random reflections

Take Three Thursday: Halloween Decorations

Halloween is less than a week away. I have yet to do much decorating, (not a pumpkin in sight,) but on one of my walks this week, I spotted some cute Halloween decorations in the neighborhood. 

This string of bright orange witches' hats caught my eye immediately, and then I saw the reflection of them in the window.

A more traditional arrangement, and one that I'd like in my yard. I do have an idea for a stack of pumpkins, but I'm not sure if I'll manage to find what I need before Halloween. This transcends Halloween, and will still be appropriate until the U.S. Thanksgiving at the end of November. That's if the squirrels don't get to them. One year the squirrels ate right through all the pumpkins on our steps.

This one made me chuckle! I love those striped witch's legs hanging out of the pumpkin as well as the black cat poking out from the bottom one. I have one more photo, but since this is Take Three Thursday, I'll save it in case I have a post for Halloween. Linking in with Mary-Lou at Patio Postcards.

Take Three Thursday: Inktober

I decided to participate in Inktober--an online challenge to draw an image in ink each day of October. Although the official Inktober site provides prompts for each day, I am using Louise Gale's prompts. I purchased her book, Botanical Mandalas, some time ago, and am in the midst of taking one of her online classes now. For those prompts, I'm drawing on 3X4 cards to create an inspiration deck to use in creating mandalas if I ever get that far. But on Day 2 I decided to also make some drawings based on some objects I've found in Sarah's yard, as well as a pumpkin I bought at the store the other day. These drawing are in a sketchbook, and I've not set any expectations for the number I'll complete during the month. Here are the first three. I took the photos with my phone on Sarah's kitchen table, and didn't see the shadows until I uploaded them this evening. If I wait to retake the photos tomorrow when the light is better, I'll be too late for Mary-Lou's meme, Take Three Thursday! 

It's been a long time since I did any sketching, and I'm pretty happy with how these turned out, given how little practice I've had in the last year. The Inktober drawing can be all ink or colored in any way you'd like. I'm using my new Altenew watercolor set which is perfect for traveling. 

It's not too late to join in the Inktober challenge!

Take Three Thursday: Hydrangeas

A quick post at the end of Thursday to join Mary-Lou in her Take Three Thursday meme. I commented to Maggie the other day that the flowers in my cutting garden are nearing the end of their bloom. Not so the beautiful hydrangeas Matt planted in our front yard last year. In the first photo, you see just half the landscaping of the front yard, and three of the six hydrangeas bushes.

The hydrangeas in the back of the house haven't done as well this year. I usually cut some of those blooms to put in a vase in the house. I can't quite bring myself to cut any of these. Last fall, the flowers on these bushes turned a beautiful burgundy color and I let them dry in a vase. They were lovely all winter long. 

Take Three Thursday: Springdale Farm

It's still Thursday, but late. Sarah, Adam, Caleb, and Hannah are here for a week so it's been busy. Yesterday we had a lovely break in the heat, and headed out for a couple of hours to Springdale Farm. Springdale is a public demonstration farm owned by the county, and operated by Heritage Christian Services that supports adults with developmental disabilities. The adults take care of the animals and the grounds, and welcome visitors of all ages. Both Caleb and Hannah enjoyed the trip. Hannah was particularly taken with the goats.

Caleb enjoyed "riding" the tractor.

And they both enjoyed watching the animals in the fields.

And one bonus photo of the two of them on top of some kind of hay rack---one of my faves from the trip.

I'm linking up with Mary-Lou's meme "Take Three Thursday." Check in to see what others found of interest this week.

 

 

Take Three Thursday

I didn't anticipate having a Take Three Thursday post, but unexpectedly I do have three photos to share. I'm joining in with Mary-Lou at Patio Postcards where she holds a weekly meme, posting three related photos. She started the meme in an effort "to notice more of the ordinary in {her} life." My take three this week are a result of my effort to take more steps each day.

Last week I decided to purchase a FitBit in hopes that it would motivate me to get out and get moving! So far it has worked. This photo is not one of the three, but I decided to include it because there is another "unexpected reflection"---one of the prompts for the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt. (Another of Mary-Lou's wonderful ideas!) At any rate, our original plan for today was to drive to Sturbridge, MA and visit Old Sturbridge Village. It's been over 20 years since we've been there. But the forecast was for 90° and neither of us had any desire to be out walking in that heat. We decided to leave after lunch instead, stopping in Lee at the outlets for a bit. So . . . I had time for a nice walk this morning before the heat hit Rochester, and snapped a few photos as I walked along.

I was walking in the city, and this sunflower was one of several in a very tiny front yard.

My Shasta daisies are just beginning to bloom, but these were a perfect opportunity to get a "where I stand" photo. I didn't realize there was a daisy covering most of my feet until I uploaded the photo.

Finally, one more for the SPSH:  "a framed view." A peek into someone's patio.

We'll be on the Cape for most of tomorrow, until our ferry leaves for Nantucket in mid-afternoon. It's looking like we'll be "enjoying" thunderstorms for most of the day, but the extended forecast for the island looks delightful for the four days we'll be there, so I won't be complaining. Plus it will break the heat wave we've all been enduring for the last week.

Take Three Thursday: Butterflies and Blooms

Sunday we spent a couple of hours at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. There are several things I will miss on the North Shore now that Sarah and Adam are moving to Wisconsin, and the Botanic Gardens are high on that list. We visited a special exhibit called "Butterflies and Blooms," and I thought three of those photos would fit right in with Mary-Lou's Take Three Thursday meme.

This butterfly landed among many of the blooms.

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If you look closely, you'll see two butterflies on this beautiful orange flower.

This butterfly was almost transparent.

I have to admit the butterflies were easier to photograph than my grandchildren who weren't much interested in having their photographs taken!

A Variation on Take Three Thursday

I've gotten way behind in posting some of the cards I've made recently, so I thought I'd do a variation on Mary-Lou's Take Three Thursday and share three thank you cards. All three cards feature florals and die cuts.

 

Here I started with the beautiful Shape Shifters: Circle 1 die from Papertrey, using just two of the three pieces to use as a focal point for the leaves from Reverse Confetti's Tall Blooms which I colored with Copic markers to match the Hawaiian Shores card base.

The sentiment is from Papertrey's Gathered Garden set. I tied the the three leafy sprigs together with a piece of my favorite white silk ribbon and added a few sequins.

For this card I started by die cutting a piece of white card stock with the Stitched Rays die by Reverse Confetti. Then I die cut one of the Pierced Round Top dies (also Reverse Confetti) so the stitched rays radiated from the left-hand side.  A die cut vase from Papertrey's Vogue Vases and more florals from Reverse Confetti's Tall Blooms were added. All were adhered to a striped piece of paper from my stash of single papers and then to a Licorice card by Memory Box. 

There wasn't an easy way to add a stamped sentiment so I die cut one from the Swooshes set by Papertrey.

 

For the final card, I scored an Amethyst Allure card at every 1/2 inch and added two die cuts by Papertrey Ink: "thank you", and the February Corner Adorner stamp and die.

I used some foam dots to the Corner Adorner to add a bit more dimension.

Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Here's hoping it's a good one for you!

 

Take Three Thursday: The Lilac Festival

I'm joining Mary-Lou this week for her meme, Take Three Thursday. This week I had several options, but decided to share three photos from the Lilac Festival. It's in the middle of it's 10 run, and we walked over last night to grab a bite to eat, and see the flowers. With the cold April, I wasn't expecting to see one of the most beautiful displays of lilacs we've seen in many years, but there it was. In addition to lilacs, there are gorgeous magnolias (usually finished by now, but not this year,) and a lovely path through azaleas (and soon to open rhododendrons.) It was hard to decide which photograph of the lilacs to share. I have some beautiful close-ups, but this one gives you an idea of how lush the bushes are this year.

We're really enjoying almost perfect spring weather right now. Tuesday we had a day of much needed rain, but it's been clear and sunny with that exception. I finally got our pots for the front yard and the patio planted this morning. We've already begun enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine on the patio. That's when I know winter is over!

 

 

Take Three Thursday: Helleborus

It's been a few weeks since I joined Mary-Lou in her Take Three Thursday meme. Although we've had warmer temperatures, and some sunny days, not much is blooming in our yard. The helleborus are an exception, but they are planted off our patio and it's only been warm enough one day to sit out there. In addition, the blooms hang downward so it's hard to see how lovely they are. Last year, Maggie posted a photo of some floating in a bowl, so thanks to her, we have some on our living room table which we've enjoyed all week. 

It's not often that I overbook myself, but today is one of those days. When I leave here for my discussion group at noon, I won't return until after 9:00 this evening. It's a gray, rainy day so I guess being cooped up inside at meetings and with tutoring isn't interfering with any outdoor activities.

Take Three Thursday: WSH Heart

I'm joining Mary-Lou for her Take Three Thursday meme with three choices for #23:  "A Heart," all found on our trip to Morocco.

Tracy spotted this one on a tomb in the Fes Mellah (Jewish Quarter). Notice the French rather than Arabic. The French held a protectorate in Morocco from 1912-1955. They are responsible for building much of the modern parts of the main cities in Morocco, and French is still spoken by many Moroccans. The French influence is still felt throughout the country. In addition to the public schools, there are both French and American schools. These are private and lessons are taught in French or English, respectively. The two official languages in Morocco are Arabic and Berber. The Berbers represent nearly a third of Moroccans, but their language did not become one of Morocco's official languages until 2016.

This was one of the walls in the restaurant in Fes where we stayed, and had one of the best meals on the tour---a sea bass tagine.

I took several photos of these two storks in their nest, and truthfully, didn't notice that their heads formed a heart until I uploaded the photo.

I still have six more prompts for the Winter Scavenger Hunt to share, and will be back with those in the next day or two.