A Photo a Week Challenge: FOOTWEAR

Posted on May 29, 2020 by johnvic8

The subject of this week’s photo challenge from Nancy Merrill Photography is FOOTWEAR.

I rummaged around wondering what I might find suggesting “footwear.” I chanced upon a closet that did indeed contain an eclectic collection of footwear, and I am happy to share it with you.

I also dug through my archives and came upon this beautiful memory of two sweet granddaughters, dressed in frilly finery, and shiny patent leather shoes. That footwear for little girls was traditional for special occasions. 

Visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/a-photo-a-week-challenge-footwear/ and see her interpretation of “footwear” and that of others who enjoy sharing their photography.

 

Posted in Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged | 6 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: Opening

Posted on May 22, 2020 by johnvic8

The subject of this week’s photo challenge by Nancy Merrill Photography is OPENING.

How nice that word sounds after two and a half months of being apartment-bound because of the novel corona virus restrictions. Our community is opening, I hope cautiously and wisely. Still I must be careful before racing for that much needed haircut, the longed for T-bone steak, and those missed hugs from my daughters and grandkids.

Also opening at this time of year are the spring flowers. I looked back through my garden albums and selected this photo of a clump of bearded iris ‘Sunny Disposition’ as it opens into its spring glory.

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/a-photo-a-week-challenge-opening-2/ to see her interpretation of the current challenge.

Posted in Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: Coronavirus Changes

Posted on May 18, 2020 by johnvic8

Nancy Merrill has challenged us to share images that reflect changes in our lives because of the coronavirus pandemic. I’ve been apartment bound for over two months, with only an occasional stroll around the buildings for a break. My eating habits have changed significantly; in particularly I’m eating a lot more fresh fruit. Will that keep my weight down?

Another change I am sure will be good for me has been to develop a mustache. I haven’t tried one in almost fifty years.

My Arranger doesn’t like it. She said it makes me look old. I was thinking somewhere between “mischievous” and “distinguished.” What do you think? Not bad for a few weeks effort. I’m sticking with it for now.

Visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2020/05/16/a-photo-a-week-challenge-coronavirus-changes/ to view her coronavirus change photo and those of others who are sharing with us this week.

Posted in Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: Fleeting

Posted on May 7, 2020 by johnvic8

The flush of excitement that came when my granddaughter found her first Easter Egg…a once in a lifetime moment that was all too fleeting. 

We can only remember such moments as precious. Now Kate is a college graduate. Where has the time gone?

My thanks to Nadia Merrill for her encouragement to share our photos each week. Please visit her at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2020/05/07/a-photo-a-week-challenge-fleeting/ to see how she and others have interpreted this week’s challenge.

 

Posted in Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged | 8 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: Summer Vacation 2020

Posted on May 1, 2020 by johnvic8

This week’s Nadia Merrill photo challenge subject is “Summer Vacation 2020.” I’m not sure if we will able to make it to the beach again this summer, but we are hopeful. In keeping with Nadia’s direction, I am thinking about a wonderful place we visited some years ago in the New York mountains. 

Just imagine having a picnic alongside this falling stream.

Please visit Nadia at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2020/04/30/a-photo-a-week-challenge-summer-vacation-2020/  to see her beautiful photos and those of others who join in the challenge this week.

Posted in Nature, Photo Challenge | Tagged | 4 Comments

Things I See Around Town: A Field of Buttercups

Posted on April 26, 2020 by johnvic8

We are staying close to quarters here in our retirement community, but I do try to take a walk around the grounds each day, properly distancing, of course. A little exercise surely helps get through another day of stay-at-home.

In an area yet to be developed on our property, I walked into a field covered with cheerful bright yellow buttercups.

As I investigated more closely, I came upon several small, lovely, and colorful surprises.

I think the red flowers are poppies whose seeds escaped from a nearby garden, but who cares? They were a delightful exclamation point in the field of yellow and for certain brightened my day.

 

Posted in Gardening, Nature, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: Just For Fun

Posted on April 23, 2020 by johnvic8

This is just for fun.

Every garden needs music; this is the Phrog Philharmonia, featuring our singers The Three Kitty Sisters, Lily, Billie, and Millie.

Thanks to Nadia Merrill for hosting this meme. Please visit her at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2020/04/23/a-photo-a-week-challenge-just-for-fun/   and see her contribution and that of others participating in this fun weekly challenge. 

This one was really fun.

Posted in Gardening, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , | 2 Comments

In a Vase on Monday: Scavenging

Posted on April 20, 2020 by johnvic8

It’s hard to collect flowers for IAVOM when one has no garden. So I’m left to keep a keen eye out for potential items when I am walking the grounds during my daily exercise. Social distancing or no, garden or no, I can still scavenge. Today a few grasses growing wild along the edge of the parking lot caught my eye. In just a small area I found what I consider quite attractive grasses just before their seeds will ripen and spread around our community.

Here is what I put together for In a Vase on Monday:

Closeups of some of the grasses gives an eye to their rarely observed beauty.

I am delighted to join Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for this week’s vase. You will undoubtedly enjoy seeing her vase this week and all the others who follow her meme.  

Posted in Nature, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: Peaceful Place

Posted on April 17, 2020 by johnvic8

I am delighted to join in the weekly photo challenge guided by Nancy Merrill Photography. This week’s theme is Peaceful Place.

I always find peace in natural settings that combine water, stone and lots of greenery. During a garden tour in the horse country of Northern Virginia, I found this lovely pastoral scene. It represents for me the emitome of a “peaceful place.”

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Please visit https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/a-photo-a-week-challenge-peaceful-place/ to see what she and others are sharing about their “peaceful place” this week.

Posted in Gardening, Nature, Photo Challenge | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

In a Vase on Monday: ‘Miz America’ Blooms Again

Posted on April 13, 2020 by johnvic8

It’s been a long time since I have been able to join Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to show a Vase on Monday. My “porch garden” has very little to offer these days, and we have not been able to replenish the pots due to our quarantine. One plant that is bursting forth with flowers right now is ‘Miz America’ mustard. In fact it is bolting as it recognizes that it’s time to make seed, and flowering is part of that process.

Please visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to see what she and so many others are bring in from their gardens.

 

 

Posted in Gardening, In a Vase on Monday, Nature, Things I See Around Town | Tagged | 10 Comments