Photo Week: Checkered Flag Style

I love Stephanie's inspiration for the past week's photo challenge: The Indianapolis 500. I absolutely love the month of May in Indiana. The month kicks off with the Mini Marathon, a race where anyone can compete and the city comes alive with such enthusiasm. I'm not a huge racing fan, but I've come to love Indy Cars, the Speedway and everything that surrounds this month. I'll admit it. I tear up when I hear Jim Nabors sing on race day and during the fly over.

I didn't get the camera out this week, but I can't pass up posting for a Photo Challenge. Here are some of my favorite black and white puppy dogs. Tippy, the black lab/golden retriever mix, is a 6 month old service dog in training in the ICAN program. He is an amazing pup and is going to be a rock star service dog. Ruby wasn't really keen on him the first day or two, but by the end of week three, she hated to see him go just as much as we did. Hopefully he'll be back with us on another furlough in a couple months.

Also fitting are pictures from the Mutt Strut at the Speedway on April 26th.

Thanks, Steph for sharing the spirit of the race and all its fun!

Photo Challenge: Capturing Spring Results

Thanks to Steph for sharing her gorgeous spring in action pics!

Despite last night's freeze warning, the calendar confirms it's spring even if the temperatures do not!

These Virginia Bluebells in our front yard are so fun this time of year. Unfortunately, their lifespan is not long lived (or at least our past two springs here, they didn't last long). By June we'll have to pull them, but for now we enjoy them and their droopy glory!

Photo Challenge: Capturing Spring

Greetings and happy Spring to all! I've noticed our plants in the yard are growing super fast. My challenge to you is to capture a particular plant and photograph it everyday (or every other day, whatever works) for the next two weeks. Then create a series of shots that capture the buds, blooms and blossoms of the season. As always, please let me know if you plan to participate, and I'll add you to the post.

Start: March 23

End: April 6

Images of late Spring 2008 - Casa de Laycock

Photo Weekend - Sunday

Red & Green

Of course shamrocks make an appearance on our tree.

Stockings!

Never fear! Irish Santa is here!

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas and happy Photo Weekend!

Photo Weekend - Saturday

Sparkle & Spirit

A little sparkle in the box. A lot of curious spirit in the pup.

Sparkles! Stars! Ribbon!

Like it or not, poinsettias bring the holiday spirit.

Thanks for the challenge, Steph. Looking forward to capturing the classics tomorrow!

Photo Week Day #5: Happiness

Thank you to everyone for another great photo week! I've loved all the insight and unique perspectives offered. Happiness was selected for Friday for obvious reasons. We're all a little more giddy once this day rolls around.

Reflecting on good past times makes me happy. And the opportunity to fill up more pages makes me happier.

Being an official Aunt makes me really happy. Especially when Aunts and Uncles get cool school projects in the mail from up and coming 3 year old artists!

Photo Week Day #4: Community

9;35 am

I apologize. Bad form for the photo week host to not post on time. Stay tuned and enjoy these creative gurus in the meantime.

Steph
Beth
Scott

5:21 pm

I was most excited for Community Day, but the rain and the dark evenings provided a new challenge to what I had in mind. Community reminds me of my neighbors, and we are very fortunate to have great ones. Last week I heard a faint knock on our front door. Our neighbor Kate, who I think will turn 5 this year, offered me an index card and headed back to her house. The sweet little gesture that came out of nowhere has been on our refrigerator ever since. A subtle reminder of the good community around us.

Photo Week Day #3: Gratitude

I'm grateful for a stockpile of relaxation.

I'm grateful for best friends.

I'm grateful that Mr. Wagner had our camera at the rehearsal (I just found the pictures he took on the camera! Way to go Scott. This was a great surprise.) One of the many things I loved about the church were the chandeliers.

Photo Week Day #2 - Exploration

Thanks to the generosity of many friends, I have lots of cookbooks to explore. Yum!

Friends and family (and allegedly Indy 500 champion Rick Mears) explored the guest globe at our wedding.

I enjoy exploring maps!

Photo Week Day 1: Acceptance

1) I accept that this is as close to a second dog that I'm going to get for the time being.


2) I accept the lack of post work daylight. I accept that the moon was out while walking Ruby when this picture was taken at 5:40 pm.

3) I accept that in order to cut back and save, it's time to end my magazine subscription because I never get around to reading them.

Check out Sue, Steph and Scott's photo week fun!

Photo Week Challenge: Think Peaceful Thoughts

I have a card on my bulletin board at work titled "Think Peaceful Thoughts." Underneath is a list of 16 words to inspire peaceful thinking. I've picked my five favorite and am eager to see every one's interpretation of the challenge.

With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, perhaps some of these ideas can get you in the spirit of the season. What images do these bring to mind, or how are they reflected throughout your day?
Let me know if you would like to join in the challenge, and I'll follow in the footsteps of the wonderful hosts that have come before me and ensure everyone is kept up to date.

Monday: Acceptance

Tuesday: Exploration

Wednesday: Gratitude

Thursday: Community

Friday: Happiness

Photo Week: Photographer's Choice #5

5) My Pick: Heretics, Andrew Bird


I've had this day in mind since Sue posted the challenge. A couple of years ago, Amy & Ashley introduced me to the musical genius that is Andrew Bird. My life has been better ever since. Since our challenge host Sue recently discovered Mr. Bird as well, I thought it only fitting to use one of his songs.


The 4th track, "Heretics" from the "Armchair Apocrypha" album, is one of my favorite songs. I've developed a routine of listening to it on my way home from work, especially on Fridays, because it's like ice cream on apple pie, the perfect topper. His use of the violin gives me goosebumps. The song puts me in a great mood. Now whenever I hear the song, I think of my ride home and the back road I take, Riverview Drive along the White River. It's a beautiful drive this time of year, like most places, but since it gets me closer to home, I like it that much more.

Photo Week: Song Titles #4

4.) Too Much of Nothing, Bob Dylan

Going L*I*T*E*R*A*L. Too much chocolate left over from the wedding, but that's not a bad thing. Nothing in the dreary hallway at work. Luckily our interior office halls are much more uplifting. I really wanted to go crazy, so I turned it upside down. The lights look more theatrical that way.

Photo Week: Song Titles #2

2.) Torn and Frayed, The Rolling Stones
We returned from our honeymoon to find out that our lovely 100 year old white oak tree in our front yard was in the right-of-way covering a manhole. Due to sewer expansion work, the City needed access to the manhole so our tree was going to be removed. Four days later, I came home from work and our precious oak was gone. How did I feel? Torn and frayed.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

The upside: The City is giving us three 12 foot trees and will re-seed where the old oak
used to be. Guess that's our lemonade.

Photo Week: Song Titles #1

1) Of Angels and Angles, The Decemberists

I wasn't familiar with this song, so I listened to the freebie on iTunes and looked up the lyrics. The second verse goes:

"There's a tough word on your crossword.

There's a bed bug nipping a finger.

There's a swallow, there's a calm.

Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today."

The last line is what jumped out to me so I took a picture with it in mind. I went literal with it and opted for a pose. But since Ruby is my angel puppy, it proved two fold. I liked the idea of using black and white pictures to capture the essence of the music.

Photo Week is Back: Sue's the Boss

All are welcome to participate in more Photo Week fun. This challenge is hosted by Sue in the Windy City. Check it out!