SHS Photo Challenge 57

Well, I don't think I have ever been this late getting the hunt together, but better late than never, I suppose.  I think it is so important to make time for creativity, even more so now that I am back working full time since taking creative liberties with bookkeeping is definitely frowned upon.

"Creativity is more than just being different . . .  

making the simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity." 

~ Charles Mingus

1. Vision

My daughter loves to go all out with Christmas decorations and these figurines remind me of the line from The Night Before Christmas  . . . "visions of  sugar plums danced in their heads". 

2.  Strong

These leaves still stubbornly cling to their branches despite the strong winds we have had.

 3. Buttons

 Some of my favourite buttons from my button jar.

4. Map

An artistic rendering of a map of Vancouver hangs in the hallway at work.  

5. Favourite Fruit

Hard to pick a favourite fruit, but strawberries are definitely way up there.  

Linking with Ashley and friends for Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

SHS Photo Challenge 56

This week marks one year since I got my new knee.  A year that was much harder than I anticipated but I am so grateful that I have much less pain than before.

 As well, I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the courageous men and women who fought for the many freedoms we now enjoy.  Thank you to all who served, were wounded or paid the ultimate price  . . . may we never forget.

It has been quite some time since the weather has been cooperative on the weekend and allowed some time at my beloved Surrey Lake Park.  Things came together yesterday and so you will see a couple from my visit here on the Scavenger hunt.

1.  Nature

 Bullrushes or cattails caught in the rays of the late afternoon sun at Surrey Lake Park.

2.  Vintage or Retro

 These little salt and pepper shakers are from my childhood and are at least 75 years old.  They are missing the cork stoppers so are merely sentimental ornaments at this time.

3.  Whimsical

 Love this whimsical little fellow on the edge of my bird bath.

4. Cooking

 Onions, garlic and mushrooms figure prominently in my cooking.

5. Week's Best

My favourite shot of the week featuring Surrey Lake Park.

So that's what I got . . . how about you?

I am off to check them out now at Ramblings & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 55

I was just not feeling the hunt this week and had settled it with myself that it was okay to just take a little break.  It's been such an emotional week at home and abroad and I was finding it hard to focus on the prompts.  Then I visited Ramblings and Photos just to enjoy what others had posted and wouldn't you know, you all inspired me to get it together.  Kathy who blogs at You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, was struggling to put the hunt together this week too, but her words were what finally persuaded me to get back on board.  (Love her work and her sense of humour.)

So, here's what I've got . . .

1. Wild

 Though nothing even remotely comparable to what the east coast of the US experienced this past week, the weather here was a little on the wild side with high winds and rain, rain and more rain.  These lovely bright leaves were no match for the gusty winds and were cast to the ground in random splotches of red.

2.  Welcome

 A short reprieve from the incessant rain was a welcome sight and produced a glorious going down of the sun and a rainbow just minutes after I took this shot.  I was in the car so didn't catch the rainbow with the camera.

3.  Adventure

 She looks sooo innocent, doesn't she?  Don't be fooled.  Shortly after this photo was taken, Gracie rode shotgun while her partner in crime, Zack, dove into the bag where a skein of wool was resting while Alison worked on her knitting loom.  With a mouthful of wool, he high-tailed it across the main floor, up the staircase, down the hall and into the back bedroom.  I heard the outbreak of laughter from my suite and went to investigate.  I followed the line of soft orange yarn from the den, through the kitchen, over to the staircase, up the stairs, down the hall and into the back room where I found the miscreant kittens feigning ignorance of the crime.  Such grand adventures they have, these little fur-babies.

4.  Vibrant

The freshly fallen leaves are more vibrant than those that have been down a while longer.

5. Classic

And now for a little archived humour . . . the classic "Pee-Pee Dance". 

Taken at the Pacific National Exhibition in August.  The line-ups for the washrooms were quite long at times.

SHS Photo Challenge 54

Well, I am definitely late out of the gate this time around but had many things on my plate yesterday.  Then at the end of the day, around 9 pm PST, there was a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in my province of British Columbia, complete with tsunami warnings as far off as Hawaii.  Needless to say I was glued to the TV hungry for updates and praying everyone was okay.  Thankfully, no injuries and little to no damage to people and property reported and as of today the tsunami warnings have all been lifted.  

Now to the hunt . . .

1.  Patterns

This sewing grandma has a number of patterns she would like to make for her little misses.

2.  Machine

An old school coffee grinding mill on display at work.

3.  Signs or Logos 

 This little sign at work bears the logo of one of our best-selling organic coffees.

 4. Rocks or Stones 

 This one I pulled from my trip to Crescent beach a few weeks back.  
Love the silhouette effect of the boy on the rock.

5.  Sparkle

Snowflake, the Build-A-Bear Bunny in her party dress with sparkly sequins on the bodice.

Have a great week, everyone and keep your eyes peeled for those perfect shots for next week's prompts. 
 Linking with Ashley  . . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 53

The seasons have definitely changed in these here parts with wind and rain and gray skies making frequent appearances.  The summer clothes are now tucked away for the winter and I am making sure that sweaters and hoodies and gloves and scarves are close at hand.  Just a few final garden chores to do and some bulbs to plant for spring enjoyment . . . just gotta find the time and energy.  

"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly 

changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."  

~ Henry Beston

1.  Orange

 From the visit to the pumpkin patch Saturday afternoon.

2. Faceless Portrait

 Not sure if this is what the prompt meant but it is me and it's not my face.  Works for me.

3.  View From the Top

 While pretty much everything else is done, these fall chrysantemums are still beaming their beauty.

4. Cozy

 While driving home in the pouring rain this week, I got stopped in traffic by this inviting scene.  With the gate ajar, I imagined stepping out of the car and popping in for a cozy cup of tea by a crackling fire-place.

5.  Stacked

I work in an industrial area and freight containers stacked four or more high are a common sight.

Linking with Ashley and friends for . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 52

So this edition is the completion of a full year of Scavenger hunts and I never missed a single one.  This weekly photographic exercise has brought me much joy and I have connected with some great people who inspire me with their unique interpretations, creativity and humour.  

Looking forward to another year of sharing the thrill of the hunt with you all.

1.  Water Drops

 After months without any significant precipitation we have finally had a good soaking.  I can almost hear the earth and trees sighing with relief.

2.  Faithfulness

 As soon as I saw this prompt the beloved hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" sprang to mind.

I think this shot is a great visual for this verse of the song . . .

"Summer and winter and spring time and harvest

sun, moon and stars in their courses above.

Join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3.  Then & Now

 As mentioned last weekend, I got a haircut and even though it was before the prompts were released I figured it was a great choice for then and now.

4.  Fingertips

 This is the typical position of my hand as I drive . . . all but one of my fingertips tucked out of sight.

5.  Nature Walk

Such beauty I found today at Hawthorne Rotary Park . . . hard to choose just one.

SHS Photo Challenge 51

After a very stressful week at work, a sinus infection and a major meltdown on Thursday night, I am so delighted to have a long weekend.  I spent the first day of the Thanksgiving weekend (Canada) taking a mental health day.  I got my hair cut, had lunch out, prowled through a couple thrift stores and took a Salted Caramel Mocha with me to Crescent Beach.  It was a glorious day with the sun shining brilliantly and I even took my shoes and socks off and walked in the sand.  Pure delight!  I also collected a small bag of smooth stones to try out an idea my cousin Lorrie posted about at Fabric Paper Thread.

I need to do this more often.

Now it's time to share my finds . . .

1. Shadows

Found this on my beach trip today . . . love the shadows under the eaves on the left.

1. Keys 

 The key to my heart . . . I know, it's pretty corny.

3.  Smile

 "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile; but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

4. Unedited

 Again from my trip to Crescent Beach today . . . love the twinkly water stars.

5. Spice

I never cease to be in awe of the infinite variety of colours, shapes and fragrances found in nature.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Linking with Ashley at Ramblings & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 50

Fall is truly upon us . . . the sun getting up later each day and retiring so much sooner in the evening.  I still have a fair bit of cleanup do to with my container garden but other things have taken precedence the last few weeks.  Way too busy for my liking but I always make time for a few photos  . . . so here they are.  

1.  Yellow

 My daughter still has some sunflowers going strong . . . love the long yellow petals on this one.

2. Getting Ready (a)

 . . . to bake my first ever cauliflower crust pizza.

2. Getting Ready (b)

 . . . to sample said cauliflower crust pizza.  Yum!

3.  Bright

 I don't think I have ever seen a sunset like this one . . . bright white ball with blazing yellow rays.  

4.  Teeny Tiny

 The teeniest tiniest birdhouse on my kitchen windowsill.  

5.  Connections

Hearts connecting  . . . generations bonding.

Meeting my first granddaughter 10 years ago. 

What a magical moment meeting this little miss that turned me into a grandmother.

Linking with Ashley Sisk @ Ramblings & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 49

I have so enjoyed my first full weekend off since starting my new job.  Last week I had to give up my biweekly companion visits with an elderly lady as I was really needing more down time to alleviate the stress of learning the ropes and trying to bring order to an office run amok.  I spent the entire week reconciling bank statements from April and May . . . somewhat of a nightmare but feels so good to get them out of the way. I am hoping to take care of June, July and August this week coming.  

Now to reveal my finds for this weeks Scavenger Hunt.

I sure do love this photo challenge and what a great bunch of people to link up with. 

 Thanks to all my fellow 'SHS'ers . . . you really do impress and inspire me.

1a.  Cracked

 When my daughter was in high school she wanted to be a marine biologist, so this stained glass Orca seemed like a good choice for a graduation gift.  We were both very disappointed to find it had sustained some damage in a move.

1b.  Cracked

 Close up of the cracks in the stained glass.  It is still a beautiful piece.

2.  Fallen

 This sunflower had fallen to the ground but still lifted its head to follow the sun.

3. Ordinary Colour

 The ordinary colour of my car's dash is a deep gray . . . this is so much more fun.

4.  Bokeh

 I was delighted to find such pretty bokeh in this shot . . . I've never had them turn out this shape before.

5.  Fence

This shot is from my archives . . . view across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.  Set in place against the wrought iron fence is the Canadian Police Memorial.

As summer slips away and we officially step into autumn, I hope you all have a blessed week and enjoy the fall colours and cooler temperatures.  

Linking with Ashley @ Ramblings and Photos.