Header challenge - Kitchen silhouettes

 

Kathy chose "silhouette" for this weeks challenge. Thought I might get out around sunset with some statues or spires silhouetted against a golden sky. Was not to be, but our kitchen offered some alternatives.

Our World - Still blooming

Sky watch - Mostly cloudy

Header Challenge - Shadows

 

I like photos with contrast, whether by light or color, so shadows was my choice for this weeks Header Challenge. These shots were all taken this May around the yard. use the links in my sidebar to see the other header challengers' shadows.

House wren in the shadows

A spot of afternoon sun sneaks through the shadow of the trees

 

Finches and their shadows

 

Shadows on the garage

Selfie shadow

Our World - More color

The flowers are doing well this year and we have added more.
 

Sky Watch - Cloudy

Cloudy, but no rain earlier this week

Header Challenge - Letting go

Letting go is hard to do. My header is about letting go of people that are close. In fact, we never truly let go - they are ingrained in us on so many ways. We recently lost sister-in-law, Elaine. She went into the hospital for surgery, which appeared to be successful, and then with complications under went additional surgery. My header is Elaine and Marianne at their brother's picnic. Marianne said something that got Elaine laughing so hard she could not eat.

This letting go is hard because the sisters looked forward to sharing many more years of laughing together.

My Mom died in 2000. This picture taken at Christmas 1998 is the last I took of her. She had Alzheimer's and as I held her hands assisting her to walk, I said "want to dance" and the old twinkle returned to her eyes as she twisted gently side to side. I was fortunate to be with her when she let go of life.

In 2004, Dad had a condition where swallowing let food into his lungs. The doctors wanted to give him a feeding tube, but he declined, saying he wanted to be with Mom and in few days he was.  Picture is from his 90-th birthday.

Letting go of the feelings of loss is hard, but the memories are there to savor all of our lives!

Our World - Still blooming

Sky Watch - Variations this week

 Fly me to the moon

 Just a few clouds

Two views taken a few seconds apart, 

zoom out and the camera adjusts for the brighter sky.

Setting sun

 

Moody sky

Header Challenge - Sport without a ball

Last August the City of Frederick hosted the only high wheel bike race in the US. The course circled two blocks of the historic district. The winner is the person who completes the most laps in an hour. Men's winner was Brian Caron completed 41 laps. The women's winner, Sherl Kennedy completed 38 laps. This years race will be August 15, 2015.

Our World - Plants and First Saturday

We visited Thanksgiving Farms Saturday (entrance above) for the first time. It has been in operation 30 some years. Below are two of the items we bought.

A new azalea for the front yard.

The City of Frederick celebrated First Saturday with shops open late and entertainment. And some interesting wares in shop windows. Above, a basement display window

These ladies were trying to get the band (in the crowd behind them) to play some duck music and the group below was playing inside.