Park Hollow House on Halloween

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Everyone going to get a treat.

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They really go all out.  Dry ice machine. Strobe lights. Music and scary sounds.  There are friends and neighbors dressed up amidst the mannequins.  Some of the children stay on the sidewalk and watch and don’t go near the entrance.

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A Thoughtful and Creative Retirement Gift

Thanks,  Sylvia. These are so creative. Perfect for the photographer’s  home. A nice focus as you enter the living room.  Thank you for the unexpected present!

  I will put them at either end of the couch but they look great front and center for the pic!  Terrific update for the room, too. Now you have to come over for tea. 
Xxoo

Treat: Weekly Photo Challenge

Sweet.  A fun challenge to respond to this week.  Treat.

Jen H says “Treats and indulgences can take many forms. Share yours with us!”

Here’s a gallery from our recent trip.

Vincek Cakes

Frozen Wind/Icy Wind on the left (and a  recipe for icy wind cake I found for it online)

Vincek Ledeni vjetar (left)and on the right Vincek Boem šnita

from Vincek Bakery in Zagreb Croatia 21959096210_5936ff047f_k

Matthew saw the cake we ordered and said, “Ahhh famous frozen wind cake”  Icy wind came up as the recipe but we liked the sound of his calling it Frozen Wind.  It was delicious.

candy window in Salzburg

Two Windows in Salzburg- same store

gummi treats

morning treat

Morning treat

tea and apple studel

Tea and Apple Strudel on the Sound of Music bus tour.  Notice there are two in a paper for “takeaway”

with nuts

 

salzburg nockerl

You saw the Salzburg Nockerl on a recent post

Perhaps chocolates are your treat  -another window in Salzburg

chocolates

or perhaps you prefer something salty

pretzels in SalzburgSalzburg

Pittsburgh Autumn in a Bright Light

Yesterday I photographed a few scenes in the drizzly rain. I posted Pittsburgh Autumn in a Dull Light.

Today it was bright and so I returned to the same spots. You can’t see how windy it was.

Thinking about how light affects the mood, color and feel of a photograph.

carrie Furnace and autumn leaves
Carrie Furnace in a bright light today

 

Today’s shot of the Homestead Smokestacks

homestead smokestacks bright

homestead stacks autumnYesterday in the dull light.   The overcast day seems to make the colors more vibrant.

and Three Red Trees

 

 

from the other shore
Homestead Grays Bridge from the other shore  The Monongahela river today.

 

 

and look what happened on my way home? CLOUDS! Lots of clouds arrived in about fifteen minutes time.

neighborhood autumn clouds

Pittsburgh Autumn in a Dull Light

Overcast.

Rain.

Diffused light.

I was down in Homestead at the Waterfront, having been up the hill in West Mifflin.

Shopped for flannel sheets.  Readying for the cold weather.

And though the day was rainy, I thought I’d shoot to include the changing leaves, give a sense of time and place.

carrie furnace autumn
Carrie Furnace on the Monongahela River

homestead stacks autumn

Homestead Stacks

homestead bridge autumn
Homestead Grays Bridge from Below
Monongahela River autumn
Monongahela River View

Waterfront autumn

at the Red Light I saw this tree.

And just for fun, closer to home, the dog in the passenger seat signaling a right turn?

Dog Passenger autumn

Soparnik in Zagreb

Soparnik

Women making Soparnik

“famous speciality of the dalmatian region Poljica between Split and Omiš. The original season for the dish was the colder time of the year when older, sweeter chard was available.

Basically, it is a very simple dish made from common ingredients from the region: Chard with onions and parsley between two layers of simplest dough”Click here for recipe

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Women coming to market

Sajam Zimnice

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Photographing Four Kids in One Frame

These are four of my own grandchildren. Should be easy, right?

Try to remain patient, I tell myself.

Don’t worry if it is not the day for a photograph.

Even if the weather is perfect and the colorful fall leaves are still on the trees.

Get kids involved in an activity to take their mind off the lens.

Two different days.

The idea is to get a nice photograph to send in a Christmas card, show how they’ve grown.

Hats make shadows on faces and  features obliterated. Oops!

Solids are least distracting.

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and yesterday’s attempt

You can always resort to running and jumping as I have in the past, when all else fails.

grandkids christmas card

Let them make a funny face, then a serious one.

Remember it’s a bit easier WITHOUT the dogs

 

Impromptu, candids can come out the best

IMG_1373Waiting at Von Maur while Mom shops.

Careful: Weekly Photo Challenge

Careful.  

This week, show us something careful — a photo taken with care, a person being careful, or a task or detail requiring care. Michelle W.

Here is my gallery of careful.

anna and Charles

Ever so careful.
maura upside down

Careful not to drop her, Mom.

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Putting on her seatbelt.

Jack and the soft spot

Careful not to touch the soft spot

UP in the deer stand

Maura in the deer stand at the farm

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St. George Island FL

 

taking care of Charlie 2

Holding him so he doesn’t roll off the ottoman.

 

careful balloon

 

Mike the balloon guy taking care to tie the balloon.

 

lobster

Lobster fest.
newborn

Careful.

michael and charlie

So very careful, Michael.  Nice!