Weekly Header Challenge -- Memories

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

I'm joining the group above for this weekly challenge.

Visit the other participants' blogs to see their entries!

Theme ~ Memories

Chosen by Kathy.

Here is the image I used for this week’s theme:

Although this is a recent memory, I'm really holding on to it!  Here's the story, in photos and a few words of explanation...

Thomas applied for and was accepted into BMW's advanced technician training program!  We had only three weeks to get everything in order and get him down to Orlando, Florida where the training program is.

I pulled out two boxes of stuff we had used for camping a few times, and it was perfect for Thomas' new apartment where he'll be staying while attending the program.

Fernando led the way in the Suburban, and I rode while Thomas drove his car (a used BMW!!).

Other than the first hour, this is what the entire 12-hour drive looked like...

We stopped the first night in South Carolina to visit friends, who own five acres and chickens!

Tripod and remote shutter release, and here we all are...

Then it was on to Atlanta and more good friends, and another goofy photo...

Once we were in Orlando, and while Thomas was in orientation, Fernando and I visited Cocoa Beach.  We ended up swimming among all these pelicans, which were swooping and diving all around us.  It was amazing.

Thomas had me take an "official" photo of him (with my phone) that he could post on Facebook with his news.

As we drove off from his apartment, I took a photo with my phone.  At first, I was annoyed that I had also captured the reflection of my hand in the car window.  But then, it struck me that it looked like I was trying to hold on to him.  I love the symbolism of knowing that I got to experience almost 21 years with an amazing young man before having to let him go.

In the end, I love this last photo because I realize that I never really had hold of my son; he was meant to fly.  But I know that he's in God's hands--always has been, always will be.


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Far Far Away

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Far Far Away

Chosen by Kathy.

After a two-week break for us headbangers, we're back with a new year and a new theme.  My first thought upon seeing the theme was Paris, but I've used lots of photos from there, and it was also a while ago.  The most recent "far away" place I've been is California, so I thought I'd feature this image, which was taken at sunset at my sister-in-law's home.  In silhouette, with the palm tree branches gently swaying, it looks like an exotic place far away from wintry Chicago.

You may remember from a few weeks ago my header image from Huntington Beach, California; here is a "re-post" sunset image from that far-away locale.

While in far-away California, we had the chance to visit and connect with many family members.

The hibiscus flower is definitely not from around here; another "far far away" flower!

Here is our "far far away" family, with a photo of my aunt held by her granddaughter, and many family members in front of her home.

That's it from far far away!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Last Week's Sky

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Last Week's Sky

Chosen by Lew.

This was almost last week's sky.  I haven't had time to pick up my camera the past week or so, but I definitely brought it on our unexpected trip to California for a family member's funeral.  On our one free afternoon, Fernando decided to head to Huntington Beach; it was in the 70s and sunny, a perfect afternoon for a nap.  And, a perfect evening for a beautiful sunset, complete with surfer silhouettes!  Here is my header, uncropped:

And, for your sky-viewing enjoyment, here are the other pictures I took that afternoon as the sun made its way down.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge - Waves

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Craver VII 

Fishing Guy 

Katney 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Waves

Chosen by Mac.

This week, I went with the literal interpretation on the theme--actual waves, as in ocean waves.  I hope you all were more creative!  Here's my header shot, below.  I kept it cropped just like a header, since the horizontal wave lends itself to that format.  I love the contrast of the breaking wave on the left, and the curled, smooth part on the right.

A few days later, the waves looked like this.

And after another day, when all the seaweed was kicked up, they looked like this.

These images were all taken on our 2011 trip to Florida to stay with friends--they have a timeshare at Disney, and we all stayed together in a huge beach cottage at Vero Beach.  Here was my first wave image of our week-long trip:

Early Monday morning, and all those people, you may ask.  Here's why, below.  The final launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor!

Wave close-up.

Friends and family enjoying the waves!

The waves subside a lot some nights, and I found myself on the deck of our cottage or on the beach almost every night, just enjoying the colors and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge - Don't Rock the Boat

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Craver VII 

Fishing Guy 

Katney 

Imac 

Lew
Tom W 

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Don't Rock the Boat

I took this week's theme, chosen by Mac, quite literally.  Here is the full image of my header:

This is my dad's boat, and in the image above, he and my mom are giving Jacob and Thomas a ride home from Winter Bay (one of the bays on Lake Bonaparte).  This lake is one of my favorite places on earth!

This boat, a Cadillac, is special.  My Grandpa acquired it for use on the lake, and after his death, it pretty much sat.  The horn (above) makes this awesome Ah-OOOH-gah! sound, and whoever had the boat out would blow that horn upon his return to the dock at Jackson Rock on the east shore.  While the boat sat, my cousin put the horn on his boat.  When my dad refurbished the Caddy, the horn found its rightful spot on the boat, and there it stays.

My dad and mom go for a ride.

Every autumn, everyone takes his boat out of the lake for the winter.  My dad's boat removal turned into a ritual, with lots of people helping to get it out of the water and into the shed.

Set for the winter.

Other boats on Lake Bonaparte.

My cousin Al and his wife Terri own a Jet-Ski, and below you can see Terri whizzing by while their dog Dakota (who since died) eagerly waits.

Dakota gets a ride.

There are a few avid sailboaters on the lake, and on a breezy day it's nice to see them sailing by.

My parents also own bright neon green open kayaks.  They are super fun and easy to maneuver, and although they will rock with the waves on the lake, they are not easy to tip.

Fernando spots for Jacob swimming across the bay.

Pontoon boats are popular on our little lake.

Relaxing on an autumn boat ride, the last of the season.

Fernando and the guys fishing.

Of course, Fernando goes out fishing as much as possible.

Jacob and his friend Nathan headed out on the lake.

The pontoon boats require more power to get removed from the lake at the end of the season.

Power boats!  It's always fun to watch people waterski and tube.

That's it for Lake Bonaparte.  The last image I want to share is one I took in Sebastian, Florida, on a trip where we spent a week with friends in their timeshare beach cottage.  I took this at Captain Hiram's, a restaurant on the Atlantic Ocean.  Their food was amazing, and so were the views!

Be sure to visit everyone else's blogs to see if anyone "rocked the boat!"


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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