Sylvia's Simple Shots

I have had to remind myself recently to Not Give Up!  I have had challenges with the car, the house, creatively with cards and photography and then there is the pandemic! 

I took a picture of a park bench at a church yard in my neighbourhood. Plastic ends with 5 pieces of painted 2 x4 and lickadee split you have a bench. I was inspired to use it as a quote back drop.   Here it is!

Things are hard and hopefully we are not all down at the same time.  When you feel better be sure to encourage those around you!  You don't know who may need it so just give it when you can.

I have had quite a few flying creatures appear on my balcony recently which is quite unusual.  I have had a couple of sparrows just sit on the rail for a few minutes just where I can see them.  They never stay long enough for me to get the camera but I enjoyed them anyway.

This large dragonfly staying for quite a while and I was able to get the camera. I wondered what it was doing.  Upon checking the photo on the computer you can see a set of wings right next to the corner.  I checked on line for what they eat and they are carnivores!  I expect it was eating a fly.  Wow!  I did not see that coming.  

I think of them as pretty and mild kind of creatures!

I  have been filling my face full of ripe chokecherries on my walks in the last few mornings.  They are always better after a freeze which I hope is not near. 

Canada Red Chokecherry trees are full of them and I can pick the bottom ones and leave the high ones for the birds.

I finished "The Paris Orphan" by Natasha Lester this week.  It was a great read. 

Set in the 1940's during World War II and then in modern times.  The main character Jessica May goes from model to photojournalist covering the war in Italy, France and Germany.  Victorine is the orphan that Dan Hallworth, an American soldier has rescued and "adopted" as she has no one else.  Dan is a good man and a great leader so is being promoted during this conflict.  He is working hard to motivate his men, protect the women (journalists and nurses) and children. There are many twists and turns in the story so keeping it all straight is a challenge.  Great characters which are honorable, trustworthy, prepared to do the hard stuff and love with all their hearts!

After talking with my sister yesterday about the papers I posted here I decided to give it one more try.

I made this one this morning and it comes much closer to what I had in mind.

I used liquid acrylic ink in teal, chrome yellow and silver metallic on this grey patterned designer paper.  I was looking for ink splotches.  I achieved this by knocking my wet paintbrush against another directly above the card stock from about 2 feet.

Really happy with this one.

I have found several window paintings during my walks around town.  These are reflections on windows of building where the glass creates a distorted image of the reflections.  The panes around it are flat and reflect the objects quite realistically but these are different.   I don't know what accounts for one pane being less flat than those near it but it does create nice images!

Flickr Macro Monday's challenge this week was "water". That should be easy!  Again, I don't know if it is my head space or what but it was another challenging week with hundreds of photos taken and not really meeting the concept in my mind.

On the left is a bubble showing off all it's color. You can check my Flicker SMDPics photo stream to see which one I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #92 and with Mersad who hosts Through my Lens #252.  You can check out my Instagram SMDPics100 for a photo a day!

Welcome to my Kitchen

We had a great time at Welcome to my Kitchen today. 

We had a few away sick so the crowd was a bit smaller than usual. 

As you can see the food was terrific.  A wife saver breakfast dish, fruit, and biscuits.  We had a dedicated husband who delivered the snacks his wife had prepared for us.  Thanks so much!  I am bringing my own travel mug now that I am drinking caffeine free tea. 

There were birthdays to remember. 

Devotions focused on rainbows which reminds us that God is always good. A storm is followed by a beautiful display of color which is a sign of God's covenant with us.

Good prayer time and I had to leave the gang in fellowship as I had to be home by 11:30 am.

Recent Photos

It's time to harvest the produce from the garden. I am grateful that those who have them share the spoils.

I was to visit my Mom last week who shared potatoes and carrots from her garden.  I was able to pick some dill as well which I will freeze for winter dishes.

A friend shared a few cherry tomatoes and some basil. 
Yummy!

I bought a 20 lbs case of free stone peaches last week while I was visiting Mom.

I arrived at the store at 8:00 am and 10 cases walked out the door by 8:05 am. There were several of us waiting for the BC truck to be unloaded.

Mom and I canned 7 quarts on Wednesday morning.

I have been cutting them up and freezing the chunks on trays so I can take just what I want for my cereal in the mornings this winter.

I have been eating my fill fresh as well.

I am working on photos for a show at the end of the year.  It's focus is abstract art.

Top Left: Shadows on concrete to which I added a filter to highlight the edges.
Top Right: I thought this one looks like rock cliffs but it is a piece of rotted wood.

Bottom Left: This is a reflection of rails in a window.
Bottom Right: This is some tar type sealer which has cracked and aged.  I have applied a filter to enhance the texture.

The birds were really feeding this morning.

There were Chickadees, Nuthatches and of course Sparrows.

The sunlight was wonderful on my walk this morning.

He was keeping an eye on me as well as getting seeds.

The challenge on Flickr Macro Monday this week theme was GoesTogetherLike.  This is Black & White.  I placed the discs on the opposite colored piece of card stock.

I am sharing with Mosaic Monday 42 hosted by Angie at Letting Go ofthe Bay Leaf.

Through my Lens 205 hosted by Mersad.

Welcome to my Kitchen - Wrap Up

It was our Wrap Up for the summer event this morning.

We invited the Baby Song, Quilting, Cardmaking and the regulars to get together this morning.  We had a large group of ladies attend this morning and a few children. 

Each group participated in bring food and there was plenty for everyone.  Quiche, fruit, yogurt, and fresh fruit.  Tea and coffee!

Devotions was based on "Fear Not" Isaiah 43:1-7.

We prayed for the forest fires burning in the north and the first responders.  Fire fighters, police officers, and those supporting them with food, rest, and emotional support.   For D-Day June 6, 1944 veterans, their families, and the chaos that is war.  For the general state of our world and the relationships among nations changes.

Raised a few dollars for missionaries overseas.   Books came in and went out. 

A good time was had by all!

Welcome to my Kitchen

This morning was the get together of our women's fellowship group - Welcome to my Kitchen. 

I was on snacks along with another lady.  I made Orange Cranberry Bran muffins which disappeared quickly.  I brought yogurt and some cheese cubes.  Veggie straws and fresh fruit were also included.

I enjoyed a big mug of tea.  Many enjoyed hot coffee.  The table was over flowing with food and folks. 

It was a very good morning. 

Devotions focused on "We are unique and God's handiwork." 

Prayer time had many health concerns.

Books were swapped and many went home with new reads for the month. 

Good conversations took place. 

Welcome to my Kitchen

We had fellowship again with our group - Welcome to my Kitchen. 

Our hostess provided a wonderful array of goodies.

Tea served in Royal Albert Mug.  This set of mugs is part of the 100 year anniversary launched in 2006 and updated in 2016.

I love large mugs and bone china is always so nice.

Snacks included home made bread toast with Apricot and Raspberry jam.

Fresh fruit including strawberries, pineapple, melon, and grapes.

Lemon loaf with real lemon zest in it.

Yogurt in a variety of flavors.

There was tea biscuits and small muffins.

Devotions was on Psalm 136 which reminds us that we are always loved.

We had a really good time and raised a few dollars for missions.

Our numbers were down this month to 13.  Every one had a good time.

Mosaic Monday

A young lady celebrated a birthday on the weekend with a grand party!  That is a great banner.

She invited 7 friends who thought they were arriving at Hogwarts but instead they became prisoners in Azkiban. 

There were Dementors hanging about.  The prisoners had their mug shots taken with a Polaroid.  They made owl zipper pulls.

The girls squealed when they opened their t-shirts!!  They had to solve a code written on their shirts in chibis.  There was an owl stuffie who delivered a message.

There was potion water, snacks and cake of course. The girls had a great time!

The cake on the bottom left was the one served for the family party in the evening. Note: the lighting bolts which Harry had on his forehead.

Sharing with Maggie at Normandy Life hosting Mosaic Monday #83.

June Photo a Day Challenge - Week 4

Here's another week's worth of pictures for Kati's June Photo a Day Challenge. We could post every day or once a week.

Day 22 - Green

I thought I would put a twist to my green photo and chose a golf green.  I was not sure if I could close enough with out getting beaned in the head with a ball but I just had to try.  It worked and there was no one around.

Day 23 - Pair

I found this pair of chairs at the Ellis Bird Farm on the weekend. They were located at the Wetland Center on the farm and the white and navy blue were perfect for the water focus of this area. They matched the trim on the building perfectly. Looks inviting!

Day 24 - Hot

This is a cup of hot tea!  I chose a different angle for this shot. I shot it from the absolute top which shows the doily encircling the cup. I'm happy with it.  

Day 25 - Cold

This is a cold lemonade drink we had at lunch today at the downtown square.  I love the idea of putting an actual lemon in the glass. It was full of ice cubes which put condensation on the outside of the glass. 

Day 26 - Thermometer

I chose an outdoor thermometer with a digital display.  It was a really nice day with a bit of a wind to cool me off a bit. The display rotates with the time so I had to wait for the temperature and ends up with several shots to get it right.

Day 27 - Fruit

I chose rhubarb as the fruit.  My sister gave me some on the weekend and I'm chopping it up and cooking it up to eat with yogurt.

Day 28 - Yellow

You will know that yellow is one of my favorite colors from my earlier post.  It has to be a golden warm yellow not the clear green kind.  My favorite flowers are sunflowers which are yellow.  I placed them in a nice yellow vase. I glad the shot work out so well.