Weekly Photo Challenge: Saturated

The Weekly Photo Challenge from the folks on The Daily Post at http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/photo-challenge-saturated/ is Saturated.

If you take the word Saturated to mean strong colors then this was rather similar to Ailsa’s Travel Theme Challenge of Multicolored a few weeks ago, and I had to dig deep to find something that I hadn’t already used. Shown above, a brightly colored tabletop at a local café.

Detail on a traditional Japanese costume.

Part of an elaborate Chinese silk lantern at the Chinese Lantern Festival in St Louis.

Dancers from the Ballet Folklorico performing in Elgin, Illinois.

A clown caught in a contemplative mood.

And finally, a colorful display of Autumn leaves at the Morton Arboretum.

Travel Theme: Relaxing

Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge this week on Where’s My Backpack at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/09/27/travel-theme-relaxing/ is Relaxing.

I’m sure that most, if not all, these animals only look as though they’re relaxing. Invade their space or make one false move and they would instantly be on the alert.

These pictures were taken by me at Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, Elk Grove, Schaumburg and Chicago, all in Illinois, and in Columbus, Indiana, but not necessarily in that order. Photography, like gardening, is, for me, very relaxing.

A Word A Week Challenge: Mistake

The Word A Week Challenge on A Word In Your Ear at http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/a-word-a-week-challenge-mistake/ is Mistake

In this day and age of digital cameras it’s so easy to just discard the bad pictures when you don’t have to count the cost or worry about running out of film.

Back in the day when every shot counted and you didn’t know what you’d get until the film came back, I kept everything! Even the mistakes! Everything went in the album and when people asked me why I kept the bad ones I used to tell them it was to remind me not to make the same mistakes again. But I kept on making them!

How many times did I race round to Skrudlands in anticipation of receiving a batch of prize-winning photos only to come away with an envelope filled with these headless wonders!

Most of my mistakes seem to be bird related. Perhaps it’s psychological. Maybe my life-long fear of birds causes me to close my eyes whenever I take a picture of them. Well, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Travel Theme: Through

This week’s Travel Theme challenge from Ailsa on Where’s My Backpack at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/09/20/travel-theme-through/ is Through

Yesterday I went to Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg and took this shot looking through the gate to the Kids Garden.

While I was at Spring Valley I walked through to the Volkening Heritage Farm and found this calf pushing its head through the fence in order to reach some tasty morsels.

Water racing through Graue Mill in Oakbrook, Illinois.

And my final entry for this week’s challenge, a purple finch pushing his head through to reach the seeds in our bird feeder.

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Lines To Patterns

The Weekly Photo Challenge from the folks on The Daily Post at http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/lines-patterns/ is From Lines To Patterns.

My first choice for this particular challenge was a shot of the inside of the Illinois State Building, now known as the James R Thompson Center, in Chicago.

A familiar sight in Chicago is the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

Inside the massive structure that encloses the old Union Station in St Louis.

A view of the Chicago Botanic Garden seen through a trellis in the Fruit & Vegetable Garden.

A Word A Week Challenge: Arch

This is my first attempt at the Word A Week Challenge as featured on the excellent blog A Word In Your Ear at http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/a-word-a-week-challenge-arch/ This week’s challenge is Arch.

This first shot was taken in the Missouri Botanical Garden, the archway decorated with the distinctive glasswork created by Dale Chihuly.

The next picture was taken at the Hindu temple in Bartlett, Illinois, some of the most stunning architecture I’ve ever seen.

This line of archways can be seen in Forest Park in St Louis, Missouri.

And finally, the great Gateway Arch in St Louis.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

The Weekly Photo Challenge from the folks on The Daily Post at http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/photo-challenge-inside/ is Inside.

The dome of the State Capitol building in Springfield Illinois. At just over 92 feet wide, the inside of the dome incorporates a bronze-painted, plaster frieze depicting scenes from Illinois history.

My second choice for this challenge was taken inside the old St Louis Union Station, at one time the world’s largest and busiest train station. It was converted into a hotel, shopping mall and entertainment center in the early 1980’s.

Travel Theme: Multicolored

Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge this week on Where’s My Backpack at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/09/13/travel-theme-multicoloured/ is Multicolored

These lovely young ladies in their multicolored costumes were performing with the Ballet Folklorico in Elgin when I took this picture.

This totem pole is part of an exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago.

The beautiful quilt pictured above was on display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Exquisitely colored costumes for sale on a market stall.

A delicious-looking Christmas wreath on display at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

And last but by no means least, a colorful flower bed in the Circle Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

On Patrol

Keeping the lakefront safe; US Coast Guard, Police and Fire Department patrol the waters around Navy Pier in Chicago.

The Last Rose Of Summer

A few of my favorite rose shots, taken here at home and at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Not the easiest things to grow but so well worth the effort!

One of my dearest memories of England is the smell of roses after a rain shower.