Well Aged

I took this picture at the park today. I think the weathered wood of the whiskey barrel planter fits in well with this week's Thematic Photographic "Well Aged" challenge.

Reflecting the Old in the New

Last summer (that's 2009, not 2010), Hubby surprised me on our anniversary by taking me out to eat downtown in the big city. I'd stuffed my point-and-shoot camera in my purse before we left, and I'm glad I did. I was able to capture this shot as we were walking down the sidewalk between our vehicle and the restaurant.



I just love how you can see the older buildings from across the street reflected in the more modern ediface of this one.

This photo is my submission for Thematic Photographic's "Reflective" theme for the week.

Chugga Chugga Whoo Whoo!

When we went to Glacier this summer, we stayed at the Izaak Walton Inn, a hotel which also has a working train yard on site. The locomotives at this station help get the trains over the mountain pass. I took this picture from the walking bridge spanning the tracks on our first evening there.



This photo is my submission for Thematic Photographic's "Transportation" theme, Unique Exposure's "Travel" photo challenge, and the Thursday Challenge's "Technology" theme. Be sure to check out each site to see more interpretations of these themes!

Feathery Flower

I took the pic of this flower when we were in Glacier this summer. The colors were so bright and the flower petals so unique I couldn't pass it up. I'd never seen a flower like it before. I was just growing on the side of the path, so it's probably a weed, but I still thought it was really neat looking.

Head on over to Thematic Photographic where this week's theme is "Flowers."

Life Amidst Death

Thematic Photographic's challenge for the week is "Orange."

Here's another picture I took on our trip to Glacier. (Are you sick of these Glacier pics yet?) I love the contrast of the bright orange flowers against the drab, dead tree trunk. It makes me think of the resurrection, hope amidst despair, a light in the dark.

Summer Fun

The new photo theme at Thematic Photographic is "Summer". (Click the link to see more summer photograph submissions.)

Nothing says "Summer" to me more than kids playing in the sprinkler and running around in their swimsuits having waterfights.

Waterfights are serious business


Garbage can lids make great shields


Last second decision to go around the sprinkler


Sprinkler hair washing
(our girls and the neighbor girls)

Our Family on Vacation

Thanks for being so patient while I've been going through all the pictures I took while on our vacation to Glacier, cropping and editing them.

This week's photo theme at Thematic Photographic is "Family." (Click on the link to see more participants in the "Family" theme.)

I've chosen "family" as this week's Thematic Photographic theme because as time goes on, I realize little else matters beyond this. It's the one constant in most of our lives, the one foundation on which all the other good things - career, health, interests, etc. - are ultimately built. Many of us are lucky to be surrounded by strong families, while others, sadly, wish that could be the case.

Since I tend to wear the family thing on my sleeve, anyway, I thought it might be fun to explore it for the next week. As you both capture and choose which photos to share - and let's be clear, you're free to participate as often as you wish - please give some thought to the definition of family. Specifically, it doesn't always necessarily have to be someone directly related to you.

What better way to showcase some of my favorite pics of some of my favorite people from our trip?

We stayed at the Izaak Walton Inn. It had a pool table in the basement that got much use from us in the mornings, especially by our Oldest Son.

We stopped at many lakes and rivers while on our trip. The kids (and Hubby) had fun playing on their shores.

Something for everyone to do

Looking for treasures

I counted to three and all three boys were supposed to throw a rock in the water at the same time. This shot looks like an image progression of the a toss instead.

All tuckered out after a long day of hiking

The main reason we went to Glacier was to see the mountains.
(Hubby took this picture of our Middle Child at Logan Pass.)

We walked the Trail of the Cedars. Here the kids are resting like bumps on a log.

I like this pic because it shows their different personalities:Oldest=trepidacious
Younger Daughter=a bit of a diva/princess
Youngest=happy and willing to go along with whatever the big kids are doing
Oldest Son=does NOT like having his picture taken unless it's his idea
Middle Child=goofy personality and doesn't care what others think (Just look at the socks!)

Our family at Many Glacier

(We asked someone who was standing nearby to take this picture of all of us.)

Our bookend children taking a rest while on one of our many hikes

Holes and Dirt

As I've mentioned before, we're in the midst of some remodeling at our house. We're finishing our basement to add a big bedroom for the boys down there and remodeling the upstairs to have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms instead of the 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom that it has now. Hubby is doing the work ... and I'm documenting it on my camera. :)

Because we're putting a bedroom in the basement, we have to put in an egress window. This means Hubby had to dig a big hole (4 ft wide x 5 ft out from the house x about 7 ft deep at the deepest point) in order the install the 4 ft square window and do all the drainage/grading work.

One day at the beginning of June when he was digging, I went outside to find Oldest Son had posted a warning.

(The sign says, "DEEP HOLE AHEAD.")


Too funny! And it fits in with the "Signs of the Times" theme this week at Thematic Photographic. (Follow the link to see more photographs of signs.)

Thankfully, digging of "The Hole" is now done. Most of the kids helped at one time or another with bits and pieces of the digging.


However, the 2 younger boys had more fun playing in the dirt pile than digging the hole.


When I said something about it to Hubby, he said that playing in a dirt pile was fun! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised because, when he was little, he wanted to dig holes for a living when he grew up!

Thematic Photographic: Geometric

"Geometric" is all about shapes. Whatever shapes you've got, I'm hoping you'll share 'em over the next week.

Triangles on the sides of the bridge



This bridge is found in some woods near our house that we like to walk through.

Go to Thematic Photographic to view more geometric shapes in photographs.

Thematic Photographic: Into the Clouds

Go to this week's Thematic Photographic challenge for more "Into the Clouds" themed pictures.