Scavenger Hunt Sunday (9/30/12 edition)...

Holy Guacamole!!!!  I just wasn't feelin' the love this week for the Scavenger Hunt Sunday prompts.  THEY WERE REAAAAAAAALLY HARD (for moi).  Oh well, I guess that is why they call it a "challenge" right?


This week's prompts are:  Yellow, Getting Ready, Bright, Teeny Tiny, and Connections


1.  Yellow

"Field of Gold"

2.  Getting Ready

"Party Prep"

3.  Bright

"Blinded by the Light"

Who's behind those Foster Grants?



4.  Teeny Tiny

"Dream Weaver"

(Self Portrait #31/52...
YIKES, how am I EVER gonna get 52 of these suckers??
Approaching desperation status when I preserve for eternity my morning "bed head". Here is my
hint for the day:  no make-up? Embrace your best friend...MONO-TONE)

Can I just sleep a TEENY TINY bit longer????????  Puh-LEEEZE????



5.  Connections

"Universal Connection"
(linked to:  Your Sunday Best, Simple Things Sunday)

"Music is the universal language of mankind."

--Henry Wadsworth  Longfellow

Hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday.  Moi?  I'm going to meet the little sis for lunch.  AND, I'm going to bee-line it straight to Nordstrom's shoe department afterwards, which just happens to be located in VERY close proximity to the restaurant.  Concidence?  Well, at least that is what  I'm gonna tell the Better Half instead of trying to hide a huge boot box.  It's times like these when I wish I had a petite pair of size 6's.  The cute little shoes, the cute little boxes...that can be hidden just about ANYWHERE.  It takes a LOT more imagination to hide a pair of size 10's, just sayin'.

If you get the chance, please hop on over to Ashley's Ramblings and Photos to check out all the other Scavenger Hunt submissions.


--Kathy

linked to:  Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Your Sunday Best, Simple Things Sunday

This and that, but mostly THIS...

Announcing your plans is one sure way to make God laugh so hard...he's crying.  

"Red Light"
(at least I thought to throw "James Dean" in the car with me)

Had a different plan today.  Which included sleeping in a bit to the sounds of the rain on my windows (boy do I LOVE doing that), AND a completely different blog post.  Enter Thing #3 to my inner sanctum, tapping me on my shoulder.  I could only feign ignorance for so long.

"Hey Mom, I KNOW you're awake so stop pretending.  Did I mention to you that Brendan can't drive me to school this morning?"

And yes folks, that is God laughing so hard he is crying.  When it rains...it pours.  

On to Plan "B"...

--Kathy

linked to: This or That Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things,  Photo Story Friday, Perspectives Photo Challenge, Favorite Photo Friday, Finding Serendipity

You say tomato...

...I say tomahto.  Let's call the whole thing off.

Summer that is...kaput.  No matter how you slice it, the last tomato on the vine means summer is finito folks. Sigh.  And every year, as I look at those withering tomato vines I ask myself  "WHY do I always seem to schedule our summer vacays at those precise two weeks of tomato-palooza?????"   ARGH, always seems to happen.  We lovingly nurture our few tomato plants, get excited at those first few yellow flowers, call each other out to the patio when we see the first small green tomatoes burst forth,  make sure we water those babies when all of our other plants wilt in the summer heat.  And then...right when all the hard work comes to fruition with visions of tomato sandwiches, panzanella and caprese salad dancing in my head...we vacate the premises for vacay.  Every stinkin' year.

"Summer's Last Hurrah"

Yes, we actually got to eat very few tomatoes this year...as usual.  This is the last of my babies on the vine catching a few morning rays.  The days are starting to feel cooler and the sun is turning in a bit earlier lately. As carefree summer disappears in my rear view mirror, I always find myself inspired to return to the kitchen with a renewed fervor.  As the Better Half can attest to, I kinda avoid the kitchen during the hot summer months. Lots of salads, veggies and fruits that don't require much prep...dinner reservations require even less.  But Autumn is a whole new ball game.  

"Autumn's First Cheer"

.

Yep, I smell Fall in the air.  And this morning it kinda smells like tomato sauce.  Ciao tomato vines, arrivederci summer.  Benevenuto Autumn.

--Kathy

linked to:  Our World Tuesday, Inspiring Photography, Tuesdays Around the World, Sweet Shot Tuesday, 52 Weeks of Happiness,, Tones on Tuesday, MidWeek Blues

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (9/23/1012 edition)...

Happy Autumn everyone.  Can ya believe it?  The older I get, the more Autumn becomes my favorite time of the year.  Sure hoping that isn't a metaphor for where I am in life or anything.  I'm just gonna go with the idea that  I can finally take out my boots and sweaters to wear.  And college football, and new episodes of my television shows, and I get the house back all to myself during the day.  Oh...and candles.  I love burning candles.  And boots...did I mention that already?  It's worth repeating.  BOOTS!!!!!

Okay, on to the first Scavenger Hunt of boot season Autumn.  This week's prompts are:  Fallen, Ordinary Color, Cracked, Bokeh, and Fence.  Seriously...no "boots" prompt????


1.  Fallen

"Piled High"

Yeah, yeah, yeah...work with me here folks.  They didn't exactly fall to the floor into this neat pile.  BUT...they are "plopped" on the floor due to the following prompt, which is:

2.  Ordinary Color

To some, it may only look like an ordinary shade of gray.  BUT it is "Chelsea Gray",  AND the new color of my living room/reading room.  I picked it because...

...it matches my Better-Half oh so well :).  Thanks for painting our living room sweetie!  You did a totally awesome job.  And I'm sorry I am so anal such a perfectionist.  I highly doubt that has ANYTHING to do with your distinguished hair color...I think....okay maybe...just a bit.  Did I mention you did a great job? Next time I will just leave you alone and go out and buy some boots, okay?

"50 Shades of Gray"

3.  Cracked

Maybe not EXACTLY cracked...but "deeply grooved" none the less.  Again, hopefully not a metaphor for where I am in life.

4.  Bokeh-licious

"Some See Only Wet Grass"
(linked to:  Your Sunday Best)

 I admit I have been having clandestine rendevous' with the morning dew.  And I admit, the neighbors probably think I'm bit of a whack-a-doodle.

5.  Fence

"No Trespassing"
State College, PA
(linked to:  Simple Things Sunday)

For those who frequent my blog, I mentioned last week that I got caught trespassing with "James Dean" while Thing #3 laughed at me in the car.  Well, here is the result of my "Thelma and Louise" moment (and by "Louise" I REALLY mean "Pollyanna" sitting in the car).  Sometimes...it's just worth the risk....AND being caught.



Annnnnd, that's a wrap.  Hope everyone is enjoying this first beauuuuuutiful weekend of Fall.  As always, if you get the chance I really hope you hop on over to Ashley's Ramblings and Photos to check out all the other Scavenger Hunt Sunday submissions.


--Kathy

linked to:   Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Your Sunday Best, Simple Things Sunday

"Life is short...

...running makes it seem longer."

Let me be frank here...I hate, hate, HATE running.  Always have, always will.  I trace this back to elementary school and that dang "Presidential Physical Fitness" testing they use to do (thank you John F. Kennedy).  Ask not what you can do for your gym teacher, but what your gym teacher can do TO YOU.  Give me the standing broad jump, the flexed arm hang, the long toss, the shuttle run.  Anything but the dreaded 600 yard dash. For the record, "600 yards" and "dash" should NEVER be in the same sentence.  It  was a long, laborious, lung burning death march. I still remember Mr. Kilmer yelling across the field 'get the lead out Kathy' as I would recite "I CAN'T finish last" on a repeat loop in my brain.  Seriously Mr. Kilmer, did you notice you are wearing red and black plaid polyester pants, with a purple and gold windbreaker?  IS there a Mrs.  Kilmer?  Yes, my mind has always moved faster than my feet.

I honestly do not think there is ANYONE who truly "enjoys" running.  Except for maybe a very small group of genetic mutants.  Thing #2 is one of them, I'm not sure who her mother really is.  She runs marathons.  She doesn't sweat.  She doesn't even carry water with her.  It's disgusting.  Take me to your leader please because I look like a beet-red drowned rat when I'm done a run.  There was no alien invasion with Things #1 and #3.   They both volunteered, ad nauseum, to play goalie on their soccer teams so that they didn't have to run, or break a sweat.  No denying who THEIR mom is.

Running sucks.  I firmly believe the very idea of an endorphin produced "runner's high" is but an urban myth perpetuated by Nike execs.  Running is sweaty, it hurts, it's boring, it stinks, it even makes me wanna puke at times (which is soooooo not a good look for me).  Not to mention that NO ONE over the age of 25 looks good in spandex.  There is nothing about it that is in my comfort zone.  That zone is firmly indented on my couch, and it's wearing skinny jeans with a cute pair of platform sandals...and she's drinking a glass of Malbec for hydration.

So why do I put myself thru the agony?   I COULD tell ya it is to be stronger and healthier.  Ha, those are just fortunate by-products.  Why I REALLY torture myself is because of three truths:

1.  I want to look good in my jeans

2.  Spending quality time with my "Classic 80's Rock" playlist sans Thing #3 rolling her eyes at me 
    (nothing wrong with pretending I'm in my own 'Glee' episode with a Journey soundtrack)      

   

3.  I LOVE to eat

Shocker, "Vanity" is my middle name.  But what I have also discovered along the way, and what my Better Half has ALWAYS known....I am just a very stubborn person.  The hardest part of running is starting, and the easiest part is finishing.  But in between those two points I found that running is but one continual series of dares and challenges going on in my brain.  And I hate  to lose.  Actually, it would downright ruin my day.  As I count the seconds ticking away (and believe me, I count EVERY freakin' nano-second), I am always daring myself to not give up, to test my limits, to push beyond where I thought possible. I am both my own best competition AND worst enemy. I make up my mind and go get it.  And you know what?  I've found that I kinda like that about moi'. It's refreshing to recognize and acknowledge something positive about yourself.  Usually I'm focussed on the opposite end of the spectrum.

(I just like how this makes me look like I am a one-legged speed demon...fyi, I'm neither)

Running will always be the lima beans of physical activity for me.  Something I have to force myself to do because it's good for me.  You will NEVER see me wearing one of those "I Love Running" t-shirts.  I'm closer to "Running on Empty" than "Born to Run".  But at least I'm getting the 'lead out' Mr. Kilmer.  And I've got the jeans to prove it.  Newsflash...they most definetly aren't plaid polyester.

Gotta run...

--Kathy

linked to:  This or That Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things,  Photo Story Friday, Finding Serendipity

Street photography, Barcelona style...

Who needs reality TV when everyday life proves to be so much more interesting.  All you have to do is open your eyes and pay attention.  I'm ALWAYS mesmerized by people, especially when I have "James Dean".  I'm just usually too reserved to actually take the shot.  Okay...I'm SCARED.  There I said it.  I know...you are shocked by that aren't ya?  Alas, it is true.  I have no idea what I fear the person will do to me.  Truth be told I can probably out run the average Joe, OR sweet talk my way out of a situation.  Just ask Thing #3 who sat in the car while I trespassed with my camera the other day.  She told me not to do it.  I told her to not tell me what to do (and I wonder where she gets her 'tude from).  Yep, I was caught red-handed by the owner of the property.  Yep, I'm pretty sure she was bummed I didn't get into any trouble with the guy.  Luckily I'm not too reserved to employ my sweet talkin' skills.  Note to self:  remember to rub Thing #3's nose into my mad life skills.

"Strolling the Gothic Quarter"

Barcelona, Spain

But for some reason, when I was in Barcelona I was enthralled to the point that I abandoned my normal reserve and actually TOOK some photos, ala'  street photography style.  I mean, I kinda felt downright sleuth-like.  Like a REAL photographer vs. the "poser" shutterbug I sometimes feel like. I don't know what got me over the "reserved" hump.  PROBABLY the fact that I'm sure most Europeans have enough to talk about and roll their eyes at when they see American tourists...so I felt I was "nothing special" in their eyes.  Just another silly American tourist taking photos of EVERYTHING.  Seriously senora, you find that cobblestone fascinating?

"Give Me Strength"
Barcelona, Spain

"Swimming Upstream"
Barcelona, Spain

(Yes, I know I've already posted these two shots.  But I like them.  And I wanted to see if you've been paying attention.  Okay, okay....truth is....I just like them.)

I guess I wasn't THAT daring because so many of my captures were from the back,  so that I wasn't spotted.  BUT, I would just like to point out that to even get a good photo from behind STILL requires some stalking talents. AGAIN, Thing #3 was appalled and waiting for me to get into trouble.  And AGAIN...my mad life skills got me thru undetected.  I'm a mom after all.  Stalking is second nature.  So I'm gonna pat myself on the back, and say BAM to Thing #3.  And I hope she is now wondering if I stalk HER anywhere other than on Facebook!!!

"Cigarette Break"
Barcelona, Spain

She HAD to have seen me, right?  I find sometimes if you are REALLY obvious the subject thinks "No WAY is she being THAT obvious in taking a photo of me...it must be that pigeon on the ledge behind me she is aiming at."  Sort of a reverse psychology thing going on.  Again...mad life skills.

"Easy Rider"
Barcelona, Spain

Another street photography tip...give the subject something to aim at.  Playing chicken with an oncoming moving vehicle is a tried and true street photography strategy.  I mean.."I" tried it and it was true.  At least you know you'll get him centered in the frame that way.  You can always jump out of the way at the last second.  Timing is everything folks.  Life skills?  DEF!!!!

Even the dogs...I had to make sure they weren't actually making eye contact with me. Because if I am to be honest...if he had seen me, I don't think I could have out run him even tho my legs are significantly longer.  Another life skill, knowing your strengths and weaknesses.

"Guard Dog"
Barcelona, Spain

But probably the most important life skill I employed with street photography in Barcelona was the ability to be one step ahead (even tho I was actually a couple of steps behind), to be aware of your surroundings, to anticipate...

"Girlfriends"
Barcelona, Spain

Because, we all know the universal fact that boys WILL be boys.  Doesn't matter if you are in Boise, Bucks County, or Barcelona.  I saw THIS one coming a mile kilometer away...

"Girl Watcher"

Barcelona, Spain

And THAT my dear Thing #3 is probably the most important mad life skill I can give ya.  Boys are just so dang predictable, the earlier you learn that...the better.  WINNING!!!!!


--Kathy

linked to:  Our World Tuesday, Inspiring Photography, Tuesdays Around the World, Sweet Shot Tuesday, 52 Weeks of Happiness,, Tones on Tuesday, MidWeek Blues

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (September 16, 2012)...

Howdy, howdy, howdy.  A very quick post today cause I've got places to go, people to see.  Translation:  The Eagles and Phillies are playing and the couch is calling my name.  Wishin', and hopin', and prayin' the Phillies are this year's miracle comeback kids.  Don't go on breaking my heart boys.  I don't know what I'll do to occupy my time in October if my guys are all playing golf.

This week's Scavenger Hunt Sunday prompts are:  Askew, Kiss,  Fragrant, Simple, and Plant.

On to the hunt...



1.  Askew

"Lean On Me"

2.  Kiss

"Kissed by the Sun"

Even dirty old bottles look pretty when kissed by the sun.

3.  Fragrant

"Red on Red"

Oh you should have smelled how delicious my house was yesterday morning when I roasted these gorgeous red plum tomatoes.  

4.  Simple

"Key To My  Heart"

Simply put, just a plate of rusty old keys.  

5.  Plant

"Silhouette'"
(linked to:  Your Sunday Best, Simple Things Sunday)

She wouldn't have had nearly the fun if she had kept her feet firmly planted on the ground.  She's got the rest of her life for that.  Fly kidd-o....fly.

And that's a wrap folks.  Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, AND that you get a chance to hop on over to Ashley's Ramblings and Photos to check out all the fun with Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

Go Phils, go E-A-G-L-E-S.  But mostly.......GO PHILS! :)

--Kathy

linked to:  Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Your Sunday Best, Simple Things Sunday

How much mileage does that thing get?...

I swear I DID go to other places besides the Cinque Terre region of Italy on my recent adventure.  Just so happens I left my heart on the northwest coastline of Italy.  Sigh.  If anyone finds it, just leave it there 'cause I want to go back and pick it up myself, okay?  Who would have thunk I'd be pining over a place where a guy would come pick me up for a date in his row boat?  Hmmmm, that is IF I were a single gal.  Or IF I wasn't "high maintenance"...

"My Chariot Awaits"
Manarola, Italy
(linked to: Photo Friday, Shoot Edit and Submit)

Actuuuuuually, there are a whole boat load (sorry, couldn't resist) of "ifs".  Like, what DO you wear on a night out on the town in a floating tin can?  I don't know, but I think not only would my shoe closet be relatively barren...it would be located on my front steps. Mama Mia, no zappos.com deliveries?

"Do these come in a heel?"

But what else would you expect living in a small village that spilt down a cliff side into the sea, and where I would probably have to fish for my dinner.  Or better yet, send Fabrizio out to do it...

"Manarola from the Sea"

No cars allowed.  Cinque Terre "on street" parking...

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I owe my Better-Half an apology.  Geesh, we have had his canoe hogging up space and gathering dust stored in our garage for the majority of our 30 year marriage.  But I just gave it away last year.  Sigh.  Honestly, he has no one to blame but himself.  Had he only taken me to Cinque Terre YEARS ago we'd still have my favorite place to hide the evidence the UPS man had been here with my stash of on-line shopping purchases.  Okay, maybe that was probably a "win" for the Better-Half. But who knows?  MAYBE I would have even dusted it off and let him row me around the Schuylkill River on a date night in Philly.  Okay...probably not.

"Serenity"

Lingurian Sea, Italy

Cinque Terre "off street" parking...

Like I said, who would have thunk?  I kinda like disproving the notion that I'm a high maintenance kinda chick.  Yep, give me a boat and a pair of galoshes with heels and I'm set to go.  It's just all in one's perspective... 

"Perspective"
Vernazza, Italy

Well, "perspective" AND a Visa/MasterCard.  But like the commercials tell me, it's priceless.  See....low maintenance all the way.

--Kathy

update:  hey, hey, hey....look what I found.  Galoshes WITH heels.  Because who says you can't be stylin' while riding a tin can????

linked to:   This or That Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Photo Friday, Shoot Edit and Submit, Finding Serendipity

Dog-gone tired...

Dog-gone tired

Dog Days of Summer

It's a Dog's Life

Work like a Dog

Let sleeping Dogs lie



Nope...

"Cat Napping"

Barcelona, Spain

A homeless dog of a homeless man.  Why did it make me smile?  Because included amongst their few possessions is assurance that he has a soft place to lay his head.  He is well-loved.  But then again, I'm sure the feeling is mutual.  Yep...smiling alright.

--Kathy

linked to:  Sarah Halstead's Wordless Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Snap It, Live and Love Out Loud Wordless Wednesday, Wordful Wednesday,, Jenni From the Blog WW

Deja Vu...

"Never Forget"

"Never Forget".  Not sure how that is even possible.  We all have a story, a line, a chapter or a verse that we can add to what happened 11 years ago today.  Where we were, how we felt, how we reacted to a day that forever changed the way we view the world and morphed our lives forever.  But forget?  This morning I woke up to the brilliance of a late summer/early fall morning.  Blue skies.  Not a cloud up there.   Crisp temperatures.  Dew glowing on the grass like diamonds.  Never Forget?   It could easily have been the morning exactly 11 years ago.  It was THAT exact it caused me to pick up my camera and "remember" it.

While it would be unfathomable to forget the horrific happenings of 9/11/2001, perhaps this morning was a reminder to never underestimate the ties and bonds of that shared experience.  So rarely do we Americans feel the same way, about the same thing, at the same time.  And that is something that can be so easily forgotten as we always seem to be divided over something or another.  This beautiful crisp morning with it's eerie sense of deja vu makes me wonder why does it take a tragedy to bond us together?

"Not a day passes over the earth 

but men and women of no note 

do great deeds, speak great words, and suffer noble sorrows."

--Charles Reade

Just like 11 years ago, I awoke to  a morning that began in both brilliance and full of possibilities.  I will never forget.

Yes, I am proud and blessed to be an American...

--Kathy

linked to:   Our World Tuesday, Inspiring Photography, Tuesdays Around the World, Sweet Shot Tuesday, 52 Weeks of Happiness, Tuesday Tips & Pics, Tones on Tuesday, MidWeek Blues

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (September 9, 2012)...

If it is  September 9th, then it is my pop's birthday.  So before we get to the hunt, a huge MWAH to my dad!  Happy birthday pops.  My parental units always give me a hard time about how old "I" am getting on each birthday.  Yeah well, I remind them that at least "I" don't have a 52-year-old daughter like THEY do.  Bam!!!!  Love ya dad.  You make me proud to be a "Daddy's Girl".

And on to this week's hunt.  The prompts this week are:  Mono-chromatic, Hair, Starts with the Letter..., Upside Down, and Soft.


1.  Mono-chromatic

"Fruit of the Sea"


"You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute' it.
There's shrimp kabobs shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo.
Pan fried, deep fried, stir fried.
There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp.
Shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatos, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich.
That's about it."

2.  Hair

"Rapunzel"

Okay, okay...the braces in the photo are a dead give away this was not taken within the last week.  But it isn't TOO old, I swear.  Anyway, it isn't my fault I'm using this...I swear AGAIN.  Thing #3 has the most GORGEOUS hair, and she promised me that she would let me use her for this prompt.  However, tenth grade must be a real "energy suck" cause she just couldn't seem to drag her lazy bones out of that bed of hers.  What's a mom to do?  Use what I got, and braces filled the need.  Sorry kidd-o.  But your hair looks mah-velous and you're cute with or without those braces, I SWEAR.  As usual, I'm sure you won't agree with me.

3.  Starts with the letter...

"A is for Ahhhhhh"

Did I miss something with this prompt?  I mean...was this a freebie and you could just put whatever you want here.  Not that that's exactly what I did or anything.

4.  Upside Down

"Soaring"

(linked to: Your Sunday Best, Simple as That)

Well, the bird isn't upside down...but if you could have seen MOI taking the picture...just take my word for it.

5.  Soft

"Sugar and Spice"

Where can I get one of these?  I want one.  Nothing as soft and squishy as a baby.  I have no idea who this little girl is.  But when I saw that face I actually left my comfort zone and asked mom if I could take a photo.  Doesn't she look like the Gerber Baby?  There is some competition going on now where you can vote for who looks the most like the Gerber Baby.  How do I know that?  Well, my Facebook newsfeed tells me every time I log on.  Appears EVERYONE knows a Gerber baby and wants you to vote for him/her.  Sure wish I knew who this little girl is...I would nominate her myself. 

Voila'.  Another Scavenger Hunt in the books.  It just never fails that each week I am always a bit amazed I actually got it all accomplished.  If you want to see who ELSE got it accomplished, hop on over to Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday at Ramblings and Photos.  Take a cup of coffee with ya tho...you'll be staying awhile once you see all the gorgeous photos.

Happy Sunday.  Go E-A-G-L-E-S....EAGLES!  Sure wish I looked better in green, sigh.

--Kathy

linked to:  Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Your Sunday Best, Simple as That