26 Things - November 2005

Tracy's photographic scavenger hunt challenge seemed more difficult this time. I guess I had the added struggle of learning how to live alone for the first time in my life. A house and yard seem a whole lot bigger when it's your sole responsibility, but I'm slowly, gradually, finally getting accustomed to it.

Click on the photo - or here - to see the whole collection of my 26 Things.

MM is my only current meme project!

monday madness
1. I'm at my best in the early morning. True

2. I start each day with a healthy breakfast. Not sure how healthy but True - I start with breakfast.

3. I'm always sure to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. True - can't get along without it, usually it's more like 8 hours. (This is without alarm clock)

4. I enjoy my job. True - don't really have a 'job' anymore but I like doing some of my special projects that are basically 'jobs.'

5. I get along with most everyone. True

6. I'm looking forward to the new season of tv shows this year. True - even HBO and the other movie channels have very few things actually worth watching, but I have a few favorites on regular TV.

7. I make sure I take some time for myself every day. True??? - Well, I hope so!

26 Things - July 2005

Here at last are my 26 Things for July 2005. Can't get at Tracy's website to post them but I'm not about to let that stop me. Enjoy. I'll s'plain some of them to keep you from wondering... or wandering for that matter. Click the pic to see it actual size - up close and personal!

01. discarded: While folks complain about chemicals we've lived with for decades in our river, some continue to discard their junk where 'nobody can see it.' Looks like this location contains tires and an old propane tank.
02. Sunday: This is typical Sunday evening on the beach in Muskegon... catamarans stored behind the bushes, locked together and waiting for another sunny day.

03. Sleep: It comes easy if you're an orange Tabby named Goober. Top of the oak roll-top desk, nestled among a few teddy bears is his new favorite place to sleep. 04. Round: as a ball, I spotted this tiny little bobber, lost by a fisherman near the dam at Ludington State Park in the Sable River. With my handi-dandi Panasonic Lumix with 12x optical zoom, I was able to get right up to it. Cool, eh?
05. Light up: Loved the tropical look I achieved with this tree in the foreground of another glorious sunset lighting up Lake Michigan.
06. Important: This year I was fortunate to finally visit the people's house in Lansing, MI... that's right, this was my first view of the Michigan House of Representatives.
07. Profile: This friendly pigeon (aren't they all?) just begged for me to photograph his profile during a springtime visit to the beautiful waterfront area in Bay City, MI.
08. Unkept: We've been unable to get any closer to a local park along the Tittabawassee River this summer - all summer long - because an overly powerful government agency included it on their 'hit-list' of 'facilities' this year. 400 private residential homes are also included on that hit-list, an unprecedented invasion on private property. Workers have been at the park all summer long, upgrading it to rigid DEQ specifications so we can enjoy it again. Meanwhile, along the driveway, thistles and other weeds flourish.
9. Impressive: Another toughy, I finally decided on this impressive view of one of the stadiums at Central Michigan University.
10. Layers: Yup, layers of walkways make much of my favorite state park user friendly for people in wheelchairs. I think it's great but actually I've yet to see a wheelchair there... and we visit frequently every summer. It DOES however, give us a more vigorous workout that just walking casually along the water's edge as we did when our kids were small.
11. Eat: Here we ladies enjoy the carcass of Kaybee's famous smoked turkey! It's all that was left after my family hit the table the day before. Okay I cheated... that's me in the middle and the photo is compliments of my better half. 12. Celebrate: My youngest grandchild celebrates Father's Day with his dad way up in the tippy top of a ferris wheel.
13. Clear: Ya don't think so? I was looking down at this doorway at the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing. The abstract pattern effect is reflection of a pool located on that level designed with a colorful map of Michigan.
14. Baby: Just a reminder that to a mom her kids will always be her kids. This one is my baby... that's right, the last born in a family of six wonderful women!
15. Six: Earlier we were wondering... where are the geese? We see less geese this year than previous years but we enjoyed watching these fellas bobbing for fish in the Sable River.
16. Stamp: Found this rubber stamp in the souvenier shop at the Big Sable Lighthouse last summer.
17: Faux: I knew I'd find a use for this photo! It's a cake I baked for Easter dinner this year. That's right folks, them chix and eggs ain't real. ;-)
18. Photographer: The granddaughter poses at the end of a tiring full day of posing for her senior picture. Her grandpa is the photographer of choice... but her mom is busily directing both of them. Gramps got lots of great shots BTW. 19. Publication: New restrictions for fishermen are prominently displayed along the river.
20. Storage: Lots of interesting & important information about the Water Wonderland State of Michigan is stored in this beautiful building.
21. Floppy: Mike likes to wear his floppy rubber britches when he helps his favorite father-in-law with chores at the lake.
22. Parking Sign: At my favorite home improvement store, Menard's. I liked building's texture.
23. Entertainment: It's always the finest when my grandkids are involved! My youngest granddaughter shares her beautiful singing voice with her high school choir. What a joyful noise!
24. Mixed Bag: Daughter Pam's back yard... she created and made the special trellis herself... and it actually sports a plastic bag of those gorgeous pink flowers!
25. Aged: It may be old... but picturesque... this old sunken dock on our little lake near Lake Michigan.
26: Down the Street: Local sheriff's department was practicing diving just down the street 2-track from us.

26 Things - April 2005

Here are my results for the April 2005 Photographic Challenge.



1. Direction... is given to ships along the channel when these big buoys are placed for the shipping season.



2. Used by people driving by in their cars, tossed aside for somebody else to clean up.



3. Carry Mother's Day flowers from daughter & family, my son-in-law.



4. Falling from Wixom Lake through the dam into the river.



5. Permanent fixtures in Michigan - road repair cones and barriers.



6. Connection... is made when grandpa attends grandparents day at school.



7. Unfamiliar in appearance? It's a lamp!



8. Silence in the daughter's band room.



9. Pile of classy hats - same band room.



10. In/Out - doors in the butterfly house at the Dow Gardens.



11. Amazing Technicolor Coat - latest play at granddaughter's high school. She wasn't in this one but her mother & brother played in the pit band.



12. Sometimes you must fight back and Silversides did her job for us in World War II.



13. Every Day the city where I grew up dies a little bit more.



14. Can't Live Without a good hot shower!



15. On the Move - the Lake Guardian, normally stationed on Saginaw Bay, moves swiftly into the channel at Muskegon.



16. Holding Back earth is still being accomplished by this beautiful old stone wall.



17. Out of Control - flood waters AND passersby who so casually toss garbage out of their car windows.



18. Awe Inspiring butterfly is 'hiding' on the flower at Dow Gardens Butterfly display.



19. Just a Sample... of what you will see in a visit to the Dow Gardens.



20. On The Edge... of a very long trip down to the waterfront in a little roadside park.



21. Do You See What I See? The goldfish sure did a good job of hiding, creating a perfect 'abstract' picture!



22. All Grown Up... One minute she's a baby, next she's a mom, a teacher, and so much more. My daughters - this photo of Sharba at work represents all six of them. I am so proud.



23. What The... heck is this? Some of the family caught goofing off at an Easter get-together.



24. Making it Official - grandson during his recital, a requirement for one of his college courses.



25. In Twos - the pigeons enjoying a springtime sip of water down on the river.



26. Unfinished Business - sits on my sewing machine waiting for me to fulfill a promise.

26 Things Christmas 2004 Photographic Scavenger Hunt

...and here they are:


Click any pic to see it big as life... and don't forget to stop by and find out who else met the December 2004 26 Things challenge at sh1ft.org.

1. Who is to say what really IS a tree?



2. Choose a gift, any one. There's enough for everybody.



3. Best part of any holiday is family!



4. We are thankful the river is not rising even though we are having an early January thaw.



5. 'Tis the season for Ebenezer Scrooge and his tribulations.



6. It is a special joy to see a child play music just because he wants to!



7. The annual search for these Christmas nougats is tradition in my house.



8. The New Year's Eve meal is a delightful array of treats.



9. Stopped on our way to Grand Rapids to catch this day view of a lovely park in Carson City, MI.



10. The same park a couple of weeks earlier at night.



11. I'm not on vacation now... my boat is!



12. This is the source of light for our new fiber optic Christmas tree. I love it!



13. Even the youngest can show his generosity by being Santa Claus.



14. Always present in Michigan... those infernal orange barrels.



15. What is The Christmas Carol without the Spirit of Christmas Present?



16. A January birthday requires running an errand to the local Secretary of State office.



17. Reviewing instructions for the new tree... arms outstretched. Are new bifocals in order?



18. Truth - stranger than fiction - handicap sign for little people??



19. We are always welcome to spend money at our favorite department store!



20. Marley's ghost... make that Ms. Marley please, tries to reach out to Scrooge to mend his ways.



21. I love chocolate but it's oh so bad for you!



22. A heap of beanie-pebble stuffed toys just waiting to be wrapped for Christmas.



23. Snow fences provide winter protection at a favorite beach.



24. My fluffy Bubba cuddles up to my giant fluffy toy kitty.



25. Shepherds huddle around heat of the fire while creating a living Christmas card. Sometimes when a picture doesn't turn out, we must 'punt' and so I did! Thank heaven for PhotoShop Elements.



26. What can be more picture perfect than a warm day in late autumn?

26 Things - September - the easy one

01. frame - I took this photo before I knew about the new 26 things project... windows in the stairwell of #2 grandson's college dorm. I loved the way it framed the view.


02. glass - New glass... old window frames wore out and these new ones will replace them. Oh happy day!


03. arrow - The arrows on this sign made me almost glad our tires were low! What a photo op... just when I needed arrows!


04. numbers - Numbers on part of the control panel of my little ol' truck.


05. small - On the beach are remnants of somebody's bad habit. Too many people foul the air and our beaches with this tiny but nasty garbage... and the ash from these stinky things adds toxins to the soil as well.


06. open - Beach snow fences are in place but here's an open spot to go through.


07. fruit - Fruity place mats: 99 cents apiece - Happiness provided: priceless!


08. wheel - ...in this case 6 wheels.


09. plastic - Recycled plastic provides comfort and enjoyment for visitors at state parks around Michigan; now abandoned because summer is 'officially' over.


10. cover - Okay, now I'm showing off! This is the cover on my newest toy.


11. natural - The blue heron's natural habitat on our little lake in the woods.


12. Saturday - We spent the evening of 9/11/2004 here.


13. multi-coloured - I love the abstract multi-colored appearance of long green moss flowing in the waves, the greyish rocks, and the rootbeer color of the river.


14. home - This entrance takes you into home for many students during the school year.


15. shadow - Wasn't gonna do my own shadow again... but I had to! This is yours truly standing in front of a snowfence just installed on one of my favorite beaches.


16. sticky - Not posed... the egg slid out of it's shell, missing the frypan. Before cleaning it I had to get my camera out! You think this is gross? You should see what slid down further - under the cook surface.


17. clean - Extremist activists demanded installation of this cleaning station in a local park. Nobody uses it but it sure is ugly!


18. foot - Imprints of both of my feet at the beach.


19. sport - Fishing and watching fishermen... both are great sport during the annual salmon run upstream.


20. round - Round is the center of this big ship's propeller near the entrance to Ludington's public boat launch.


21. group - A group of gulls congregate on the beach near a boat launch, waiting for fishermen to bring in the day's catch.


22. man made - This pile of firefighter's outer wear reminded me of September 11, 2001... hard working men had just squelched a motorhome fire at a rest stop on a beautiful sunny September day and were cleaning up the foamy mess left in the parking lot.


23. half - Yes this is half of a sculpture near the Computer Lab at Central Michigan University. Want to see the other half? Walk around to the other side of it!


24. path - Closeup of a path in a local park where a tiny little plant pushed bravely through the gravel!


25. full - a full UpWords Scrabble board. David just had to know if all the letters were there!


26 - The End - The end of the Big Sable River... as it flows into Lake Michigan.

Projects Blog

Just gotta thank Blogger and Google for adding the photo feature to our blogs through use of that wonderful new tool... Hello! Today I begin my Projects Blog. Check the sidebar for previous projects I've participated in.