Wordless Wednesday: Time Warp

Militiamen with…SUVs?

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Twist

Existential Question

I have trouble with topics that are TOO open. They should inspire me, but they just discourage me…too many choices, can’t commit, too hard… 😦

I never got around to the challenge last week so I didn’t want to miss another. What to do? I took a couple of wire “twists” in my apartment, but they didn’t really do it for me. (Of course, the fact that they aren’t focused properly could be the culprit…see below.)

Twisted Mirror

 

But then, I watched CBS Sunday Morning yesterday. Though not an original photo taken by me, the piece is perfect for this challenge: Twisting words!

I had never heard of the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships in Austin. Clearly it’s not for everyone, but as a word nerd, I sure wish I could have attended. I was amazed by the woman “punning” the Presidents in order; I wish they filmed her whole performance. Her name is Alex Petri. Here’s a YouTube clip of her performance at last years’ championship. I would guess that the topic she was given was the Bible?

 

 

 

 

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Wordless Wednesday: Bad Directions?

Bad Directions?

Not really…the sign was left as a historical marker. But it is an odd juxtaposition, don’t you think? A shoutout to Suffragette Kitty for giving me the idea for this photo…

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Cats Can Be Great Pets…REALLY!

I saw this video yesterday about a cat saving a little boy from being mauled by a dog. It prompted many comments. Cat lovers came out in droves to give credit to their feline friends; many talking about their cats alerting them to fires.

It made me think of a time when our family cat helped prevent a home break-in. This is one of those “family legends” that gets told over and over. My mother loves animals, but is definitely partial to dogs, so the fact that she gives so much credit to the cat in this story is a great compliment.

My father was working out of state and coming home on weekends. In the wee hours of Monday morning, my mother would drive my father up the street to meet his coworkers so they could commute together up to New York. My mother had come home and gone back to bed to read and enjoy a little time for herself before the morning chaos began. The cat was resting comfortably on the bed; our dachshund was in her own bed in the kitchen, down the hall from my parent’s bedroom. As my mother tells it, the cat suddenly sat up and ran down the hall. She said, “Misty, what’s wrong?” And then she heard the dog growl and bark. She called out, “Who’s there?”

She got up out of bed and went down the hall and saw the dog attacking a foot in the door! She screamed. My brother heard her and came downstairs with the only thing he could grab…a baseball bat. My bedroom was on the first floor near the stairs, so I heard my brother racing down the stairs and I got up to see what was going on. By the time we got to the kitchen, the foot was gone. My mother told my brother, “Someone was here!” He went outside to look around, but whoever it was had disappeared. My mother was very shaken up. She kept saying with amazement, that the cat knew someone was there before the dog and the dog was in the same room! “Thank you, Misty!” she said over and over.

Misty — Ever Vigilant

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Tree Tuesday: Tie a Yellow Ribbon…a Pretty One…

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

 

The tradition and the song live on:

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Move

I love to walk and I belong to a walking group. Almost every Saturday we walk at a local park, such as D. W. Field park.

This week we were greeted with this sign.

Road Race Sign

One of the people in my group, who is from the area, said it is an every weekend event this time of year. I soon discovered it was an event for children.

Children Runners

I think in this technological age, anything that encourages children to move and enjoy the outdoors is a so worthwhile!

Two Children Running

I love to see a valuable resource used in such a heartwarming and productive way. The park is a wonderful respite for people in a sometimes troubled city.

Just Move!

But Walking is Okay too…

Jogging is Encouraged!

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Wordless Wednesday: Sleepwalking

The Sleepwalking Man

For the story behind the photo, click here.

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Tree Tuesday: Yellow Magnolia

Yellow Magnolia

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Spring II

I decided to do a very different take on the Weekly Photo Challenge topic.

In the liquor business, spring means it is wine-tasting time!

Wine-Tasting Sign

The highly popular event started at 1:00; my friends and I arrived just after 2:00, and I was customer number 493!

My Tasting Book

 

Forgive the quality of some of the photos…there were hundreds of different wines to taste…and I was being jostled by the hoards of eager wine connoisseurs clutching the glasses and books, pushing their way to the many tables…

 

Sometimes it is hard to get near the tables…

 

 

 

My tactic was to head to the food table first for some meatballs and cheese and crackers. You can’t go to every table unless you are extremely patient or very aggressive (and you aren’t driving home). I studied the book in search of some rose’s. …after all it IS spring and summer barbecue season is coming…

It is hard to take pictures when you are trying to handle a book, a pen, and a wine glass. I just couldn’t couldn’t focus properly with one hand, and people were moving.

Despite the blurriness of some of the people in this shot, check out the one woman not moving: the one on the left in the neon green shirt, truly paused in her tasting…

Not sure if I like this wine…?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But don’t bother to come after 3:00, because this is what you’ll see:

Corks and empty bottles abound…

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Spring

It’s beginning to look a lot like spring in the Northeast…finally! The weekly photo topic is right on time.

Bees like Crocuses

Daffodils Milling around Rocks

Spring Gold

Tree Buds Bursting

Heavenly Smelling Hyacinths

Lilies of the Valley

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