Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise
Seven surprises!
The weekly photo challenge: surprise.
I’m thinking about Stef’s Three Daily Delights blog and how she faithfully lists three delights from her day. Thanks Stef for the inspiration.
Here are 7 surprises captured by the handy iPhone, save #2,shot with Canon 5D.
1. Jack found the fresh snow when he opened the front door Saturday morning. That’s my unpacked suitcase by the front door. Surprise!
2. My wonderful DIL Erika sent a hot cup of coffee out with Anna as I was watching the kids play in the snow in the backyard. (this is the only shot with the regular camera) Yes, that’s a Roadside America souvenir travel cup. Surprise!
3. Penny the Golden Doodle actually watches TV(Christmas Vacation) at Laura and James’ house. Matthew and I arrived Friday night and ate delicious bowls of chili and cornbread, after a 6 hour drive in the snow and traffic (usually a 3 1/2 hour trip).
Surprise!
4. My SIL James’ parents sent the wonderful gift of perfect, juicy pears. I sliced one and it disappeared in seconds. Thanks Chuck and Sharon.
Surprise.
5. Thursday afternoon I was stuck in traffic in the rain and saw this pink building and two pink vehicles for Bread and Pastries. This is the true color, not enhanced! Surprise.
6. Anna(9) baked a cake all by herself then took a sandwich bag, turned it inside out and filled it with buttercream and then snipped the tip of the corner off and proceeded to decorate the chocolate cake.
7. Kerry, the student teacher(Art Department) did some serious baking and made special message cookies for the last day of school before Winter Break. Surprise!
Front Porch Ambient Light Portrait- Godmother/Goddaughter
Taking photos of people on the front porch is the nicest light. Not too much, not too little. Like Baby Bear- it’s just right!
No squinting from the midday sun either (but there really wasn’t any full sun this weekend, due to some thick cloud cover and rain, rain, rain)
Was out visiting in Columbus and getting ready to go home. Matty and Maura and I were in a separate car from the rest of the family due to schedules and timing. We swung by Laura and James’ house to see their freshly decorated tree that a few hours earlier had been tied on the roof of their car. I took a Christmas photo of them in their living room so had the camera out as we headed back to the car. ”Quick” Laura said. “Godmother, goddaughter shot!” Pressed once and it shot two in quick succession.
And that is how the Front Porch Ambient Light Portrait got taken on Sunday afternoon before I headed back to Pittsburgh to start a new school week.
Maura Clare is 4 on November 17th
Four is a great age to be.
You’ve seen her pop bubble wrap. Eat cake. Pose with Murphy the Airedale. Run with her siblings across the lawn, carrying an Easter basket or a doll, wearing a red hat. Gardening!
It’s been a fast four years!
And the most recent shot below
Alien Under Toadstool, Fairy Godmother, too
This weekend I watched Maura (almost 4) while her family went to a swim meet with her brothers and sister. She saw me outside and asked, “Granma, Why are you in the bushes?” When she came over to see what I was doing, she said she liked the Fairy Godmother. One shot of each on the iPhone and then she and I played. I’d been sorting toys in the playroom. Saw the toadstool and went and got the two figurines.
Today’s photos? Just for fun. The fungus was enormous. And I had just been reading an article telling of the two cousins Frances and Elsie photographs with the Cottlingley Fairies. (1917)
Thanks to Annette who wrote and said that “ the blog is a daily vitamin for the creative soul.”
Laura has a Mumkin on her Front Porch
When I visited last week in Columbus, Laura had a Mumkin on her front porch. (James,too)
A pumpkin decoration with the top off and filled with a chrysanthemum plant. Do they have mumkins where you live? It was new to me. I guess you could turn it around after Halloween for Thanksgiving time so the Jack-o-Lantern face is in the back. I thought it was cheerful.
When I googled the word Mumkin, I came up with a totally different definition from the Urban Dictionary.
Anyway it was cute and the mums were all still buds. Maybe it has since bloomed. I will have to ask. What will they think of next?
Camera Flash Must Have Awakened This Doll
Last week when I was in Columbus visiting the family, I noticed my youngest granddaughter Maura’s baby dolls all lined up on the ottoman in the family room.
There wasn’t much available light and the auto flash went off on the iPhone as I shot the picture.
It wasn’t until I looked on the screen, that I noticed the middle doll’s expression on her face! I ‘d just been trying to capture the tidy line-up of little doll bodies. 
Reverse Root Beer Float at Jeni’s
Columbus Ohio
We got ice cream cones after supper at Jeni’s. Their salty caramel flavor is really good. There was a sign for a reverse root beer float.
Of course, I had to ask…. Cream soda and root beer ice cream. I had a scoop of root beer ice cream along with the salty caramel. Next time I will try the float!
Jeni’s is delicious
Fibonnaci Sequence and a Squirrel’s Delight
I saw this plant in my daughter-in-law’s garden last weekend.
The sunflower’s petals gone, the flower head heavy and bent over with the spiraling pattern of seeds- Fibonnaci numbers((0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, … etc, each number is the sum of the two numbers before it) found in nature. My mother was always talking about Fibonnaci.
A mathematical miracle AND a squirrel’s delight.
Not sure how much a squirrel would need to store for the long winter but this one sunflower’s seeds looks like a good start.
Sock Monkey Welcoming Committee
When I got to Ohio this evening, the kids were in their pjs and had already eaten supper. As I entered the door there was a wagon load of sock monkeys and a handmade Welcome Froo Froo Ruthie sign. It was funny and exciting to arrive and be greeted so enthusiastically. They had run down to the car and helped haul the suitcase and school bag and I carried the one with the camera. Even Murphy was at attention in the driveway as I pulled up. He watched the monkey shot but did not get in it. A quick photo op and no belaboring trying to get everyone’s attention. The monkeys did well again, never moving or flinching! You don’t want to spoil the moment by insisting on multiple poses for a stellar shot. The grandkids all looked wonderful to me. Jack doesn’t like to sit still anyway,
Aunt LInda Teaches Anna How to Dip Strawberries in Chocolate
And Maura is taking good notes!
Shot last May in Columbus, the night before Anna’s Communion Party.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Near and Far
When I received an email with the challenge of the week, I read the suggestions about landscape and horizon and went to find them.
I have a ton of landscape images but suddenly I saw all these photographs in my library with people in them.
Walking somewhere. And me, following the walkers. A city far in the distance. Near and Far. Here are my interpretations of Near and Far, starring my family, the cities, the Hot Metal Bridge decorated with colorful bras for Breast Cancer Awareness and an unknown marathoner with her pony tail flying.
Photographed in Columbus and Pittsburgh.
There are at least 100 other bloggers interpretations in the list of ping backs on the Daily Post
Happy 7th Birthday
Seven years ago I was in Florida watching Anna while Erika and Mark went to the hospital. Happy Birthday Michael Joseph! He just lost his first tooth and is starting First Grade on Wednesday so your last day of summer vacation you don’t have to go to school. Bet you’ll find time to build something with your new Star Wars Lego today.
Blogging from Aunt Mary’s computer in NYC at 3 AM so when you wake up you can see your birthday post. Love, FF Ruthie
Trapped in the Bride’s Garden at the Conservatory
The sisters-in-law take a photo class and Saturday morning was the field trip to Franklin Park Conservatory. They invited me to go along. They went out to the Bride’s Garden and the doors locked behind them. I was photographing the Fairy Gardens and the model railroad and they were looking for me. Laura called me on the cell and I went and opened the door. I saw this view as I approached the doors.
I was focusing on photographing the two of them instead of the butterflies and the flowers and this added to my series.
Everyone shoots this one- Chihuly’s Glass.
Sisters-in-law shoot the fountain. They have to create a slideshow with ten images to show to the class.
Bubbles from the fountain.
View from the Gift Shop windows.
“It’s Annoying Now, But Later You’re Glad”
Laura’s 29th birthday. She says it is her FIRST 29th birthday. The family gathers on the front porch because most of them are nearby.
This year I didn’t run around and get in the photograph. Just wanted them. I’ll put it on the fridge. Look at it until we’re all together again. In the middle of winter I’ll glance at this August evening, celebrating Laura’s birthday and be glad I have the picture.
Not too many people really want their photo taken. Maybe a few. The family allows me to photograph them one more time.
They’re gracious and they love me and they know it’s what I like to do.
They probably wonder when I’ll get tired of wanting to photograph them but they don’t complain. Much. Photographing them while they ignore me is easier.
Of course, I want the shot where everyone is with me and looking pleasant on this occasion. Ha. Erika says to me, “Good luck with that!”
I get it the best I can.
Don’t want to drag it out too long, make it quick, Just SHOOT!
Thanks family. Matthew is the one who said to his friends at his college graduation ” This is what my mom does. It’s annoying now, but later you’re glad.”
Penny the Golden Doodle with Lala and James on their front porch.
And Maura and Murphy pose for Mark. Caught them from the side as he got them to look at his phone.
29, For Real!
Happy Birthday Laura Christine.
On the left, lounging at the beach in Bibione, Italy as a toddler.
Center- A baby blessing/birth stats I cross stitched in 1983. The town is spelled incorrectly- missing the first C- Eschenbach!
Photo on the right and below as a bride are from 6 months after the wedding in Columbus OH with husband James.
An Egg, a Baseball and a Boy
Practice stop-motion shots. Anticipate the action.
Try to feel the timing.
Press the shutter at the right time, once, instead of fifty times. Hopeful.
Improve.
Sometimes the stop-motion looks frozen to me, perhaps too still. Wonder if it needs a little blur to show the movement.
As you read about my shooting where you are, these are examples of how you can be on vacation and work on your skills, simultaneously.
Have fun doing it, too!
Chef at the next table- House of Japan
Jack trying to beat the ball to first base.
And jumping off the board into the pool. Looks like a cut-and-paste figure.
Snippet of City Skyline
A rainy day. Columbus Ohio. Shot through glass, across the Scioto river from COSI (Center of Science and Industry) A tad underexposed for the trees looking at it now.
The Art Deco building on the left in LeVeque Tower, a half foot taller than Washington Monument. Detail of tower below.
A different city skyline from my usual Pittsburgh photographs.
Sea Bass on a Bed of Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash
And butter! Erika, Anna, Maura and I ate out one Friday night at The Lakes. Good etiquette training, too. The “boys” were at a Cleveland Indians game.
Bikers Greet Misty Across the Cul-de-sac
I wanted to use the word cul-de-sac on the blog ever since I’ve been visiting the family. Just don’t write or use that word in my daily life in the city. Nice for safe bike riding after supper.
Three out of four took a break to greet the neighbor’s lovely dog, Misty. We sat in the driveway and watched until the sun went down and it was time to come in and get ready for bed. Although it was a hot day, the evening temp dropped and it was a perfect summer evening.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside
Inside seems simple enough. Until you start to read all the definitions and think about the multi-meanings
Cut and pasted from Your Dictionary - the dictionary you can understand
noun
- the part lying within; inner side, surface, or part; interior
- the part closest to something specified or implied, as the part of a sidewalk closest to the buildings
- INFORMAL the internal organs of the body, as the stomach and intestines
adjective
- on or in the inside; internal
- of or suited for the inside
- working or used indoors; indoor
- ☆ known only to insiders; secret or private: the inside story
- BASEBALL passing between home plate and the batter
adverb
- on or to the inside; within
- indoors
in or to the inside or inner part of
within the limits of: inside an hour
Murphy inside the van looking outside.
Cool enough on Friday to take Murphy to the Post Office so I could mail something. He WAS in the back seat. Moved himself up to the passenger seat while Maura and I were inside and wouldn’t budge for the short trip home. Yes, I worried about air bag deployment and the seat belt dinging alarm sound the whole way. We made it. He does have a harness that attaches to a seat belt for car trips.
We were safe inside the house as Mark held the iPad showing the violent storm while I shot the rain and blowing trees outside. This is the storm where Laura and James lost power for 5 days and Marlene and Donald( Roanoke VA) lost it for 8.
Maura waits inside looking outside for the guests.
Here is the inside of the ceramic fruit bowl Mary gave me when I visited her at Easter time.
The Jesus statue contained inside the clear box was photographed on this trip.
Old fashioned hats in Bedford Springs Resort display with the stairway banisters reflected
Challenge- How to show what one is feeling inside?
Check out fellow bloggers posts. Get the inside scoop.
Pool Party Evening Light
The setting sun and the lights coming up from the pool made an interesting contrast of color and light. The photograph has limitations in illustrating the mood.
The Lost Towels and Rule One
Saw this scene at the pool where Anna practices her swimming strokes. Looked like quite a collection.
And in this shot you can see how badly the rain is needed.
Ohio House Front Yard
The blog has been a real family effort since I have been on vacation. My DIL drove by slowly so I could shoot the giant flag and Mustang on the lawn. This is one of those 100+ days we had in early July. Already we are past mid July! Oh my.
Now it’s drought conditions around here so the lawns are more brown. The thunderstorms just don’t provide enough precipitation
3 Year Blogoversary- Food Truck and Cart Fest, Columbus Ohio
Thanks for following, looking, commenting and sharing. I appreciate your writing emails and sending photos to me.
Three years ago today I started the blog.
This is the 1027th post as I didn’t postaday when I started, it was just random.
Thanks to the nice mom and dad who said I could blog their baby eyeing the pizza from Late Night Slice and great idea SIL James.
* The Boa Constrictor’s name is Sally May*
Ceramics by Katie Kikta and Eric Rausch
Pittsburgh Steelers T shirt by 8 Bit Apparel
Vintage and Handmade Jewelry by Katie Guagenti
Camera Onesie by KLZART
And you can see This Guys Art on Cardboardmetravels.com today
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