Weekly Photo Challenge – A Good Match

I’m still getting used to the new Wednesday start day for the Weekly Photo Challenge at The Daily Post so am hurrying to get this one in on time.  There were so many images that looked like A Good Match but I’ll quickly share just two that stood out in the old photo files.

What used to be known as ‘elevenses’ in our house; tea and biscuits, preferably with plenty of jam on them.  A good match.   As the name suggests, this short break from daily activities usually took place around 11am but as the years advance I find that ‘elevenses’ has slowly worked its way forward until now we appear to be enjoying this delightful repast somewhere between 8:30 and 9am.

Two people who obviously enjoyed making beautiful music together;  Violinist Oliver Colbentson and his accompanist.  A good match.

For more on The Weekly Photo Challenge go to https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/a-good-match/

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Looking Down At Things

This week, Cee has us looking down at things for her Fun Foto Challenge and there are plenty of those in the photo files.  During our visit to Utah we seemed to spend half our time looking down on things.  When you’re in the mountains you can’t help it.

The view looking down from the lift at Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah.

Looking down at the glass fountain at the Conference Center in Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Looking down at the beautiful architecture of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City.

Looking down at the city of St. Louis, Missouri from the top of the Gateway Arch.

Looking down from the fort at the harbor on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

A brave youngster looking down from the top of the slope at the ski jump in Fox River Grove, Illinois.

Looking down at the House of Representatives in the Illinois State Capitol, Springfield.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to https://ceenphotography.com/2017/02/21/cees-fun-foto-challenge-looking-down-at-things/

Weekly Photo Challenge – Against The Odds

Every summer I walk, optimistically, through the gates at Arlington Park racetrack and wonder what the odds are of me picking a winner.  It doesn’t happen very often, probably because I have my own method of selecting the horse most likely to be first past the winning post. I go through the program and look for names. If it’s catchy, great!  If it includes a family name, like Uncle Charlie’s Fortune, even better!  Never mind that it’s a rank outsider (it usually is.) That’s the one my $2 is going on. And not just to place.  It’s going to win. Maybe.

Once I’ve put the bet on and it’s too late to do anything about it, I go down to the enclosure to see what my chosen horse looks like.  As they parade past, I check out the numbers, hoping that mine is the one that looks full of pep and ready to go. More often than not it turns out to be the horse that they had to wake up in order to push it out of the stalls.

There’s mine.  It may appear like the person leading it out has more energy but never mind.  Even if the horse looks like it’s really not planning on running today, perhaps the jockey is wearing the right colors. Purple would be good.

Alright!!  Hope springs eternal and I dash off to watch the horses make their way onto the course and out towards the starting gate.  I silently plead with my nag not to exhaust itself by galloping about too much before the off.  Take a nice gentle trot out there, would be my advice.  I once picked a horse that got all the way to the start and then had to come back to get some piece of equipment checked out.  By the time it got back to the start again, it had lost all interest in the proceedings and sauntered home in last place.

My horse is usually the last one to be coaxed into the starting gate.  It has other ideas.  It has decided to retire from racing and become a show pony.  The others are becoming impatient but finally Uncle Charlie’s Fortune is persuaded to participate in the event.  Could this be my lucky race?  Will I be the first in line with a winning ticket?  Not likely.  My pick, which is supposedly running in the 2-o-clock, might be lucky if it finishes amongst the runners in the 3-o-clock!

At last they’re under starters orders and they’re off! Last one into the gate and last one out.  Good old Uncle Charlie.  But what’s this?  All of a sudden the old war horse has caught the whiff of battle and is gradually creeping up closer to the front runners.  What once seemed an impossible dream is now becoming a reality and as they come spinning out of the turn, Uncle Charlie has fought his way into the lead and hangs on to win it by a nose.  At 100-1 and against all the odds, Uncle Charlie is bringing home the bacon.

For more on The Weekly Photo Challenge at The Daily Post go to https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/against-the-odds/

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Things That Look Like Faces

This week, Cee has us looking for faces in everyday things for her Fun Foto Challenge.  Here are a few of the faces that looked out at me from the old photo files.

A unicorn magically appears in a tree trunk at Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg……..

while these vintage cars seem to have taken on personalities of their own at Bluesmobile Cruise Night in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

And a giant face glares out from the rocks at Arches National Park in Utah.

For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to https://ceenphotography.com/2017/02/14/cees-fun-foto-challenge-things-that-look-like-faces/

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge – Glass

The subject for Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge this week is glass and going through the photo files I came across a few items that I thought might work. It’s funny how, when you see the theme for a certain challenge, you wish you’d taken pictures of some things you’d seen that would have been great! Oh well!  If only we could see the future as easily as we can see through glass.  For more on Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge go to https://ceenphotography.com/2017/02/09/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-glass-2/

Chihuly artwork at the Visitors Center in Columbus, Indiana.

Too much time on my hands; this was a photographic experiment that I set up on a dreary day just for something to do.

A stained-glass window from the former Ottawa Street Methodist Church which is now part of the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

Glass ceiling at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Glassware on display at The House On The Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Paperweights on display at The Art Institute in Chicago.

Thursday Doors – Cars

Looking for something bright and cheerful on a cold winter’s day, I decided on these car doors for Norm’s Thursday Doors.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m no car expert but I do appreciate the colors and aesthetics of some of the vintage cars on display at various places such as our local Bluesmobile Cruise Night and Volo Auto Museum.  For more on Thursday Doors go to https://miscellaneousmusingsofamiddleagedmind.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/thursday-doors-february-9-2017/

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge – Music

Cee invites us to listen to the music for this week’s Black & White Photo Challenge.  I remember my uncle once saying to me many years ago, “How can anyone live in a world without music?”  Good question! I know I couldn’t.  Not that I can play any kind of musical instrument and I certainly couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, as the saying goes, but I can appreciate listening to those who can.

The late Oliver Colbentson, onetime Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, showed a wonderful passion for his music. I always enjoyed going to the recitals that he gave later in his life and he graciously allowed me to take photos at one such performance.

A sing-song on one of the pirate ships for Halloween some years ago at Navy Pier in Chicago.

This gentleman kindly allowed me to take some shots as he prepared to play for the Orchid Festival at the Chicago Botanic Garden a couple of years ago. I think his name is David Chiriboga and he did a splendid job.

A guitarist with a slightly different style of music playing at the Farmers Market at Wheeler Historic Farm in Salt Lake County, Utah.

Another performer at the Farmers Market in Utah, this young man’s enthusiasm for his music seemed inexhaustible.  He played for what seemed like hours.  It was definitely different!

For more on Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge go to https://ceenphotography.com/2017/02/02/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-music/

 

Thursday Doors – Peace

I had planned on using a different set of pictures for Thursday Doors this week, but after reading Norm’s thoughtful and moving post this morning they seemed much too frivolous. Instead I found a few images that I hope will convey my feelings.  Wherever and however you choose to worship, may you find peace.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett, Illinois.

The Assembly Hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.

St. Peters Church at Old World Wisconsin.

St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Missouri.

St Matthias Church in New Fane, Wisconsin.

The Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

For more on Norm’s Thursday Doors go to https://miscellaneousmusingsofamiddleagedmind.wordpress.com/2017/02/02/thursday-doors-february-2-2017/comment-page-1/#comment-13736

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Inner and Outer

This week, Cee suggests that we look at the ins and outs for her Fun Foto Challenge.  If taken literally, this topic certainly was a challenge.  I haven’t captured too many pictures of both the inside and outside of anything other than, perhaps, buildings. But going through the photo files I finally came across some pictures, from the local Bluesmobile Cruise Night, that I thought might work.  The hardest part was trying to match the right interior to the exterior.  I’m no car expert!  For more on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge go to https://ceenphotography.com/2017/01/31/cees-fun-foto-challenge-inner-and-outer/