Weekly Header Challenge -- Black and White

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 ~ Black & White

Chosen by All of Us.

I had to dig back a bit to find some black and white images.  I haven't experimented with this format in a while, but I think I'm going to have to revisit it sometime soon.  A black and white image focuses more on shapes, light and dark, and mood/feeling more than the actual subject matter--though that is also important.  Here is my selection for this week's theme, starting with the image I chose for my header:

Since I took the above image at the farm a friend's son was starting up (I actually did their initial website photography!), I decided to show you several black and white images I took from that visit--all things farm-y and rustic.

I start with an old water pump on the property:

A dying purple coneflower, in black and white, becomes a study in shapes, light/dark, and lines.

On to an ornamental windmill next to the farmhouse.

This last one was taken at a local park, and I love how the light shines into the photograph.  The flowers were white in the color version, and I like how they stand out starkly against the deep dark shadows of the background.

That's it for this week!

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Back from Break: My Favorites

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 ~ Back from Break:  My Favorites

Chosen by Tom.

Happy New Year!  We Headbangers are back from Christmas break, and ready for a new year of photography adventures together.  Starting with the image I used for my header, here are some of my favorites from our time away.  These were taken on Fernando's and my driving date to see local Christmas light displays.

The above wasn't the best Christmas light display, or the nicest image in composition, but I was able to crop it nicely for my header.  My favorite Christmas light display is this one, below:

Across from that house, was this one, below, bedecked in a cascade of white lights.

And, the below is a close-up from another display.  It was such a mild day that we got out of our car several times to enjoy the lights, and in many cases, accompanying music.

This was our own "light display."

I collect snowflake ornaments and hope to have our tree covered in them.  But this Christmas, our tree also sported several leaf ornaments.  These ornaments are all actual leaves; a local artist turns them into amazing works of art, and I love them hanging on my tree.

Finally, I can't not post a food photo from our time away!  Here is one of my favorites from New Year's Day, when we had a traditional Italian meal of ravioli.  My parents celebrated with us, and my mom and I spent all afternoon making these beauties.  I messed up the recipe a bit, but the ravioli turned out yummy, so all was forgiven.

Again, Happy New Year!


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 -- Getting Ready for Christmas

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 ~ Getting Ready for Christmas

Chosen by me.

I'm chuckling to myself as I realize I chose this theme a while ago, and now that it's time to post, I have no current pictures to share with you.  Although we started this year with great hope that our situation would improve--and it did in many aspects--we find ourselves just hanging on right now.  We will share a beautiful, simple Christmas at my brother's home, though, so I'm not sad having to post last year's photos.

Usually within a day or so of Thanksgiving, we purchase a Christmas tree.

My dad carries the tree to the car.

The tree is set up...

The ornaments are hung...

And the atmosphere is set!

Cookies are baked...

Peppermints (my favorite!) are set out...

Decorations are placed...

The manger figurines are placed...

And we're ready for Christmas!

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- White

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 ~ White

Chosen by All of Us!

I had this post all ready to go on Monday night, just without the comments...  And then life happened!

Here's my header image, uncropped:

I chose lots of nice, sunny, white flowers to feature, since we just had a ____ last weekend, and the ___ is finally melting away.  I refuse to use those words associated with white--you know, cold, white stuff that falls from the sky in winter...

Here are some other white things.

Faded white keys from a pump organ...

Parchment paper wedding paper...

Okay, okay, what's white?  This is...

I took that winter shot earlier this year, but it's what it looked like around here last weekend.  I'm not ready for snow yet!!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Fun Fun Fun

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 ~ Fun Fun Fun

Chosen by Tom.

This week's theme gave me an excuse to go back through all my photos from the year and reminisce about the fun times.  I admit there weren't too many, since this was--and continues to be--a rough year for us.  There were, however, wonderful moments of levity which I share with you today.

For my header, even though it was hard to crop, I chose this photo of me having fun for my 50th birthday.

I'm totally claiming credit for this image, because even though Fernando snapped the shutter, I set everything up for him!

Here are some other "fun, fun, fun" times from my year...

Fun with a can of whipped topping.

Ice cream at the lake is always fun!

Below was my first experience with a handgun (a revolver).  I loved it, and loved that I was actually good at it.  Look at that grouping!  And, I did it in a summer dress!  It was so much fun that we shoot fairly regularly now.

After helping a friend move, Fernando and Thomas had fun with the dolly at the storage facility (taken with my phone).

When we get together with Allie's family (Jake's girlfriend), we always have fun.  This is another one taken with my phone.  It seems that fun is generally spontaneous and my phone is more readily available than my camera.  :)

Fun is when a friend's adult daughter invites you over to teach you how to make bubble tea (a Taiwanese beverage).  It was interesting!

 Bubble tea.

Finally, it is fun--and heart-melting--to watch your adult son charm two little girls into hanging out with him while at a friend's house for a sing-along event.

 Coloring time together!

Aren't they simply adorable?


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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