Tag Archives: WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Similar Smiles

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“Smile a while, and while you smile, another smiles. And soon, there are miles and miles of smiles. And life’s worthwhile because you smile.” 

I spent last weekend at my son’s wedding celebration, surrounded by similar smiles. Genetics and orthodontia have collaborated to give my kids what I believe (in the most unbiased way) are the most beautiful smiles on Earth. My hobby and therapy is collecting as many as I can to look at when they’re not around. 

 

The smile that started it all, and the one I miss every day:

Smile

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Sunrise, Sunset

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Many years ago, four members of my family were cast in a community theater production of Fiddler on the Roof –  my late husband, myself, my son and my daughter. My son, fabulous dancer that he is, performed in the Russian cossack dance and the Jewish bottle dance. To bring this full circle, we will be celebrating my son’s wedding ceremony this weekend. 

The wedding scene in the musical features a beautiful tune called “Sunrise, Sunset”.
“…Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember growing older, when did they?
What words of wisdom can I give them,
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another,
Day by day.”

To Josh and Daena: may all your sunrises and sunsets together fill you with joy and wonder!  

Rise/Set

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Favorite Place

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You might as well ask me, “Which is your favorite child?”
How can I choose between woodland lakes…

…and desert canyons……or even my own front yard? 

I will just say that this place called Earth is my favorite and my home, and I will defend her to my dying day. I will take her as a whole and not state a preference for certain parts. She is a mosaic of interdependent cells, a Being of utter complexity and uniqueness. 

Coastal redwoods – taller but not as big around as sequoia gigantea
The Green River flows through Dinosaur National Monument
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado

Favorite Place

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: I’d Rather Be…honest

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How do I finish this sentence? “I’d rather be….” It presents a bit of a conflict.

If I can think of other things I’d rather be doing, then I’m not engaging with the present moment and the thing that I’m doing right now. I’d like to be a person that practices the discipline of positive presence, but honestly, I do a lot of wishful thinking.

That said…here’s what I would enjoy doing, any time!

#1 – Hanging out with my adult children. They are all tremendously stimulating individuals, and I’m very attached to them…and they all live at least 70 miles away from me. So occasions to be together are always a treat. Occasions when all five of us are together are extra special!

#2 – Camping. “Can I play outside? Please?” 

#3 – Making music, dancing to music, listening to music

So my complete fantasy would be singing around a campfire with all my kids. Hasn’t happened yet, but maybe some day….
Yeah, that would be a real Kumbaya moment. Peace out!

I’d Rather Be…

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Story

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“For this week’s challenge, do some visual storytelling with your photography.”
Once upon a time…

Sand Canyon, Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado

I am terribly afraid that this story will end in mining and development and that the places where these photos were taken will be forever altered. However, there is always a chance to re-write the ending. 

Story

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Out of This World

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The Earth is a vastly fascinating place! You may think of rocks and trees and animals as familiar things, but they are often as unknown and otherworldly as specimens from Mars.

Here’s an example of a cave formation in Wind Cave National Park known as “boxwork”. Could be the surface of a distant planet, don’t you think?

Could these be aerial photos of alien landscapes? Or the skins and bodies of alien life forms?

Does this structure look like something you’ve seen before? 

turkey feathers

This one could be a satellite image of life on a distant moon. caterpillarThe startling discovery of unfamiliar living things is possible in your own back yard. Go take a look!

Out of This World

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Weekly Photo Challenge: SWEEEEEET!

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You don’t like sugar because it’s sweet. Sugar is sweet because you like it!
It’s all about brain chemistry and evolution…and out-dated adaptations for survival.
Today is Valentine’s Day and the beginning of Lent. There’s a dividing line for you! Do you indulge in pleasure or do you fast?
We certainly are complex organisms, with all of this to consider: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
So, here are some visual temptations to ponder while you consider your choices. 

Sweet

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Wisconsin Tour Guide

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“Share with us an image, or two, or three, (or more!) of where you live.” 

If you look up over this post title, you will see two links to separate pages labelled “Wisconsin Historical” and “Wisconsin Outdoors”. You will find quite a few more than three photos there!

I moved to Wisconsin 7 years ago from Illinois, and have absolutely fallen in love with my new home state. I used to summer at Girl Scout camp as a child in northern Wisconsin, but I’ve come to feel like I’ve always belonged outside, here, even after living for 15 years in California. When I first moved north, I worked for 3 summers at Old World Wisconsin, a 575-acre living history museum that recreates 19th century farm and town settlement. Last year, I moved onto a property that is owned by the land trust that employs me. I have thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by 56 acres of Wisconsin woodland, wetland, and restored prairie. 

Wisconsin is a ridiculously photogenic state. It can take your breath away, fill you with pride, and surprise you at every outing. When we’re out hiking, my partner Steve very often just flings wide his arms and remarks (to nobody in particular), “Ladies and gentlemen — Wisconsin!”

Yes, it deserves your attention and applause. Here’s why: 

Mineral Point
Photo credit: Carol Toepke
Old World Wisconsin

Tour Guide

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Beloved

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A kiss, a hug, interlocking arms, smiling side-by-side, a loving glance, a delicate touch – these are tokens from a beloved. 

And to witness, record, and return these tokens, oh best beloveds, is my love gift to you.

— dedicated to my family. 

Beloved

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Variations on a Theme

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In my mind, there can only be one theme for today. Today is my daughter Susan’s birthday. I’ve been photographing her for 33 years now. She is one of my very favorite subjects, not simply because she has a beautiful smile and is ridiculously photogenic, but also because she is an extraordinarily caring person. You can see how her warmth touches the other subjects in these photos. 

Engrossed in escape

Happy Birthday, my darling daughter! May your endlessly creative variations continue for many more years. 

Variations on a Theme