Author: Terri Webster Schrandt

Beach Walk Reflections

Bushboys World

Easin’ Along Image shared in comments

Hugh’s Views and News Image shared in comments

Jacquie Biggar, Author

Photos By Jez

Retirement Reflections Image shared on Instagram

Robert’s Snap Spot

NEW TBL

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Sunday Stills weekly challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. I appreciate so many loyal participants each week and am blown away by your talents!

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

I’m looking forward to your posts featuring “cozy!” Next week, December 5th is the Christmas Song Lyric Photo Challenge, where you try to match your images to selected lyrics of your favorite Christmas song. We had fun this summer, click here to see how we all did it–easier than you think.

Wishing you a COZY week!

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Drinking in the Ruby #Wine

November 21, 2021November 21, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged autumn, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, frosty, life in colour, monthly color challenge, photography, rubywine, silence, Sunday Stills, textures, trees, WQWWC112 Comments

Welcome to the November monthly color challenge! This month’s color is “ruby wine.” Think rich burgundies, deep red fall leaves and loads of florals, food, maroon automobiles, animals… well the list is endless. This image shows the color that heads toward the brownish-red part of the spectrum but any color that is close will do!

Color palette burgandy — Ruby Wine palette

I have included in my images the last of the autumn leaves as well as other ruby-wine images to inspire you.

“Mother nature colors the season of dying with such beauty; I think she was very wise.”
D. Wallace Peach, Blogger & Author

About that quote from Diana…she left that comment on my post from last week (trees and leaves) and her words inspired me to use them as a quote (with her permission).

Here are a few more images of Autumn’s blush. I have quite a few images of my Japanese Maple that stayed behind in my former house in Sacramento.

Burning bush leaf carpet — A carpet of Burning Bush leaves

Textures of Auburn leaves — A carpet of Burning Bush leaves

There is Silence in Late Autumn

Last week I commented on Marsha’s WQWWC/Sunday Stills post about the experience of “listening” to the silence of falling leaves. In that same silence, I love hearing the crisp leaves skittering across the street with a whiff of wind, knowing that fall was either near or at its end.

“I saw old Autumn in the misty morn stand shadowless like Silence, listening to Silence.”
Thomas Hood

Early this week, we had some morning frost that lasted until noon. The young manager of the nursery/farm down the street offered to get our trees and plant them as a thank you for all the volunteering we did at the Fall Festival in October. He planted two maples, 3 quaking aspen, and one ash. The willow and dogwood are on their way. Trees were planted Tuesday; frost on Wednesday and snow on Thursday! He assures me that the trees are well-insulated and will thrive and grow in their dormant state. The last maple leaves put on a show!

Frosty red maple leaf — Frosty maple leaves

And THIS happened Thursday, overnight! There is something so quiet and silent about a snow-covered earth.

Textures of Ruby Wine

This time last year we were packing and saying goodbye to my former home in Sacramento. For the real estate photographer, I dressed her up for the prom, with this image of the main bedroom.

Main bedroom — image by Rich Baum Photography

Some more colors to inspire you, here in linens and decoration.

Man's Flannel Shirt — Hubby’s Wine Flannel Shirt

Christmas Decor — Hubby’s Wine Flannel Shirt

Actual Wine

Do you drink wine? I do so occasionally but prefer white or rosé. I poured this glass pictured just for this challenge, for photograph purposes of course.

I thought this quote fit the bill…

Burgundy makes you think of silly things; Bordeaux makes you talk about them, and Champagne makes you do them.
Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Photo Challenges this Week

Each week I am inspired by my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges. I find it fun to try to incorporate these into my Sunday Stills weekly themes.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

Bloggers’ Leafy Links

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from bloggers who shared their favorite leaves and trees! Welcome three new folks to the Sunday Stills family!

NEW Calling All Rush Babes

Easin’ Along Image shared in comments

Frost on the Moose Dung

Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments

NEW Just Blue Dutch

NEW My Camera and I

Natalie the Explorer

Now At Home

NEW Serendipity Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth

Retirement Reflections Image shared on Instagram

Stevie Turner

Travel With Me

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Shapes and Design

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

I hope you enjoyed drinking in these rich rubywine colors today. Join me next week when we get “cozy,” then the first Sunday of December is Christmas song lyric photo challenge. I may be a little slow on approving your linked posts on Sunday…please bear with me as I am chasing eagles at Lake Couer D’Alene in Idaho this morning! If you celebrate Thanksgiving in the US, I wish you a wonderful time gathering with friends and family.

Have a beautiful week!

Sunday Stills: #Leaves have Fallen from the #Trees

November 14, 2021November 15, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged autumn, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, fall, festival of leaves, leaves, Lens-Artists, life in colour, photography, Sunday Stills, tamarack, trees, western larch, WQWWC138 Comments

Welp, it’s happened. Fall fell, at least here in Eastern Washington. Despite a lengthy Autumn due to warmer than normal temps in September and October, we experienced weeks of unprecedented Autumn color. Now comes November with the first frost and the leaves have danced to the ground into piles of color. Thankfully, no leaves in our yard. Yet.

“Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than daffodils.”
Cyril Connolly

The Sunday Stills theme this week is leaves and trees. No matter which hemisphere you live in, you have these!

Before the first frost and a few random snowflakes, our overnight temperatures were in the upper 30s to low 40F (3-5C), which kept the leaves on the trees a few more days. The bright yellow trees in their Autumn glory seem to be illuminated with sunshine on this late October gray day. I saw this view as I drove home from town and literally turned around and parked on this street, hopped out of the car, and took several photos.

Aside from amazing trees in our area like red-leafed maple and golden aspen, all juxtaposed onto deep green evergreens, a new (to me) tree has captured my imagination. (Hint: in the above image, you can see it to the left).

Why is it special? Before I share, just let me say that you already know my love for sunflowers and pine trees. Of course, here in Eastern Washington, evergreens are everywhere (they don’t call Washington the “Evergreen State” for nothing). I posted a few months ago about my surprise at discovering wild sunflowers growing amidst the pine forests.

So…drumroll please…imagine my joy at discovering a conifer (notice I didn’t say evergreen), that turns golden yellow in the Autumn and drops its needles just like a deciduous tree!

Whaaattt? A Golden Pine Tree?

The Western Larch (sometimes called Tamarack) is a majestic conifer found at higher elevations in the Pacific Northwest and into Canada.

This photo started it all when my brother-in-law showed me his pics from his weekly drives to Montana. I thought “how beautiful, look at the sunlight on those pine trees!” He said the trees were actually yellow! Swoon. This image shows the mountainside covered in larches shrouded in gray fog.

Without trees, mountains, fogs or rains, the Sun cannot create its own magic in the morning!
Mehmet Murat Ildan

Western Larch in Montana — Original image by E. Schrandt

In a foggy morning, sunshine coming through the trees looks so divine that we seriously think it is the hand of the very divinity itself!
Mehmet Murat Ildan

Western larch (Larix occidentalis) and subalpine larch (Larix lyalli) grow in the interior Pacific Northwest (Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) of the U.S. and British Columbia, Canada. They are conifer trees like pines because they have needles instead of leaves, and their seeds grow in cones. Unlike pines they are not evergreen; they are deciduous. In the autumn, the needles of larches turn golden and then drop off the branches. Western larch is used for the production of Venice turpentine. The wood is highly prized as firewood in the Pacific Northwest where it is often called “tamarack.” The wood burns with a sweet fragrance and a distinctive popping noise.
Source

I’m obsessed!

Western Larch (tamarack) — Western Larch

Close-up WEstern Larch needles — Western Larch

We see two species here in Eastern Washington: The Western Larch (above) and the European Larch. Below is the European Larch, most likely planted, and distinguished by its long, willowy branches. Whereas the Western Larch grows wild on rocky ridges and has shorter needle clusters. Of course, both trees turn yellow and their needles fall to the Earth.

Willowy European Larch and its needle clusters.

And just like when you see that same car everywhere when thinking about buying a new one, yep, these stately yellow tamaracks are everywhere!

Autumn Splendor — Autumn splendor featuring golden Western Larch in center

My Festival of Leaves

Earlier I mentioned the leaves have mostly fallen and have now imbued the Earth with magical carpets.

“Listen …
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp’d, break free from the trees
And fall.”
Adelaide Crapsey

Below are a few images of fallen leaves enjoying laying around within their magic carpets. From this…

To this…

And more!

fall leaves from a macro perspective — Autumn carpet

“I wonder if leaves feel lonely when they see their neighbors falling?”
John Muir

More Photo Challenges this Week

Each week I am inspired by the following bloggers’ images and photo challenges.

Marsha’s Writers Quotes Wednesday Writer’s Choice (Writer’s Choice or Fog–I have a little of both)
Cee’s Flower of the Day
Dawn’s Festival of Leaves
Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday
Jude’s Life in Color: Black or Gray

I’m also adding this post with my walk through the Autumn leaves and trees to Jo’s Monday Walk!

Furry and Feathery Bloggers’ Links

Who doesn’t love seeing images of our furry friends, wild or domestic, and all kinds of birds as we saw last week? A fabulous variety as shown by the number of links this week!

And Miles to Go Before I Sleep

Easin’ Along Image shared in comments

Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments

Photos By Jez

Retirement Reflections Image shared on Instagram

NEW Wolf’s Birding and Bonsai Blog

Cee’s Flower of the Day
Dawn’s Festival of Leaves
Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday
Jude’s Life in Color: Black or Gray

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

I can’t wait to see what your trees and leaves look like this time of year! Next week, the Sunday Stills challenge is all about the color ruby wine or burgundy, just in time for the Thanksgiving celebrations in the US. Have a wonderful week!

Sunday Stills: Fur-tastic Paws and Birds of a Feather

November 7, 2021November 7, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged backyard birding, cats, Cees Black and White Challenge, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, cold, dogs, eagles, festival of leaves, fur and feathers, life in colour, paws, photography, Sunday Stills, WQWWC113 Comments

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge is all about fur and feathers. Or how about plumage and paws?

Although I draw inspiration from a variety of sources, this week, I’m extra-inspired by Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Feet or Paws and Marsha’s WQWWC: Cold. Images of my fur-babies will demonstrate this week’s theme, while my feathered friends will tell the rest of the story.

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

November 7 marks the end of daylight savings time in the US (not that we were saving much this time of year in the cold north). At least it will be lighter in the morning instead of being dark until 7:30am here in Northeastern Washington. Less daylight means the feeling of cold is much more acute. Most of the fall leaves have fallen and are making beautiful ~~messes~~ carpets in people’s yards. The weather this week is predicted to be a rain-snow mix in the mountain areas.

“October extinguished itself in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived, cold as frozen iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy drafts that bit at exposed hands and faces.”
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Aero and Brodie love keeping warm in their cold climate. Like Marsha’s Puppy Girl, Aero needs his sweaters for indoors and out!

In 2017, Brodie was still working on his nose scratching or paw-fives at 6 months old.

The American Kennel Club recommends:

Cuddling up with a dog is nothing new; think of the phrase “three dog night,” which describes a night so cold that one needs to sleep with three dogs to keep warm. Cuddling with another human, a dog, or both, not only keeps us warm, it releases oxytocin, also known as the “trust hormone” and the “cuddle chemical.”
AKC

And just for fun, how about some wool fleece “fur” as a liner for my snow boots? Keeps my feet warm!

Our pets know we love them and in return give us countless moments of pleasure along with their unconditional love.

Fur-Babes We Miss

Gone but not forgotten, we wish we could still cuddle our previous pets. It’s been 10 years since I lost my Oreo (shown in the gallery above). I will always remember my sweet orange Leon who loved to lay on top of the car, still warm from the engine.

“The years may seem to slowly pass,
Memories may begin to wane,
The time we long for will come at last,
When we shall be together again.”
Gary Kurz, Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates

Fantastic Feathers

As much as we LOVE our furry babes, and they are fur-ever mine, let’s pay tribute to our fabulous feathered friends. I miss seeing my Anna hummingbirds. Hopefully, I will get some visitors this spring! Enjoy my feathered friends’ gallery below.

Magnificent bald eagle, not a magnificent photo…yet…

…Which Bring Me to…An Amazing Journey

Last spring and summer, I had the delightful opportunity to follow a Facebook group called Blue Bell Court Eagles that featured a family of eagles that had built a nest in the photographer’s backyard. Diana posted daily her incredible images of Mom and Pop Eagle and their juvenile eaglet, Journey.

Disclaimer: Once again, Diana has graciously given me permission to share her photos on my blog today.

Bluebell Court Eagles c DianaGigler — Baby Eaglet Journey and Mom

I became emotionally attached knowing this bald eagle family lives within 5 miles of my house while marveling at Journey’s growth, through Diana’s stunning photography. Incidentally, some of her eagle images are on display at the local firehouse.

In June, due to oppressive and unprecedented heat in our area, Journey fledged early from the nest. He was rescued within the day and taken to Eastern Idaho’s Birds of Prey Northwest, where he spent weeks being nursed back to health and strong enough to be released back into the wild.

Although his flight was strong and sure upon his release, he did not return to his nest, we were assured that he is still being cared for and trained to hunt and fish by his stalwart parents. Diana and I met in person at her home a few weeks ago where she showed me the nest. Although mostly empty now, save for a few curious local birds and occasional visits from Mom and Pop Eagle, Diana explained to me that they will be soon busy prepping the nest for a late winter hatching. I’m excited to be invited back in early spring for coffee and photography from her deck! My own eagle pics! I can’t wait!

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

More Photo Challenges this Week

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

This week I am looking forward to your creative ideas for fur and feathers! Go ahead, be “Paw-ssionate” and remain “Paws-itive” because I know you are each quite the amazing “photograph-fur.”

Last Week’s Eerie Links

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from bloggers who shared their favorite EERIE photos.

NEW ThreeSixFiveSnap

Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments

Retirement Reflections Image shared on Instagram

Wind Kisses

Next week, our theme is all about leaves and trees! Enjoy your week!

Sunday Stills: #Eerie Sights and Sounds

October 31, 2021November 3, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged aurora borealis, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, Eerie, fantasy, halloween, Lens-Artists, life in colour, nature, pastsquares, photo-editing, photography, photography challenges, Sunday Stills, WQWWC121 Comments

Now that my children are grown and gone, I really don’t celebrate the day much except for a few mild decorations, which I shared last week.

Since Sunday Stills landed on Halloween today, I was inspired for this week’s theme, “Eerie,” by the Google Chrome theme “Eerie Autumn” which cycles wallpaper images to my desktop. Creepy spiderwebs, misty moons, and decrepit graveyards adorn my desktop as a reminder that Halloween is in the eye of the beholder.

Eerie Full Moon — Eerie full moon viewed through pine trees

The definition of Eerie is: “Uncanny, so as to inspire superstitious fear; weird: an eerie midnight howl. (esp of places, an atmosphere, etc) mysteriously or uncannily frightening or disturbing; weird; ghostly”
Merriam Webster Dictionary

As I was capturing decor images last week, I got this eerie one on my porch.

Halloween decor and dog — Doesn’t Brodie’s photobomb make this image look creepy?

Do you get many trick-or-treaters where you live? In my former Sacramento neighborhood, despite being around the corner from the elementary school, we rarely got visitors on Halloween. This coincided with 9-11 in 2001, and it’s been crickets ever since. As I write this I’m wondering if we will get any on our new street, which still does not show up on some folks’ google maps! There are only two occupied homes, and unless parents drive their kids (golf carts and ATVs are a popular way to zip around here), I doubt we will see many kids out on our street. Oh well, more candy for me!

Eerie Editing

Back to our theme, what makes an image “eerie?” With our sunny days and cold nights, we’ve had lots of ground fog which makes for an eerie photo.

“At night the fog was thick and full of light, and sometimes voices.”
Erin Bow, Plain Kate

Another way to invoke “eerie” is to shoot or edit in black and white. I took the original image, then edited it to black and white, and added some other effects.

Suburban pocket forest — A beautiful forest transforms into an eerie sight on Halloween

Eerie Edited Forest — A beautiful forest transforms into an eerie sight on Halloween

A visit to Apple Hill near Sacramento in 2019 on the actual Halloween day gave us inspiration for some wine-tasting using this creepy gargoyle aerator!

If you use your imagination, perhaps with a twist of the screen, you’ll find mythical beasts in the reflections.

Eerie Sounds

Speaking of eerie. Recently, in our backyard with my dog Aero about 1:30am, I heard what I thought was a coyote howling. I’m terrified my little 13-pound dog will be attacked by coyotes (it has happened to neighbors’ dogs!). So I am vigilant when we go out to do his business. I waited for the yip-yip to accompany the spine-chilling “howl” but heard nothing except another howl, this time with undertones of a whistle and roar. Sufficiently nervous, we went in quickly and I thought no more about it until I read another blogger’s post (Donna from Wind Kisses) which described the mating call of the bull elk during the Autumn mating season as a “bugle.” It was then I realized I had heard an elk’s mating call. That close to my backyard?? As the video suggests, I imagined Tolkein’s ringwraiths calling to me! Eerriieee!

Eerie Aurora

I’ve been dying to share this image on my blog. Many of you might have already seen it on Instagram and Facebook. I follow a Facebook group called Nine Mile Aurora Chasers and I read a post that mentioned weather conditions were perfect for the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, to be seen in Spokane, Washington area. Yes, please.

To my naked eye, the aurora looked merely like a grey, misty cloud on the horizon. Had I not been tipped off by Google and the Facebook group, I would have missed it. When I imagine the northern lights, I expect to see eerie green and blue ripples of light dancing above my head. I’ve since learned you must be much further north to see them in that fashion.

The northern lights usually occur between 60 and 75 degrees of latitude, which covers northern parts of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska and Russia as well as all of Iceland.
Discover the World

I used my Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ to photograph the horizon to the northeast from my house using night mode. When I saw what my lens saw, I jumped for joy. Using a little ambient light from the neighbors’ lights helped more than hindered.

The Aurora is created when the energy from a solar flare emitted by our sun hits earth. One such flare hit earth Monday night, creating a rare spectacle that could be seen across much of the norther tier of the United States. The aurora was visible across the Inland Northwest thanks to clear skies overhead and relatively early nightfall this time of year.
KREM 2 News

A rare and joyful, if slightly eerie experience, indeed.

An Past Eerie Gallery

“Sharp winds ruffled his coat and caused bare tree limbs to bend and rustle, throwing eerie shadows on the ground.”
Mateo’s Law

Do you know what else is eerie? According to WordPress:

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!
You registered on WordPress.com 10 years ago.
Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

Photo Challenges this Week

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

Decorative Bloggers’ Links

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from bloggers who shared their favorite seasonal decoration photos. If at any point I have accidentally left anyone off the list, please let me know!

Bushboys World

Easin’ Along (Image shared in comments)

Equipoise Life (Image shared in comments)

Retirementally Challenged

Hugh’s Views and News (Image shared in Comments)

Loving Life

Musin With Susan

Priorhouse Blog

Retirement Reflections (Image posted on Instagram)

Shutters on the World

Women Living Well After 50

Marsha’s WQWWC Fortitude or Resilience
Dawn’s Festival of Leaves
Jude’s Life in Color: Orange
Cee’s Flower of the Day
Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday
Becky B’s Past Squares

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

November’s themes are ready for your viewing pleasure on my Sunday Stills Photography Page. Next Sunday the theme is “Fur and Feathers.”

I look forward to your eerie posts all week!

Sunday Stills: Indoor/Outdoor #Décor

October 24, 2021October 24, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged autumn, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, decor, decorations, festival of leaves, halloween, leisure, life in colour, pastsquares, photography, resilience, Sunday Stills, WQWWC116 Comments

This might seem like a strange theme this week, but between Halloween and Autumn (or Spring) decorations, I thought it would be fun to see what everyone else sees. I like to surround myself with the colors and signs of the season. As the holidays approach, seems like indoor and outdoor décor is all around us in some form or another.

Porch Decor — Welcome to my festive front porch

In the first image you see, I bought these decorations from the Fall Festival local vendors and picked up a few pumpkins. I need a bigger porch! On the back of the Harvest sign is a Christmas-inspired theme. Double-duty–I like it!

Marsha’s Writers Quotes Wednesdays Writers Choice theme this week is resilience or fortitude. What has this got to do with decorating? Glad you asked!

“Resilience is the capacity of a system, enterprise, or person to maintain its core purpose and integrity in the face of dramatically changed circumstances.”
Andrew Zolli

If you’ve followed my blog for the last year, you know about our move to the Pacific Northwest (Spokane, Washington) from Northern California. When you stage a home, you sadly put away any decorations, so we packed 99% of it and moved three-quarters of our stuff to Spokane and placed it in storage. (Yes, we are still unpacking).

“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers

My fabulous re-decorated fireplace ala Joanna Gaines style

I used to be limited to décor in my former house, choosing to decorate around the fireplace mantel. I still have each and every piece shown in the picture (and more)!

One year ago this week, I tested positive for covid while feverishly putting the final touches on our home to ready it for sale.

Luckily my bout with covid was mild and we were back on our feet making final arrangements for the move. 2020 was crazy in many respects, proving resilience and fortitude are needed when buying and selling real estate and moving during a pandemic.

“Facing the pandemic, it’s not what happened (that) matters, it is how we respond.”
― Napz Cherub Pellazo

Indoor Décor

You will see that with a larger home, more time on my hands, and not being able to decorate last Autumn and Winter, I have made up the difference.

Autumn-Inspired

I found this vintage wall sconce at a thrift store in GreenBluff Farms area. A little DIY by adding no-flame candles and Autumn festivity. After Thanksgiving, to make it a seasonal decoration, I will add green and red garland.

This bowl of bird-like gourds seemed to fit well on my living room coffee table.

Autumn Gourds — Bird-like gourds grace my living room table

“Decorate your home. It gives the illusion that your life is more interesting than it really is.” —Charles M. Schulz

Orange and White Autumn Arrangement — Basket of pumpkins

Halloween-Inspired

The skull in the first image was a specialty bottle of tequila. I picked up this adorable wood block trio from a local vendor while volunteering at the Fall Festival.

harvest and black skull — Día de los Muertos Skull

Décor Out and About

I frequently get inspired by indoor décor from others: restaurants, family and neighbors. The toy image is a Painnt-filtered version of my SIL’s Christmas village from two years ago.

German Steins Display — At Das Stein Haus German Restaurant

Miniature Christmas Toys — At Das Stein Haus German Restaurant

Nature’s Decorations

No matter the season, nature does a fabulous job of decorating our outdoor spaces. Autumn is at its peak here in Northeastern Washington. Storm winds and rain are expected all weekend to inevitably blow the leaves from the trees. Good thing I did my leaf-seeking all this week and can post those images for a few more weeks!

On my former university campus in Sacramento, groundskeepers use fallen ginkgo tree leaves to decorate.

Some neighbors don’t have to rely on store-bought decorations with nature providing most of the them.

I wonder if these folks know how gorgeous their home looks from across the lake?

Do you decorate your homes or work spaces for each season?

“An empty room is a story waiting to happen, and you’re the author.” Charlotte Moss

Photo Challenges This Week

This week, I am linking with the challenges of these talented bloggers and photographers:

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

BLOGGERS’ IN THE PINK LINKS

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from 34(!) bloggers who shared their favorite photos in pink that honor breast cancer awareness month.

And Miles to Go Before I Sleep

Blog of Hammad Rais

Deb’s World Image shared on Instagram

Easin’ Along Image shared in comments

Geriatrix Foto Gallery

Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments

Jacquie Biggar Author

Retirementally Challenged

Photos By Jez

Picture This

Retirement Reflections image on Instagram

Stevie Turner

Shutters on the World

NEW Soul N Spirit

Women Living Well After 50

Travel With Me

Marsha’s WQW Autumn or Fall
Dawn’s Festival of Leaves
Jude’s Life in Color
Cee’s Flower of the Day
Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday
Becky B’s Past Squares

Every week I look forward to reading your Sunday Stills posts and enjoying your fabulous photos and other creative ideas! Next week, we’ll celebrate Halloween and the theme of “eerie.”

Sunday Stills: The #Pink Side of October

October 17, 2021October 17, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged blogging, breast cancer awareness, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, leisure, life in colour, October, pastsquares, photography, pink, Sunday Stills, Susan G Komen, WQWWC121 Comments

I know, I know, another color challenge, well, kinda…

I enjoyed all of your fabulous oranges last week for the monthly color challenge. But Elle Woods would argue…

“Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed.”
Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

These “pretty in pink” adorable twins enjoyed riding the harvest train and frolicking all morning at the Stone Lodge Farms Fall Festival.

farm girls love pink — Farm girls love pink!

While we read a little about Breast Cancer Awareness, please think of ways to honor the month with your favorite pink images.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It has been a while since I posted something to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is typically recognized in October. With the focus on Covid, many of our wellness campaigns for illnesses and diseases we still encounter every day have taken a backseat to the pandemic.

Sadly, they don’t go away just because Covid so rudely took center stage for almost 2 years.

At the height of the pandemic, routine cancer screenings declined by 90%. Screenings have resumed and doctors are diagnosing later-stage cancers — things that might have been caught earlier, according to NPR Radio.

The familiar pink ribbon stands for prevention, detection, treatment, and increased breast cancer awareness and is recognized as the traditional trademark of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

(image by Pexels)

Way Too Many

Do you know someone, a friend, colleague, or family member who has been diagnosed with breast cancer? I have.

Way too many.

Do you know someone, a friend, colleague, or family member who has died as a result of breast cancer? I have.

Way too many.

In the popular media, we are surrounded by images of pink ribbons promoting the fight against breast cancer. From the National Football League where players sport pink towels, shoe laces, socks, and other uniform accessories, to people wearing pink clothing, or sporting pink ribbons on their cars (and windsurf sails).

Security dressed in pink! — Me flying on my pink sail!

Terri Sailing on a very windy day! — Me flying on my pink sail!

“In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 deaths globally. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.
World Health Organization

No matter who you are or where you live, understanding breast cancer is important. But the most important thing to know is this: a diagnosis is not a death sentence. Breast cancer can be treated.

Men can also contract breast cancer, too.

The Susan G. Komen organization is instrumental worldwide in fundraising efforts for the research and prevention of breast cancer, as well as the advocacy and support for those afflicted.

I hope you have given some thought to the victims and survivors of breast cancer. I personally know (and knew) over a dozen women who battled breast cancer…some won, some lost. A best friend and work colleague, both just over 50 at the time of diagnosis…survived. My daughters’ step-mom, 41, and another work colleague, 63…both lost their battles.

I traditionally get a mammogram during the month of October. If you are a woman over 40, please get one. If your health provider balks at 40-year-olds asking for mammograms, argue with them.

A young woman who worked for me a few years ago was diagnosed at age 31. The cancer was aggressive and resulted in chemo, radiation, and a double mastectomy. She is a cancer survivor at 38.

Years ago, when my daughter, Lauren, lost her step-mother to breast cancer, she wanted to honor her step-mother and help raise funds for research and prevention by doing a walk for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event traditionally held in April, in Sacramento. She asked me to join her. I did.

And the 10,000 breast cancer survivors and their families?

Happily, that day, I walked alongside way too many.

The Pink Side of October

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – L.M. Montgomery

Pink and red Maple Leves — I blush pink and red!

Although we are focusing on pink, October is a prime month for some of the best Autumn colors as many leaves reach their color peak in the Northern Hemisphere. This took some getting used to as I recall my almost 40 years of Autumns in Northern California when the peak was typically between mid- to end of November.

Here in Northeastern Washington, we seem to be at the normal peak of colors now that maple trees have blushed their way into Fall. Hey, it’s almost pink, and I am saving the dark reds for November’s color challenge “ruby wine.”

Speaking of color, I’d like to share Sue’s 100-day project, Bringing More Color into My Life. Her blog Women Living Well After 50, talks about active aging for women over 50 and beyond.

Enjoy my pink images inspired by the pink ribbon that represents hope for the cure.

“Pink is a beautiful color, because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawns.”
C. JoyBell C

A pink dawn to inspire yet another day for breast cancer survivors.

Colorful dawn in the mountains — Pink Lady on Pink

Other Ways to Acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Friday, October 22, 2021: Real Kids Wear Pink Day
Wear pink the rest of the month.
Share your pink images on social media and in the blogosphere.
Donate to your local Breast canceer awareness campaign.

liquid amber leaves — A mix of orange and pink leaves

So while we celebrate those who have survived breast cancer and remember fondly those who succumbed to it, think of something special in the color pink that holds a memory for you.

Photo Challenges This Week

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

“Orange” You Glad These Bloggers Linked Last Week?

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from 27 bloggers who shared their favorite orange photos. I always appreciate those who visit other Sunday Stills participants and support our blogging efforts!

Dandelion Fuzz

Easin’ Along Image shared in comments

Geriatrix Foto Gallery

Philosophy through Photography

Hugh’s Views and News Image shared in comments

Picture This

Retirement Reflections image on Instagram

I look forward to you all filling up the pages of WordPress with your pink images!

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Burnt or Blood #Orange

October 10, 2021October 10, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged bloggers, burnt orange, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, dogs, fall festival, festival of leaves, leisure, life in colour, orange, pastsquares, photography, Sunday Stills, WQWWC117 Comments

Beware! This post has something for everyone today, including cute dogs, pumpkins, and lots of orange!

I don’t know what it is about October that it seems to represent the various shades of orange. Perhaps it’s the variety of the fall leaves, pumpkins and Halloween jack o’ lanterns. Hence our color challenge this month, focusing on burnt orange or blood orange. Those names just sound like October!

Burnt or Blood Orange Pallet — Orange Color Palette

Any shade of orange will do! I’m easy. I read somewhere that orange is the color of joy and creativity. I definitely agree.

Orange is the happiest color.
Frank Sinatra

Sinatra was right, especially when this image of my orange kettle smiled at me!

That Hometown Feeling

We were ecstatic to learn that there is a local nursery/farm down the street from our house, about a quarter of a mile away—easily within walking distance. The owners sell trees, plants, shrubs, etc, and we have purchased a few items from them. When I discovered the farm puts on a harvest festival every year, four weekends in October, I almost died from excitement. The manager asked us to volunteer which gets us a deep discount on the trees we want to buy and plant! Just the small town feel we had hoped for when we moved here.

Stone Lodge Farms Fall Festival — Neighborhood Fall Festival

Neighborhood Pumpkin Patch — Neighborhood Fall Festival

A few miles away in North Spokane, GreenBluff Growers Association boasts over 60 farms, wineries, breweries and event venues. When we visited there two weeks ago, stepping into the various farms felt like we were right at home during the harvest.

Painnt Filter of Terri — Fun with filters… and pumpkins!

Pumpkin Patch and Dog — Fun with filters… and pumpkins!

As much as I enjoyed what Greenbluff had to offer, our neighborhood Fall Festival is on par with any of those farms with vendors, entertainment, kids activities, pumpkins and food. Did I mention their homemade pumpkin donuts? Amazing!

Dogs Love Orange Too!

My liver brown dogs look darling in their orange attire. Aero seems to love his orange harness…because he know it means a walk is imminent…

I’m not sure Brodie is too thrilled pictured here 4 years ago in his life vest. Now he swims without it. He loves the water.

Brodie, Boykin Spaniel in life vest — Brodie not too sure about his life vest

Needing More “Orange”-spiration?

Smoky Suns

Smoke during the summer from nearby and distant fires in the west gave us unhealthy air quality but strangely beautiful orange sunrises and sunsets. Our firefighters worked overtime and we are grateful for their efforts.

Smokey orb over pine trees — 2021 Smoky sunrise in Washington

Sunset over wind turbines — 2021 Smoky sunrise in Washington

Fabulous Flora

The trees and wildflowers are showcasing their orange right now. My neighbor’s maple tree is orange now but will turn bright red in a matter of days.

Maple in orange and red — Neighbor’s Maple Tree

autumn wild coneflower — Neighbor’s Maple Tree

Even the Rocks Cry Out in Orange

While we visited Sedona, Arizona, in August, the “red” rocks for which Sedona is famous, showed their joyous orange hues in certain lights.

A Past Look at Orange

October’s poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter.
Nova Bair

Photography Challenges this Week!

As always, I appreciate the inspiration and dedication necessary by bloggers who host their weekly and seasonal photo challenges. This week I’m inspired by the following challenges:

More Fun

A shout-out to successful blogger (and friend) Janice Wald at Mostly Blogging in her article Blogging for Fun . Last week I posted about leisure, sports and hobbies and most of us who blog fall into the category of hobby blogger. We do this for fun and a variety of other reasons. And its nice to get validation from Janice. Her blog started out as a hobby blog but moved on to helping bloggers with her experience and words of wisdom.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills if you share on social media.

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

Busy Bloggers’ Who Love Their Hobbies

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from bloggers who shared their favorite photos of their hobbies, sports, and leisure pastimes.

Equipoise Life Image shared in comments

Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After

Geriatrix Fotogallery

Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments

Jacquie Biggar Author

Kamerapromenader

Loving Life

Now At Home

Picture Retirement

Stevie Turner

NEW Toortsie.com

A Young Retirement

I can’t wait to see all your joyful orange colors this week! Remember you can link to Sunday Stills all week and feel free to link to other challenges in the same post. Next week we’ll be “in the pink” as I make my annual nod to Breast Cancer Awareness Month with current and past pink images. Pink works for Becky B’s Past Squares challenge, too. Have a wonderful week!

Sunday Stills: #Sports and #Hobbies

October 3, 2021October 4, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged autumn leaves, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, cycling, festival of leaves, greenbluff, hiking, hobbies, kayaking, life in colour, pastsquares, photography, photography challenges, sports, Sunday Stills98 Comments

Hello October! As spring ramps up in the Southern Hemisphere, I’m sure many folks can’t wait to get back to their favorite outdoor activities and hobbies. Here in the cold north, most of our outdoor sports and pastimes are ending or adjusting as the changing weather and cooler temps of Autumn close in.

A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.
Phyllis McGinley

Fallen reflected leaves — In the gutter but still beautiful

Hiking, biking and walking are still doable in Northeastern Washington with cool sunny days, but colder nights dictate warmer clothes. My last day on the bike was in Sacramento in November 2020 when I visited the American River Bike Trail for the last time.

Autumn Bike Ride American River Bike Trail

Hiking

Last week, my good friend and her fiancé visited here from Sacramento. We hiked around the area that included The Bowl and Pitcher and our local trails.

Make a commitment to having fun. See your best friends and make time for your hobbies and passions.
Robert Holden

Hiking at the Bowl and Pitcher — Enjoying hiking with my friend from Sacramento

Enjoying hiking with my friend from Sacramento

Shopping/ Exploring

We visited GreenBluff, a farm area featuring over 60 local growers, wineries, breweries and other venues. Autumn is a great time to visit and purchase famous Washington apples while getting in the groove for harvest-themed activities and food, like pumpkin donuts and sparkling mead. Did I mention shopping is a legit hobby?

Kayaking

Last weekend while outdoor temperatures were still in the upper 70’s and low 80s (25-27 C), lines of vehicles drove down the main highway to get their last warm days of kayaking in. Although I did not get out on the water this time, I managed a few trips over the summer.

August Kayaking Little Spokane River — The second image is the Painnt App Filter

Kayaking Watson Lake, Prescott, AZ — Kayak Trio on Watson Lake, Prescott, AZ

More watercraft were out enjoying the late summer weather.

Late summer kayaking Lake Spokane — Late summer on the lake

late summer Fishing — Late summer on the lake

Other Hobbies

While many of us think about what defines a hobby, our blog and the photography that goes alongside the blog are year-round hobbies that engage us in many ways. From these, we get creative with poetry, writing, visual art and other fine arts that keep the creative juices flowing.

Photography

Of course, you know I’m all about photography. With mobile devices, snapping a pic is easy and provides hours of fun. Creating the blog signatures is also part of the fun!

I spent last week leaf-chasing. With my dogs leashed to my left arm and phone in my right hand, I found beautiful Autumn scenes within my own neighborhood and beyond.

Many photographers experiment with filters, apps, and other creative measures to enhance their photos. I put some of my existing images through a mobile app called Painnt. Hope you enjoyed them throughout this post.

Learning a New Language

As of today, I have logged 673 days in a row learning German on Duolingo. I actually began in August 2019 but managed to accidentally skip a day. The streak before that was 50. You’d think with all these days logged I would know more. But given a decent context, I can understand some spoken words and read a variety of words. I can also correct some of my hubby’s German to a small extent, with his excuse being that I’m learning high German, LOL. Not bad for him speaking the language since birth. He also speaks Spanish fluently. I’m just relieved that I can speak English fluently 😉

Wildlife Watching

My love of the outdoors involves seeing as much wildlife as possible. So far in the Spokane/Nine Mile Falls area, I’ve seen a few bald eagles, two moose (while kayaking), heard the bugle cry of an elk late one night, and adorable flocks of quail. We see white-tailed and mule deer almost daily.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a wonderful hobby that benefits both the giver and the receiver. In our new community I have had several opportunities to volunteer. Over the summer, our church operated a free weekly day camp at a nearby school. My job was to help prepare 180 sack lunches every Wednesday. Two of the days were hot dog BBQs on site. This month, at our local nursery/farm (down the street!), we are volunteering each weekend as they host their annual Harvest Festival. Saturday was our first day and it was a blast, meeting neighbors, and just being out in the Autumn air. We are going to get some free trees for our efforts!

Yay for Photo Challenges!

Today I’m sharing this post for several other photo challenges including Becky B’s October Squares, where past meets present. In many of these images, I present “bright, trees, blue, lines, perspective, and time.”

Also, JohnBo’s CellPic Sunday, Cee’s Flower of the Day, Jude’s Life in Color, Jo’s Monday Walk, and Dawn’s Festival of Leaves

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

Last Week’s Linkers

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from 29 bloggers who shared their favorite Autumn and Spring photos.

Denyse Whelan Blogs

Easin’ Along Image shared in comments

Frost on the Moose Dung

Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments

Jacquie Biggar Author

NEW The Sandy Chronicles

NEW TBL

Cees Flower of the Day; Dawn’s Annual Festival of Leaves; Marsha’s WQWWC: Communication ; JohnBo’s CellPic Sunday, Jude’s Life in Color: Gold, and Lens-Artists Challenge.

It is in his pleasure that a man really lives; it is from his leisure that he constructs the true fabric of self.
Agnes Repplier

I hope to see you next week for the Monthly Color Challenge! October is all about Burnt or Blood Orange with shades in between! Have a great week.

Please bear with me Sunday as I am away from the internet for a few hours while we volunteer for a local Harvest Festival, as I mentioned earlier. I will share about that next week!

Sunday Stills: #Signs of …Autumn? Spring?

September 26, 2021September 26, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged autumn, autumnal equinox, Cees FOTD, cellpicSunday, color2021, fall, festival of leaves, photography, seasons, spring, Sunday Stills, WQWWC100 Comments

This week, as the Autumnal and Vernal equinoxes we experienced on Sept 22 have brought the planet to equal days and nights for a moment, I’m sure we are seeing weather and temperatures play out as such! In either hemisphere signs of the seasons are already playing out depending upon where you live.

Fall Has Fallen and Spring Has Sprung!

“Autumn calls the forest to rest, to exhale in a flood of colors rubbed to a fiery warmth on the hearth of both hill and plain before nodding off to a winter’s slumber.”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough

As I shared in June about the summer solstice making our days a minute shorter each day in the northern hemisphere, Autumn really shows the impact as nights are longer than the days and glorious colors begin to pepper the landscapes. The shortening of daylight will continue through the winter solstice.

Smoky Spokane in September 2020 — Last year’s smoky September in Spokane, Washington

All at once, summer collapsed into Fall.
Oscar Wilde

Ah, darkness. As a sun-lover, I appreciate early morning sunshine and late evening sunsets, especially here in Northeastern Washington. Already, I switch the lights on when I awake at 6-ish and back on by 7pm. By December it will be dark here by 4pm, which is what I’ve already experienced when we moved here in December 2020! Oh well, l hope the glow of the reflected light off the snow will help illuminate what daytime hours we do have.

As we are finishing the month of September, the warm days (mid-70s this week), but colder nights are teasing us with signs of Autumn. Here in the Spokane, Washington area, Autumn colors reach their color peak about mid-October, with reds dominating the vibrant colors, mixed with abundant evergreen trees. A stunning sight to see!

According to my favorite meteorologist, Jeremy Lagoo, on KREM news (Spokane), he says, “Enjoy it while you can…” This image tells you what we are expecting! Brrr!

KREM News weather graphic — Credit: KREM 2

Those temperature drops each month bring the promise of this…by mid-October.

For the time being, September gives us these signs of Autumn:

What are the signs of the season changing where you live?

Fall Florals

Early Autumn shows off her sense of humor with spent sunflowers, heavy with seeds:

Or, Fall Asters, a purple contrast to the yellows and golds.

Apart from the obvious plant life changes, other signs of Autumn include:

September’s Harvest moon
Migrating birds
Crisp, clean air
Less daylight
Cool (and cold!) temperatures

–Fire in the wood stove or fireplace
-Smell of smoke from chimneys

-Cozy blankets

-Seasonal home décor

-Store displays for Halloween and Christmas(!)
-Lots of apples, pumpkins and squash

Inspired By Other Bloggers’ Photo Challenges

This week I’m linking with the following bloggers who offer their creative photo challenges:

For those in the Southern hemisphere, spring awakens from its winter slumber to the promise of warm days, green pastures and riots of colorful flowers and blossoms.

October themes for Sunday Stills can be found on my Sunday Stills Photography page.

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

Fall Has Fallen and Spring Has Sprung

Share your season’s signs of changes this week. Any type of creativity is welcomed, with your images, stories, poetry, etc.

Golden Bloggers’ Links

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from bloggers who shared their favorite golden moments. Please stop by if you haven’t yet.

A Day in the Life

Denyse Whelan Blogs

Easin’ Along Image in Comments

NEW Linda Schaub Blog

Have a wonderful week!

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: All that is #Gold

September 19, 2021September 22, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged Cees FOTD, citrine, color2021, gold, leisure, monthly color challenge, photography, rise/set, Sedona, September, Sunday Stills, travel, wedding111 Comments

September’s Sunday Stills color challenge is harvest gold.

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
JRR Tolkein, The Fellowship of the Ring

As I enjoy an Eastern Washington Autumn with all the golden colors so typical in September, I recall countless years spent in Sacramento enjoying Autumn’s much slower start. Late August boasts field of sunflowers a few miles from our new home in Washington.

In Sacramento, September was the month to experience that golden sunlight that warmed the land. Sadly, I believe that golden light was caused by smoke from wildfires, and late summer dry conditions.

leaf reflections — Harvest gold and citrine adorn the American River in Sacramento

Citrine is also another choice for this week’s color challenge. The color of Citrine can range from a pale pastel yellow to a strong orangey-yellow. My sapphire wedding ring is an example of the citrine color.

While you contemplate your harvest gold and citrine images to share, please enjoy this gallery of images to get you started.

Roof Top View as seen from Sacramento State University — Rooftop view of my former university

Delta Yellow Wildflowers — Rooftop view of my former university

In a few weeks, the northern hemisphere falls back into standard time and the nights will get Llooonnger! The first day of Autumn is September 22. Folks in the southern hemisphere–I’ll bet you are looking forward to your spring! For now enjoy this gallery of sunrises and sunsets showing off shades golds and citrines.

Mojave Desert Sunrise — Golden dawn in Helendale, Mojave Desert

Baja Sunrise — Golden dawn in Helendale, Mojave Desert

Golden Moments of a Sedona Wedding

Thank you so much for your thoughts and comments last week as I shared some preview wedding photos of my step-daughter’s wedding in Sedona, Arizona. As promised, I’m sharing more images from the wedding that took place on Monday, August 23.

The bride and groom shared their vows, then signed the wedding forms in front of the iconic, golden-hued peaks of Sedona.

Wedding vows in Sedona — Sharing their vows

Golden moments at dinner. The bride contemplates her array of special beverages.

Bride contemplates an array of goblets — Too many goblets!

Golden hues of the L’Auberge de Sedona Resort lobby. Citrine Sedona rocks and me!

Lobby, Hotel L'Auberege De Sedona — L’Auberge de Sedona Resort Lobby

Step Mom of the Bride — L’Auberge de Sedona Resort Lobby

Time for cake!

Cutting the wedding cake — Have some cake!

Today’s images are also shared and inspired for the following challenges: Cee’s Flower of the Day; Gold Life in Color; Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Include Sunday Stills tag in your post.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

I look forward to your gold and citrine images for this month’s color challenge. Next week’s theme is “Signs of Autumn (or Spring). Dawn’s Festival of Leaves prompt begins September 23, another great place to share your Autumn posts!

Bloggers Who Dared to Go Back

NEW This is Another Story

Travel with Me

NEW Wind Kisses

Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After

To see more of my images and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

Have a great week!

Sunday Stills: Going #Back … ?

September 12, 2021September 17, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged friendships, going back, Helix High School, leisure, photography, Prescott, Sedona, Sunday Stills, travel87 Comments

I’m back…as this week’s title might suggest. I can’t thank Natalie enough for hosting Sunday Stills in my absence and with her amazing themes, no less! Thank you to all my fellow bloggers who continued to participate in Sunday Stills and support Natalie while I was on my three-week break. That is if you can call two-out-of-three whirlwind weekends a break!

Subconsciously, I chose this theme a few weeks ago based on some random thought, but as we traveled the first week between August 20-24, I realized how perfect the theme is to highlight our whirlwind weekend.

Before I launch into my photos, “Going Back…” implies going back to something, whether a place you’ve visited before, going back “in time” as you view your photo archives, or how about going back “to the future?” Use any preposition to add to going back that suits you…going back …in, on, to, out, under, over, through, between, by, as far as, across, etc. I’m certain all you clever bloggers will come up with some spectacular ideas and images to match!

Why did I take a blogging break?

As summer progressed, I found myself getting way too busy at the end of August into early September. My gorgeous step-daughter decided on having her wedding sooner than later and she was gracious enough to ask us when we would be available. I mentioned that Hans had a high school football celebration on August 20 where he would be in San Diego for the event. Vanessa is a detail-oriented, highly organized, long-range planner like her step-mom (she refers to me as her “bonus mom”), so she did some checking for a wedding venue. She chose Sedona for a small parents-only wedding on Monday, August 23. I’m sure she and her groom saved scads of dollars by choosing a Monday in the low-season. Sedona is in the high desert of Arizona, two hours north of Phoenix, so yep, it’s hot there especially this time of year.

Between the football event, our wedding anniversary on August 22 (spent in Prescott and in Sedona), and the wedding, this was a crazy weekend that involved me planning three one-way flights and a rental car, securing five nights in the Pet Lodge for the pups and 15 other things that had to happen. Not to mention, I haven’t traveled by air for almost 2 years, which usually makes me a little anxious.

Since my buddy Marsha makes an appearance in this post today, I again was inspired by her Writers’ Quotes Wednesday challenge which is Writer’s Choice or Order. At first, I didn’t think I could combine “order” with “going back,” but, welp, I managed to (thanks, Google).

In order to move forward, you have to look back.
Matt Maher

So let’s go back and take a partial look at our whirlwind weekends.

Going Back out on the Field for…High School Sports

My husband and I met at our high school near San Diego as 14-year-olds in 1974. We did not date but we were friends. Both of us were prominent athletes in our respective sports, me in swimming and track-and-field, he in football and soccer. Helix High School began its football program in 1951, and several former players organized a 70-year celebration honoring players from 7 decades and the coaches who inspired them.

Encouraged by friends on Facebook, we decided to make the trip for this one-of-a kind event.

These “old guys” from the 70s decade enjoyed going back onto the field and eventually watching the varsity football game after the celebration. Hans is front and center!

Helix HS 70-year football celebration 2021 — Going back to high school football

I’d love to go back to when we played as kids, but things change. And that’s the way it is.
Tupac Shakur

Not only were there over 200 players there to receive honors, but alumni Bill Walton, of NBA-fame (playing for Portland Trailblazers and Boston Celtics), was also there to support his fellow Helix athletes.

For you American football buffs, two famous Helix alumni, Alex Smith and Reggie Bush, played football at Helix High school in the early 2000s and went on to become stars in the NFL.

According to Wikipedia, “While at Helix, Reggie played with the 2004 Heisman Trophy finalist and first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft Alex Smith. During his prep career with the Helix Highlanders, he won the prestigious Silver Pigskin trophy awarded by KUSI’s Prep Pigskin Report. Smith and Bush were later finalists for the 2004 Heisman Trophy, making it the first time a high school had two finalists at the same ceremony.”

Due to their busy schedules they were unable to attend, but how cool, huh?

My lovely daughter housed us overnight at her place and we enjoyed a fun but brief visit with her before we headed out Saturday morning to fly to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

Going Back to… Celebrating Friendships

We arrived in Phoenix and drove two hours to Prescott, AZ to stay with Marsha and her husband in their lovely new home! They treated us to a nice dinner downtown, then we strolled through the quaint streets in the warm summer evening.

We spent Sunday morning checking out Watson Lake and folks enjoying their kayaks and paddleboards. Marsha and her husband decided to drive along with us to Sedona to eat lunch at Butterfly Grill for our wedding anniversary. Such a fun day!

Blogger Friends in Prescott, AZ — Photo credit, Marsha’s hubby

Speaking of friendships, long-time friend, Marcie, and her husband drove from Sacramento area to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho (one hour drive from our home), to attend a family wedding over the Labor Day holiday weekend. They joined us at our home for dinner and was the first time they had seen our new place! I miss this bestie—we have been friends since 1980, our kids are the same age and we played years of recreational softball together.

Going Back to a Place…Sedona, Arizona

After saying goodbye to Marsha and her husband, we headed for the L’Auberge de Sedona Spa and Resort, where the wedding would take place the next day, and where we would spend two nights. At 7pm, we met the wedding party to shuttle to Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill. A wonderful way to spend our 8th wedding anniversary!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Terri Webster Schrandt (@terri.websterschrandt)

We were quite excited to be able to go back and see Sedona again, after our snowy winter road trip in 2018-19. The Instagram post below gives you an idea of the spectacular views that awaited us this time around.

The road was new to me, as roads always are, going back.
Sarah Orne Jewett

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Terri Webster Schrandt (@terri.websterschrandt)

In late December 2018, we pulled into the Rancho Sedona RV campground with high hopes of seeing the sights around Sedona for a couple of days. Little did we know how much snow would fall our second day, on December 31, with thousands of visitors driving into the area.

Our views went from this to this in less than 24 hours!

Sedona Red Rocks — Camel Head Rock on Friday

Snowy Red Rocks — Camel Head Rock on Friday

I was told that the rock formation was Snoopy Rock, but, scratching my head, I didn’t see it.

Because we were snowed in, we couldn’t even walk the main street through town that affords all the iconic views. Going back to Sedona, on the morning of the wedding, we strolled the street that boasted views and signage!

Sign showing mountains of Sedona — Helpful Street Signs

Turns out, from the campground, Snoopy Rock was hidden. Going back this time, I finally saw Snoopy from a higher vantage point, and boy was I excited! Do you see Snoopy as if he is laying on top of his doghouse?

For more about that winter road trip, you can check it our here.

A Sedona Wedding, Part 1

Many of you saw my post on Instagram and Facebook where I shared many images of my step-daughter’s wedding. On the morning of the wedding we enjoyed breakfast by the creek with the bride and groom, then did some shopping and sightseeing. My step-dot Vanessa’s mom was also there and helped her get ready.

Some fun facts about the wedding:

Vanessa and her new hubby live in Tempe, AZ. Sedona was the perfect venue for the wedding.
The groom’s parents live near Toronto, Canada, and travel restrictions were lifted in the nick of time.
Vanessa’s dog, Nala, a Shiba-Inu, was the ring bearer.
There were only 8 guests at the wedding: 5 parents and 3 special friends of the groom. A reception will be held next year in San Diego where most of the family lives.
The bride’s dress was an extra small and did not have to be altered in any way.
And yes, I cried when she was escorted down the steps and the aisle with her handsome papa.

Today I will share just a few photos of the wedding.

Dad walking bride down steps Sedona — Proud Papa walking the bride down the steps

Proud Dad and Bride — Proud Papa walking the bride down the steps

I had the pleasure of taking a bunch of photos of the wedding with my Samsung Galaxy Note 10+. I shared dozens of them with Vanessa. Next week, I will share more that happily coincide with the monthly color challenge Harvest Gold!

The small reception went late into the night. Thankfully the wedding venue was close to our room. However, all good times must come to an end, as the next morning, we were out the door at 4:45am to drive 2 hours back to Phoenix, turn in the rental car, and shuttle to the gate to fly home.

Sharing photos (except Sedona Rocks–most taken with my Lumix) for Journeys with Johnbo’s Cell Pic Sundays.

This map shows our itinerary, flying from Spokane, WA on Friday to San Diego. Saturday, from San Diego we flew to Phoenix, then drove to Prescott and Sedona. Our return trip on Tuesday, was back to Spokane with a short stop in Seattle.

It’s always good to be back home.
Unknown

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

To see more of my images from our whirlwind weekends and other news, consider following Terri on Social Media by clicking the icons:

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Fellow blogger and Sunday Stills participant linked to my last post while on my break:

Join me next week for Part 2 of this post which highlights the wedding, which in turn shows off the colors for next week’s monthly color challenge Harvest gold! I will share more about the rest of the two weeks. Quite a bit happened so please stay tuned.

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Walking in a #Burlywood World

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged blogging, burlywood, Cees FOTD, monthly color challenge, photography, Sunday Stills, Weekend coffee share, weekly photo challenge, WQWWC101 Comments

My last Sunday Stills Photo Challenge post of August before my short break is the popular monthly color challenge. This month’s color is burlywood, a light shade of brown, kind of like khakis. A very non-descript color in the world of browns and tans, but it seems to be a popular neutral as well.

color challenge burlywood — August Color Challenge: Burlywood

By this time of year in the Northern hemisphere as summer peaks, there is an abundance of this color everywhere in nature and beyond!

I’m tying in water to this post for Marsha’s Writers’ Quotes Wednesdays Writer’s Challenge. How does one find light brown water—perhaps we really don’t want to know…but I did have one in my archives.

One dry, May day at the Sacramento River delta a few years ago, I saw this incredible reflection of the golden hills through which the Sacramento River flows. With no wind, the river was abnormally calm. So, I present—burlywood-brown water.

In the words of Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:

Mr. Salt: [about the chocolate river] It’s polluted!
Willy Wonka: It’s chocolate!

Last week I drove to a local spot in search of a change of scenery for walking the dogs. Just 6 miles away from home are some walking trails, that, to my surprise lead right to the Spokane River. While Brodie took a leash-bound swim, I managed to capture this lovely shot.

Reflections of Green and brown — Green and burlywood in reflection

Light brown is a pervasive color in nature as a common color for soil, sand, grasslands, rocks, animals and vegetation. In fact, vast regions of the planet Earth appear to be light brown from space.
John Spacey

Not to be outdone by water, nature decided to show off her burlywood colors as florals. (Sharing for Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge).

purple thistle in a brown dry world — Purple thistle pops in a burlywood world

dry brown wildflower — Purple thistle pops in a burlywood world

Here is a gallery of more burlywood inspiration:

Front porch mat — Front landing with Aero photobomb

Mule Deer — Front landing with Aero photobomb

And just for fun, my 10×20 foot “she-shed” was delivered on Thursday. It looks so small and plain next to the huge shop! I suppose burlywood is all the rage for sheds. Eventually we will paint her blue.

Where (and why) do I come up with these unusual names for colors? With literally thousands of colors, I like the challenge of choosing an unusual shade from the standard color wheel of six basic colors, plus black and white. I start by searching online for color photo challenges which gives me unique lists of colors. So now you know my secret.

While on My Three-Week Blog Break…

Many thanks to Natalie of Natalie the Explorer who will guest host Sunday Stills while I take a break and travel a bit. You may be familiar with her Weekend Coffee Share Feature. Natalie has chosen the themes for Sunday Stills which are as follows:
8/22 In the Garden
8/29 Afloat
9/5 Colorful Murals

Please enjoy and support Natalie as host. I will have a lot to share about my various adventures upon my return.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
Title your blog post a little differently than mine.
Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post. I also recommend adding your post’s URL into the comments.
Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
Use hashtag #SundayStills for sharing on social media.

Lyrical Bloggers’ Links

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are the last week’s links from bloggers who shared their favorite song lyrics or poetry with their photos. I am so impressed with the talent and lyric-inspired images from you all! We shall do this again at Christmas!

Always Write
Away We Go
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Cee’s Photo Challenges
Cool Esse
Deb’s World
Denyse Whelan Blogs
Easin’ Along Image shared in comments
Equipoise Life
Graham’s Island
Kamerapromenader
Horse Addict
Live Laugh RV Back again!
Loving Life
Musin’ with Susan
One Million Photographs
Philosophy Through Photography last week’s bugs
Retirement Reflections Image shared on Instagram
Stevie Turner
Travel With Me
Woolly Muses
Working on Exploring

That’s my burlywood world these days. I look forward to your posts featuring the color challenge this week. By Friday, I may be slow to approve comments/pingbacks as we travel to San Diego for the first leg of the trip. Sunday, Aug. 22, please watch for Natalie’s post to go live at the normal time of 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Here is her Weekend Coffee Share post this week with more details on Sunday Stills.

I’m a Guest on Denyse Whelan’s Blog in her “Women of Courage” Series

August 12, 2021August 11, 2021Posted in Guest Post, lifestyleTagged change, leisure, photography, retirement, Sunday Stills, travel, uncertainty, women of courage

I am pleased to be a guest on Denyse Whelan’s blog this week in her series, “Women of Courage.”

Denyse and I “met online” through blogging when she discovered my Sunday Stills photo challenge that I have hosted for over three years. Denyse is a resident of Eastern Australia and survivor of head and neck cancer. Like me, Denyse is a retired fellow educator and we hit it off with our interests in blogging and photography.

The following is an excerpt from her post.

What have you faced in your life where you have had to be courageous?

I’ve never really been afraid of anything, being raised in nature and the outdoors. My temperament requires that I exist without uncertainty and a lot of structure, so you can imagine how 2020 has treated me (and the rest of us)!

Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that everyone of us has shown immense courage and faith simply by existing in a world-wide pandemic, the likes none of us has ever seen.

But if I could define “courage,” I would describe that over the years, I have taken several life-changing leaps of faith, most recently:

At 55, having given 32 years of service to my long-term job, I retired with a decent pension while continuing to teach at the university and take on more classes. Have you ever retired? It takes a bit getting used to, even though I considered myself “semi-retired” at the time.
But more notably, my biggest act of courage was to buy property in another state, build a new home there and completely retire. Imagine leaving a successful teaching job after 10 years? Imagine packing up belongings in a house you’ve lived in for 32 years? And doing it all during a pandemic where uncertainty was the operative word of the year.

To read the rest, please visit Denyse here. Comments are closed on my post.

Sunday Stills: Song Lyric Photo Challenge–Summers of My Dreams

August 8, 2021August 8, 2021Posted in leisure, photography, weekly photo challengeTagged cellpicSunday, climb every mountain, home, Lens-Artists, mountains, photography, song lyrics, summer, summer rain, Sunday Stills, wedding anniversary, windsurfing, WQWWC100 Comments

Welcome to the first-ever Sunday Stills song lyric photo challenge! This type of challenge is not new to bloggers but I thought it would be fun to try it. This theme was a challenge for me because I love all types of music, but I wanted to choose songs that made sense in my own life.

The idea of this challenge is to match images related to your favorite song lyrics. If this is unclear, it might be best to think of your favorite song(s) and highlight some lyrics with your new or existing photos. Here is an example from Marsha and my example from 2017: My Favorite Things.

Also, to avoid copyright infringements of published lyrics, only post a few lines rather than the entire song. If you write poetry or your own songs, you can certainly use your work for this theme!

Summer Rain, All Summer Long

Today, to help inspire you with appropriate images, I chose Summer Rain by Johnny Rivers, a popular song released in 1968. According to Wikipedia:

“Summer Rain” was written by Jimmy Hendricks(!) and performed by Johnny Rivers on his 1968 LP Realization. The song reached No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, No. 6 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100, and No. 10 in Canada in early January, 1968. “Summer Rain” is a song about lifelong love during “the summer of love” which refers to the phenomenon of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco between 1965 and 1968.
Wikipedia

Think hippie culture and free love. Despite the song’s origins, I simply like the music and the words.

I was 8 years old in 1968. I may have remembered hearing the song in the car on road trips at that age. I suppose it wasn’t until the early 80s upon hearing it again, how much I enjoyed the idea of the lyrics as a celebration of summer. Later as I became a windsurfer, I started to appreciate the types of wind, coming from the four directions, east, west, north, south that the song mentions.

Here are my images for Summer Rain. Imagine the song is written is from my husband’s perspective. I apologize in advance for any subsequent earworms on the part of the reader!

Summer rain taps at my window
West wind soft as a sweet dream

Hans Schrandt Executes Big Jump — Hubby with a Big Jump!

Windsurfing-Woman — Hubby with a Big Jump!

My love warm as the sunshine
Sittin’ here by me, she’s here by me

All summer long, we spent dancin’ in the sand

And the jukebox kept on playin’
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

She wants to live in the Rockies
She says that’s where we’ll find peace

Happy on our half acre — First look at property in Washington, May 2020

Settle down, raise up a family
To call our own, yeah, we’ll have a home

House and Shop — Waiting for Shop Doors (taken 8/6)

The snow drifts by my window

North wind blowin’ like thunder
Our love’s burnin’ like fire
And she’s here by me, yeah, she’s here with me
Let tomorrow be

Summer Wedding, Climbing Mountains

I’m also sharing for Marsha’s Writers Quotes Wednesdays Writers’ Choice “Writer’s Choice” or Mountains this week.
Summer Rain is a celebration of my 8th wedding anniversary on August 22. In two weeks, we will be in the Sedona, Arizona area over a long weekend.

For our wedding day in 2013, I chose Climb Every Mountain from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music as the song in which I walked down the aisle with my daughters. This is one of my favorite musicals.

This verse is my entry for WQWWC this week:

“Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
‘Till you find your dream.”

I’ve always wanted to live in the mountains and we do!

Rural Mountain road — Street view of home

Next Week’s Monthly Color Challenge

Next week’s photo challenge is the Monthly Color challenge exploring the color “burlywood”—a light shade of brown, kind of like khakis. By this time of year in the Northern hemisphere, this color should be seen everywhere in nature!

Sunday Stills Moves to Canada for Three Weeks Beginning August 22

Many thanks to Natalie of Natalie the Explorer who will guest host Sunday Stills while I take a break and travel a bit. You may know her Weekend Coffee Share Feature. Natalie has chosen the themes for Sunday Stills which are as follows:
8/22 In the Garden
8/29 Afloat
9/5 Colorful Murals

Throughout this post, I share various images for the following challenges:

Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday and Lens-Artists Challenge hosted by Patti this week.

Bugged Blogger Links from Last Week

Denyse Whelan Blogs

Easin’ Along Image shared in comments—you gotta see it!

Geriatrix Fotogallery