Saturday Self-Challenge

This week in SSC: "Patriotism" I know it might seem pretty typical for an American to have an American flag but this is actually the first flag that I've ever owned so it does feel very patriotic to me. I was excited to see that it was even made right here in America and has some very nicely stitched stars on it. I'm happy that we will be making things here again from now on. ...and for Sight and Sound: Seal from his album "Seal IV" (2003) Loneliest Star Loneliest Star

This week in SSC: "Photographing at night outdoors" I took a lot of nighttime phots this week and I wound up back at my front door. That's life for ya! :) ...and for Sight and Sound: The Doors from "Strange Days" (1967) Love Me Two Times Love Me Two Times

This week in SSC: "Guilty Pleasures" It's always a guilty pleasure to take photos of my dolls. This beautiful girl is from my 1960's collection of vintage Barbie dolls. ...and for Sight and Sound: Seal from "Seal IV" (2003) Where There's Gold Where There's Gold

This week in SSC: "Take a picture in which something is obviously missing." This was a tough one for me this week. Can you guess what's missing from my photo? The answer is in the PIPs. ...and for Sight and Sound: Still Corners from their album "Still Air" (2018) Black Lagoon Black Lagoon

This week in SSC: "Flowers in black & white" ..and for Sight and Sound: Sixpence None The Richer Field of Flowers Field of Flowers

This week in SSC: "Create a story using several images." Baby Junco ..and for Sight and Sound: Dan Fogelberg from his album "The Innocent Age" (1981) The Innocent Age The Innocent Age

This week in SSC: "Something from the Garden" Yummy strawberries!

This week in SSC: "Mementos" "Take a shot of one of your favorite mementos and tell us the story as to why it got to be that way." I don't have many mementos but I do have this set of "South Park" refrigerator magnets that I won at a doll convention many years ago (PIP). They always remind me of what a good time I had at that convention. I don't know if you guys get this show where you live but "South Park" is an animated comedy TV show. For Sight and Sound, I thought I'd include a couple of different versions of the theme song to this very popular TV show. Southpark Theme Song Southpark Theme Song

This week in SSC: "Reflections" I caught this double reflection of some trees down at the pond in our living room picture window. The one pine tree even has 2 tops. Lots of "doubles" in this reflection. From Foreigner's "Double Vision" (1978) Double Vision Double Vision

This week in SSC: "Take, in the same photo, the worst thing that you hate, and the thing, on the contrary, that you love passionately. You should not say in the comment or in the photo the thing you hate and the thing you like; It will be up to the group to guess the answer." I couldn't get these two together in the same photo so I used a little editing. I try to appreciate all of nature but I do like some things more than others. Can you guess how I feel about these two? ;-) ..and for Sight and Sound: Sting from his album "Brand New Day" (1999) Live: Brand New Day Brand New Day

This week in SSC: "Toolbox" Here is a little peek into my sewing "toolbox" that holds all sorts of goodies for making things.

This week in SSC: "Let's make an Album Cover" This week a barred owl visited our yard. I was able to get pretty close and get this shot so I thought I'd use it for my album. I got a little carried away and made the back of the album too (see PIP.) ..and for Sight and Sound: Won't Get Fooled Again Won't Get Fooled Again

This week in SSC: "Minimalism using one item for your subject against a basic background." This pretty enamel light switch plate was a gift from a talented friend. ...and for Sight and Sound: The Hollies from their "Evolution" album (1967) When Your Light's Turned On When Your Light's Turned On

This week in SSC: "Take a photo of something in your home or yard that is serene or calming to you" I like to relax on the porch with my outdoor cat "Marble" (PIP) on my lap and just enjoy nature and maybe listen to some music or the wind chimes (PIP) blowing in the breeze. (I feel like I'm writing an ad for a dating service lol :D I enjoy looking at this weeping Japanese maple that has just leafed out this week and is literally glowing. Eventually, the verbena from last year will also flower here. It has just started growing so you can't really see it yet. This is always a calming part of my day and sometimes I get so relaxed that I just fall asleep. :)) (I shot this with my Minotar f2.8 35mm lens at f5.6 (which doesn't show any EXIF) ...and for Sight and Sound: From Gustav Holst's "The Planets": Venus the Bringer of Peace Venus the Bringer of Peace

This week in SSC: "Take a picture of a permanent architectural detail INSIDE your home." We live in a very rustic log home that my husband built over 30 years ago before we met. This is one of two vertical logs in the TV room that supports the horizontal ridgepole that holds up the roof. The house was his own design and he chose each tree from a local forest for the logs. I usually wind up looking at this log and thinking it's pretty cool as I watch TV. It's one of my favorite details of this part of the house. Robert Plant from his album "Principle of Moments" (1983) Big Log Big Log

This week in SSC: "Art" Whenever I think of art I usually think of my older sister who was born an artist. All of my life I can remember her doing such beautiful things. These are 4 sketches done by her that I love very much. I hope you enjoy this little gallery of sketches. :) ...and for Sight and Sound: Dan Fogelberg from his "Netherlands" album (1977) Live: Sketches Album: Sketches or Sketches

This week in SSC: "Collections or Hobbies" Some of you might remember that I have a collection of 1960's vintage Barbie dolls. I thought I'd feature one of my favorite girls from 1967 in her pretty spring fashion. It's hard to believe that these dolls are over 50 years old already. They have to be kept away from bright light or their vinyl faces will fade. Otherwise, they've held up pretty well all this time and kept their value too. Photographing them is also a hobby of mine. ..and for Sight and Sound: Rod Stewart from his album "Never A Dull Moment" (1972) You Wear it Well You Wear it Well

This week in SSC: "Indoor Still Life" Just a still corner in my house. :) ..and for Sight and Sound: Still Corners from their album "Strange Pleasures" (2013) The Trip The Trip