PHOTO HUNTERS #5

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The theme this week is sweet. I knew just which photo I wanted to share. . .



This is one of my former students eating their "chocolate pizza." Greg and Steve have a song that includes lyrics about "chocolate pizza." We talked about what that might look like and we made our own for a cooking experience. I bought already formed rice krispie bars which the kids opened the package and placed the bar on the wrapper and then flattened with their hands. Next, they added a heaping spoonful of chocolate pudding which they had helped make earlier and added topping of M and M's. Now DOESN'T that photo look sweet to you? Child is a sweetie anyway. . . so sweets for the sweetie.

The other photo I immediately thought about with this theme is this one:



Surely that Dahlia has some sweet nectar for its visitors?

Happy birthday, Heidi. . .

Another year has come and gone and no word of you/from you. I think of you often and hope you are going to have a wonderful celebration.

Love,
Mom

A good friend's generosity. . .

My friend, Ronda, is is also o a card stamper/creator. In the past year, she has shared many ideas, card samples and even some supplies with me. Her generosity was overwhelming! That's her card sample I used for Photo Hunters "shiny" entry this week. I didn't think she could top that but yesterday I got a package in the mail and it was a box of 24 (twenty-four) crafting magazines with ideas galore. What a wonderful surprise and you know it will keep me out of "trouble" for awhile. . . Ü

I can hardly wait for her to get her new computer and scanner working so she can share more ideas. Until then, I am sure these magazines will occupy my idle moments. Have to start thinking about 4th of july cards soon.

Thanks, again, Ronda.

PHOTO HUNTERS #4

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Well, it wasn't easy to come up with something for SHINY this week. I looked everywhere I went since I always take my digital camera along. I took some photos of sunsets but the sun was too bright/shiny and they did not come out well. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I figured if worse came to worse, I would take a photo of a shiny penny.

Then I remembered the card my friend Ronda sent me with shiny (glitter on plastic) leaves. If I could manage to take a photo of it, without the flash glare, it might work. I know, I know. Not as good an entry as my three "hairs" last week but should be acceptable. The card is really beautiful and I am going to try some before fall to send to special people. I love learning new techniques with card making but that's for my other blog so better just stick to topic of "shiny" here.

Next week's "SWEET" is going to be another challenge. Maybe I can do some people watching and find something sweet there instead of concentrating on food sweets. We'll see. . . Then again, I might dig into my photo collection.

It's summer!!!!!!!!

Today is the longest day of the year. . . I got up at 4:00 AM to use the computer for an hour like I usually do. Then I went back to bed and slept until noon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I needed it. The pollen from the grasses that are growing madly presently is high. I am allergic to it and have been having a miserable two days this week. Now, my eyes have stopped watering and I might even be ok. . . saying that very quietly since I don't want the dripping faucet and hurting eyes happening again.

I am back on my computer time -- this time a three hour stint. After I get finished here, I plan to go for another walk in the neighborhood. Taking my digital camera and hope to get some more flowers or at least something unusual. Maybe I will go by a store and get a few things also before I head back.

The following are some wildflowers/weeds I took photos of last walk.

Can't believe its been a whole week. . .

Presently, my time is limited on the computer so, try as I might, I couldn't get to all the submissions I wanted to for "hair" theme. I did make it to a lot of blogs and got quite a number of responses.

The other thing that is barring me from quality computer time is my allergies which are caused by grass this month. The weatherman said it will be three more weeks of this kind of grass growing and to expect lots of problems with it. He was sure right.

My eyes burn. They also weep and my nose needs a bucket under it and a maid to empty it frequently. sigh

I hope to get back to blogging again soon. . . got a "shiny" topic for PHOTO HUNTERS coming up this weekend.

PHOTO HUNTERS #3--hair

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My granddaughter is getting married this weekend so in case I don't get time to post my entry, I am doing it a bit early. . .
Photo Hunters theme this week is “hair.” I thought about taking a photo of myself and show the world my graying hair but . . . I decded I was not ready to do that yet.

I looked all week long for something to photograph that concerned hair. I was getting discouraged since nothing stood out. I even considered photographing the hair that comes out in my brush daily!!!!!!! Then I thought if I was that desperate I could claim ignorance in spelling and use this:




Then, I thought of a cute photo I had taken of one of my last Kindergarten students. . . his red hair was certainly something that stood out and his caricature he made of himself in September to use all year with different art projects would be a cute photo. . . .



THEN, it dawned on me that I had the best entry for hair from a trip to the zoo with my Kindergarten class. . . and here it is!


One of these should be the perfect “hair” photo for my entry -- I’ll let you decide. Now on to hunting for something shiny for next week.

Black and red it is!

My granddaughter's wedding colors are black and red I was just informed this week. They want all family members to wear some combination of red and black for the photos. sigh . . . I had already decided to wear a white pleated skirt with a flower print that included rose flowers and a dusty rose jacket with black shoes. Well, it is my first grandchild getting married so I didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb so I spent yesterday shopping.

Red is not a popular summer color, nor fall since they are starting to put out fall clothing already. (What happened to summer?)

I finally found a black skirt made of rayon and polyester. It is that material that has the permanent wrinkled vertical "lines" in it. It is very lightweight. It is slightly gathered at the waistband and the bottom has two ruffles of more gathers that is calf length. This photo doesn't do it justice and hanging how it is, you don't really see the length.



Had a very hard time finding a blouse to go with it when finally I spotted a black blouse that doesn't tuck in, and had a white print inset collar and "bib" in the front, tied together with a long bow. They looked nice together and on me also. What a relief!




So far, I looked like I was going to a funeral, not a wedding. I had to find a way to include the red of Amanda's theme. . .



Well, first I found the purse. . . that would surely hold my digital camera, spare batteries and anything else I might want to take with me, don't 'cha think? I can't tell you how many years it has been since I bought an actual purse.AND never had a red one!!!!!!!

I knew I had a necklace at home that had slices of red apples and red, black and tan beads. Now to find some red shoes. Do you know how hard it is to find red shoes? I actually bought them in a half size bigger than normal as they didn't have my size. I bought the thin heel thongs one first. . . just in case when I got to the other store, the sandals didn't fit me. I wasn't sure how anyone would act if I showed up in "thong" heel sandals for a wedding. As luck would have it, the other sandals fit and I think I will wear them since I can wear hose with a sandal and not thong heels.



I was right. . . the necklace looks nice together and I am finally ready for the wedding. I only wish I had pierced my ears years ago like I wanted to since I have some darling mini red hearts and gold crosses chained together that are for pierced ears. They would compliment the outfit. Oh well.

Now if I can just figure out how to wear my long graying hair. . . I am leaning towards putting it all on top of my head. That might show a bit of my brown hair in the back. Ü

Flowers from a rainy Saturday. . .

I went to the Saturday Farmer's market which is downtown Vancouver, next to Esther Short park where there is a beautiful rose garden. Of course it was pouring down rain but I took photos anyway. . . here are a few of the roses from there:

Ready for the wedding. . .

That is my gift and card is. I have no idea what I am wearing yet. They just told me today the colors are red and black and they want photos of family members all wearing those colors. Guess a shopping trip is in my plans soon.

Beautiful weeds with a surprise too!

I was walking home after the usual church services followed by a memorial service for an old church friend who passed away this week. Of course, I carry my camera everywhere. . . especially when I have to walk! The unexpected little friends were an extra joy to find in my photos. I really only saw one of them -- the one on the unopened milk weed. The other two were "frosting on the cake!

Granddaughter getting married in one week

My Granddaughter is getting married next Saturday afternoon. I am so excited to be going to a wedding again. The last one I attended was when her Dad, my son, married her Mom. I guess I don't get too many wedding invites, huh?

This has been a big year for Amanda. She graduated from college in May. Got her first teaching position as a Lutheran School teacher the same month. She will teach in Roseburg, Oregon, about two hours from me. She has 16 kids in a 3rd, 4th and 5th grade class. I gave her all my math manipulatives, 6 big boxes of craft and seasonal books and all my upper elementary resource and literature book sets.

I am so happy for her. I'm glad I was around to come to her wedding. Her sister is her maid of honor and she has a bunch of cousins who are going to be bridesmaids too. Her Mom came from a family of 7 girls. One of her uncles is going to marry her since he is a Lutheran Pastor, residing in Hawaii. No, the wedding is here in Washington. . . but they are going on a cruise for their honeymoon.

That reminds me. . . I have to get busy and stamp her wedding card to go with my gift. I have been too busy lately -- moving and taking photos on my walks since I don't live close to a bus stop anymore. Here is one of the flowers I photographed this week:

PHOTO HUNTERS entry #2----shoes

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I recently moved n with a bunch of room mates. This is what greeted me the morning of my first day there. I would say it was a perfect photo theme this week. . .

The Limerick Contest. . .

You will find the contest rules here: J's Thoughts and Musings

I'm not good at poetry but I thought I would try as I liked the prizes offerred. This is my entry for the blog limerick contest:


Postcards from life, that’s my new blog.
Considered a “photos and words” hog.
Nothing to some; memories for me.
“Photos and words”- you will see
A “marathon” just reading my daily log.




If you read the blurb about my blog and what it contains, you will understand the words of my limerick.

Survey from another blog. . .

I was looking at links from PHOTO HUNTER entries and found this interesting survey at

ESSIE's blog

I have highlighted my connections. If you want to do the survey too, just copy the things listed and BOLD your own.


01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa.
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states almost
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk.
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe.
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing--in the great outdoors
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured an ancient site
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played Dungeons & Dragons for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently well enough to have a decent conversation
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised (raising) children (child)
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
151. Finished a marathon = Portland marathon 2005

My first Photo Hunter entry. . .

Photo Hunters Website




This is my first photo entry for the PHOTO HUNTERS weekly challenge. The original painting was done by one of my 4 year old preschoolers that I had the priviledge to teach this past year. Each time I look at it, I see something new. I like the depth and how your eye is drawn to the light of that depth.

The way some schools today are so into testing and shoving the curriculum down the grades, this young artist may never get to have additional opportunities to paint expressively like this gem again. It's so sad that there is no time for "exploring" the arts in many schools today. Where are our great artists going to come from in the future?

Post script:

Zhel, a teacher that posts on Tnet chatbaord wrote this description of my preschooler's painting:

"What I see is: the observer is just about to exit a forest and
walk toward a waterfall. The waterfall is red, on the right
side. There is a perfect red tree on the left side, and
various herbs at the foreground, waving in the breeze. The
clear lake water is visible at the middle of the picture, with
some trees' reflection."

Isn't it wonderful when others can see the "art' in a small child's painting?