SHS Photo Challenge 45

Last scavenger hunt of August. . . this time next week we are into September and back to school in these here parts. As well, I will have my first week at my new job under my belt.  Starting a new job at 55 is no less stressful than it was in my younger years, but am trusting God's grace to be sufficient.

Let's get to it . . . 

1.  School

 The colour of these black-eyed Susans remind me of the school buses that will be making their rounds after one more week of summer vacation.

2.  Rule of Thirds

 I attended a free concert in the park last weekend and came away with this shot . . . 

it is one of my all-time favourites.

3.  Side Profile

 My daughter's papa at a family birthday barbecue.

4. Small

 My sunflower heads are pretty small and tucked under some of the leafy green edges I found a little lady bug.

5.  Motion

Two of the rides in motion at the Pacific National Exhibition. My enjoyment of them is strictly as a spectator/photographer.

Linking with Ashley @ Ramblings and Photos

Some Thoughts on Simplicity

It seems this last year or so I am gradually but surely simplifying my life.  My belongings are being evaluated for functionality and usefulness and I am saying no to more things that drain precious time and energy.  I think that my knee surgery was instrumental in slowing down my life and showing me the value of living a less hectic existence and finding myself at home in stillness and quiet.

 I hope you enjoy the following photos and quotes on simplicity.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

~ Leonardo da Vinci

"Voluntary simplicity means . . .
 going fewer places in one day rather than more, 
seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, 
acquiring less so I can have more."

~John Kabat-Zinn

  

"Nature is what we know, yet have not art to say

so impotent our wisdom is to her simplicity."

~ Emily Dickinson

"To find the universal elements enough;

to find the air and the water exhilarating;

to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter. . . 

to be thrilled by the stars at night;
to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring . . .
these are some of the rewards of the simple life."
~ John Burroughs

Linking with . . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 44

Well I seem to be setting up a pattern here of posting my scavenger hunt finds much later than usual.  As my days are busy with preparations for going back to work that may indeed be the new norm.  No worries . . . I am sure I will still find the time to participate . . . you find time for what's important to you, right?  And making time for creativity and developing my photography skills are something I am quite intentional about.  

So let's get on with the show . . .

1.  Forest

 I'm sure this duck would consider that thick patch of lily pads a forest.

2. Morning Light

 I discovered this gorgeous bank of hydrangeas in my neighbourhood on Tuesday and came back to capture it in morning light on Friday.

3.  Touch

 I went to a free concert in the park last night with a friend and this little guy (Reinhardt, by name) was sitting with his master just in front of us.   He was well behaved but would occasionally start barking at another furry pet in the crowd.  Just one touch from his master's hand would settle him again . . . at least for a while.

4.  Newspaper

 I am drying some of my hydrangea branches to enjoy over the winter and dressed them up with some newspaper and a bow for this shot.

5.  Coffee or Tea

Love the colour of my daughter's teapot.

Linking with Ashley  @ Ramblings and Photos

Lady Lavender - Flower Art Friday

I am a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to loving lavender but I have to say I am smitten with it's beauty and appreciate it's versatility in the garden, the kitchen and the medicine chest.  It's fragrance is easily recognized, being a common ingredient in soaps, lotions, perfumes, sachets and potpourris.

"Here's your sweet lavender, sixteen sprigs a penny

That you'll find, my ladies, will smell as sweet as any."

~Lavender seller's cry, London, England circa 1900

"Best among the good plants for hot, sandy soils

are the ever blessed lavender and rosemary,

delicious old garden bushes that one can hardly dissociate."

~Miss Jekyll, Home and Garden, 1900

I acquired this dwarf variety "Lady Lavender" this last week at a late summer 50% off sale and am looking to find a few of the taller varieties as well.  I really want to make some lavender wands like the lady does in this video tutorial.

Appreciating another good and perfect gift from our Father's bountiful provision

 and linking with LeAnne for . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 43

Getting at this a little later than usual but decided to take the pressure off and just relax.  I have been job hunting for months since I got the okay to work again after my knee surgery and this week I got a job . . . so thankful.  I start in two weeks so I have a little time to get back in 9-5 mode.

I had fun with the prompts this week and look forward to seeing what you all put together.

1.  Mobile

 My little phone doesn't do pictures so you get the other kind of mobile . . . and this one has a mobility theme so that works out well.  Now, I could have also used this for hanging by a thread, but five pictures is more fun than four, so . . . 

2. Hanging By a Thread

 The handy dandy spray bottle helps to highlight the many 'threads' that make up this temporary 'home' for a spider . . . whoops, I did it again.

3.  Collage

 Housesitting last night for a friend who is a doll/character/figurine artist, I was inspired to make a collage of this piece.

4. Look on the Bright Side

 Early morning sun highlights the dew on the bright side of this beauty.

5. Home

Need I say more?  I think not.

Having trouble with the code for the Scavenger Hunt button so here's the link to get to Ashley's Sisk's Rambling and Photos.
See you there . . .

Follow the Sun - Flower Art Friday

Just gonna let these speak for themselves . . . enjoy!

"I don't think there's anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower.  For me that's because of the reason behind its name.  Not because it looks like the sun, but because it follows the sun.  During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky.  A satellite dish for sunshine.  Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that's such an admirable thing.  And such a lesson in life."

~ from the movie Calendar Girls (2003)

   

Come see the gallery of  beautiful flower art hosted by LeAnne . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 42

Wowzer doodles, it's a scorcher today and consequently I have been parked here in front of the fan putting this post together early, as it's the coolest thing to do on my list.  Hope I can find the energy to get some of the other things done . . . if not, they can wait, nothing really urgent.

1.  Going Back in Time

 Going back in time this type of pitcher and bowl would be a common sight in a bed chamber.

2. Something Just For Me

 A couple weeks ago I won a photo contest put on by a local newspaper and received a $500 gift certificate to a furniture store.  The furniture was VERY pricey and I finally settled on a few accessory pieces just for me, including this church birdhouse which was on sale, (gasp) for $149. My girls each picked out a few treasures and that was that.

3.  Best Part of My Day

 Not necessarily THE best, but one of my favourite parts of the day is my morning wander through the yard to see what's bloomin', about to bloom or needs some attention. Of course, my camera joins me to capture beautiful sights such as this.  I wish you could smell this . . . so fragrant.

4.  Night and Day

 An archived shot with a fresh edit showing day fast fading into night.  When I first saw this prompt in the list last weekend, a little song we used to sing in Sunday School so many years ago, came to my mind.  

"Safe am I, (safe am I)

In the hollow of His hand.

Sheltered o'er (sheltered o'er) 

In His love forever more.

No ill can harm me, no foe alarm me

For He keeps both day and night.

Safe am I, (safe am I)

In the hollow of His hand.

5.  Look Up

My Virginia creeper is making its way up and across the trellis and I look forward to it filling in more.  So far only the one shoot has made it to the top.


Happy Sunday to all . . . want to see more great submissions?
Click the photo link below to go to our hostess, Ashley Sisk's site.

Gooseneck Loosestrife

Still sharing photos from my Fleetwood Park visit last month.  Once again, it required research to identify this gracefully curving spike of little white flowers.  Lysimachia clethroides (ly-si-MAK-ee-uh klee-THROY-dees) or "Gooseneck Loosestrife" is a very polarizing specimen with gardeners due to its aggressively invasive habit, with some people loving it and others despising it.  By most accounts, it is a truly delightful addition for the first two years after which it seems to grow horns, figuratively speaking, and take off like a bull in a china shop.  Attempts to contain it often prove futile, although where it is planted seems to have the most impact on how invasive it becomes.  Shade and poorer soil do seem to curtail its takeover attempts.

The flower spikes bloom from July to September and make excellent cut flowers that stay attractive a long while in the vase.  In the fall the leaves turn a rich golden colour.  

Nasty habits aside, I find it to be most attractive and worthy of sharing for Floral Art Friday.