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.