Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – A Sign of the Times

Change is all around us, as Amy points out in her choice of subject for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week, and the trees are once again taking on their autumn colors while there’s a chilly nip in the air first thing in the morning, but it’s not only the seasons that are undergoing their annual transformation from summer to fall.  As Bob Dylan once pointed out, “The Times They Are A Changing.”

On a recent visit to Volo Auto Museum we were rather amused and, admittedly, somewhat shocked by the sentiments expressed in this collection of vintage advertisements displayed alongside the cars.  It’s good to know that some things have changed for the better.

I can relate to these ads. For many years, I lived in a house with three smokers and there were times when you could hardly see the other side of the room for smoke. My parents were able, with a tremendous amount of willpower, to eventually change the habit of a lifetime, and quit cold turkey.

However, despite the change in certain attitudes, it’s sad to see that there are many that remain, to a certain extent, the same.

My husband was clearly influenced by ads such as the next.  For our first wedding anniversary he bought me a fancy electric mixer.  I was upset! I had hoped for something a little more romantic and made him take it back. Subsequently he allowed me to choose, within reason, my own anniversary, birthday and Christmas presents.  For our 25th anniversary I asked for a paper guillotine to trim photos.  He was upset!  He thought my choice was somehow symbolic.

My grandfather might have agreed with the next ad. For most of his life he spurned lean meat for pure fat until, with advancing years, he developed high blood pressure and heart problems. I think that even then he was unwilling to concede that his poor health was linked to a bad diet, but eventually wiser heads prevailed and he was forced to change his daily menu. Unfortunately the change came a little too late to do much good.

 

For more on this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge go to  #15: Changing and/or Changeable.

 

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Pull Up A Seat – At Cantigny Park

Arriving a little late to the party, I’m finally pulling up a seat at a relatively new photo challenge over at XingfuMama.  It’s always nice to find a seat in a picturesque spot and, going through the photo files, I see that I have not only sat on some of these seats but also taken pictures of them.  So for my first submission here are a few shots from my most recent visit to Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois earlier this year.

Cantigny Park is undergoing extensive renovations which are likely to continue through next year but there is still a lot to see. It’s hard to imagine how you could possibly improve on a place as lovely as Cantigny, especially the gardens, but they are certainly giving it a try. I miss some of the old features and it will take some time for the new plantings to get established but I think eventually the place will come together and continue to be one of the brightest jewels in the Chicago suburbs.

A Photo A Week Challenge – Whimsical

 

Nancy Merrill is looking for a bit of whimsy for her Photo A Week Challenge and I came across a whole garden-full of whimsical characters on a visit to Mosinee in Wisconsin recently. These were the pictures that I managed to take from the sidewalk outside the house, which luckily was on a corner lot.

I’m assuming that the person who lives in this house is the one who made these creative pieces.  I tried Googling to see if I could find out anything about the artist but no luck, so if you live in the Mosinee area and know anything about these whimsical sculptures I’d love to hear from you.  I had a car-full of impatient people waiting for me otherwise I might have rung the doorbell to see if anyone was home.

 

 

For more on Nancy’s Photo a Week Challenge go to Whimsical.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Windows

This week, Ann-Christine has chosen ‘windows‘ as the subject for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and, looking through some recent photo files, I found two window pictures that I took at the George Clayson House in Palatine last week and one taken in downtown Wausau in Wisconsin, that I thought would fit the bill.

For more on the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge go to #14: Windows +.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Looking Up at Kites

This week, Patti is encouraging us to Look Up for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and I was certainly doing that at the Chicago Botanic Garden Kite Festival recently. Despite the fact that there was almost zero breeze, the kids (and many of the dads) were able to get those kites flying, making a very colorful show.

For more on the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge go to #13 Look Up.

 

Square in September – Lantern Pink

My final submission for Becky’s Pink Squares is taken from the Chinese Lantern Festival at the Missouri Botanic Garden in St. Louis. Although many of the lanterns showed pink during the day, at night the color changed dramatically to red, so I’m glad I took a few pictures when we were there earlier.

 

For more on Becky’s Square in September Photo Challenge go to Hello September!

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge – Working on the Water

I thought I’d stick with the water theme for Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge, People at Work , this week, having recently submitted a post for Nancy Merrill’s Photo Challenge Water

Working on the barges at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in Cairo, Illinois.

Working the tour boats on the San Antonio River in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Working to keep us safe on Lake Michigan at the Air & Water Show in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

Working to keep the lakes and gardens beautiful at the Chicago Botanic Garden.