Travel Theme – Steps

I’ve gone from doors to steps with Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge.  Arriving at the top of the steps; sometimes steps can be quite a challenge, such as these seen here at Copper Falls State Park in Mellen, Wisconsin, especially after a long hike, to which my husband can attest. He did just that, a few weeks before knee replacement surgery this spring.

Going up the steps at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Coming down the steps at Glensheen Mansion in Duluth, Minnesota.

Beautiful steps at the old Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

For more on Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge at Where’s My Backpack go to https://wheresmybackpack.com/2017/09/19/travel-theme-steps/

Travel Theme: Off-Center

Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge this week on Where’s My Backpack? is Off-Center.  Quite a few of those in the photo files, more by error than judgment, but I’ll use some of the images, that I captured at the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford recently, for this one.

Part of the problem that I have with photography is the timing, hence many of my subjects are already on their way in or out of the frame. Here a koi fish swims into the picture.

The gateway between the Garden of Reflection and the traditional gardens.

A turtle apparently enjoying being tickled on the nose by a leaf.

The Pavilion where special events such as the Evening Music Series, Japanese Summer Festival and private weddings are held.

A robin looking for a shady spot hops onto the scene.

For more on Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge go to http://wheresmybackpack.com/2015/06/12/travel-theme-off-centre/

Travel Theme: Hats

Don’t get me started on hats!  Whatever happened to that essential fashion accessory that always finished off  any ensemble so perfectly? Even when our girls were growing up we used to love going to the local department stores to try on all the fancy hats. Sometimes they looked really good, other times we just had a laugh.  Of course people still wear hats but they are rarely worn as a fashion statement. (I don’t count baseball caps as fashion accessories, especially for women.)

Some of the hats that you see today are worn strictly for ceremonial occasions or as part of an ethnic costume; dancers performing with the Ballet Folklorico in Elgin, a participant in the Polish Parade on Columbus Drive in Chicago and a Knight of Columbus forming part of the honor guard at a religious ceremony held in Grant Park, Chicago, for example.

Some hats are worn more for protection. Whether you’re swooshing down the slopes of the year-round ski slopes at Fox River Grove or riding a favorite in the 1 o’clock at Arlington Park you need the right kind of headwear.

When you’re a kid, and more importantly a princess, you can get away with anything. At this age everything looks cute.

Looking back at some of our old family photos I came across one taken at my grand-aunt’s wedding in 1911. For the purpose of illustrating the theme Hats I’ve extracted some individual portraits from the group.  Now these ladies really knew something about hats!

For more on Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge on Where’s My Backpack? go to http://wheresmybackpack.com/2015/05/15/travel-theme-hats/

Travel Theme: Trees – Part Two

I couldn’t resist having one last shot at Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge which this week is all about Trees. I captured this image yesterday at Cantigny Park in Wheaton and, although initially I was hoping to make the house the focal point of the picture and was disappointed that the tree was slap bang in the middle of things, I realized when I looked at the results that things weren’t so bad after all.

For more on Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge on Where’s My Backpack? go to http://wheresmybackpack.com/2015/04/24/travel-theme-trees/

 

Travel Theme: Center

Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge this week is Center.  Here is my interpretation of the theme.

The Golf Center in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Looking down at the center of the Sutphin Fountain at the Indianapolis Art Museum in Indiana.

Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca, Illinois.

For more on Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge on Where’s My Backpack? go to http://wheresmybackpack.com/2015/04/17/travel-theme-centre/

 

Travel Theme: Round

Once again I have fallen behind with my challenge responses but although this one is a week late, I would still like to offer my take on Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge on Where’s My Backpack? at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2014/04/18/travel-theme-round/ which was the subject Round.

The title for this stainless steel and bronze sculpture by Rob Lorenson, in Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, is Apple Rocket.

Little granddaughter, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders outside Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview, Illinois.

Someone else carrying a heavy burden; a snow sculpture at the old Randhurst Mall in Mount Prospect.

On display at the Chinese Lantern Festival in The Missouri Botanical Garden in St Louis.

This sculpture entitled ‘Discovery’ by Kusser Granitwerke, located on the campus of Indiana University/Purdue University in Columbus, Indinana, includes a globe weighing more than 2,000lbs which is held suspended by 12 pounds of water pressure.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Three

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge on Cee’s Photography at http://ceenphotography.com/2013/11/19/cees-fun-foto-challenge-three-items-or-the-number-three/ is Three.

I always look forward to these ‘number’ challenges and am usually surprised at how many pictures I can come up with when going through the files.

Three jockeys preparing for a race at Arlington Park, Illinois. I guess this one would have been good for Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge on Where’s My Backpack? at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/11/15/travel-theme-short/ which was the subject ‘Short’.

Three fountains in the Rose Garden at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois.

Two’s company. Three‘s a crowd! Shortly after I’d taken the picture of the two sea lions seen in Sue’s ‘Word A Week Challenge,’ a third one joined the group, causing quite a commotion.

Three butterflies on some pretty purple flowers.

Three spires atop the Hindu temple in Bartlett, Illinois.

Three carousel horses on display at The House On The Rock in Wisconsin.

Three golden flowers growing in the Chicago Botanic Garden.

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.

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.

Travel Theme: Distance

Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge this week on Where’s My Backpack at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/08/30/travel-theme-distance/ is Distance

I don’t very often get out into the wide open spaces so I had to search long and hard for pictures that I thought illustrated Distance adequately. Of course I’ve got plenty of shots taken from the top of Sears Tower, The Gateway Arch in St Louis and other tall buildings but the distance always looks more hazy and less appealing than those taken somewhere like South Dakota which is where both of these pictures were taken.