Tuesday Photo Challenge – Animals

Jansenphoto has a fun Tuesday Photo challenge and I haven’t played in awhile. But today was right up my alley, animals, and I had to play.

As pet owners across this world, we think we have pets for our fun and entertainment but truth be known, we are the pets and they are the owners. Example: Can’t you wait two minutes until the commercial? Answer, No – Fine. Thank goodness for the pause button.

Then of course when it is time for bed, who really owns it and can I please get in? It’s not your bed!

IMG_20200218_131043 — What do you mean it’s not my bed??

And of course, I just HAD to have another dog…so now the sofa is somewhat off limits as well. I get the end edge.

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Then you have those pets with attitude and the proverbial ability of talking back. I don’t know if your dogs do this trick but two out of the three dogs in this house do.

The grumbling mumbling tone I hear says “Do you not understand what I am telling you?” And of course, she is teaching Daisy all the tricks.

My daughter lives downstairs in the basement and her dog Max has looks that can kill, or make you roll over laughing.

IMG_20190526_223145 — I can’t believe you asked me that question!

But we love our furbabies. From cats to dogs to exotics, they make us smile and bring us joy. Especially now that we are cooped up inside our homes. May you enjoy my furbabies and I look forward to seeing the animals you post.

And as always I remind you to be kind. Right now we all need the help and kindness of each other to survive this mess.

Kindhelp

Tuesday Photo Challenge, Glow

Jansen Photo has a wonderful weekly challenge that I try to play with often and today, due to the season, it is right up my alley – the Glow of Christmas.

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The lights seem to glow brighter at this time of year with hope, love and joy being shared more freely. Come join in with TPC and share the beauty of the lights you see, the glow and happiness of a child, or how the theme moves you to share.

And as you share in this weeks theme, remember the season and why He came, the love He gave and the kindness He shared and try to always be kind.

Medium — Let the light of Christ glow from you.

Back Catalog, TPC

Photography is a wonderful means to create reminders of things we saw, things that move us and pull us back to that memory or things that scare us. The photo I am submitting saddens me each time I see it and recently I drove back out there and it is still the same. I ask the question to my self as I have no idea who to ask but …”Why is this allowed to remain this way?”

Death and crash of a tree in a place of remembrance for those who have live.

B&W grave — Grave was created 100 years ago

I changed this to black and white with heightened light and clarity to give it a more lost look of apathy. Fits in with this month celebration, as some do, of death.

Life that goes to fast to remember is a life not worth living. It is our story, good and bad, that makes us who we are. And nothing is all bad…there is always a silver lining somewhere, you just have to find it.

It is my Christian belief that we all have a purpose on this earth to share the gifts God has given us and he has given all gifts…love, kindness, blessings…the air we breathe. And I believe we are all meant to share his attributes in any way we can. So as you go about your day, try to remember to show kindness in any way you can.

Kind breeze

Tuesday Photo Challenge, Stone

Yes, I am way behind but I still want to play with the TPC challenge as I actually went hunting for ideas for this prompt. Then I took pictures of lots of things and forgot to post my pictures of stone. Some of us are more challenged than others in remembering what side of the street we need to be on. Thanks jansenphoto for the weekly fun. This week we are playing with stone and since I am late, I have already read a lot of the post and they are great.

IMG_20190924_123351 — Quad-Cities Timer Capsule

What a fun thing for a city to do to measure its growth, good or bad. Probably wont be around another 30 years to see whats in it.

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Below is another stone depicting the German immigration into the area back in the late 1800’s.

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There are several statues around town for the different peoples who fled their oppressed country to come here to start over. I will post those one day.

And remember, all of us are sometimes hurting, some a little, some a lot. Reach out with kindness and help them get through the day.

flower kind1

Tuesday Photo Challenge, City

This week’s Tuesday Photo Challenge is City. Since I have lived in several cities of various sizes, I can see good for all sizes depending on the natural vibe of each city.

Coming from over 20 years in a big city(Atlanta) to the midwest was a welcome change of less chaos, less heat(duration, it still gets too hot here) but the jury is still out on me liking the cold. I traded one very large city for 4 medium sized cities, the Quad Cities. Its a metropolitan area divided by the Mississippi River between two different states with two cities on each side of the river.

Quadcity — Green is Davenport Iowa, Yellow is Bettendorf Iowa, Red is Rock Island Illinois and Blue is Moline Illinois, together we are the Quad Cities.

What that does is create enough business and culture within the 4 cities without too much massiveness, about 400K total. But these cities have been on this river with its history for a long time.

IMG_20190720_185908 — Looking toward Illinois

IMG_20190827_095219 — Looking toward Iowa

IMG_20190827_095232 — One of 5 bridges connecting the Quad Cities, one being totally rebuilt.

Growing up on the rivers of Florida, I have a special love for rivers. I enjoy the interesting mix of tug boats and play boats. I apologize for not have the right camera for far distant shots but thought you could still enjoy.

I found this new street art today about the uniqueness of the 4 cities and wanted to share.

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And though the river does rule us from time to time when flooding, we still enjoy its heritage and its beauty.

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As you celebrate your city, remember its history as that is what makes the city what it currently is, and as always remember to be kind.

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Key Variations, TPC

Dutch Goes the Photo has given us a fun challenge of a word of “key” that could go in MANY directions. I have chosen four angles on the word key and looking forward to seeing others ideas. Come join in on the fun of Tuesday Photo Challenge.

First we have my grandmother’s china cabinet with a key my children loved to play with when young.

The next variation I chose is key ingredients in making yummy oatmeal cookies.

IMG_20190820_114015 — Making some on Saturday…yum

The third variations deals more with a Christian truth we hang onto as a key of hope.

IMG_20190820_114249 — Revelation 1:17, 18

The fourth is a lot more illusive with more variations than the word “key”. The KEY to Happiness. To me happiness is not a fleeting feeling but an inner joy of hope we have in Jesus Christ and staying in tune with his words. Will things blow up, yes. Does life get hard, yes. Do I fail at it daily, yes. Do others not believe as I do, yes. But for me, I have that Key hope that He will always be by my side, guiding, comforting, loving and I always try to pass on the key of hope He gives us by being kind as a key way of life.

Tuesday Photo Challenge, Sculpture

Here in the midwest, there is not a lot of sculpture around. You have the occasional old building gargoyle or the lions on the concrete steps up to the older houses so I was amazed when I saw this one the other day. I rode around the block trying to find where I could park so the I could see it up close. I knew eventually I would be able to use it and sure enough, Frank, of Dutch Goes the Photo, has given us a sculpture prompt for the TPC.

It stands 20-25 feet high with a large metal sign making it a good 30 feet total height. And it is totally carved from an old tree that probably died where it once graced this lovely home.

statue

The home is now home to Freedom Homes Ministries, a place to help those who need a second chance at life.

Remember, there are many times we all need a second chance to start over. God gives us a new chance every morning, so smile and be thankful for all the love he gives us and share it with others. The kindness and love you share spreads out like ripples on the water, so throw those pebbles of love often and watch them spread out bumping into other ripples creating a sea of love and kindness.

kind ripples

Wall Beautification, TPC

I love how it has become so acceptable to turn old city building walls into works of art. One day this fall, when it cools a bit, I am going to take a walking tour to find as many as I can in our area. This weeks photo challenge from JansenPhoto was Wall so I went in the direction of refurbished walls.

The wall below is a newer street art on a local bar at one of the busiest sections of the street near the bridge. I wish I had taken a picture before and after because the wall was in bad need of painting. Well they painted it and the likeness for nighttime view is pretty close.

Pub Wall

I saw a few weeks ago a brand new one starting up right downtown on the back wall of the symphony practice building and I thought how very appropriate. It is being done by the Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Artist. It is not fully complete but I thought I would share so you really appreciate it when it is complete and I will repost it.

Symphony Wall

Art is a major form of creative passion and there are many forms that can be created from music, painting, photography, sculpting, writing, cooking, gardening… I could go on forever. Art is anything thing that is created by one person for others to enjoy. Think about the master creative artist…God, who gives out these gifts of creative arts because of his passion for creating. He created us and he wants us to share in his passion. So we should all enjoy these wonderful gifts and use them to encourage others to be happy and kind and to brings smile to all.

So remember to smile, be kind and enjoy all the beauty of creation and the art of those who enjoy creating art.

artflower — SHARE YOUR GIFT THROUGH KINDNESS

The Great Outdoors, fpj-photo-challenge

While this week’s challenge from Jansen Photo is Outdoors, I believe it is meant for the beauty of nature…well, I am going to bend that just a bit and be amazed by the architecture of man spanning the Mississippi River. After all, it is outdoors. This bridge has been under construction now for about 2 years and I think it is due to open by end of next year. It has been amazing to watch, I posted earlier pictures in November if you care to go see those here. We went across to the other side and had to use this bridge – what a reroute you have to go through right now, glad I don’t have to use it everyday because the roads are moving as well.

But I was amazed at the progress, especially knowing the winter we went through and the massive flood (91 days) that has just now settled back into its banks.

So check out these pictures and remember even though man can aggravate you at time, he can be pretty amazing as well. I also realize that I am a bit of a geek since I came from quality management but I think these are neat. Hope you enjoy.

These white things sticking in the air are going to be archways spanning across.

And in closing, I remind you to maybe reach out and build a bridge over to someone or something who needs to cross into kindness. It may bring brightness into their lives.

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Do Spiders Fly???, Fun Challenges

The antics of spiders in web-making is amazing to me…as long as they stay outside. Jansen Photo’s challenge today is Radiant. I was not sure if I could play with this challenge but the picture I took of the web I thought was neat showing the sun radiating across it and the light fracturing as it hit the window and camera lens.

IMG_20190625_083709 — Web is over 5′ high and measures nearly 6′ in length to a nearby flower

I so enjoy sitting on my couch writing where I can watch the antics of the birds a they come to feed on my three feeders. Today they became part of Cee’s photo challenge of 3. Three feeders and three birds feeding if not more.

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Or how about the beauty of my miniature orchid with it 3 flowers on one stem.

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The fun we have sharing our enjoyment of photography and blogging with each other can be so inspiring. Thanks to all who share what they love.

And as we share the fun, remember to share in the kindness of the fun. Kindness brings smiles and makes the fun last.