(Extra) Ordinary – A WordPress Photo Challenge

Cheri Lucas Rowland over at WordPress Photo Challenge said the following:  “I expect wildly different and very personal takes on this theme, (Extra)ordinary, because our own ideas and experiences will shape our interpretations. What’s mundane yet meaningful to you? What’s a beautiful everyday thing? Or, maybe you can capture an ordinary setting or common scene that has somehow transformed — with festive decor or a new coat of paint.” Having been gone for a while and starting to feel better, I am ready to dive in. Let’s see what I can come up with, shall we?

A beam of sunlight shines down on the water of this inlet making this transformed.

Sunlight on the water

What do you think?

A few years back, after weathering a snow storm, the sun came out bathing the landscape in bright light.

Weathering the snow

Did you know that a double rainbow reverses colors? Click on the next photo so that you can see for yourself that this is indeed true.

Water gives us rainbows

Three will do it for today. I hope that you enjoyed the photos I chose for today. Thank you Cheri for the challenge, and to you dear reader/viewer for stopping by today. Remember to be well! ^..^

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Jean-Pierre – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you write a story using between 100-150 words and that you use the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. The opening line of the challenge is not included in the word count. Here is my story with the opening line in bold and italics.

© 2015, Marcy B. Ayanian

As her mount shifted uneasily under her, she grasped the brim of her old felt Stetson, gazed upwards and remembered Jean Pierre,” and what a jerk he had been to her. She was not going to forget the lessons she learned while with him.

It was a delicious romance at first, and then at around the three-month mark he began to show his true colors. His biggest problem was alcohol. When cleaning up his house one day, when she asked him where the broom was he replied, “Where did you park it?”

In an alcoholic haze, he would have flashbacks of his ex. Instead of the ex’s face, the visions changed the face to hers. She remembered the morning when she awoke to find him on the couch. He told her that in the middle of the night she had kicked him out of bed telling him, “This is no place for little boys.”

The night that he almost struck her with a chair was the last straw. Jean-Pierre died that night.

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I would like to thank my dear friend Marcybee for not only supplying the photo for this week’s challenge, but the opening line as well. If you would care to join in on this challenge, then click HERE!

Thank you dear reader for taking the time out of your busy day to drop on by for a quick read. Be well… ^..^

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Connected – A WordPress Photo Challenge

Checking out today’s WordPress Photo Challenge topic is “connected.” Ben Huberman asks that we “go literal or figurative, abstract or explicit.” Here are my connections…

A father and son…

Spending time together

A fungus found on a tree…

One side of the river meets the other because of a bridge…

Crossing a bridge

The north and the south merge…

A mirage on the road

Sand and beach…

PV from the waters edge

Pollen + bees = honey…

In flight

Cheating at cards…

Winning more card games against the neighbors

Did you see the connections? I hope so! Thanks for stopping by today. Have an amazing weekend! And, be well… ^..^

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The Find of a Life – Sunday Photo Fiction

Inside – Photo by Alastair Forbes

All it took was a quick stumble. The toe of the left shoe caught on a small piece of uplifted stone. He landed flat on his face. Rolling over, he checked out his ankles and knees. He saw no major cuts or scrapes.

Now what was it that his shoe caught on? There it is. He moved over towards it and noticed that the stone now had a series of spalls. Taking out a wide paintbrush, he started to clear the area. More and more of the pieces splintered away.

He knew he had discovered something significant. He received government funding to continue the project, was able to hire a team to do the archeology, and secure for him a nice place to stay.

While clearing one of the many painted walls, he found himself caught up in the scene that was emerging in front of him. Looking closely it began to move. “How can that be?” he thought.

In a rush and a whirl, Alastair Forbes found himself in the painting, and could hear the echoes of the curse as he and the art became one.

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A huge thanks to Al for the inspiring photo, hosting the challenge, and for taking part in my bit of flash for the Sunday Photo Fiction.

Have an amazing Sunday and be well…. ^..^

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What’s With the Box? – Sunday Photo Fiction

Egyptian Trinket Box – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Vivian saw the Egyptian trinket box at her favorite new age store. The box spoke to her. She just had to buy it. When she got it home, she set it in amongst her other new age items. She placed it so the moon and the stars faced out into the room.

Before going to bed that night, she placed her hands around the pyramid shaped box, closed her eyes, took a couple of deep breaths and said a prayer. When she was done, she crawled into bed, and drifted off to sleep.

The room was dark and the only sound was her slow and steady breathing. Suddenly, the box began to vibrate. It shifted a bit, and the two sections began to separate. A light began to emanate between the three pieces. As the glow got brighter, the room became illuminated. The color of the light began to shift.

Vivian woke up surprised by the light in the room. Finding that the source was her new trinket box, she got out of bed and walked over to it. She bent over to look at it closely. Musical notes floated out of it and she found herself being swept away.

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Thank you Alastair Forbes for hosting Sunday Photo Fiction, and for the photo that inspired this story. Nice one Al!

Thank you dear reader for stopping by today. Have a spectacular Sunday, and be well… ^..^

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Christmas Cola – Friday Fictioneers

Bottle collector – Photo by G.L. MacMillan

I went junking today at the flea market. I was looking for something new to add to my old bottle collection.

Heading down the last row sat a woman. Her grey hair was like a birds nest, and in spite of the heat, she wore heavy shawls. She had old bottles. I picked up an old Coca-Cola bottle. I had to buy it. Twenty five cents was a bargain.

Back at home, I sat the bottle on the shelf with all the others. It was a lovely addition. The date on the bottle: December 25th, 1925. This was one of few Christmas Cokes ever made.

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Thank you Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers, and to G.L. MacMillan for the photo that inspired this story.

Thank you dear reader for stopping by today. Be well… ^..^

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Up Close – Through My Eyes

Brie Anne Demkiw over at WordPress has chosen the topic Up Close for the photo challenge this week. Right up my alley! Ready to see a different world? Click on each photo to see the details in more detail!!

How is this face to face with a bee? Check out her beautiful wings.

Looking at nature up close

Did you know that there are curlicues inside the dandelion blossom? I didn’t!

A dandelion

The heavy pollen is hanging on to this daffodil.

Swimming in Salmon

Lovely colors are found inside an almond blossom.

Almond blossom

The Birds Nest fungus is 1/4 the size of a dime. Imagine my surprise to find the little “eggs” inside of it.

Inside the Birds Nest

I never knew that the inside of a vinca, or periwinkle, was orange and fuzzy.

Periwinkle Center

Did you know that one individual petal of a clover blossom has many parts?

Long stalked clover

As each faerie releases, what is left behind looks like a pin cushion.

The last of the fairies

There you have it! I hope that you did give each of these photos a closer look. There is a lot of detail to be found in a world up close!

Be well…. ^..^

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Big Foot – Mondays Finish the Story

Today, the start of a work week, is the day that I devote to hosting the Mondays Finish the Story flash fiction challenge. In the challenge, I ask that you use between 100-150 words that uses the opening line and the photo prompt to create your story. Here is today’s photo and the opening line is in bold and italics. I hope that you enjoy my story.

© 2015, Barbara W. Beacham

“The petroglyphs told the story of an unusual event.” Now most would look at all the symbols that cover the rock in this photo. What they should be looking at is the area on the upper left.

Do you see the two figures at the left? The one on top is a dog. The one below it is Stands Tall and Points. The two of them used to travel together. The art depicts a story he told the Anasazi.

He tells them that not only would there be a migration of big horned goats, but also snakes. Hunting will be good.  He says the rain is coming. He lets them know to secure the ladder to the cliff dwelling. They were all good signs.

The grandfather looks at his sleeping grandson. He is now asleep. Too bad the grandfather thought. I was just getting to the part where Big Foot comes in. Few paid attention to that symbol.

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Mondays Finish the Story

You too can take part in this challenge. To get there just click HERE!

Enjoy the day and sorry for the late post today. A bit under the weather… Dear reader, be well… ^..^

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Half and Half – A WordPress Photo Challenge

Ben Huberman over at WordPress has chosen the topic “Half and Half” for this week’s photo challenge. He says, “…share an image that has two clear halves, literally or figuratively. You could focus on composition, like me, and take a photo with an explicit dividing line (either vertical, horizontal, or diagonal). Or take the theme in other directions: zoom in on a pair of objects that together form a whole. Show two people whose demeanor or personality complement each other. Or bring into balance two opposing visual elements — light and dark, color and its absence, sharp focus juxtaposed with blurriness.”

Here is my world of half and half.

Half smooth, half rough.

Sea foam

Two halves of a wine barrel.

Pulling the barrel apart

Acorn squash cut in half.

Cut the acorn squash in half

Split image in a reflection.

One lovely reflection

Half on, half off.

I was so tired after flying that I fell asleep on the stairs!

The top half and bottom half.

Yellow cone up close

There you have it! A world of halves. Thank you for stopping by today! Be well… ^..^

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Pretty Feet Contest 2015!

It is past time that I feature, as I do every year, the pretty feet contest! This year we have a number of exciting contenders! You get to vote on whose feet you like the best and in a couple of weeks I will announce the winner! Are you ready to check out some really pretty feet? Let’s go!

Contestant #1 – Buffalo

Buffalo

Contestant #2 – Cougar

Cougar

Contestant #3 – Elephant

Elephant

Contestant #4 – Flamingo

Flamingo

Contestant #5 – Frog

Frog

Contestant #6 – Koala

Koala

Contestant #7 – Meerkat

Meerkat

Contestant #8 – Wallaby

Wallaby

There are the contestants for 2015, and now you get to vote! Just click on the button to register your vote.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend! Be well… ^..^

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