Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week has the topic Checks or Stripes.
L-APC Checks and Stripes
Caesarea
Upstairs Downstairs
Years ago, there was a popular Masterpiece Theatre series called Upstairs, Downstairs, examining the lives of the British upper class (who lived upstairs) and their servants (who lived downstairs). The popularity of that series inspired more recent series on this subject, including Downton Abbey.
Those of us who had young children in the 1970s or later cannot have been completely ignorant of the popular children’s series Sesame Street. There was a silly series called “Monsterpiece Theatre” with a sketch entitled “Upstairs, Downstairs.” It showed the Muppet Grover climbing a staircase while a deep voice intoned, “Upstairs…” and as he went back down again said, “…Downstairs.” I think Sesame Street was made to appeal to parents as well as their children. Many of its sketches and songs have stuck in my mind to this day – and now my son is 35!
So even now, when I think about staircases, I can hear that voice in my mind, proclaiming in a serious, deep voice, “Upstairs…downstairs.”
So for Becky’s January Square photo challenge with the topic UP, here are some squares of stairs (hey, that rhymes!) going up.
State capitol, Des Moines, Iowa 
Staircase up to a girls’ school, Old Jerusalem, Israel 
Stairs to Dome of the Rock plaza, Jerusalem, Israel 
Twisty staircase at a mall, Tel Aviv, Israel 
Blue stairs, Des Plaines, Illinois 
Marskburg Castle, Germany 
Entrance to the church at our niece’s wedding, somewhere north of Tacoma, Washington 
Polar bear enclosure stairs, Brookfield Zoo, Illinois 
Numbered stairs, coliseum of ancient Roman city, Caesraea Maritima, Israel
Kinda Square 12: Faces
Here is a gallery of square photos of things that kind of look like faces. Can you see them all? Posted for Becky’s October Square 12: Kind.
Carol’s Cheerful Selfie Challenge #1
Carol Carlisle at Light Words has started a new challenge – posting selfies! This is how she introduced the challenge:
CCSC is an opportunity to share a photograph you have taken, that you were in somewhere. Maybe even by accident, or intentional. There are all kinds of selfies, the simplest is getting in the way of the camera. I’ve given up trying to get out of the way when attempting a window photograph.  Of course there’s where your toes get in the way.
Anything Counts as a Selfie as long as you’re the one holding the camera. Some examples of Selfies and why you take them:
- A photo of you doing something special. Boy I’m proud
- Creating a memory. I was here doing this…
- A photo of you in a mirror ( hair cut, new hat, should I get this dress?
- An image where you only catch part of yourself (my toes get in flower shots more then I want.) sometimes it’s cute
- Photo with you and one other person even a whole group of friends (screen shots of zoom groups count )
- Just your finger pointing something out.
- An I.D. Picture
- Selfie from archives are welcomed
The Prime Directive is HAVE FUN.
I am including an example of three types of selfies. The first is the “partial leg selfie.”
The next could be called “in a mirror darkly.” This was completely unintentional, but I kind of like how it turned out!
Finally, a “full face” selfie – this is my favorite selfie!
CB&WPC: Arches
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge has the topic of half circles, arches and domes. These photos focus on arches, and were taken at Caesarea and Korazim in Israel, and at Marksburg Castle in Germany.
On the Hunt for Joy: Shades & Hues
Cee’s On the Hunt for Joy challenge continues with this week’s topic: color code.
She says: This one is all about color and keeping the same color or hues together. Tip from Ingrid Fetell Lee: Color-code: Organizing by color brings instant harmony to your bookshelf or your closet.
The best photos I’ve taken that are a variation of hues come from nature:
Shades of brown in a cavern (Arizona)
Beiges in a desert landscape (Masada, Israel)
Green cacti & succulents (Chicago Botanic Gardens)
Greens in a park (Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA)
Pinks in a cluster of roses (Point Defiance Park, Tacoma)
Green landscape on the slope of Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)
There are also manmade hues:
Brown stones and jug (Masada, Israel)
Red theater chairs & floor in the same cave as the first photo (Arizona)
Shades of cream and brown almost camouflage this gold and tan angel next to a house in Des Plaines, IL
Gray & Silver: This monochromatic photo was a mistake – an overexposure of sailboats on the Mediterranean Sea (Caesarea Maritima, Israel). It has not been doctored nor altered in any way – both the sky and the sea were actually very blue.
Friday Fun: In the Distance
Here are some 2019 travel photos for Aroused’s Friday Fun: Distance.
Caesarea & Jerusalem, Israel:
The taller building farthest out in the distance is allegedly the site where the apostle Paul was imprisoned for two years.
Sailboats in the distance, on the Mediterranean
Looking down from Mt. Scopus, old and new Jerusalem spreads into the distance.
Rhine castles in Germany:
Goats in the distance on a hill among ruined walls
I kept thinking of this song while doing this post. I think the lyrics are fitting for these days of fear and crisis.
CFFC: Smiles
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is smiles.
Silly smile – cancer survivor Dale at Relay for Life
I’m-gonna-eat-you smile – lizard at Relay for Life reptile group
Happy friends smile – happy bride Tam (our daughter) & friend
Squinty selfie smile – me on the Mediterranean coast at Caesarea, Israel
Toothy buddha smile – Buddhist Cultural Center, Des Plaines, IL
One Word Sunday: Vertical
Debbie S. at Travel With Intent has a challenge called One Word Sunday. This week the word is vertical.
You know spring is coming when you see vertical shoots emerging from the ground in your garden! Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
Vertical columns at the ruins of Caesarea, Israel
Upright slab (stela) with vertical symbols at Temple of Horus, Edfu, Egypt
Minaret and satellite tower, Edfu, Egypt
Wanderlust & Wonderment 