SHS Photo Challenge 31 - I Love a Parade

Hurray for summery weather . . . everything is planted and starting to take off. This week I had multiple shots that would work for most of the clues and I had a difficult time choosing.  I went to the Cloverdale Rodeo Parade this morning and of course that made the decision even more difficult.  #'s 1, 2 and 4 are from the parade . . . and here they are.

1.  Rainbow

 This little girl's dress had all the colours of the rainbow.

2.  Fluffy

 This very fluffy clown made the biggest bubbles ever . . . so fun!

3. Letters

 Spent some time at the garden centre this week, accompanied by my camera (of course).  Among some lovely finds for the garden I found this clue for the hunt.

4.  Metal

 Back at the rodeo parade, this beauty has some lovely metal embellishments on her bridle.

5.  Trees

This lovely tree in my neighbours yard is a favourite with all the little chirpy birds . . . crows like it too. 
I am off to Ashley's at Rambling & Photos to check out the other submissions.  Come see . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 30

Spring has arrived . . . the sun is shining, the birds are singing, barbecues send tantalizing aromas wafting on the breeze.  The spring bulbs are winding down and the roses and clematis are taking off like nobody's business.  It seems like there is so many more things to take pictures of these days . . . so much fun. 

I am excited to see what you all found for the hunt . . . here's what I came up with.

1. Sidewalk

 Caught this big fella (Stellar's Jay) scooping up seeds spilled from the bird feeder.  My sidewalk has been quite busy this week as I moved the feeder back to it's first home.  Lots of sparrows and chickadees and finches zipping in for a quick bite.

  

2.  Inspiration

 "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.  Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."  ~ Ella Fitzgerald

I am inspired by the many great photographers that link up with Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday . . . you teach me so much and encourage me to try new things and develop my own flavour.  

Appreciate you all so much.

3.  Time

 Time for a cat-nap.  Zack loves to snooze in the orange "throne" chair.

4.  Close-up

 Clematis . . . "Fair Rosamond"

5.  With Mirror

A shot from my bedroom . . . love my "inside" hydrangeas.


A blessed and happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful moms!
Check out the other entries at Ashley's Ramblings & Photos . . . 

SHS Photo Challenge 29

So happy to be sleeping in my own bed tonight after 3 weeks of house sitting . . . there's no place like home.  My kitty will be happy, too.

This weeks clues were Shadow, Keys, Smile, Unedited (SOOC), and Fish.

Here we go . . . 

1.  Shadow

Two shadows for this one . . . different coloured lights on the ceiling produced two different coloured shadows.

 2.  Keys

Big heavy set of iron keys from a friend  . . . keys to the kingdom.

  

3.  Smile

Capturing feathered friends always puts a smile on my face . . . this one had a very unique call.  I have spent a little time trying to identify it and I believe it to be a "Spotted Towhee".

4.  Unedited (SOOC)

Kerria Japonica, flowering shrub . . . love the highlights on the petals and the sweet bokeh.

5.  Fish

Fish pillows at the home where I was house-sitting.

Linking with Ashley at Ramblings & Photos for . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 28

I have been house and pet sitting for some friends this last week so I have had some fresh subjects to take pictures of . . . a bird named Baby, a cat called Emma and Morgan, a chocolate Labrador retriever.  Had some excitement Friday morning when I woke up to breaking glass and the security chimes going off indicating that a door or window had been breached.  I called 911 and police came and checked it out thoroughly, inside and out.  No broken glass anywhere.  Oops . . . apparently I had a very vivid dream that got my adrenaline going.  Thankfully, they said I did the right thing and didn't make me feel stupid, although I still had to fight feeling that way.  Later that same morning I was back at my own place, and the police came to the door wanting to ask about some break-ins the neighbourhood.  They were canvassing the area to see if anyone had noticed any suspicious activity.  So once again I was giving my name and birth date to the authorities. So happy things were much quieter today.  

And now for your viewing pleasure,  this week's interpretations . . .

1.  Yellow

This is Baby . . . his vocabulary includes "Hello Baby", "Pretty, pretty, pretty boy", "naughty, naughty Grandma", "wake up, Kris" and "Happy, happy birthday".  He also does a mean "wolf whistle" and loves to whistle the song "What if God Where One of Us".

2.  Made Me Smile

My daughter came home with two bleeding heart perennials this week.  She remembered that we had them in Willow River when she was little and was so excited to grow them herself.

3. Antique

I have a small collection of antique books that include these Bibles and hymnals.

4.  Splash

I was thinking the little waterfall into the fish pond would work for the splash prompt. When I was setting up my shot Morgan suddenly appeared  in the picture.  I was sure hoping he didn't fall in  . . . I didn't want to deal with  a soaking wet dog.

5.  In the Sun

I love the way these tiny leaves on the spirea bush look when back-lit by the sun. I think the clusters of white and red tulips blurred in the background really add to the beauty of this shot. 

Looking forward to seeing this week's entries . . . a favourite part of my week.  You can check them out yourself at Ashley Sisk's Ramblings & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 27

I am so enjoying the longer days and warmer weather, the tulips and daffodils and singing birds.  

The promise of spring fulfilled once again. 

 This week we were looking for Simple, Grain, Transportation, Stitch and Bubbles.  

1.  Simple

A single branch of  a lipstick plant against an off-white wall . . . love the simplicity of this shot.

 2.  Grain

A trio of grains . . . brown basmati rice, flax seed and my favourite, popcorn.

3.  Transportation

Glad I never had to ride one of these to school every day . . . just the occasional field trip.

4.  Stitch

Found in my friend's sewing room.

5.  Bubbles

My girl was happy to take a break from yard work to blow some bubbles for me.

Linking with Ashley at Ramblings & Photos . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 26

Wishing a happy Easter to all my fellow scavenger hunters . . . 

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. 

We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."

~ Pope John Paul II

I really enjoyed this week's prompts . . . lots of fun to work with. 

We were looking for New, Life, Fragrant, Pink and Obvious

1.  New

 After attending Good Friday Service the girls and I went to Crescent beach where we made a new friend.  This kitty was hanging out were we parked and was so friendly.  We gave him some attention and then went for lunch . . . fish & chips . . . at the beach.  Yum!  After we spent some time walking along the shore and taking pictures we headed back to the van.  As soon as the cat saw us, it jumped down off the fence, came right up to us, and . . . 

 flopped down for a belly scratch.    What a sweet fella!

2.  Life

 Clematis vines are bursting with new life from what looked like a tangles mass of dead twigs.

3.  Fragrant

 Hyacinth  . . . beautiful flowers, enchanting fragrance.

4.  Pink

Perfect prompt for this week . . . all these lovely pink blossoms opening up all over the place.


5.  Obvious

One does not need to be inside my house very long before it becomes obvious that my favourite colour is green.

Do wander over to Ashley's Ramblings & Photos to check out the other entries . . . great prompts this week and I anticipate some gorgeous shots.

SHS Photo Challenge 25

Spring is really starting to wake things up around here and stirring the old notion of spring cleaning as well as the desire to be outside more often.  Even though the weather was quite gray and wet this week it was so much warmer and I have traded in my winter coat for a spring jacket.

I started my hip and knee recovery class at the pool this week and yesterday was able to walk up and down a whole flight of stairs alternating steps just like all you normal people.  Woohoo,  healing is happening, be it ever so gradual.  So thankful to be almost pain free.  Time to get to the big reveal, so here we go . . .

1.  Clouds

 This archived shot could actually work for three of these prompt . . . clouds, sun flare, angle shot.  Taken at my beloved Surrey Lake Park last August.  The weather was just not cooperating for a great cloud shot this week.

2.  Sun Flare

 We had one sunny day so I got my sun flare, but not clouds . . . which is generally a good thing (except when you have a clouds prompt).

3. Seven

 Okay, this was taken 2 weeks ago . . . seven beaming crocus.  They were begging for an appearance in the hunt and I could not deny them.

4. High Angle 

 Went shopping with my girls this week (with camera, of course) and snapped this high angle shot at Metropolis at Metrotown Mall in Burnaby.

5. Low Angle

As these were just about eye level, I interpret that as a low angle.  

Beauty found down the lane . . . amidst garbage cans and recycle bins, litter and signs urging 'slow down, children at play'.

I should make my own sign  . . . "Slow down, photographers at play" . . . you could come play too.  

Linking up with my wonderful playmates at Ashley's Rambling & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 24

A sunny day with lots to do so I am jumping right in.  Here are my interpretations for this week's prompts . . . 

1.  Whimsy

 The fact that a good Canadian girl has a whimsical Uncle Sam in her home is a point of whimsy on its own, but the fact is, all of my grandparents were born in the US and I have many American cousins and friends that are true treasures to me.  God bless America!

2.  Create

 Some of the hats I have crocheted for my granddaughters.

3.  Dust

 This is what happens when you spend so much time taking pictures or crocheting.  I will get to it later.

4.  Seed or Sprout

 My lovely Mother's Day rose from last year is sprouting new growth as are so many other plants in the garden.  Peonies, hydrangea, clematis, campanula, rhubarb, chives, peppermint, spearmint.  I don't see anything happening with my Virginia Creeper though so am concerned it maybe didn't make it.  I only planted it late summer last year so we shall see. 

5.  Swing or Drop

Heart-shaped stained glass sun-catcher with dragonfly pendant . . . both swing with the slightest breeze.  So pretty.

Take a few moments to check out the wonderful submissions at Ashley's link-up . . .

SHS Photo Challenge 23

So this week I took the plunge and did an "I Am From" post.  It is a wonderful project to do and is so therapeutic to review your past and the people and events that have shaped you. I highly recommend the experience.  

Having invested a fair bit of time in that project, I was tickled to once again be able to get all my clues in a single location.  I am participating in a year long photo challenge that centers on Urban Parks in Four Seasons at various locations around the world.  I got to my chosen park just yesterday and very quickly snapped my way through 200+ photos.  Within the batch I found the following for my interpretations this week.  Hope you enjoy these shots from Bear Creek Park, in Surrey, BC.

1(a) Vintage

 Vintage miniature train tracks.

1(b) Vintage miniature train . . . 

 Eddie the Engine pulls three passenger cars through the forested area of the park.

2. Word or Quote

 Part of the sign at the entrance to Bear Creek Gardens.  

Interesting thing with the sign as I worked with it  . . . it is somewhat of an optical illusion as when I first look at it, the letters seem to be separate from the main beam, but they are actually recessed, carved out of the main beam. Try it and tell me if you see the same thing.

3. Nature's Own

 Gotta love the ducks.

4. People

 People love to watch the ducks . . . I spent more time here than anywhere else in the park.

5. Photographer's Choice

When you walk a little slower you sometimes catch a find like this beauty.

So looking forward to checking out the other submissions at Ashley's Ramblings & Photos.

Next Weeks Clues:

1.  Whimsy

2.  Create

3.  Dust

4.  Seed or Sprout

5.  Swing or Drop