Photo Blogging Challenge (August 2021): Adventures

My adventures in July made me completely miss last month's link up but I'm here in time for more adventures this month. 

Sometimes you don't have to go very far to find adventure. I didn't expect any of these right outside my back door. 

Oh, hey buddy. I'm not sure what's worse: that he was there in the first place or that I have no idea where he went.

 

This guy was as big as my foot!

And then I almost walked right through this headed to check on the pool equipment.

Enough of that, I got myself a new (to me) adventure wagon. A 1970 Kaiser Jeepster Commando. It needs a little bit of work but is very drivable as is.

Out walking the dog, the skies turned it into an adventure.

That's five. That'll do! It's such a weird time we're living in. It seems like I have nothing but time abut have no time to get things done. These challenges offer a good distraction. I hope you join in next time.

Photo Blogging Challenge (June 2021): DIY

This year has really started flying by! I can't believe June is already behind us. I wish I could say I specifically took photos with the theme in mind and didn't back into it after the fact but here we are. Let's see what I can come up with!

I definitely grew the basil myself using my new Aerogarden that I never knew I needed until I saw one in a previous challenge! I assembled the salad myself as well. 

We have a bit of a leaky pond so, after doing some research, I am trying a polymer that allows application through the water column and is supposed to find its way to the leak and seal it. It was a nasty process and we needed to be careful not to get it in our eyes or lungs since moisture makes it expand. We'll see how this works out. 

Not my project but a DIY nonetheless. My Great Aunt and Uncle lived in Brooklyn in the 50s and 60s and wanted a place to put a picnic table and enjoy the woods and bought this chunk of land in Cuddebackville, NY. Over time, using material recycled from buildings being torn down in the city, they built this wonderful cabin. As they had no children, they left it to my mom when they passed. She spends her summers up there as she did as a child. 

My oldest, on our last visit to the cabin a little more than 10 years ago, told my mom that he wanted to make a wine bottle candle holder. He did. She still uses it today.

A big DIY hobby is Amateur Radio. June brought the annual ARRL field day where we spend 24 hours testing the emergency capabilities of our equipment. Running off of solar power or generators, we attempt to make as many contacts worldwide as we can. This gentleman seated operates CW, or Morse Code, and this was his 66th consecutive field day! He made somewhere near 400 contacts this year.

How did I do? How did you do? July's theme is Happy! That should be easy as it's a big birthday month in my family. See you soon.

Photo Blogging Challenge (May 2021): Spring Has Sprung

 Spring has sprung indeed! 

It's a time of new growth.

 

A time of way more rain than we usually receive.

 

 

Old friends return.

 

And love is in the air!

I hope everyone had a great May, now on to June!

Photo Blogging Challenge (April 2021): Drink Up

I don't know if I mis-remembered the prompt or just didn't pay attention but I had to rework my plans and see what I could make work. Wish me luck and bare with me as we Drink Up!

Let's start by drinking up that green and gold as my Baylor Bears win the NCAA Basketball Championship in true champion fashion.

Drinking up those April showers. We'll be missing the rain come July.

After the showers, we'll drink up some outdoors and sunshine.

Drinking up some family time and silly traditions.

Oh, hey, did I mention my Baylor Bears are National Champs? We'll end it as we started. But it's a good thing we Drank Up the celebration because just a few days later our Hall of Fame Women's Basketball Coach of 21 years moved on to another school.

I definitely know that in May Spring Has Sprung and will work towards that end! :)

Photo Blogging Challenge (March 2021): Eight

I couldn't quite decide what to do this month. I had a couple of ideas but I'd done something similar to them before so I decided to wing it and just see what happens. These are five from eights.

March 8: A friend had this machine in his garage for the last 20 years or so. It played great for about an hour and then the CRT went out. I've since plunged into the world of video game repair and will soon be trying my luck on replacing a CRT.

March 17 (1+7): St. Patrick's Day dessert

March 18: Penney poses.

March 26 (2+6): Hibiscus in bloom.

March 28: Full moon

There are my 5 of 8. Did it work? I reckon it did. Thanks for looking and hope to see you next month!

PHOTO BLOGGING CHALLENGE (FEBRUARY 2021): I SPY WITH MY EYE

February was a crazy month for Texas. In three days time we went from -6F to 70F. Many folks lost power and water for several days. We were fortunate that we did not and were able to provide for our less fortunate family members. 

This months theme was "I Spy With My Eye". I've made mine an all animal edition. Let's get started.

I spied this little squirrel trying to hide behind the tree

 

Rosie had never seen so much snow before. She would run until her feet hurt from the cold. Even then we'd have to make her come in.

This little guy was small but quick!

I took advantage of a neighbors bird feeder to scope out some visitors.

These friends were waiting for me when I got home from work one day.

That's five. I had so many to choose from this month. You can take a look at my month at my flickr site. View the rest of this month's submissions at a lil hoohaa. See you next month.

January Photo Challenge: Change and Hope

A change in the calendar is expected to bring change or at least the hope of change. There is plenty than I am hopeful that will change. Let's see what I have in the old camera bag.

A dawn of a new day at the start of a new year. What could be better? 

How's this for change? Snow in Waco. Real, actual snow, not that slushy stuff we get on occasion.

Can't think of a better day to take a dip in the lake! I love my adventurous friends.

We had a pretty bad fire out at the family ranch. Fortunately, it didn't damage any structures and will allow for a beautiful spring, I hope!

A change in power in the US and our first female Vice President. What a day!

January was a decent month. We're seeing hospitalizations coming down here. Folks are slowly getting vaccinated. I'm on the waiting list. Soon I hope.

Check out the other participants over at a lil hoohaa, join us next month!

Food Photo Challenge (December 2020): Festive

Festive! The Christmas season is all about it! Colors, lights, smells, and even food is more festive. I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season! 

Photo Blogging Challenge (December 2020): The Magic Of The Season

The end of 2020 kind of caught me by surprise. As slow as the middle was going, December was here and gone. I tried to capture a good mix of the magic of the season for this month's challenge. Like much of the year, our Christmas looked different this year.

I have found myself waking up earlier these day. I also have spent much more time at our family's place out in the country. A good place to social distance, unplug, and decompress. I've been treated to some beautiful colors.

Our group that promotes Downtown Waco still held their annual Cocoa Crawl. It was well attended again and they only allowed six people at a time in the shops but I fell it moved well and we were kept quite safe.

Our decorations went up a little earlier this year. Why not?

These folks won a nationally televised contest a few years ago. Something like The Great Christmas Light Challenge. It's a ways out in the country but the cars were lined up for miles. Luckily, I know a short cut. 

I figured I'd best include an obligatory family Christmas mask shot. We usually have a big gathering at our house but we decided not to gather this year. We had a nice dinner at my in-laws and spent the rest of the day at home. 

Another year gone. Happy new year to you all. I hope 2021 is a better year for us all. 

Photo Blogging Challenge (November 2020) – Thankful

I'm not sure how this year can be both moving at a snails pace as well as blowing on through to December already. Thanksgiving was a bit different this year, as I mentioned in the Food Blogging post, my wife tested positive for both COVID-19 and Flu B a few days before the holiday. So we spent it apart from family and even each other as I isolated myself to the guest room. Yet we still have plenty for which to be thankful.

We've had some gorgeous skies the last couple of months, the sun sets out our living room window so it can really catch your attention.

My dad had another heart scare early this month, what kept in in the hospital for 38 days eight years ago only took 36 hours this time. Modern medicine is amazing. They were able to replace his aortic valve again without having to crack open his chest. And here he is just a handful of days later like nothing had ever happened and stronger than ever. 

Sunrises like to show off a little bit too, sometimes.

I'm thankful that despite all the added hardships, these two gentleman, who have been friends since kindergarten, were awarded their Eagle badges in a joint ceremony and that we were able to find a place that was willing to work with our social distancing requirements to honor and celebrate them. 

Finally, but not really as I have much more to be thankful over, I am thankful for two wonderful yoga instructors who have shown me the ways of both the yin and the yang. The slow long stretches of yin yoga have really helped with joint issues and balance as I age, the vinyasa flows working on the yang side have helped build strength and stability.

I'm also very thankful of PJ for continuing to host this challenge and for all of you who participate as well. I always enjoy seeing what the world looks like from your eyes!

Food Photo Challenge (November 2020): Plate it

I may take too many food photos. When I eat somewhere new or something new, I like to document what I've eaten. More for myself than anyone else. There have been times when I remembered a particular dish but not the details. It's nice to be able to find that info when I want it.

This is not one of those photos. Thanksgiving was quite different this year as on Wednesday, my wife tested positive for both COVID and Flu B. She was feeling bad so had already isolated a few days earlier. I'm still clear and she's doing much better. But, she was cooking most of the meal and having her parents over (they are in our pod as they live nearby and Amy sees them just about every day). So we took what food we had to her mom and her mom ended up cooking for us and preparing a take out for us to enjoy. The boys and I had a quiet meal in the dining room while Amy enjoyed Turkey in bed. Since my dad was also unable to visit, I couldn't go a Thanksgiving without my grandmother's cornbread dressing so I made my own for the first time. That's it in the middle of plate and why I have two different dressings. It turned out pretty good so I think I'll be able to carry on that tradition.

 

Food Photo Challenge (October 2020): Candy

Welp, I thought the prompt was Sweets. Turns out it is Candy. Here is a photo of some Halloween cookies anyway!

Photo Blogging Challenge (October 2020): The Great Outdoors

This month's Photo Challenge theme was The Great Outdoors. We had some nice weather to enjoy outdoors for sure!

Started out the month hanging out at the cabin at The Ranch.

The drive-ins have made a comeback; unfortunately all of our in door theaters are going bankrupt. But it was good to see a movie on the big screen.

Creeping slowly back in to scouts. Trying to see who is still around before we have to renew our charter. Outdoors, masked, and distanced.

We drove up to Dallas to check out the Pumpkin Patch at the the Dallas Arboretum. Timed entries and masks kept everyone safe.

Quick temperature changes have made for some cool weather features.

That's five. Another month done. Check out the others and join us for November.