These photos are from past challenges (mostly photos I DIDN’T use), squares and others, for Becky’s October Squares and Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – straight lines.
PastSquares & CFFC: Lines
doors
Square Up: Abandoned
There were some buildings in downtown Des Plaines that were going to be demolished in order to build a new mixed-use complex. I snapped a few photos of these boarded up and locked up buildings.
Vacant buildings, once someone’s home or workplace…
…now abandoned.
Once a thriving community of monks and pilgrims in Egypt, now bricked up.
This is day 15 of Becky’s January Square Up challenge.
A Few Random Doors
Welcome, Dan at No Facilities who has taken over the Thursday door challenge!
I haven’t had the chance to photograph many doors lately, but every once in a while, my husband and I go for a drive just to get away from Covid-19 tedium. Here are a few doors from those wanderings.
Countdown to Christmas
Tourmaline is hosting her first Countdown to Christmas challenge this year! Here are the themes:
I am admittedly lousy at keeping up with a daily challenge, so I am going to take this one by chunks, this time at least!
Dec. 1: Decorations
Many people here at our senior community put wreaths and other decorations on the doors and shelves outside their apartments. Last year when it was too cold to walk outside, I instead walked the halls of the apartment building and took lots of photos of decorations. I will probably do the same thing this year. Because of COVID-19, to get us into the holiday spirit, there is a door decorating contest, so there ought to be even more doors decorated this year!
Here are a few from last year. I especially like the ones that reflect different ethnic traditions.
I made this collage of some of the door wreaths.
Dec. 2: Family
I have a large family so we don’t all gather together. Mostly we get together with the kids and grandkids of my sister and brother-in-law, who live in this same community. Last Christmas, our daughter & son-in-law hosted the celebration at our old house (where they currently live).
My grand-nephew, Josh, shows off his garish holiday shirt! 
My brother-in-law wearing a combination of lederhosen, a faux Christmas sweater & colorful socks. 
Our daughter & son-in-law, the hosts! 
Family gathers before Christmas meal is served. We usually had to use a card table in the living room (pictured here) as well as the dining room table.
Dec. 3: Traditions
We have several holiday traditions, such as putting up my collection of creches (Nativity scenes – I have quite a few), a Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments, and games – we always play some games! We also sing carols around a piano (if there is one). My sister has two Christmas carol games and we also love to play Charades and Categories. Last year our daughter and son-in-law had a new game for us, where everyone at the table takes turns unwrapping a large ball of cellophane full of little prizes. One person unwraps while another throws dice. When the dice come up as doubles, the person unwrapping has to stop and pass on the cellophane ball. It was frustrating and fun!
I think we will have to forego the games this year, because we can’t get together – but maybe we can play Categories via Zoom!!
CFFC: White, Off-White, & Cream
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge‘s colors this week are white and cream colored.
Thursday Doors: Amsterdam
Norm and others have posted colorful and creative doors for Thursday Doors this week. Here are some colorful doors mostly from the De Pijp neighborhood of Amsterdam, which I don’t think I’ve posted before. If I have, so be it – they’re worth having another look!
CFFC: Knock, Knock!
The topic of Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is door/drawer/cabinet knobs & handles.
Knobs and handles are things we usually take for granted, much less notice, although during this COVID-19 pandemic, we are very wary of them! How many hands have touched them and how unclean are they?!
Even so, there are knobs and handles that are noticeable for being different – unusually beautiful, rustic, etc. – yet they still perform their primary function beautifully. Just don’t try to touch them until you’ve wiped them off!
Because of COVID, I have not photographed handles or knobs this year, so all these photos are from last year.
Thursday Doors With Flowers
Since I haven’t gone anywhere lately where I could photograph doors, I’m recycling some previous ones I’ve posted, thematically. This week for Norm’s Thursday Doors, I present doors with flowers.
CB&WPC: Doubles
Anything With Double Letters is the topic of Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge this week.
Schoenbrunn Palace Door, Vienna
Little bottles
Dessert
Daffodils
Balls
Mississippi River
Doodle of a woman reading a book
Hunt for Joy & Thursday Doors: Colorful Doors
Cee’s Wednesday challenge, On the Hunt for Joy this week has the topic of “paint your front door.” Not literally, of course! She’s calling for photos of brightly colored doors or any interesting doors. And Thursday is Norm’s weekly door challenge.
Here is a collage of colorful doors from my archives:
SONY DSC
Wanderlust & Wonderment 