Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/31/2013)...

Also known as the "will she, or won't she?" edition of Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  I don't know why I put myself thru the indecision this week.  I KNEW I'd wind up doing it.  Yep, 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, so this is gonna be a quick one.  Good thing I have no social life to get in the way.  Whew.

This week's prompts are:  Water, Empty, Fresh, Weathered, and Ordinary.


1.  Water

"Looking Over His Shoulder"

Disclaimer:  I have no idea who this man in the "dad jeans" is.

2.  Empty

"Barren Tracks"

3.  Fresh

"Weekend Ride"

Spring has sprung, and so have the bicyclists getting out for some fresh air.

4.  Weathered

"Weathered No More"

A recent refurbishment to erase years of weathering.

5.  Ordinary

"Got Laundry?"
Philadelphia, PA

An ordinary clothes pin.  A not so ordinary size and location.

I hope everyone has a most blessed Easter holiday.  And for those who celebrate, I hope you are able to do so with friends and family.  God bless.

--Kathy

linked to:  Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Weekly Top Shot, Sunday Snapshot, Simple Things, Sundays In My City

My Dearhearts (week #2)...

1.  Dear Gym,

Iphone

How many people do you think return to their gym routine after trying on a pair of jeans and collapsing on their bed crying?  At least one did.  Just sayin'.



2.  Dear March Madness,

Iphone

I guess the fact that I'm sitting at a bar "watching" March Madness, taking photos of my beer, and coming up with song lyrics might be a giveaway that "She's just not that into you".



3.  Dear Dairy Queen,

Iphone

It's Spring.  But I want a Blizzard.  A Banana Pie Blizzard with brownie pieces in it.  The only shovelling required is into my mouth.  Then I'm gonna hit the gym.  Because I don't want my jeans to make me cry again.



4.  Dear Car,

Iphone

Hello, it's me.  Again.  Chauffeuring.  Waiting.  Killing time with the Iphone.  Making sure no one in the parking lot can see me doing this.  I need a life outside my taxi.  Perhaps the gym?



5.  Dear Moron,

Iphone

Three things come to mind:

   a.  You have enough energy to come to the gym for a workout, yet not enough energy to
         to walk to the locker room.

   b.  You are illiterate.

   c.  Your mama raised a fool.

Either way, I hope you SAW me taking this photo so I could broadcast your EPIC FAIL.



Disclaimer:  All photos taken with my trusty Iphone.  Nope, no technical merit.  Just the week that was.


--Kathy



linked to:   Friday Photo Journal,   Thursday Favorite Things,Little Things Thursday, 1440, Favorite Foto Friday, Give Me Your Best Shot, Photo Story Friday, Friday Friday's Letters, Random 5 Friday

Knock, knock...

"Who's There?"

Ambler, PA

Spring.  The temps don't say it's Spring.  But the calendar does.  And even MORE reliably?  The annual decimation of my front door wreath for Spring nesting purposes has begun.  Twig by twig Spring has sprung.  And that hairy eyeball the one on the left is giving me?  Looks like I'll be using my garage door for coming and going.  Sure not gonna play chicken with a finch.

--Kathy


linked to:   Project Alicia WW, Live and Love Out loud WW, The Gallery, The Paper Mama WW, Walk and Click, Outdoor Wednesday, Rurality Blog Hop, Black and White Wednesday, Click and Submit

Identity Crisis...

That's what happens when you put a Japanese pagoda smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch country.  The identity crisis would be complete if only that Pagoda had a snack shack that sold fastnachts and apple dumplings.  Luckily, this pagoda's psyche is moderately stable with a coffee shop...and a Buddha in it's window.

"The Pagoda"
Reading, PA

"How Much is that Buddha in the Window?"
Reading, PA

Welcome to Berks County, PA.  My stomping grounds for 25+ years.  Those who've played Monopoly know Berks County's biggest claim to fame...the Reading Railroad.   But it's also home to Pennsylvania Dutch culture, the first outlet shopping tourist trap in the country, hard pretzels, Keith Haring, John Updike and John Philip Sousa (how's THAT for a trifecta), and...the Reading Pagoda.  Which sits high atop Mount Penn.  620 feet above Reading.  Pretty high when you are surrounded by rolling farm land.

Why?  Well, why not?  In the early 1900's, a genius built a pagoda as a luxury resort waaaaay up on a mountain (that's a 'mountain' by Pennsylvania definition...foreigners would call it a big hill).  It wasn't genius. The city of Reading eventually took ownership.  They thought it would be genius to make something Japanese a "symbol" of Reading...which isn't in Japan.  Not to mention Reading already has it's own Monopoly square symbol.  But we are talking about politicians here.  Who thought they were geniuses.  They obviously were suffering from their own identity crises.  Doesn't take a genius to figure that out.

It's omnipresent.  It watches over you from above, wherever you may be in the Reading area.  And every night it illuminates with red lights high atop Mount Penn.  It's is one of those things that no matter how long you live in the area, you still look up when outside in the evening and point it out to your kids..."Hey look, there's the Pagoda" in the night sky.  It's uniqueness is a comforting presence.  Kinda like a symbol?

But if you asked Things #1, #2, and #3 WHY the Pagoda really IS genius,  they would give you the REAL answer...

"Santa's Beacon"
Reading, PA

...because all Berks County kids know to point their eyes high atop Mount Penn every Christmas Eve.  At precisely 9 p.m. this Japanese Pagoda hovering above Pennsylvania Dutch Country adds yet another component to it's identity crisis.  It magically morphs into a beacon with flashing red lights.  The official signal that Santa has been spotted approaching Reading, and all Berks County kids need to hit the sack. Pronto.

So if you are ever on Jeopardy and say "I'll take 'Snapple Cap Facts' for $500 Alex", you'll know the question to this answer:   "Japan, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Santa have this in common".

"What is the Reading Pagoda, Alex."  

Believe me, you'll look like a genius.

--Kathy

linked to:  Tuesdays Around the World, Tones on Tuesday, Our World Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, 52 Weeks of Happiness, Tuesday Muse, Inspired Tuesday

Define normal...

"Normal is an illusion.
What is normal for to the spider, is chaos to the fly."

Morticia Addams

"I See the Light"
Academy of Music, Philadelphia
March 18 - March 25, 2013
Project 52 (12/52)

The week that was...

Sometimes God speaks to me in strange ways.  Sometimes God speaks to me in strange voices.  And SOMETIMES God speaks to me wearing an extremely low cut (as in J-Lo-low-low) slinky black gown that somehow defied a wardrobe malfunction onstage.  Yes, Morticia Addams managed to get thru to me yesterday, and shed some amazing light on my perspective regarding the long suffering mom vs. teenager battles going on in my home.  

Somewhere in the midst of watching "The Addams Family" onstage in Philly yesterday, I realized I wasn't watching Morticia vs. Wednesday anymore.  It was Moi vs. MY "Wednesday".  Albeit different outfits.  REALLLLLLLY different outfits.  But the message was clear.  Be true to yourself.  Don't let others label you.  Accept others for who they are.

Kinda relevant for all ages.  Especially moms and daughters.  It should just be THAT 'normal'.

--Kathy

P.S.  You should have SEEN the chaos this spider created for my fly when I whipped out my camera to take this shot!  Yet it was completely "normal" for moi.

linked to:  Project 52, Inspire Me, Macro Monday

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/24/2013)...

Ahhhh...what a dismal first week of Spring 2013 it has been.  It's clearly black and white that the rodent from Punxy is about as accurate as any other weatherperson with his predictions.  What a low expectation profession to be in.  When people are surprised when you actually get something right.  Hmmmm...it's kinda similar to being a mom.  My heart goes out to ya Punxy Phil, I can relate.

So I've decided to do this week's Scavenger Hunt all in Black and White.  Because there is little color yet in my neck of the woods.  But more importantly...just because I want to.

This week's prompts are:  Asian, Wavy, Draw, Soft, and Texture.


1.  Asian

"Pagoda"

Reading, PA

More to come on this little treasure later this week. 

2.  Wavy

"Tulip in Black and White" 

(extra points for the creative title)

3.  Draw

"What Food These Morsels Be"

New Hope, PA

Brave souls in this establishment.  The bottles weren't glued down on this outdoor display.  Yeah, I checked.

4.  Soft

"Drive By"
Philadelphia, PA

A drive by shooting...with the camera out a car window.  Somehow, the blurry soft feeling works.  If only that had been my plan all along.

5.  Texture

"Shedding Light"
Philadelphia, PA

Just my little dining room chandelier.   HA.  THIS much texture would require waaaaaay too much dusting.

Here's hoping Spring 2013 starts to get a little color in her cheeks.  And Punxy Phil...no need to worry. You STILL have a better accuracy rate than Philly's own bow-tied "Glen Hurricane Schwartz" and his inappropriately named ACCU-Weather.  Plus, you've got 365 days to ponder next year's prediction.  Plenty of time to get er right.  No pressure.

--Kathy

linked to:   Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Weekly Top Shot, Sunday Snapshot, Simple Things, Sundays In My City

My Dearhearts...

1.  Dear Tootsie Pops,

i-phone

I now know that I can eat twelve of you before my tongue starts to REALLY hurt.  Unfortunately, you have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that I have little patience or self-control.  Yes, the Better Half has told me this for years...but I didn't believe it til twelve Tootsie Pops yelled it at me.  I have yet to reach the center of you without biting.  Sorry.



2.  Dear Perspective,

i-phone

I could REALLY use a new way of looking at a couple of things in my life right now.  STAT (remember I have little patience...just ask the Tootsie Pops).

3.  Dear Things,

i-phone

Please know that if I REALLY wanted to embarrass you....I could.



4.  Dear Snapple,

i-phone

Why don't I ever see "Snapple Fact Finder" in the Want Ads?  DREAM JOB (just sayin').

5.  Dear Jeans,

i-phone

Why must you lie??!!??  And puhleeze...don't blame it on those twelve tootsie pops.

Yours truly,

--Kathy

P.S.  Dear Readers,

All photos taken with my trusty iphone.  Not even tryin' to pass these off as photos with any technical merit.  Just passin' them off as the week that was.

linked to:  Thursday Favorite Things,Little Things Thursday, 1440, Favorite Foto Friday, Give Me Your Best Shot, Photo Story Friday, Friday Friday's Letters, Random 5 Friday

Cautiously optimistic...

Hellooooooooo first day of SPRING!!!!!

"Cautiously Optimistic - Spring 2013"
Lambertville, NJ

At least, that's what the calendar is sayin'.  Moi?  I'm skeptical.

--Kathy

linked to:   Project Alicia WW, Live and Love Out loud WW, The Gallery, The Paper Mama WW, Walk and Click, Outdoor Wednesday, Rurality Blog Hop, Black and White Wednesday

Clouds in my coffee...

"Clouds in My Coffee"
Project 52 (11/52)
March 11 - March 18, 2013
i-phone (no filters)

The week that was...

It was a week where I probably spent waaaaaay too much time on the computer.  Sometimes I just get sucked in.  Before I know it...it's tomorrow.  The same thing happens when I catch an "America's Next Top Model" telethon on tv.  Only, I think I'm more creative than Tyra (at times).  Altho, I'd REALLY like to master her whole "Sm-eye-zing" (smiling with the eyes) technique.  I should work on that sometime when I'm not on the computer.

Taking photos, editing photos, creating with photos...is my creative escape.  And last week I was happily lost.  Made a dent in my growing backlog of "to do" edits.  Which was a good thing because I also added many photos to my growing backlog of "to do" edits.  End result?  I maintained the status quo.  WINNING.

And sometimes, I get side-tracked.  Like this photo.  I was editing shots from a visit to the Reading Pagoda (post to come), and drinking my morning cup(S) of coffee.  Making a dent in the workload until I noticed the reflection of the clouds on the computer screen in my cup of java.  Off on a tangent I went.  Wish I could say this is a metaphor for my week.  It's not.  But I can tell you I was probably "Sm-eye-zing" when taking this shot.

--Kathy

linked to:  Project 52, Inspire Me, Macro Monday

   

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/17/2013)...

Welcome to the Saint Paddy's Day edition of Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  Let the Irish proverbs and blessings prevail.  After all, we are ALL a weeeeee bit Irish today.  Hoist a pint...Slainte.

The prompts this week are:  Irish, Lucky, Daylight, Pot of Gold, Clover


1.  Irish

"Shamrock Shot Glass"


I-rish you a very nice place to live,
I-rish you God's greatest gifts he'll give.
I-rish you health, and wealth and more.
I-rish your smiling face were at my door.

2.  Lucky

"Lucky Girl"

New Hope - Lambertville Bridge

May you always walk in sunshine,
may you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings,
right beside your door.

3.  Daylight

"May the Sun Shine All Day Long"

Lambertville, PA

i-phone (no filters)

May the sun shine all day long,
everything go right, and nothing go wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true.

4.  Pot of Gold

"Pot o' Tulips"


May flowers always line your path
and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you,
every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you,
in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day,
your whole life thru.

5.  Clover

"Irish Bling"

For each petal on the shamrock

this brings a wish  your way.

Good heath, good luck, and happiness

for today and every day.

Happy St. Paddy's Day, Erin go bragh...

--Kathy

linked to:   Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Weekly Top Shot, Sunday Snapshot, Simple Things, Sundays In My City

It takes a strong woman to admit...

...when she has enough shoes.  Which I totally don't.

"Men I may not know,
but shoes, shoes I know."  -- Carrie Bradshaw

"I did not have tthree-thousand pairs of shoes,

I had one-thousand and sixty."  -- Imelda Marcos

"A woman can carry a bag,
but it is the shoe that carries the woman."  -- Christian Louboutin

"Terrorism, hurricanes, and acts of God
can't part a true Imelda from her shoes."  -- Jane Blahnik

All photos taken during a stroll in Lambertville, NJ while wearing my strolling shoes.

--Imelda

linked to:   Cool Clicks Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things,Little Things Thursday, 1440, Favorite Foto Friday, Give Me Your Best Shot, Photo Story Friday, Friday Photo Journal, 52 Photos Project

Trespassing is just another word for...

...EXPLORING.  Right?

"Hidden Treasures"
Lambertville, NJ

You just never know what you might find when you walk down a private alley into someone's backyard.  As long as it isn't the police, I'm okay with that.

--Kathy

linked to:   Project Alicia WW, Live and Love Out loud WW, The Gallery, The Paper Mama WW, Walk and Click, Outdoor Wednesday, Rurality Blog Hop, Black and White Wednesday

One extra hour...

So what did I do with my one extra hour of daylight yesterday?  I ventured somewhere I hadn't been for quite awhile...

...my own backyard.    It's been kinda squishy and swampy out there during the winter months.  So I've been content to just admire it from afar.  That would be from my sunroom window.  The colors still haven't emerged from hibernation, but...

...I have to admit it looked downright dreamy up close and personal-like.  

Granted, maybe not quite "Hugh Grant" dreamy yet.  But at least "Colin Firth" dreamy.  And that's a good thing.  Cause a girl's gotta dream.  Especially when she has an extra hour of daylight to do it in.

--Kathy

linked to:  Tuesdays Around the World, Tones on Tuesday, Our World Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, 52 Weeks of Happiness, Tuesday Muse

"Do you see that out there?...

...The strange, unfamiliar sight?

It's called the sun.

Let's go get us a little."

--Nora Roberts, The Hollow

"Daylight Savings Time"

Project 52 (10/52)

March 4 - March 11, 2013

The week that was...

To most,  the new year begins on January 1st.  For moi?  It's always Daylight Savings Time when we get that extra hour of daylight back.  I've missed you.  Welcome back sun and light.

Happy New Year!

--Kathy

linked to:  Project 52, Inspire Me, Macro Monday

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/10/2013)...

Welcome to the "what a difference a day makes" edition of Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  Wow.  Snowed Friday.  Almost 60 degrees and sunny on Saturday.  Gotta love when Mother Nature gets a hot flash.  So I grabbed my sister and HER camera, and we headed up to Lambertville, NJ.  To get out of the house, to soak in some rays, and to find some of the Scavenger Hunt prompts that we had previously decided we were gonna skip this week.  Mother Nature made a procrastinator outta me.

This week's prompts are:  #5,  Word of the Day, Sharing, Wiggle, and Cookies.


1. #5

"Five"
Lambertville, NJ

Man!!!  The number of antique stamps I had to go thru to find the only FIVE.  Apparently FIVE is the loneliest number.

2.  Word of the Day

" -ish "
Lambertville, NJ

The word of the day at THIS store is apparently.... -ish.

3.  Sharing

"Sharing"
Lambertville, NJ

Sharing time, sharing space.

4.  Wiggle

"Swimming in Sunshine"
Lambertville, NJ

Wiggle in water.  Waddle on land.  Woefully I can relate.

5.  Cookies

"Canine Cookies"
New Hope, PA

And after Lambertville, we walked allllllll the way to Pennsylvania for the prompt that my dogs loved the best.  Sounds more extreme than it was.  All we had to do was walk across a bridge.  Just don't tell my dogs.  They think I'd go to the ends of the Earth for them.  At least I went to Jersey.

Thank you Mother Nature for giving me the push I needed.  Between the mild temps, and Daylight Savings Time, I'm a happy camper.  Hope you all are getting to soak up some rays too.  It might only be a temporary reprieve but...I'll take it!!!

--Kathy

linked to:   Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Weekly Top Shot, Sunday Snapshot, Simple Things, Sundays In My City