These are strange times we are living in. Unprecedented. The school I work in has closed through next week, and all 75 school districts in my County are closing as of today, for two weeks. We are awaiting word of a faculty member being tested, which could mean quarantine. Yesterday one of the teachers hosted a get together lunch with the class on Zoom, a remote way to video conference. Classes will be taught this way too. New challenges for us all. Fear underlying, the unknown of when this outbreak will end. The transmission of the virus unlike that of flu, as it grabs hold so easily, and spreads so readily. Every store I go into has wipes next to the door, allowing one to clean the handle of the shopping cart. My hands are cracked and raw from washing them after I return home, singing Happy Birthday has become a daily ritual over and over. For those who live in places where the virus has not yet visited, I am sure you find it hard to imagine. But the threat here is real. Restaurants are only offering take out, seating is not allowed. To say the world has been turned upside down is an understatement. I do believe this is the only way to gain control, by limiting people and their interactions with others. It will not happen quickly, and I still find it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. By May? Come summer? This is un chartered and unknown territory and only time will tell. I spent a few hours out walking yesterday, which was grounding for me, allowing me to get lost in the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Confirming that amidst all the chaos, the world of nature continues to carry on.
Cee’s B & W Photo Challenge: Tables and Chairs
I was out running last week, a route I hadn’t taken since last spring. Much to my surprise, the old, falling apart bridge overlooking the river had been transformed. Beautiful seating areas, benches, tables, with flower garden planted all along. I sat looking out at the river and the many seagulls below, and a bald eagle flew overhead. My new “go to” place to sit and enjoy the view.
Nurturing Thursday
Sunday Stills: Your State or National #Symbol
This week Terri invites us to share our state symbols. I live in the state of New Jersey and the only symbol I knew off hand was the state bird. (Naturally) It was so interesting to look up and discover other symbols for the state and how they came into being!
Official state bird of New Jersey
The eastern goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) was adopted as the official state bird of New Jersey by an act of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Legislature of the State of New Jersey on June 27, 1935. The eastern goldfinch is now referred to as the American goldfinch.
Official State Animal of New Jersey
The horse (Equus caballus) was adopted as the official state animal symbol of New Jersey in 1977. The U.S. Equestrian Team headquarters are in New Jersey.
Official State Bug of New Jersey
The honeybee (apis mellifera) was designated the official state bug of New Jersey in 1974 after encouragement given by a group of students from the Sunnybrae School in Hamilton Township (they appeared at the New Jersey State House and gave a presentation that included a song and a poem).
Disclaimer: I am not sure this is actually a honey bee, but it was closest thing that looked like a honey bee that I had in my photos
Official State Butterfly of New Jersey
The beautiful black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) was designated the official state butterfly of New Jersey in 2015, and signed into law by Governor Christie on January 11th, 2016
A Photo a Week Challenge: Red
Lens-Artists Challenge: Change Your Perspective
this week lens artists challenge says: …we invite you to break the habit of shooting photos at eye-level and change your perspective. Instead, show us your photographs taken from a variety of perspectives–by getting down low, by looking up at the subject or looking down, or walking around the subject.
Out for a walk on a trail I stood upon this stump for a better view.
This Carolina Wren was elusive, so I squatted down to capture him at eye level
Crocuses at eye level- theirs, not mine, squatting to capture them this way
I always love looking up at the sky and shooting from that perspective
A close up looking down at my windowsill on a rainy day when a Blue Jay came to grab a nut
Wordless Wednesday
Nurturing Thursday
On the Hunt for Joy Challenge: Wear Bright Colors on Tough Days
Cee says she likes to wear bright colors, and I so agree with her. When I worked in NYC I found most of my wardrobe consisted of black. As I got older I realized all that black wasn’t doing much for me, just washing me out. Now I love to wear color, and find that especially on a gray day it is a mood enhancer. These are my”happy”sneakers. I love tie dye and my favorite color combo is purple and turquoise, so when I saw these sneakers I just had to have them. They make me smile and give me joy whenever I wear them.
Last Photo for February 2020
Brian at bushboys world invites us to join his challenge:
The rules are simple:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 29th February.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Tag “The Last Photo”
Even though Brian says no explanation is needed, I am adding an explanation with my last photo of the month. One of my blogging friends sent me Color Street nail polish strips in the mail. They are strips made of real nail polish that you can affix to your nails. Friday in school was wear school colors day, which is red, so I tried out the strips on 2 fingers, polishing the rest of my nails red. I took a photo to send the person who sent them to me to show her how they looked. Last photo of the month for me!
A Photo a Week Challenge: Light the Night
This photo was taken at that time between night and dawn. It was about 6 in the morning, with sunrise coming at 6:45. I always love the stillness at that time of day.
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Yard
Frank invites us to share our interpretation of yard this week.
My yard in different seasons and weather conditions. I have a garden window that faces my back yard, allowing me a view out and up.
RDP Wednesday: Graceful
Wednesday Challenge Weekly Prompt: T-Shirt Wisdom
Wordless Wednesday
The Weekly Smile
I was smiling again this past Sunday, when my husband suggested we take a drive down to the beach, walk the boardwalk, and have lunch out. I think he felt he missed out when I went away with my girlfriend the week before. 🙂
The weather was beautiful- warm for February, and seeing as I can never get enough of looking at the ocean, off we went. Recently there have been a spate of deaths within our community, young people. Everything is relative, but people in their 50’s and 60’s. Some from cancer, but last week someone who was 55 just didn’t wake up. I have a sister in law who is suffering from a cruel form of dementia that has robbed her of the ability to walk. It has brought home for me the importance of grabbing onto each day, and enjoying when you can. As I have been reminded lately, there are no guarantees. No promise of the “golden years” of reaching retirement, or of being well enough to enjoy it. Jump in when you can and get out and go. I was so glad we did. We walked 4 miles, stopping here and there to watch the many dogs on the beach, and even two brave souls who went into the water in bathing suits- it was near 50 degrees outside, but that water must have been freezing! A day of smiles.
A sign inside in front of one of the shops.
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Roads
Lens-Artists Challenge #85 – Treasure Hunt
This week we’re going on a Treasure Hunt! The challenge is to search for specific items – either from your archives or newly captured – from the list below. Extra credit items are a bit more challenging. Focus on quality over quantity and hit us with your best shot(s)!
Challenge Items: Sunrise and/or sunset, Something cold and/or hot, a bird, a dog, a funny sign, a bicycle, a seascape and/or mountain landscape, a rainbow, a church, a musical instrument, a boat, a plane, a waterfall
Extra Credit Items: An expressive portrait of one or more people, a very unusual place, knitting or sewing, a fish, an animal you don’t normally see, a bucket, a hammer, a street performer, a double rainbow, multiple challenge items in a single image.
Sunrise over the ocean last Monday….
Sunset a few blocks from my home
Cold with a hot drink after packing Thanksgiving baskets for people in need in the freezing cold
A Great Blue Heron with a fish
A dog chasing a squirrel up a tree
A sign
A bicycle
A mountain landscape
A rainbow
A church
A musical instrument
A boat
A plane
A waterfall
A bucket
Street performers
An expressive portrait
Knitting- what I am working on right now
RDP Sunday: MOUSTACHE
My BFF’s husband has had a moustache forever. I think there was some discussion years ago about how it aged him, but no matter, it wasn’t coming off. It has been white for a long time, but still bushy as ever.
Nurturing Thursday
Another Year
I have posted this before, but on this the fifth “anniversary” of my brother’s death I want to do so again. I wrote about his death, by his own hand, here. I have been thinking about him today. Saddened at the thought of his being gone from this world, sad for the troubled life he led, and sad at the thought that so few remember him. I am thinking about the mark each of us leaves, or maybe doesn’t leave. My sisters and I remember him, his 1 niece and 1 nephew whom he lived near and saw fairly frequently until his mental issues prevented that. Our cousins remember him as a young boy, teenager, young adult, the person they spent summer vacations with and shared holiday meals with growing up. It’s a small list of people as he didn’t have friends, was divorced for almost as long as he had been married. I hope somewhere at some time he had touched someone’s life in a meaningful way, shared a laugh with them that they remember, showed a kindness before his mental illness erased the good that had once existed within him. Replacing it with anger and irrational thoughts and all the injustices he thought had ever rained down upon him.
Today I choose to try to think back to those times before the darkness descended, to when he joked around and found humor in silly situations, to the laughter we shared together, to his love of the sea, of nature, how he loved to read the Encyclopedia. His curiosity about things and wanting to learn more and find out more. His love of yoga and meditation that centered him for a time, bringing solace to him and his world. Remembering that once long ago there had been light in his life.
My cousin sent me this photo of my parents and brother when my mother died last year. She found it poignant that it was just the three of them, all gone now, and hoped they were all together somewhere. A nice thought.
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Number
Wordless Wednesday
The Weekly Smile
Well Sunday, Monday brought big smiles for me as I went away with my BFF for an overnight to where else…. the beach! We have been friends since childhood and before either of us were married we always took our summer vacations together. Canada, Amish Country, Cape May, NJ to name a few. Ten years ago we went to a rustic spa in upstate New York for a 2 night stay, but have not found the time to get away since then. A day off for President’s Day for both of us, allowed us to leave Sunday and stay overnight. The Inn we stayed in is a place my husband I have frequented many times, and in winter the room rates are ridiculously low. We arrived around 11:30 Sunday and left around 2:00 pm Monday, making for a perfect getaway. We walked the boardwalk in Asbury Park, shopped, ate lunch and dinner out, and went to bed early! Monday of course I arose to see the sun rise over the ocean and walked along the beach. Breakfast at the inn, more shopping, coffee, and shopping. Just a little over an hour away from home and we felt like we had left the country and been gone for a week. What a smile.
Last photo for January 2020
Brian over at bushboys world invites us to post the last photo on our SD card or last photo on our phone for the 31st January.
Here’s my last photo- it made me laugh when I pulled it up
A Day In The Life 
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