Capturing shapes

This weeks You Capture challenge over at I should be folding laundry is all about finding shapes to photograph!  I am always drawn to geometric shapes and patterns so this was a fun challenge for me.

Here are my shots from a local artist village that is so full of color and shapes that it makes my heart sing every time I visit.

This number 15 is the address number hanging from an artist studio.  Made me think how much fun it would be to do this for my own house.

More circles!

Rectangles covered with layers of yummy paint!

Colorful stone walkway.  This one particular artist had painted mini works of art in front of their studio.

I wonder how my neighbors would feel if I painted my driveway and walk to my door like this stone walk way.  

Also playing along with Photo Story Friday!

Hosted by Cecily and ???

WW - It is and isn't!

Do you want to know what this is?

It is the "belt" of my sweater.

Do you want to know what it isn't?

It isn't a toilet dip stick!

Happy Wordful Wednesday!

PSF - Lasting memory

Another PSF about flowers, except today's flowers are special. This PSF is about my Grandfather and the living memory he left behind.

My Grandfather spent most of his working life as a mechanic for Cadillac.  He always seemed to have a hint of the smell of car oil on him.  Probably because it was ground into his hands and forever stained his nails.

He worked on cars back when they were all as big as boats and had curb feelers.

I'm not sure if my Grandpa loved his job, but I do know he missed going to work once he retired.  He often told us of the time that Elvis Presley was visiting San Diego and stopped in to have his car serviced.

He said that there was a coke bottle rattling around in the back seat of his Caddy and that my teenager mom was so mad that he didn't swipe it for her.

I may not have know if he really loved his job........but one thing I do know is that he loved gardening, and he had one major green thumb.  He had a vegetable garden, fruit trees, nut trees, orchids and  container plants too numerous to mention.

When he passed away at the age of 87 his garden has shrunk quite a bit, but his orchid collection survived.  This orchid is from his collection.

We may not have my silly Grandpa around anymore but each spring we are reminded that he was once a big part of our lives.

Happy Birthday Grampi!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

WW - Things that make me smile!

I love when fellow bloggers makes me smile.  Jinksy over at Napple Notes posted the Washington Post's Annual Neologism Contest winners (who knew there was such a contest)!  These alternative definitions really made me smile.  Thanks for posting them Jinksy!


Here are the winners:

1. Coffee (n.) the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.) appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.) to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.) to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.) impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.) describes a condition in which you absent-mindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.) to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.) olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a   steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.) a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.) a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude (n.) the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n) a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.) a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.) (back by popular demand): The belief that, when you die, your Soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.) an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

Happy Wordful Wednesday!

PSF - Sunshine found here!

Considering so many of you are buried up to your eyeballs in snow I thought I would stop and smell the flowers for you.

Ok, these poppies don't smell like anything special, but they sure are purty!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi

WW - Easy Valentine's treats

I wanted to share the super easy Valentine's Day treats I made for my Girl Scout troop. They are so easy to make that I really don't need to provide steps.......but what the heck.

Start off by making a batch of rice crispy treats. 

Next cover your mini cake pan (mine is from Wilton) with saran wrap (for easy clean up).

Next put some butter on your fingers and start piling each heart shape with the rice crispy treats.

Once you have all six filled, firmly push them into the pan.

Next place Wilton Candy melts in a disposable decorating bags and melt them in the microwave. 

This is such an easy way to melt candy melts, no mess. 

Snip the ends of the bags and decorate the hearts with the chocolate melts and sprinkles.

Shove a stick in the bottom and you have yourself super-de-duper Valentine's Day treat.

(one batch of rice crispy treats make 8 hearts with a little left to eat off the spoon)

A very Wordful Wednesday to you!

PSF - Old school entertainment

At the risk of sounding really old.........I grew up in a time when the viewmasters was an exciting toy. 

 It had a simple design that delivered brightly colored images.  I can still hear the sound the toy made as I clicked to each new image.

I was going through some very neglected drawers in Reid's closet and I found five old viewmaster cards from when the girls were little.

Would you believe that in this age of high tech everything they are still making viewmasters?

I guess there are enough parents still wanting their little ones to enjoy a little low tech fun.

Did you have a viewmaster as a kid?
Did you buy one for your own kids?

Hosted by Cecily and Robyn

WW - One down, Eleven to go!

Here are the first 31 days of the new year as seen through the lens of my camera.

Are you doing the 365 picture a day project and I don't know about it?

If so let me know so I can come by for a look see!

Happy Wordful Wednesday!

The collage was created at Picnik.com

Click HERE to view my 365 project