Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject from Gitarezan is:

  ”Alien”   

Suggested by: Gitarezan

Some of these challenge are designed to make the challanged do a lot of thinking.  I had a time deciding if I had anything worthwhile I could submit as an entry.

Alien DEFINITION includes:  Dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed, as in nature.  This definition led me to photos I have taken of automated or motorized, mechanical invention, “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.

Some of My Photos

This photo is indicative of the trucking business in the United States.  “Alien” to the natural world some highways are filled with tractor trailer rigs at any hour of the day.  Our huge road system and the trucking business provides millions of jobs and has helped improve lives but the fact remains the total industry plus other industries polluting the environment make them a destructive “Alien” force.

Searching the internet I discovered engines date back to the 1700′s  Serious industry for Autos reaches back to the 1800′s, SEE HERE.  The Automobile was the real beginning of “ALIEN” invasion.  My car in the photo probably dates into the 1930′s.  I’ll change this if I can date it.

The whole world went auto transport crazy and industry seeing huge profits designed two wheel, four wheel, and many wheel rides all powered with pollution causing petrol/gasoline an “ALIEN” addition to the air we breathe.  The amount of pollution has increased equal to the ratio of the manufacture of cars.

This huge bus transport can carry a large number of people plus their luggage and they crisscross our country but the desire for private automobiles has lessened their use.

Ecologists argue and scream for cleaner burning smaller engines which makes sense for a cleaner environment.  The auto industry has played games for years and will continue, I think, until they drain every penny from us for our gas guzzling “ALIEN” monsters, big or small.

Trains were at one time the movers of about anything anyone in the country needed from food to furniture to cars meant for private ownership.  Most of what trains used to carry are now carried by truckers on the highways.

 

There is still a tremendous amount of romance in trains.  The bygone era should come back and get some of the cars and trucks off the road.

River and ocean going vessels also carry goods around the world.  They are also responsible for oil spills and scum and garbage thrown overboard in vast quantities into the waters making them again, “ALIENS” to the natural world and highly destructive.  Totally unnerving, the complete opposites of good and bad for the world. 

There was a time people became adept at the finer arts for their own entertainment.  Parties were filled with parlour games, poetry, stories, song and dance and violin quartets.  The invention of the radio, television, computers, game boxes, and cellphones capable of everything listed plus photographic abilities has changed not only our environment but the health of the users who are much more sedentary than ever before in the history of man.  “Alien’s” at work all around us and we have ignored the destructive implications for much too long.  What staggers my mind is thinking about the numbers of units finally trashed as totally out of date or unusable to be replaced by newer units that will again be trashed.  We could probably build “ALIEN” mountains made of them.

A single plane in view but how many don’t we see.  The numbers are astounding.  They are used for vacation and business travel, war, and shipping of goods.  To see them takes my breath away but it doesn’t diminish the fact they help pollute in all ways “ALIEN” to the natural world.

The single glimmer of hope dating from its longest use (I know of) in Holland, the windmill.  Windmills are one of the smartest industrial monsters on the landscape.  Why has it taken so long for it’s widespread use?  California has been using the windmill for quite some time but it’s a newer image in the landscape in the balance of our country.  This windfarm is in Illinois and this is the first year I have managed any decent photos of them though I have tried before.  For me, they are the most welcome “ALIEN” on the scene in many a decade.  Searching the Internet another article at Wikipedia per windmills (CLICK HERE).  It dates their use back to IRAN, 7th century.  The Wikipedia article is VERY INTERESTING and I have learned a lot reading it.  More on Windpower (CLICK HERE) and how it provides jobs, incomes, and energy.

This isn’t the best photo as the day was again, overcast and dark when we got to the area but, it’s one of the best photos I have ever taken from the windfarm.  NOTICE:  at the base, a crane and below the crane, a tractor trailer.  That should give a rough idea how huge the windmills are.  Amazing and a Godsend for gathering the non polluting winds for the huge amount of power needed to operate everything from homes to business here in the United States.  For a better view of the friendly “ALIEN”, CLICK HERE.

ONE MORE THING:  On doing a lot of research on the Internet per Windpower I have discovered a lot of controversy per Good/Bad, acceptance, non acceptance of windpower.  There are huge success stories around the globe.  These success stories indicate to me windpower is a positive and reliable source of needed energy.  I believe we have to begin somewhere and as the wind is a non pollutant unless it carries the pollution from other “Alien” sources my deduction is, wind power is a source for the provision of good clean energy for the world.  I suppose only time will tell if my head is on straight in my thinking.

A Wikipedia link with information per the transportation system in the United States (CLICK HERE).  Another about our roads, (CLICK HERE).  AND from the great state of TENNESSEE, some frequently asked questions per the interstates (CLICK HERE).

Keep on taking those photos,

 

 

We are back from our Thanksgiving getaway  so now, I can post my entry for the challenge. 

I hope everyone had a good week wherever in the world you are.

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:

  ”Fungi and Wildflowers”
Suggested by:  TheSunnyC

 

My Photos are all WildFlowers with one exception, a single Mushroom.  All photos were taken in my own yard except for the Jewelweed photo displaying the whole plant. 

Bloodroot:  can be fatally toxic.  It comes up very early in the Spring and if you dig into it’s roots, they bleed like a cut finger might.  That is an easy identification tool.  Handling the oozing plant can be treacherous.

This is the Bloodroot leaf after unfurl.  The plant comes up like a finger with the leaf curled around the flower.

MayApple / Mandrake: The MayApple does flower but the flower hides beneath the leaf.  The flower matures into an edible fruit which Racoons and other animals have a taste for so they usually beat humans to the matured fruit.  The root is listed as poisonous.

WakeRobin or Trillium:  Listed as poisonous this species of Trillium is still a favorite of mine in my garden.  The flower is the deep red center you see here.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit OR Cuckoo-Pint:  This is a species of Jack-in-the-Pulpit also known as Indian Turnip.  It grows early Spring and it has toxic qualities.  There is a lot of information on the internet about the plant.  I consider it highly interesting but, like some of the others displayed, a plant to be careful with where it comes to anyone eating it.

Viola:  Most of us love Violets and this is a common one in our area.  It grows in my yard in purple, yellow and in white but the yellow and white are much less aggressive or explosive in population than the purple.  The Violet flower is edible.  See a list of edible flowers HERE.

Dandelions:  I expect Dandelions grow all over the world.  I love them even if they do persist in lawns or seed and blow leaving a naked stem standing by the thousands.  I had much rather have the naked stems than the pesticides and chemicals used to poison the plant and the worlds groundwaters which is what has been happening for years by people convinced they must have a well manicured lawn.  The greens are edible and the roots can be ground for a coffee and the flowers make Dandelion Wine.

Jewel Weed:  It’s a lovely flower but tiny, about the size of the tip of your finger.  If you have poison ivy growing, you can usually discover some Jewel Weed.  Scrunch the leaves and stems up kind of mushy and rub them on skin if touched by the ivy to prevent an outbreak of the poison ivy rash.  I am not sure how long you can wait to use this remedy for it to work.

My exception:  This is what the Jewel Weed plant looks like and the stems are very succulent plant type looking, filled with water.  I took this photo at a state park in Rockford, Illinois a few trips back.

Fungi:  I am only posting this single mushroom as it grows regularly across from my drive.  Other photos I have of fungi were not taken in my yard and limiting to my yard gave me an out for numbers of photos to post.  There are a lot of edible Mushrooms and a lot of Poisonous ones.  I have no idea which this is but I have a deep respect for what some of them can do to you if you eat the wrong thing. 

“CHOOSE WISELY” is an excellent quotation used in the Indiana Jones movie, “The Last Crusade”.  It works well for caution with mushrooms and in fact, all wild plants.  The world of medicinals stems from the plant world and we all know how trecherous medications are.

 

Keep on taking those photos,

Happy Thanksgiving

May the good things we all wish for, happen,

in a spirit of Thanksgiving.

God bless us, each and everyone,

with increased awareness of His concerns for His creations the world over. 

 

If you use desktops and would like something new for Thanksgiving, visit my latest entry on my LittleEgypt site for some I made for sharing.   LittleEgypt CLICK HERE

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:
 ”Enchanted”
Suggested by:  BookWormExtreme

I felt the definition of the word “Enchanted” was open to interpretation, as usual, but none of my photos fit the direction I felt Enchanted should take.  I wanted Enchanted meaning unrecognizable like the prince turned into a frog.  To get anything near this, I have used photos I manipulated and they may not be totally unrecognizable but they have been changed so are instead, graphics.  The original photograph for the train belongs to my friend from the UK, Xanga’s Tim Beddard.  Tim donated the image for use in our small challenge group, small meaning he and I sometimes my daughter Halie and Kenneth also from the UK and my sister Bunny. 

 

 

This is Tim’s photo but not quite the original.  Actually, I seem to have lost it.  This is almost, nearly, sort of “it” but cropped for my use in some of the following.

This foggy, lamplit attempt came about after seeing another friends (Kenneth’s) submission.  It contains most of the original and my graphic may be where I lost it.  It’s best to make copies right away for use and I do know better but obviously forgot the rule.  I am always amazed with graphics programs.  The software creators must be enchanted themselves to imagine software for development which has the abilities to accomplish the photo changes I enjoy playing with so much.

I enjoy tube painting and all of the tubes in this image were made by me from photos I took or in the instance of the farmer waiting to load his goods on the train, another photo taken by Tim.  If you compare this image with the near original above I hope it is more or less, “Enchanted” or unrecognizable.

A dangerous situation depicted here and the rider is Tim in his younger days as a military man.  He tells me he has done some riding just about as foolhardy as the situation I have put him into.  Again, I hope this graphic has an “Enchanted” quality simply because of the changes made to it.

This image does use the original photo as we have the flagman flagging down the train for mail or ???  I loved how this one turned out and the wonderful mix of colors gives it a fantasy look so an “Enchantment”.

This almost nondescript photo is one of mine and a favorite.  I call it a Laura Ingalls moment and if you are familiar with the Little House on the Prairie books and television episodes you may recognize what I mean.  I find it to be an “enchanting” not enchanted photo.  It has a feel about it I find enchanting even if the quality of the image is poor. 

I brought back the farmer in my Laura Ingalls moment.  I think he looks perfectly content and is enjoying the “Enchantment” of his pleasant walk. 

Hoping everyone has been Enchanted by their visit to my entry. 
Until the next time, keep on taking those photos.

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:
 ”Fruit”
Suggested by:  PoetInMe

I love fruit and suspect most of us do.  My favorite of all fruits are any Melon and Berries, Raspberries and Strawberries in particular.  I have a thing for pink or reds in fruit.  I seem to equate pink with the best eating fruit but I know the statement is not necessarily true only my perception.

Some photos of wild and domestic fruits or sort of fruit as tis the season.

I have displayed Wild Grapes before.  These are immature fruit.  When mature, they are a dark purple like so many domesticated grapes.  The birds love them for eating and I love them for photos.

Pink Grapefruit probably sits on tables anywhere around the world as it is a domesticated fruit grown in the warmer regions and shipped everywhere for the holidays and otherwise.  If I would eat more grapefruit and less of other things I might have less of a weight problem.  I do like them a lot.  I also like the buttered toast you see in the photo.

Wild or Domestic HedgeApples are a NON EDIBLE fruit from a tree widely used in the past for natural fence.  The green fruit has a sticky to the touch feel and leaves a stain on your hands.  I have read they are good to keep spiders out of homes.  They are as large as a softball and fall from trees with a thunk.  I think they could probably knock a man out if one hit him in the head on the way down.  Everything you think you want to know about Hedge Apples, CLICK HERE.  I found another really great site, http://hedgeapple.com/ and one more as several of you have mentioned this particular image and plant, http://www.gpnc.org/osage.htm

Not really a fruit but Pumpkins and squash make some of the best custard type pies.  Gourds make super decorations for the fall and holiday center pieces.  Stores and outdoor markets carry many varieties during the months of October through December and there are always Pumpkin Festivals.  I love Pumpkin festivals as Pumpkins are a most photographic fruit and there are always a huge variety of sizes for photos.  Turn a small child loose in a Pumpkin patch and you are guaranteed photo opportunities you won’t get anywhere else.

I don’t know what these berries are but they are ripe in the Autumn months decorating many a bush in our area.  The red is scrumptious but I’m not sure the berry is.  I do imagine birds find them to be very edible.

One of my very favorite desserts, fresh Strawberry pie.  If we are out to eat and they have this pie, I can’t pass it up as an after meal dessert.  I am seriously waiting for the day I can order desserts and meals shipped through as files in my computer.  Just order and out they pop from your DVD drawer.  Any kind of fruit I want, fresh, fast and no disease or Virus.  Strawberry pie is on my list to order the day the possibility materializes.   CLICK HERE for an easy recipe.  There are lots on the web for this really good pie.

Till then, I’ll keep on taking and shipping/uploading fruit photos for the challenge and to salivate over.
 

 

 

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

Weekly Photo Challenge

the subject is:
 ”Chocolate”
Suggested by:  Queenchris

I have a lot of weakness.  The biggest being an attempt to retain my childhood in memory and in a lot of little dust catchers around my home.  The “Chocolate” challenge falls right into place as so many of my little keepsakes are related to M&M chocolate candies and the cute little dispensers and gifts designed for M&M.  My very favorite chocolate bar is Heath bars and I also have a weakness for chocolate covered jellies and chocolate covered salted pretzels.  Heath is a Hershey product.  I grew up with Hershey and Heath bars and Hershey Kisses and all the rest of the goodies found in grocers, and chocolatier’s.  My preference for snacking is actually salted chips but chocolates are here at home most of the time as John and I both indulge.

 Some ”Chocolate” Photos

I have a collection of Moose in my Christmas room.  Chocolate Moose is a fitting description.  In the background, see some of my M&M’s containers and the tins are my favorites.   

A bowl of chocolate bars, our favorites; Hershey, Reese, M&M’s hiding in the center, Heath, and a Hostess Twinkie HoHo in the foreground.  The Chocolate Moose stands guard as a reminder not to ruin the aesthetics of the decoration by eating it.  I would like to tell you the chocolate was purchased for Halloween giving but, I confess, photos for the challenge were the driving force for the new stash.

Hot chocolate, everyone’s favorite.  We used to make all of our hot chocolate from HERSHEY’S COCOA.  You measure the chocolate, sugar, water and heat in a pan till boiling stirring all the while.  When ready, you add milk then brought it back to temperature, filled your glass, added whip cream or marsh mallows and drank it in front of a fire or while enjoying the family.  The recipe, on the can of cocoa, also adds vanilla which I don’t recall but will have to follow the recipe and make a mug of what I remember as a child. 

The above pictured mug of hot chocolate was made from prepackaged hot chocolate mix.  It’s still good plus easy.  When hot, I add marshmallows then put it into the microwave to melt the mallows a bit.  John says it’s yummy.  Add the candy and Hostess Twinkies to your snacking menu for the evening and you are guaranteed a sugar attack and your kids might just climb the walls. 

 

Have a good week and keep on taking those photos.