Black and White Photos

On Swap-Bot, there is a challenge to create three black-and-white photos. I chose six photos - three from walks that I took with the dogs last week and three miscellaneous shots. The first three photos were taken on my iPhone and the last three photos were taken on my DSLR camera (Nikon D3400 Series).  All the photos were taken in color and converted to black-and-white in post-processing. 

When I look for photos to convert to black-and-white, I am looking for images that either are very simple (e.g., the wooden post with coiled wire pictured below), have a lot of texture (e.g., pictures of the clouds and farm fields), or where the color detracts from the image and/or message (e.g., the image of the flower where the petals are white, the center is yellow, leaves are green, and surrounding flowers are red). 

The first image I created is of a wooden fence post with a large eye screw that has a loop of a thick coiled wire through it. It serves no purpose now - the owners just left this post and wire at the corner of their property. At one time, this fence blocked off an entry point to acreage with thousands of trees planted in it. During the past decade, the owners cut down or moved the trees and now the land is empty. Just grass. No cover or food sources for birds and other wildlife. So, as I looked at the photo in color with the bright and cheerful blue sky, white puffy clouds, and green grass it didn't convey the sense of loss and bleakness of this space that once was filled with life.

The second photo I took was on a warm, sunny day when I was walking the dogs. It was in the afternoon and the sun had come out from behind the clouds. The clouds were illuminated by the sun's rays. It was a beautiful afternoon.

This was another day that I walked the dogs in about the same area in the previous picture. I like this stretch of the walk because it feels so open and immense. The fields were being harvested, so there are different levels in the field. 

The picture below is of a white flower with a yellow center in the shape of a heart. I had to do a double-take when I looked at it because I have never seen a heart-shaped center...they are always round. I've been missing my parents (both have died - my dad in 2012 and my mom in 2015) and my daughters who are now both away at college. Perhaps this was just the thing I needed to see when I looked at this flower on October 8th.

This is a three-foot-tall bronze statue of a girl with a jug by Italian artist Vincenzo Aurisicchio. He lived from 1855 to 1926 and is known for his sculptural artwork. When my step-father-in-law died last month, we inherited this statue that he and my mother-in-law purchased in Italy and shipped back to their home in Minnesota. It is in the back of our car and at a different angle than what is typically seen when the statue is upright.

It's not a piece that I would typically be drawn to because the girl has a blank/sad expression and her jug is broken (that's the way the artist created the piece). I would like to learn more about the piece, but I cannot find anything written about it - just the images of it with the artist's name. So, the artist's concept for it and the story behind it will remain a mystery.

The last image I am sharing is one of a partially-completed caning of a chair. At an arts festival, coordinated by a local folk school, there was a craftsperson who was demonstrating how caning is done. It was interesting watching her work and learning about all the steps she needed to take to create this pattern. 

So, these are my six black-and-white photos. I enjoyed going through my photographs from the past nine days and picking ones that I felt represented things I enjoyed doing and learning, and were representative of life's transitions and changes. 

Photo Scavenger Hunt

On Swap-Bot, there is a Photo Scavenger Hunt that I thought sounded fun. There was a list of ten items from which participants could choose five that they wanted to photograph. (I chose eight items since I had images for them.) 

In addition to the photograph, a little bit of information (e.g., where did I take it, is it part of a series of photos) should be included.

Black and White Photo

This photo is of firefighters from two local fire departments doing a waterball competition at our community festival a couple of weeks ago. There are three firefighters on each team and they are trying to move a metal ball past a mark on the opposing side. If they do, they score a point. 

It is very challenging for the firefighters to see where the metal ball is because of the water that is spraying in all different directions around them. There was a large crowd around the rink cheering the team. It was a lot of fun to watch. 

Something Yellow

This is one of many Maximillian sunflowers that are growing in the butterfly garden in the backyard. The pollinators - especially bumblebees - love these sunflowers. As the days and evenings get cooler, I'm noticing the bumblees' bodies slower down...almost as if they are sleeping in the center of the flower. 

Someone Working

This is my team of volunteers who were marking the booth space for one of the vendors at Taco Daze - the major fundraiser/community event for our Lions club earlier this month. 

There was a little break in the rain, so we worked quickly to get as much as we could marked. Thankfully, just as we were finishing up with marking the last vendor space, it began to rain. 

A Plate of Food

This was the first dinner that we had when we went to London. It was semi-fast-food Mexican dinner that was quite tasty. 

Although this was a good meal, what I enjoyed more while in London were the Indian meals. They were so flavorful and unlike anything that I can find near where I live.

A Wild Animal

We have been seeing anywhere from one to three deer almost every day during September. The deer walk basically the same path from east to west across our front yard. Our Ring doorbell catches the images of the deer walking the path during the day and night. They eat the grass, pears, and apples in our front yard.

This deer is under our pear tree. She stayed around it for quite a while and I enjoyed watching her find and eat food. She slowly walked away under the tall pine trees that are to her left and in front of her. 

A Reflection

This is one of my favorite pictures of Stillwater - a city about 25 minutes from where we live. 

It was a very calm day, so the St. Croix River was still. This made it a perfect day to capture a reflection of the north part of town in the river.

A Statue or Sculpture

This is a sculpture at Franconia Sculpture Park in Chisago County, Minnesota. I loved the wirework of this huge sculpture and how the sky and clouds could be seen through the wires. 

There are some permanent installations at Franconia Sculpture Park and others that change. So, no matter how often a person visits the park, there is always something new to see.

Extreme Weather

These were storm clouds that were moving in from the west in May 2008. This was a serious storm that did a lot of damage to the land (especially trees) as well as to homes, barns, and outbuildings. Although we have had strong storms since then, nothing compares to this storm. 

We felt very fortunate that the damage wasn't worse than it was. Although we needed a new roof and siding, we could have lost our entire home like many people did just 10-15 miles southwest of our home.

Outdoor Mom's Journal - January 2019

During our outdoor time this week we went...outside briefly to the backyard and pasture. It was pretty cold out so I wore my face mask and a new hat that my friend, Yoshiko, sent me from Japan.

There was a beautiful sunset that night. Seeing the colors of the sunsets never gets old for me.

The most inspiring thing we experienced was...going to the Bell Museum for Olivia's 16th birthday. The museum used to be at the University of Minnesota for decades. For a couple of years, a new building was built and the dioramas were refurbished. 

They changed the glass between viewers and the dioramas, so it almost looks like you are part of the scene.

Many of the dioramas now have interactive informational displays. They definitely add new insight into what you're viewing.

There were birds and mammals that we don't normally see or have become extinct.

There was a section of the museum devoted to the Ice Age. I can't even begin to imagine walking around and seeing animals this size near me.

Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)…are there certain types of art and sculpture that fare better in the winter and sub-zero temperatures? 

Olivia and I went to the Walker Art Center and went on a tour with a group from our local art center in the northeast suburbs. It was a pleasant day outside, so we walked in the sculpture garden and took some photos.

There have been a lot of changes to the garden - mostly the removal of sculptures, buildings, and vegetation. It's a lot different and less engaging than it used to be.

There were some familiar sculptures that we saw when the girls were younger. Many, though, have been moved elsewhere. There are new sculptures, but not as many as there used to be. I remember being able to spend a lot of time in the garden. Now, we were able to walk through the entire space in less than a half hour.

In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting...nothing. It's too cold to even think about planting and harvesting.

I added nature journal pages about...daily things I'm observing in nature. I'm using a new nature journal which I'm really enjoying. There's a calendar where I put a note or two about what I see outside; and then blocks where I can write in greater detail. I'm also keeping track of the birds that I see this month.

I am reading...nothing related to nature. 

I am dreaming about…warmer weather. It's been a challenging and cold month!

A photo I would like to share...actually, there are few photos from the fireworks show on January 26th that Sophia and I went to. It was about 8 degrees below zero, but felt a lot colder because of the wind. 

The fireworks were beautiful; and she was excited to see them since she's been in Arizona for the past two years at a leadership camp on the 4th of July.

I'm happy that we went to see the fireworks. It was a nice way to wrap up the end of the month!

Hobbies that Begin with "U" - Blogging from A to Z Challenge

During the 2018 Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I will be focusing on hobbies that I have introduced to my daughters to through their childhood and teen years. Some were done as part of homeschooling, while others were areas that we explored because we were interested in the subject or activity. These are hobbies that anyone of any age could try as well.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As we move towards the end of the alphabet, there are sometimes fewer hobbies that begin with a particular letter. The letter "U" is one such example. Sophia and Olivia have done one hobby that begins with the letter "U": urban exploration.


The two main urban areas near us are St. Paul and Minneapolis. In St. Paul, we have enjoyed going to the Como Conservatory. It's an oasis of beauty within the city. We like seeing the animals there as well as the plants.

October 17, 2007 - Como Conservatory

One year, I took the girls to where my grandma (my mom's mom) used to live. I used to visit here quite often - sometimes getting to spend one-on-one time with my grandma which I loved doing.

The home has been updated and looks different. It used to be an all-white house. The porch on the front is one in which all the windows would be opened in the summer. We would sit out there because the wind would go through the porch and keep us cool.

We'd have freshly-squeezed orangeade that my grandma would make (a combination of orange juice and lemonade that she made from fresh lemons and oranges, sugar, and water).

October 21, 2010

We have gone many times to Minneapolis - both the downtown area and the immediate neighborhoods.

May 21, 2011

When we are traveling, we often will do urban exploring. In the photo below, Olivia is holding her penguin stuffed animal as we rode a trolley through Boston. 

September 10, 2011

We were able to stop at various locations, get out, and explore different parts of the city.

September 10, 2011

Our nighttime view of Boston from our hotel room was beautiful.

September 10, 2011

In March 2012, I took the girls to the area where I grew up from birth to eight years old (the Camden neighborhood in Minneapolis). I showed them one of many schools that I attended. Below is Loring Elementary School. 

March 28, 2012

I showed them Patrick Henry High School - about a half a block from where we lived - where my dad worked as a social worker.

March 28, 2012

We went by the first house I lived in at 4221 Morgan Avenue North. It used to be a pink house with pink geraniums under the living room window (on the left side of the house). Where there's a garden in the front yard, there used to be a beautiful maple tree with dark leaves - almost purple leaves.

March 28, 2012

A couple of months later, we went to downtown St. Paul. We visited the Cathedral of St. Paul where my dad was ordained as a deacon.

May 4, 2012

When we visited, there's a little chapel area dedicated to Mary. The statue had a floral head wreath and there was a pretty display of flowers in front of the altar. It may have been for a special feast day in honor/memory of Mary.

May 4, 2012

Olivia, Sophia, the girls' aunt (Mary...my sister), and I went to eat at El Burrito Mercado in the Hispanic section of St. Paul. It was the day before Cinco de Mayo so things were decorated and festive in the store and restaurant.

May 4, 2012

We went to the bakery and the girls picked out a treat to take home.

May 4, 2012

Another place we've visited several times is the Guthrie Theater which overlooks the Mississippi River and the Stone Arch Bridge. It's right in the heart of Minneapolis.

October 8, 2015

We also went on a tour of the costume warehouse and rental store for the Guthrie Theater and Children's Theater. We had fun looking at the creativity of the costumes and the talented work of the designers and seamstresses. 

October 8, 2015

Another fun activity we did was visit WCCO-TV which is in downtown Minneapolis. We were able to see the studios where the news and weather are broadcast; and see the production and editing studios. It was a great behind-the-scenes view of the television station.

November 19, 2015

Within a short driving distance of downtown, is a food co-op that has been there for decades. We went on a tour of the co-op and bought different food to try. Sophia is grinding peanut butter for us to bring home.

November 19, 2015

A fun place we explored was the Textile Center in St. Paul. The girls enjoyed looking at the gallery which had a variety of artist-designed clothes, wall hangings, and sculptures. Afterwards, they did a felting project in one of the studios.

February 25, 2016

A long time ago, the glass fish sculpture in the photo below was at the Walker Art Center's sculpture garden in a conservatory. It was moved to the Weismann Art Museum on the University of Minnesota's campus on the West Bank.

The girls and I visited the museum in January 2017 to see the many sculptures, paintings, and ceramic pieces. 

January 12, 2017

Olivia and I visited the Phoenix Art Museum in July 2017, and were able see a special exhibit about the Samurai. There were outfits for people as well as horses. It was a fascinating exhibit. The museum is in the city. Normally, it would probably be quite busy. However, since we visited it on the 4th of July, the downtown area was quiet. 

July 4, 2017

On the same trip, we visited Frank Lloyd Wright's home in Scottsdale, Arizona. At one time, it was in a remote part of the desert. Now, it is right in town - though it does have a substantial amount of land that keeps it semi-isolated from the city. 

July7, 2017

What was so exciting about taking a tour of the home was that we could sit on some of the furniture and see what Frank Lloyd Wright's designs felt like from a practical standpoint. Everything we sat on was so comfortable. It was like he intuitively knew how people sat and how the furniture could help them relax and be comfortable.

Outdoor Mom's Journal - March

During our outdoor time this week we went....no where special. Most of our observation of nature this month was done from the home looking out or from the car since I had foot surgery at the beginning of the month.

Looking at turkeys from the car window.

We stopped along the side of the road to watch them.

(Taken on March 21, 2018.)

The surgical boot I am wearing isn't the best footwear when there's lots of snow and ice on the ground.

Yet another big snowfall - about six inches - on March 31st...

the day before Easter.

The snowfall this year has been more than we've seen in a long time. When it melts, we should have a nice pond in the west pasture.

The most inspiring thing we experienced was...seeing raptors this month. At an event that we coordinated and hosted on March 3rd, we were able to see a hawk up close.

It is cared for by the Wildlife Science Center in Stacy, Minnesota. It had a wing injury in the wild, and now lives at the WSC and does educational programming.

The other neat thing I've been seeing a lot of is groups of eagles flying together. I've never seen 3 or 4 eagles flying together until this year. It's amazing to see!

In the photo below, we were driving home from errands in Forest Lake and happened to see the eagles flying overhead. It appeared that there were two pairs of eagles in this group.  

Four eagles circling above.

(Taken on March 31, 2018.)

We were at a stoplight, so Sophia took out the camera and photographed the eagles so we could remember them.

Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)...how the earth shifts so much from season to season, yet it not noticeable. Yet, through photographs, it's clear things are shifting.

For example, this is a morning sunrise on March 1st. The sun is rising and I can see it through the trees from the family room in the house.

By March 25th, I need to walk to the end of the driveway and look to the northeast to see the sunrise.

In less than a month, that's quite a change. 

In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting....still nothing. By this time in the past, we sometimes have seen early flowers and perhaps some of the strawberries in the keyhole garden begin to emerge from the ground. Not this year. The ground is still frozen solid.

We are trying to figure out how to deal with wildlife (rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons) that will eat the produce that we grow.

One of the raccoons that has been

spending time here at the farm.

They are quite agile, so fencing has to be solid

so they don't eat all the produce that we grow.

(Taken on March 3, 2018.)

I'm not sure how to deal with raccoons that clearly can climb up and over fencing.

I added nature journal pages about....nothing yet for March. I want to go back and add some photos and information about the sandhill cranes that have been migrating back. They have been gone since the Fall, so it's nice to see and hear them again.

Sandhill cranes walking in the snow.

(Taken on March 21, 2018.)

I am reading...An Eagle Named Freedom. Seems like there are so many things going on that I don't get blocks of time to sit down and read this interesting book.

Hope to have it done soon and start on a new book.

I am dreaming about…seeing flowers and green grass again. It's been a very long and cold winter. 

A photo I would like to share...Sophia, Olivia, and I were walking at Franconia Sculpture Park on March 9th. The sky was so blue and clear that day.

It made a beautiful background for some of the sculptures.



Thank you to Barb the Outdoor Hour Challenge for the idea of doing an Outdoor Mom's Journal.