did not materialize.  Oh how gracious my Father has been to me.  Attended by nurses named "Joy" and "Grace", a medical team that displayed deep compassion and patience with people in great pain.  

And my daughter . . . what a gift she is to me . . . tending to me so sweetly.  I live in a suite in her home and she slips in and out throughout the day to check on me, making meals, driving me to appointments, bringing another ice pack, holding me close when the tears spill over.  
My girl . . . so grateful for you, your love, your generosity, your encouragement. I love you.
Stop!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday Photo Challenge 8

Yay . . . it is show and tell time.  Once again I am dipping into the archives for all but one of my shots.  I have been home from the hospital for 6 days now and have had my ups and downs but am definitely improving.  Big thank you's to all who have kept me in prayer.  I am really looking forward to the time I can get around a little easier with my camera and get those awesome fresh shots.  My around the home shot is new from yesterday and is certainly a stretch but I had to fit it in somewhere. 

To get the lowdown on the rules, hop on over to Ashley Sisk's Ramblings & Photos . . . 

This week's clues were:

 (1) Mostly one colour, (2) Around the Home, (3) Reflection, (4) Writing and (5) Water

1.  Mostly One Colour

This shot was taken summer of 2010 at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario.  The site is home to an authentic 1860's historical village along the Saint Lawrence River.  These are bags of flour stacked in the flour mill.

2.  Around the Home

This Great Blue Heron is something I would not normally see "around the home", but as I was standing at the kitchen sink yesterday, I looked up and there, perched on my neighbour's roof barely 10 feet from my window, was this magnificent creature.  He appears to be missing his right leg and I was greatly encouraged by his visit.  If he can get along with only one leg, I can wait patiently for my healing to come.

3.  Reflection

Duck in shallow water at Surrey Lake Park, one of my favourite hang outs.

4.  Writing

This is a photo of an airmail letter sent from Holland by my grandfather, Lawrence Hawkenson to my grandmother Blanche and her kids.  The date . . . 25 September 1944.  He was a sapper with the 9th Canadian Field Squadron, WW2.

5.  Water

I love this sunset silhouette of three girls in the water's edge at Crescent Beach.

Thanks for letting me play along even though I can't get many fresh shots right now.  It is such a pleasure to connect with you all this way.  Now to link up and check out the other submissions.  

Next weeks clues:

1. Waiting
2. Foliage
3. Candid
4. Knife, Fork or Spoon
5. Rules of Thirds

Scavenger Hunt Sunday Photo Challenge 7

This week I prepared my post by Wednesday and most are from the archives.  I had my knee replacement surgery on Thursday but still wanted to play so had to get it ready to hit publish when I got home.

Check in with Ashley Sisk at Ramblings & Photos to find out how to play . . .

This week we were looking for Before & After (processed image), Opposing Lines, Custom Bokeh, Which Pair of Shoes Should I Wear? and Little Features (Little Hands, Little Feet, etc.)

1. Before

This is the original image taken in Old Quebec City, Quebec in August 2010. 

I love the old stone buildings and the pops of colour

1. After

I have pretty basic photo editing software that came with my scanner but am quite happy with the finished product.  I used a Fine Art - Pastels effect here, a little cropping and adjusted the brightness and contrast a smidge.

2.  Opposing Lines (1)

Opposing Lines found in nature . . . Doran Bay Resort, Morrisburg, Ontario

Opposing Lines (2) 

Some industrial opposing lines . . . this one is fresh this week (not archived).

3.  Bokeh  (not custom)

This is not custom bokeh, but I love it none the less . . . taken at Shannon Falls, BC in August 2011


4.  Which Shoes Should I Wear?

My daughter's collection of flip flops and Crocs . . . the only shoes she will wear . . . year round.  She does have a pair of boots if it snows more than a couple of inches, but that rarely happens.


5.  Little Features

My great-nephew, Oliver . . . lots of little features here, little hands, little ears, little nose.  All tuckered out, sleeping on the couch. 

Lots of great work to be seen linking at Ashley's, head over and take a peak.

Made For Another World

"If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in the world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

~ C. S. Lewis

Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, 

who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope

 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,

reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God 

through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, 

if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 

that the genuineness of your faith, 

being much more precious than gold that perishes,

 though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory 

at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.  

Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, 

you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 

receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9  

Grace Notes - Counting the Gifts 526-536

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 

 2 Corinthians 9:10,11

The gifts keep coming and I am thankful for . . .

526.  School kids running through piles of leaves at recess time

527.  Finger puppets from Peru . . . raising funds for children at risk (kidsalive.ca)

 528.  Red Cross Society . . . medical equipment loan program (walker, crutches, bathroom aids)

529.  Granddaughters praying for Grandma's surgery

530.  A bouquet of "hope" . . . white carnations

531.  Large bird in tree, big smile on face

532.  Mountains that surround . . . Psalm 125:2

533.  Wonderful ladies group . . . since I won't be able to go to them after surgery, they are coming to me.

534.  Warm hugs and good wishes

535.  A bookmark pressed into my hand, scriptures written on the back

536.  "You are the love song, we'll sing forever . . ." (listen here)

Linking with Ann and friends @

Scavenger Hunt Sunday Photo Challenge 6

"Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, to late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts. "~ Minor White

This happens to me all the time . . . a turned corner presents a stunning vista that I long to capture.  A pop of colour or interesting texture catches my eye, but the opportunity gives way to the demands of the moment.  Ah, but my heart has been "exposed" and my imagination inspired . . . ideas filed away.  

The Scavenger Hunt Sunday photo challenge hosted by Ashley Sisk at Ramblings & Photos, is considerably less spontaneous.  We are provided with 5 new prompts or clues each Sunday which we then hunt for in the following week.  We are given much freedom of interpretation in the clues and it is so much fun to work on  . . . even more fun seeing the other participants finds.   Pop over to her site if you are interested in playing along.

So, let's have a look at the ones that didn't get away on me . . . 

1.  Food

 Friday nights my daughter often brings home Chinese food . . . Honey-garlic Sesame Chicken, Chicken Chow Mein, Deep Fried Prawns, Sweet & Sour Pork.  The broccoli is from the Wonton Soup.

2. Purple

 The tips of the leaves on my hydrangea bush have turned this lovely purple colour.

3. In Disguise

 In my city the hydro boxes are all "disguised" with scenes from local parks or something specifically connected with our community.  I had a bit of trouble with this prompt as I missed getting any Halloween trick or treaters. I have to give my daughter credit for this idea.  

4.Shapes

 I have a thing for pretty boxes . . . can you ever have enough?  (I have learned to use restraint, but I really love boxes).  Anywho, I have these little heart-shaped floral boxes that are part of a collection  . . . one for each month of the year.  I have found all of them at second-hand stores and am trying to gather the ones that correspond to my 5 granddaughters birth months.  I played a bit with the photos, having a darker background with more intense colour and then as seen below, the lighter, more natural colour.  I really like both of them.

5. Photographer's Choice

I am not even sure why I like this one so much, but I do.  Sometimes a picture will do that to you . . . and you just have to give it time to percolate before the answer comes.


Do check out the other great submissions and let them know how impressed you are.  
They are seriously awesome!