Happy Halloween

 Xanga

 

A statistic:  1 billion pounds
Total pumpkin production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2006. Illinois led the country by producing 492 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. Pumpkin patches in California, Ohio and Pennsylvania also provided plenty of pumpkins: Each state produced at least 100 million pounds. The value of all the pumpkins produced by major pumpkin-producing states was $101 million.

There are lots of things going on in our part of the world for Halloween.  Most is geared toward keeping the kiddies safe as well as enjoying themselves.  It’s a fun time of year we here in the United States take very seriously (at least I do).  There is always some very serious pumpkin shopping and buying indicated by the numbers of people who carry out purchased pumpkins from Pumpkin festivals and, there are a LOT of Pumpkin Festivals.  For Halloween, there are LOTS of parties given by schools and church groups as well as private parties where those who love to masquerade can dress to the hilt to play a part if only for the evening. 

Movies:  Lots of movies are made strictly to scare the britches off you while feeding your inner need for fright.  I have a list I recommend on my LittleEgypt site and it includes a link to the IMDB top 50 scary movies.  See MY LIST HERE.  Personally I like to watch the “scaries” at this time of year but some people love them all year round so check out and take advantage of the lists.

 

Happy Fall Y’all

 

 

*** BANNER CONTEST ***  
Halie is having A BANNER CONTEST  
Read her Xanga blog for information.  CLICK HERE.

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:
 ”Fire and Ice”
Suggested by:  Gitarezan

I have seen spectacular photos on the Internet for both of these subjects in this challenge. 
FIRE:  At this time we have terrible fires in our Western state of California.  I hope anyone reading will remember that part of the world in their prayers. 
ICE:  Lots of ice on this planet but dwindling.  Scientists have convincing evidence it is because of Global Warming!!!  We all need to be praying on that matter as well as doing everything we can to alleviate the stress on the planet.  We only have one planet to leave our children and we, the HUMAN?? RACE, do some very stupid things to it.  Germany by the way is an outstanding leader in the field of Solar Power.  I commend them and wonder just why my country has refused to jump in long ago to be among the tops in the field to combat the terrible problems our planet has because of fossil fuels.  Greed, greed, greed,

Shame on us.

The challenge  Fire and Ice,  my photos: 

Fire:  Nothing beats a bonfire for warmth, light, and cozy enjoyment.

An outdoor dance always seems more festive with a bonfire burning.

This dance takes place around a bonfire every evening during the market in June and September at Friendship Fleamarket.

Ice sparkles like millions of jewels this past February 2007, Cincinnati, Ohio.  This ice covered Honey Suckle shrub grows in the back of my home.  IMAGINE, the whole of your world looking like this for miles and miles around you!!!

I had to add this photo as an edit (10/28/2007) to my post.  Many of you may not live where you see snow and ice.  It isn’t the norm for us to get it like this either.  Usually snow passes my little town by circling around and to the North so when this happened it was such a spectacular and unexpected event I took hundreds of photos.  This photo is exactly as we saw the ice storm.  The colors are true.  All of the white of the trees is ice with the sun shining thru it.  It was an amazing event that lasted for days and on top of it all, we had a day of more snow that sat on all of the ice already on the branches.  Just beautiful to see and I’ll never forget how blessed I felt to have witnessed it.  For those of you who see more snow and ice than I do, I just can’t help myself loving this singular experience of cold as ice views.

Fir branches loaded with ice.  Every needle is covered and it weights the branches some to the point of breaking.

Even the dried Winter grasses are covered with a coat of ice.  The beauty of it is astounding.

What can you say about an icy view so magically beautiful? except Ohhhhhhh.

 

Keep on taking those photos,

 

PictureHeaven challenge #17:
 ”Strange and/or Unusual”

I decided to use some photos I took as promotionals for vendors at a fleamarket we work with.  These photos are on display at this website which I built and maintain for them, Friendship Fleamarket.

A smattering of the photos:

All of the things this vendor sells are made by her.  She does some lovely tie dye and the clothing is durable and quite nice.  Her tipi set up is large, livein and fun to see.

This couple has vintage as well as new neon signs.  Very pretty lit up at night.

Lots of beautiful African beads are found at Friendship.  Many are antique but many reproductions are foolers of the very old antique beads.  Shop carefully is a good motto and its best to be educated in what you are looking at.

I love cotton candy and all other junk foods from festivals.  This vender has a lot of goodies.

Eva does a lot of bead and feather work for home hangings and also wearables.

This food vendor prepares some of the best bar-b-q I have ever eaten.

Lots of lovely baskets at this shop but like the doller stores, you never know what you might find as his inventory is everchanging.

Unusual enough entry??  I hope so.  I do have a shot of a hamburger that looks like a tougue sticking out.  I’ll forgo that one for now.

Keep on taking those photos,

A short edit:  My daughter Halie is having A BANNER CONTEST for anyone interested.  Read her Xanga blog CLICK HERE.

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:
 ”Peace”
Suggested by:  CanadianNational

I interpreted “Peace” as “Peaceful”.  I believe color, conditions and environment can lend to a peaceful state of mind or view.  A few of my photos I feel exhibit a “Peaceful” mood or a feeling of “Peace”.

A day of fun and relaxation on Loveland Ohio’s bike trail is “Peaceful” if the bicycles are worry free, the trees are fresh and green, the flowers are blooming and there are pleasant spots for sitting and indulging in some snacks.

Easter Sunday feeding the ducks and a picnic at the lake is “Peaceful”.

This Alice Through the Looking Glass child was enjoying her Easter Sunday in her “Peaceful” setting of choice.

Flowers give me a feeling of pleasure and pleasure is “Peaceful”.

As powerful as a locomotive is when the side yards are inactive all is quiet and “Peaceful”.

A pleasant visit with a friend under the shade of the trees with no argument, no upset and no rain clouds equals “Peaceful”.

I have been spending time this week organizing my pages with tags and titles.  I almost have this site finished.  Tags are a nice way to sort out your pages so anyone visiting can look through quickly to make some discoveries per your entries.  For instance, one of my tags reads WeeklyPhotoChallenge.  If you click on the tag all of my challenge titles come up in its listing.  It has been a bit of work but it really is nice.

Have a great week and enjoy taking your photos.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:
 ”Homemade Filters for the Camera”
Suggested by:  Sparkling_Rainbow

Home made camera filters is something I know nothing about.  I have done some learning and playing and have had some failed results as well as some I don’t feel too badly about.  As I thought about it I came up with the thought the filter could filter the total image or filter a portion of the image.  I don’t know if that is correct but I played with both ideas.  I have had a terrible headache for a few days so have nothing from outside the house.  Maybe I can add to this entry if I get something.

The above is an example of a screen filter.  I used a flour sifting cup for the screen.

This image and some below are seen through a pressed glass bowl I have.  Most of what I took I didn’t like but my Starbuck’s coffee mug came out pretty well.

Here you see some of my bathing goodies through the same glass bowl.

I used a coffee mug with an etched White Castle pattern for this photo.  I like this one pretty well.  My husband was kind enough to be the guinea pig.

I felt anything clear enough to see through could be a filter.  My pigs are the target once again and they came out nicely filtered by running water.

Another piggy photo with bubbles and water used as filters.  I hope the idea works for my critics looking.

This is an older photo from a Black Powder Shoot we used to frequent.  The smoke screen makes a really good filter.

Basically the same event as above.  The filter work was done with Paint Shop Pro, not a camera.

That’s it for now.  I did try a few things besides water, bubbles and glass for filters but was not happy and trashed a lot of totally cloudy images.  For now, my headache has done me in.

Keep on taking those photos,
  

 To add a comment, CLICK HERE

 

Art Rage Challenge
The topic for the month of October is:

“Famous”

This challenge had me stumped until I began going through storage of my photos. I decided on an image known world wide, though he may not reside in some of the poorer countries.  A taste (no pun intended) in a collage before introducing you to the man himself.

This collage garnered from selections from my photos taken across the country at different times of the year.

He sits life size near my home and I find him to be very willing as well as photogenic.  I enjoy taking photos whenever we visit.

Keep on taking those photos,

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:
 ”Pets and Their People”
Suggested by:  Handmade_N

I don’t have pets of my own anymore.  For photos, I look to the odd encounter or to pets in my daughter’s household, 3 dogs, 2 cats and I believe at least 3 snakes.  My photos were all taken in 2006 in Virginia.  The photo above has been displayed before and is actually 4 photos manipulated for a challenge given by a friend.  The challenge was, “Change the view in the window”.  Halie’s pets are prime targets when we visit.  See the original photo to compare changes, CLICK HERE

Another offering from the challenge, This is the yard where the dogs and cats run, the garden grows and the flowers manipulate your senses.  There are herbs growing and caterpillars, by the hundreds, are feeding on the leaves.  They are destined to be Black Swallowtail butterflies and we all took a great interest in watching them and their growing process / progress.

This is Christmas Eve and everyone is tired including the dogs, who are treated as if people, being allowed the softest and warmest spots on the beds. 

All animals like my husband.  They know he has hands that give the best pets and rubdowns.

Mitch and Eden are runners.  The whole family is pro outdoors activity.  The dogs go regularly to run or to enjoy the beach or ???  Notice, the bonding between the dogs and their people pets is pretty tight. 

My reward for just being there, nice visits, great food and some really good photo opportunities.

 

Keep on taking those photos,