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  • Weekly Photo Challenge, “Love is …” and “Absence of Color”

    EDITED IMAGES

    Weekly Photo Challenge

    the subject from Sherrytwinklz is:

     “Love is … “

    Hello Xanga … I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas experience and a good entry into the New Year.  Our New Year started with a bang I hope continues. 

    I am Playing catch up after our trip to and back home again from our Christmas visit in Virginia with daughter Halie and her family.  The trip was great, the visit was great, Christmas was wonderful, Santa was more than generous, the food was great and the reining Yahtzee champion is my granddaughter, Eden.

    I managed to comment on all sites with entries on the previous post “In Your Bowls” but here it is, ‘Friday again’.  I am one challenge and comments for it, behind.  SO, I am posting 2 entries, one for “Love Is …” and a second for “Absence of Color” and I will visit pages to see photos for both.  I have a lot of catching up to do. 

    ANOTHER BIG
     HAPPY NEW YEAR
    to all.

    *

     In respect for commenters views, I have made changes to some of my images …

    *

    My photos for  “Love Is …”

    LoveIs-1bl_Ralphie_RSBlain.jpg

    Love is … what you get from a special pet.
    Ralphie: a rescued cat from Spain and very sweet.  Halie says he is slow but I think laid back might be a good word for him.  He was a rescued cat and was brought to the states after a finished tour of Navy duty.  All pets on this page, except for Apple, were rescued in Spain and brought home with their rescue family, my daughter and her husband and my grand daughter.  Between the pets and the people, there is a lot of loving going on.

    LoveIs-2bbl_Rusty_RSBlain.jpg

    Rusty, a cat’s cat is a bit on the onery side.

    LoveIs-3bl_Apple_RSBlain.jpg

    Apple, a rescued Chihuahua from a Virginia shelter is about as sweet as they come.  She is filled with kisses and would give hugs if she could.

    LoveIs-4bl_IndiaAndEspana_RSBlain.jpg

    India and Espanya, both rescued pets from Spain.  They can outrun almost anything and they are filled with devotion and have very loving personalities.

    LoveIs-5bl_Espana_RSBlain.jpg

    Espanya a Spanish Greyhound or Galgo

    LoveIs-6bl_India_RSBlain.jpg

    India, a Spanish Greyhound or Galgo

    From experience gained, all of these pets are special and the dogs are so filled with giving you can’t help but fall in love with them all.  Love is … where you find it and with really nice pets, love overflows.

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    Weekly Photo Challenge

    the subject from Life_Lived is:

     “Absence of Color”

    My Photos

    The direction was, take a photo of something colorful but post it in black and white.

    I decided to go with a graphic made from five of my photos of the same pets above.  As they (the dogs and cats) are never still to the point you can get a photo with them all, this is the next best thing. 

    LoveIs-1eyes_RSBlain.jpg

    The original in color. 
    LEFT REAR is Ralphie, center is Rusty and Apple, FRONT:  India far right and Espanya front.
     

    AbsenceOfColor-1_RSBlain.jpg

    My Black and White
    LEFT REAR is Ralphie, center is Rusty and Apple, FRONT:  India far right and Espanya left. 

    Keep on taking those photos,
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    CLICK HERE TO COMMENT

     

     

     

  • Weekly Photo Challenge, In Your Bowls

    Weekly Photo Challenge

    the subject from Junjie1800  is:

     ”In Your Bowls”

     

    IMPORTANT:  I am posting but will be gone until after the first of the year so will miss making comments for some of you until I get back unless we can get online.  I’ll try to catch everyone listed before we leave.

     Food, I love food 

    and am willing to try about anything.  I can’t say I love it all but if there is food around, I don’t go hungry. 

    Some Photos:

    InYourBowls3_RSBlain.jpg

    Goose for the holidays at my daughter’s home in Virginia.  It’s a tradition.  In the rear corner left, a type of ham brought from Spain and always, any and all other types of goodies, all day, everyday while visiting.  Halie and her husband are very good cooks and meals are always events.

    InYourBowls2_GameTable_RSBlain.jpg

    In the evenings and anytime we feel like it, we play board games.  There is always food on the table that loosens us up to talk and play.  We watch our favorite Christmas movies while there too. 

    InYourBowls1_RSBlain.jpg

    Just looking at the above image makes me hungry and the dog is taking note of it as well.  Hettie lives in the UK but like any other of our canine friends, she knows where the table of food is.  This time, the table was piled high with so much food we almost didn’t know where to begin.

    I am a recipe collector.  I still love to cook and I guess I will always like to eat.  Special foods for the holidays makes the season even more festive. 

    Lots of people are down on their luck and hungry.  The holidays bring the fact more to the forefront.  Please remember to share at your local food baskets in your church and in the stores helping to make someone else holidays brighter remembering there could come a time that hungry person might be you.

    Happy Christmas,
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  • Merry Christmas 2007 from PhotoGraphics

     

     Merry Christmas Xanga Friends

     

    ChristmasAniCatNFireplace

    Glorious Christmas Blessings to All

    and may your New Year be filled with His love.

     

    Desktops, poetry and more on my LittleEgypt site, CLICK HERE

    Becca aka
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  • Weekly Photo Challenge, “Undermining Authority”

    Weekly Photo Challenge

    the subject from Sezwick is:

    “Undermining Authority”

    I went to the dictionary to discover definition useful for this challenge which in Photo Form is a really hard challenge.  The definitions I used are from Dictionary.com


    Undermine … 
    to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect. 
    Authority …

    the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine. 


    In all honesty I am not in a position to take photos that fit the specific definition.  What I think of is arrests or court room battles, any and all upsetting confrontations. 

    Dwelling more with “Undermine”, I work with it loosely in my photos, deliberately “Undermining” the color, taking them to the bare bones.  This leaves them somewhat interesting and not totally unattractive but more a sketch.  I played the authority figure in making the photo choices.


    My Photos

    UndermineAuthority9_RSBlain

    Still Life

    UndermineAuthority10_RSBlain

    A Holiday Meal

    UndermineAuthority3_RSBlain

    The Dig

    UndermineAuthority11_RSBlain

    The Local Outdoor Plant Shop

    UndermineAuthority5_RSBlain

    Funeral with the Senior Volunteer Color Guard

    I’m not sure this entry covers anything close to what was hoped for but here it is for what it’s worth.  I’ve played the game, I’m just not sure how well this time around.

    Keep on taking those photos,
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  • Weekly Photo Challenge, “Up, Up and Away”

    Weekly Photo Challenge

    the subject from PhotoGraphics is:

      ”Up, Up and Away”   

    Most of us on hearing the phrase “Up, Up and Away” think of planes and Superman flying.  I use the term loosely for ”grabbing my camera bag and flying out the door” deliberately looking for photo options close to home or to climb into the car headed out for a trip, a few days or weeks.  The “Up, Up and Away” is synonymous with discovery of what lies beyond of interest. 

    My greatest discovery, “no matter where you are in your progression of your lifetime, no matter your location, there is a world filled with things for your consideration.  Your world may be larger than the world others may experience but with eyes wide open a small area can provide material for more than a single book, photo opportunities for filling albums and social conditions enough to provide for your mothering instincts or to upset your politics”.

    Some Photos from various
    “Up, Up and Away’s”

    UpUpAndAway1_BlueJayMaAndBaby_RSBlain.jpg

    This photo is very close to home, the “Up, Up and Away”, the bird, being about 5 feet from my door.  While this Blue Jay nested, I could watch her from my computer, looking out the same door.  It was interesting from the nest building to the 5 eggs and finally the hatching.  The mailman stopped delivery and our final photos were taken with hard hats on our heads.  Blue Jay’s don’t usually build so close to someone’s door AND, I’ll add the pair has not built there again.  One season of baby raising with a pair of crazies clicking away was enough in their birdie estimation.  Personally, I am greatful for the one season though the mailman may not be.

    UpUpAndAway2_AStarbuckMoment_RSBlain.jpg

    “Up, Up and Away” to Starbuck’s coffee, situated all around the world and only 2 miles or so from our door.  I don’t drink a lot of it but John enjoys a treat now and again. 

    UpUpAndAway3_Picnic_RSBlain.jpg

    This is a church picnic with friends held at Lake Isabella county park  the ”Up, Up and Away” about 4 miles from our doorstep.  The fellowship was special, the food was great and I took a lot of photos.

    UpUpAndAway4_SportsBar_RSBlain.jpg

    An evening out at Charlie Baz’l's Restaurant and Karaoke/Sports bar.  It is “Up, Up and Away” Southeast of us about 8 miles.  If you want to watch sports they have 50 plus television screens set up plus what is needed to sing your heart out.  The food isn’t bad and a camera comes in handy.

    UpUpAndAway5_CyprusKneesCinci_RSBlain.jpg

    And you thought Cyprus Trees didn’t grow in Ohio … Here is living proof in my photo of the Knees, they do.  This “Up, Up and Away” photo was taken at Spring Grove Cemetery and I have some Cyprus Knee photos from Woodland Mound park also.  Both locations about a 40 minute drive from us, one to the South and the other to the Southeast probably two hours between the two.

    UpUpAndAway6_CovBridge_RSBlain.jpg

    Indiana has a lot of covered bridges but they are a bit of a rarity in Ohio.  This one is “Up, Up and Away” in Ohio and it is about an hour from us to the North East.  I love playing with photos of the bridge and there is a wonderful farm just over the bridge and on about a mile or two.

    UpUpAndAway7_CicadaFriendship_RSBlain.jpg

    This photo was taken in Indiana at Friendship Flea Market.  The Cicada ”Up, Up and Awayed” itself to us, flying in, settling down and I jumped on the situation with both feet and took photos.  Friendship is about 2 hours from us and we did a regular “Up, Up and Away” set up there for 8 or 10 years.

    UpUpAndAway8_ClownCamp_RSBlain.jpg

    Clown camp held East of Columbus, Ohio and maybe “Up, Up and Away” 3-3 1/2 hours from us.  It’s a wonderful place for photos and the color is outstanding.  Lots of laughs going on in Clown camp and I have been to it several times as both of my sisters are clowns.

    UpUpAndAway9_CornShuck_RSBlain.jpg

    “Up, Up and Away” to a retirement party for my brother-in-law held in Rockford, Illinois, 8 or 9 hours from my home.  Family and friends helped make the day, all of them gathering there.  Dan, the retiree, on the left, John center and my sister Jeanne’s husband Al on the right.  They shucked a lot of corn for roasting.

    UpUpAndAway10_SunsetPoleZero_RSBlain.jpg

    This sunset is “Up, Up and Away” very close to home and it makes a good ending to this entry.  Taken from the parking lot of my husbands work about a half hour drive and if I want sunsets, I have to leave home as we are in a small valley and see nothing except overhead sun.  We sat and watched, me snapping away, until the sunset was no more, ending perfectly my ”Up, Up and Away” for the day. 

    Now the term is explained from my point of view and you may want to take advantage of it for yourself. 

    “Up, Up and Away” and keep on taking those photos,
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  • Art Rage Challenge, “Love”

    Art Rage Challenge

    The topic for the month of December 2007 is:
     ”Love”  

    ArtRage_Love2_RSBlain

    Now hear this:  My image depicts “Love” in several ways.  It contains two members of my family who I “love”  very much.  It also has some local scenes we “love” / enjoy viewing or spending time where I “love” / enjoy taking photos of anything from the scene to animals and still life.  The image is made up of portions of photos I took, tubed by me (cut out from my photos and finished and saved for use in graphics I build like this one) a project I “love” / enjoy doing .  The tubes from my Blues Brother Announcer to the Buzzards and Sheep and the cats and family and recreation spots were made with Paint Shop Pro a software program I “love” and have enjoyed for many an hour.  In total I think my “love” expressed is in different degrees but “Love” all the same.  SEE THE IMAGE FULL SIZE, CLICK HERE

    Keep on taking those photos,
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  • Weekly Photo Challenge, “Alien”

    Weekly Photo Challenge

    the subject from Gitarezan is:

      ”Alien”   

    Alien10b_RSBlain
    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

    Alien1_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien2_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien3_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien4_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien5_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien6_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

     Alien7_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien8_RSBlain.jpg

    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. 

    Alien9_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien10_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien11_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Alien12_11-25-2007SFr_RSBlain

    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,
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  • Weekly Photo Challenge, Fungi and Wildflowers

     

    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:

    ViolaTr
      ”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. 

    FungiAndWildflowers_Bloodroot.jpg

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_BloodrootLeaves2.jpg

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

    FungiAndWildflowers_MayApple.jpg

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_WakeRobin-Trillium.jpg

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_JackInThePulpit

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_Violets.jpg

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_DandelionNViolets.jpg

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_JewelWeeds

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_JewelWeed2.jpg

    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.

    FungiAndWildflowers_Fungi1.jpg

    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,
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  • Happy Thanksgiving Xanga, 2007 _ from PhotoGraphics

    Happy Thanksgiving

    HappyThanksgiving-2007_8x6x500px_RSBlain

    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 
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  • Weekly Photo Challenge, Enchanted

    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. 

     

    Enchanted-Train1SmOrig.jpg 

    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.

    Enchanted-Train2sm_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Enchanted-Train3sm_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Enchanted-Train4smS_RSBlain.jpg

    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.

    Enchanted-Train5sm_RSBlain.jpg

    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”.

    Enchanted_LauraIngallsMoment1Sm_RSBlain.jpg

    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. 

    Enchanted_LauraIngallsMoment2Sm_RSBlain.jpg

    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.
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