86% Totality

On Monday, August 21, 2017, many people across this country were excited to get a look at the solar eclipse. For the first time in generations, the total eclipse would pass over the continental United States! Some people made pinhole boxes, like we used to in school. Some trekked down to Carbondale or Makanda in […]

It’s Gotta Be Blue

The theme for Frank’s Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Photo Challenge this week is BLUE (lots of color challenges lately!). Here are my offerings. I took this picture of the blue Caribbean Sea and the blue sky above because I liked the cloud formations. During my most recent visit to Chicago Botanic Garden on the […]

WPC: Structure of a Web

Two Septembers ago, I was taking a walk at 8:30 in the morning when a neighbor signaled to me to cross the street to look at something. As I approached, she said not to come any further, but just look. A spider had, overnight, spun this intricate web which stretched across the sidewalk, anchored by […]

FOTD: Brilliant colors in September

I took this picture in the neighborhood two years ago. These flowers really stood out as they leaned out over the sidewalk. I found their colors striking and appropriate for the end of summer. Cee’s Flower of the Day, 8/31/17

CFFC: Brown, Black, Bronze, Blue & Burgundy

For Cee’s Fun Foto Alphabet Challenge, this week it’s colors that start with B. The dragonfly is brown and black; the mulch around the rock is brown. These statues at Ravinia are bronze. Part of this little train is painted bright blue. These orchids at the Chicago Botanic Garden are burgundy.

Travel Theme: Animal Companions

For Ailsa’s Travel Theme this week, I am including some animals that aren’t exactly “companions” although in all the time I spent in Northern Wisconsin, I have always looked forward to seeing loons on the lake and hearing their calls. In that sense, they have been my “companions” on the lake, as they have become […]

FOTD: Sunflowers

A house I walk by frequently has sunflowers growing in front. At the beginning of August, there was only one that had grown tall (but not full height) and its interior of seeds was not yet complete: Late in the month, when I went back again, I was amazed especially by this gigantic one so […]

FOTD: Tiny flower at Chicago Botanic Garden

My first trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden this year was in June – I have posted some of the flowers from that trip and I’m going back to it right now. I could not locate the name of this curious little white and yellow flower with pinkish leaves. It’s unique, though, isn’t it? I […]

Vintage Views – A Photographer’s Distraction

Originally posted on Travels and Trifles :
“We are here to love. Everything else is distraction.” Scott Stabile ANGKOR WAT This week’s Photo Challenge invites us to share that which distracts us – and it comes during a week when distraction is a welcome relief from the onslaught of horrific news items. First there was Charlottesville,…

Thinking About Yesterday’s Killings…

Originally posted on Giggles & Tales:
Today is Monday, August 7, 2017. I woke up this morning feeling sluggish and didn’t feel like leaving the bed. Or even go to work. Usually, I wake up with positive energy on Mondays because Mondays are like the breakfast of the week. If you start your day without…