Category Archives: Photo Challenge

Photo Challenge: Roll

It’s his favorite time of year: Baseball Season!

Once upon a time, many years ago, he was a catcher.
Truth be told, he’d still like to be able to play today.

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He played plenty of catch with his sons.
And enjoyed teaching his grandson how to play.

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When I first met him, he’d leave work early to coach a Legion Baseball “B” team.
The day after a game, he’d roll his eyes and talk about the “groupies” (girls) who had a way of showing up for games and distracting his players.

He was surprised – and pleased – to discover I could find his old glove.
And a great sport when I asked if he’d pose for this post!

NOTE: You’re welcome to gently roll a baseball in our house, but please do not throw it.

My entry for the Tuesday Photo Challenge: Roll.

Photo Challenge: Rock

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Rock. And not rock. Because, of course, seeing a fake rock is ever so much better than seeing utility connections.

Rock and Not Rock. Photo: TLClark, 3/26/19.

Rock. And water. And a rock retaining wall of sorts. The little neighborhood stream – which isn’t always so little – goes under the street, through the Woodland Reserve pond and into Fourmile Creek. The fire hydrant in the top left corner tickles my fancy for some inexplicable reason. (The pile of snow near the hydrant might be hard as rock but it will melt away one of these days.)

Neighborhood Stream. Photo: TLClark, 3/26/19.

Rock. On a beach, nearly six months ago, some 2000 miles from home. Ever so much more interesting than what I saw last Tuesday.

Rocks. Golden Gardens Park (on Puget Sound), Seattle, Washington. Photo: TLClark, 10/7/18.

Another great Tuesday Photo Challenge from Dutch goes the Photo!

Photo Challenge: Wonder

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Spring is on the way! I marvel, even wonder, at buds swelling on the end of tree branches.

Photo: TLClark, 3/19/19.

Photo: TLClark, 3/19/19.

With eyes open and a camera in hand, I found a few other things of wonder in my neighborhood this morning.

Re-freeze from yesterday’s snow melt. Photo: TLClark, 3/19/19.

Leaf in snow bank. Photo: TLClark, 3/19/19.

Thanks, Frank, for the photo challenge!

Photo Challenge: Sunrise

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When I read Frank’s photo challenge Tuesday I just laughed. It was a dark and stormy morning with more rain than sunshine. Wednesday rolled in with dense fog. A sunrise on Thursday didn’t look promising – more dark clouds and plenty of wind – but I looked out after breakfast and decided to walk down the street in search of the sun.

Woodland Reserve Pond. Photo: TLClark, 3/14/19.

After weeks and weeks of snow and cold, it felt good to be walking outside! It was still chilly but the sidewalks were mostly clear. I imagine the bike path (on the other side of the pond) still has a few icy sections. Between melting snow and heavy rain Fourmile Creek is FULL and flooding low-lying areas.

Fourmile Creek Flooding Briarwood Golf Club, Ankeny, Iowa. Photo: TLClark, 3/14/19.

While I didn’t get a spectacular sunrise picture, just being outside was good for my spirit. Being outside near sunrise reminded me of this Bible verse:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, [God’s] mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23 NRSV

No Parking Anytime. Photo: TLClark, 3/14/19.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. – Psalm 90:14 NRSV

May you know steadfast love and mercy every morning – whatever the weather!

Teressa

A Photo a Week Challenge: Colorful

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This week’s photo challenge from Nancy Merrill Photography is the word “colorful.” She says, “I’m looking for the most colorful thing you can find to photograph.”

The most colorful thing in my house is a quilt currently under construction.

Every block is made with scraps from other quilts. There are 35 blocks, each one will finish at 12″ square; the sashing between blocks is 2″ wide.

The idea for the quilt goes back to when I was playing with the number of squares needed to make a square block. A 6″ block (finished size) easily made with

thirty-six 1″ squares (6×6) or
sixteen 1.5″ squares (4×4) or
nine 2″ squares (3×3) or
four 3″ blocks (2×2).

The squares in on the outside edges of the blocks pictured above began square and will be square once the blocks are completely sewn into a quilt top. Quilters know you need an extra 1/4 inch on each side for the seam allowance – so an unfinished 6″ block measures 6.5″ square.

Here’s my first 144-patch 12.5″ unfinished block; it may be my last.

Photo Challenge: Round

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I was fiddling with my ‘wisdom’ rock and thinking thoughts both great and mediocre when I realized the object in my hand was round. Not perfectly round, mind you, but round enough to be featured in Frank’s photo challenge this week – “round“.

What words will be written on these pages? Will any be wise? Photo: TLClark, 3/7/19.

The rock is solid, fairly heavy, smooth except for the word ‘wisdom’ etched on the surface, and just right for holding and rolling around in my hand whether I’m feeling stuck or simply contemplating whatever is before me.

It reminds me that when Solomon ascended the throne after his father King David, Solomon’s prayer was for wisdom.

Give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead this people, because no one can govern this great people of yours without your help. – 2 Chronicles 1:10 CEB

Holding it yesterday I thought about how wisdom comes through experience. How sharp edges get carved off and rough surfaces are sanded away. At least that’s the hope!

My wisdom rock isn’t the only round thing on my desk.

Tape Truck, made by Don Dilworth. Photo: TLClark, 3/7/19.

The round wheels of my tape truck remind me that my parents are driving “Weenie Truck” – a small pick-up they’ve owned for more than 25 years – from their home in Montana to my brother’s home in Arizona. One of the grandsons just got his driver’s license and asked if he could buy Weenie Truck. (The standing joke in the family is Dad will sell the pick-up to a family member for $1.) They’re safely through the first 2/3 of the trip and I trust they’ll make it the rest of the way!

Photo: TLClark, 3/7/19.

A little pottery bowl collects small treasures. They remind me of the circle of life. A gift from a friend, a walk on a beach, a token from a funeral. Objects unrelated except for the people – individuals who have never met each other but who have touched my life. I’m grateful for the love and the wisdom they’ve shared over the years.

May you be led by God’s wisdom, today and every day.

Teressa

Photo Challenge: Layer

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“Layer” is the word for Frank’s photo challenge this week. My sweet tooth got the final vote this afternoon: six-layer bars (aka dream bars).

Melted butter disappears into the graham cracker crumb layer. Chocolate chips, pecans and coconut can be seen in all three pictures. The gooey-ness of the third photo is the sweetened condensed milk.

Another LQQK

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