September is over, so quickly it seemed, and the end of the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt kindly hosted by Mary-Lou is a wrap! I had just four of the 2o items on the list to find, and two of the alternates. I managed all but one of the alternates—and could have easily captured that one had I thought of it at the time. You can find my first posts here and here. Here are the final finds:

Something that displays a rule – #7:

Something inherited – #15:

My grandmother’s diamond, reset in a necklace.

Something with rough texture – #16:

Two finds for this one, I couldn’t decide which was the better example.

Something with the number 7 in it:

The day I was looking for this among mailboxes on a walk in Racine, I didn’t expect to find such a lovely example!

And lastly, Alternate B – something heavier than your shoe:

My great-grandmother’s flat iron which also could have been chosen for #15. I actually use it in my craft room to weight down craft projects after they’ve been glued.

Thanks again, Mary-Lou for a very doable list during the pandemic. It took me longer than usual to get started, and I have to admit it is more fun when there’s a vacation or two during which you can go looking. But, as always, I enjoyed it. 

I’ve been better about hunting down the items for this year’s Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt. Today is the second link up, kindly provided here by Mary-Lou who generously creates the list as well as a link to others participating.

Number 1 on the list was a favorite piece of jewelry. I actually have a collection of favorite pieces, most of which were purchased during travels or were special gifts. This necklace (should have looked to be sure it was centered before the photo was taken) started with a purchase of the beautiful hand-made beads at a craft fair we just happened upon in Spring Green, WI on our cross-country road trip 13 years ago. I added them to a black cord necklace, and have enjoyed them ever since. I was inclined to buy all black and white beads, but the creator talked me into these colorful ones, and I’m so glad I listened to her.

Something with a knot (#2) was found in my son’s backyard as part of the playground equipment they have for the three girls.

A toy you play with (#4) was easy to find in my craft room.

Also found in the craft room was Something You Have More Than One Of (#5). Anyone who knows me will expect the next photo. These are actually among my oldest stamps, and don’t see nearly the use that the newer acrylic ones get. I’ve been stamping for over 25 years, and when I started these were all that were available. They look great, however, as a decoration in the craft room.

Something That Starts with the Initial of your Name is #9. I’m using my last name for this one.

Number 10 is Something Smaller Than a Paperclip—another find in the craft room.

I had to go to the basement to find #10—Something That Needs to be Thrown Away. We have a set of metal shelves which hold plants that need more light that we can give them in the winter. My husband takes excellent care of them, but totally neglects anything that ends up there for the summer. I can’t blame him, however, because he does water all the outside plants nearly every day. It’s hard to see in the photo, but even the bottom portion of the green plant has died. It will be gone before winter comes.

Number 12 is one of my favorite summer single-use items in the kitchen—my iced tea pitcher Hold My Favorite Beverage–and makes it as well. The insert holds tea bags. You pour hot water into the pitcher, insert the holder and the tea steeps on the counter. Then the holder is removed and the tea goes in the fridge. I bought my first one in Oregon when Sarah lived there 9 years ago. Last summer I bought a newer version with a longer holder.

And lastly for this round, #13 – An Elastic in Use. Tracy uses bungie cords to attach our bikes onto the car carrier when we take off to ride bikes on the nearby canal or trail. To get anywhere from our house requires riding on the road. I’m not a fan, so we usually drive to our starting point.

I have just four items left on the main list and two of the alternates to find. I ought to be able to finish up by the end of the month, our next link-up. Thanks, as always, to Mary-Lou for hosting!

I’m ten days late in getting this post up. You can find the other link-ups here at Mary-Lou’s blog who generously provides the list as well as a link to others participating. I always enjoy these summertime hunts. Although I was slow to get going, I’ve ended up with photos for eight of the prompts.

Caleb with his decorated bike for the neighborhood Fourth of July parade: #3 Something with the colours of your country’s flag.

This bridge on one of our hiking trails is constructed of multiple triangles: #6 Something in the shape of a triangle.

This leaf is definitely bigger than my hand. We found it walking around a gorgeous neighborhood in Racine. #8 A leaf longer than your hand.

One day when we were out walking, Adam and the kids passed us on their bikes. #14 Something with wheels.

This peony is naturally round as are its buds. #17

Also found on one of our hikes at home near the Irondequoit Bay were folks out in their kayaks. #18 Something that can go in water.

This might be pushing the prompt a bit (#19 A rock with color in it.) These are rocks with color on them. Caleb, Hannah, and I painted rocks with alcohol inks while I was visiting.

And finally, for the first link-up, Alternate C: Something with four sides.

It’s not too late to join in the hunt if you’re interested. Photos must be taken between the 1st of June and the 30th of September, so there’s plenty of time to play along. Here’s the list if you’re interested. (I copied and pasted the list, and can’t get it to center with the numbers! One of Typepad’s idiosyncrasies.)

                        Summer Scavenger Hunt

1. A favourite piece of jewelry
2. Something with or in a knot
3. Something with the colours of your country’s flag
4. A toy you play with
5. Something you have more than one of-stamps
6. Something in the shape of a triangle
7. Something that displays a rule(s)
8. A leaf longer than your hand
9. Something that starts with the initial of your name (first or last)
10. Something smaller than a paper clip
11. Something you need to throw away
12. Something that holds your favourite beverage
13. A rubber band/elastic in use
14. Something with wheels
15. Something inherited
16. Something with rough texture
17. Something naturally round
18. Something that can go in the water
19. A stone/rock/pebble with some colour in it
20. Something with the number 7 in it

Alt A. An animal statue
Alt B. Something heavier than your shoe
Alt C. Something with four sides

It’s the last day of September and time for the final link-up to the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt. Many thanks to Mary-Lou for hosting this fun event again! When I posted in August, I had just three items on the list to find:  #15 A broken chair/bench/stool #16 An out of season treat being enjoyed and #20 A favorite seasonal scent. I did come up with all three, and I also have a few extras to share. You can find my previous posts here and here.

The broken stool should have been one of the easiest to photograph since it was leaning against the side of our house. I walk by it repeatedly, but it almost never catches my eye.

I had an idea for an out of season treat being enjoyed, but ended up taking a photo of the hot chili I ordered on our way up to Mt. Rainier this month. It was raining and cold. I think of chili as a winter meal, but it was much appreciated on this mid-September day.

As I stepped off the porch at the Presbyterian Home at Chautauqua Institute in August, I was taken by the beautiful scent of this lily. I have lilies in my yard, but nothing that smells as wonderful as this did. It’s beautiful as well.

As we were traveling, I came upon several more hand-written signs (#14) which I thought I’d share:

Both of these were outside shops in Bend, Oregon

These were at my nephew’s wedding. I got a photo of them before they were moved to the appropriate places. 

It depends on your point of view whether this is a funny bumper sticker or not, but I couldn’t resist taking a photograph of it. I know the owner of the card. It’s a magnetic bumper sticker so it can easily be removed if need be.

And last, a delightful series of menus outside a restaurant in Ashland, Oregon in rainbow colors (#13)

Needless to say, being away for three weeks means being busier than usual with meetings and appointments to say nothing of a bit of jet lag. I hadn’t even uploaded my photos from the trip until tonight. There were 773 of them after deleting some from my phone. There will be many more deleted once I get to editing them. I frequently take duplicates in case one isn’t quite right, so that alone will eliminate quite a few. However, you can expect a few photo-heavy posts coming soon. I designated several places as photo walks for my 2019 intention. I’ll never get to 52 (my goal was one a week) but I do have more than one a week from the trip.

It’s time to check in with the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt. I’ve managed to find some more items on the list. 

An Outdoor Clock – found in Ithaca, NY #1

The word “Summer” – found in Virgil, Ontario #5

I have two photographs for #8 Shells, all found on Nantucket Island.

These shells were called “toe nail” shells by my daughter-in-law’s mother. My granddaughters and I spent quite awhile collecting them. Although we’ve visited Nantucket several years, I had never seen these before. Once you started looking, they weren’t hard to find as they almost sparkled in the sand. I’ve put them in a pretty jar that sits on the window sill of my craft room alongside another jar filled with sea glass I found on a beach in California 23 years ago.

A straight tree trunk and a crooked (#12) trunk – Niagara-on-the-Lake

Two colors of the rainbow in any order – chairs at The Golf Club in Niagara-on-the-Lake #13

A handwritten sign #14 – my local farm market

A sail #17 – Nantucket Island

A funny or memorable bumper sticker #19 – Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Take your pick! Here are a few: “Question Authority,” “Real Women Don’t Have Hot Flashes, They Have Power Surges,” “Reef Relief-Protect Living Coral,” or “Honk if Pluto is a Planet.” 

Fresh Local Produce Alternate B – Ithaca, NY Farm Market

I have just three left to find, and a good idea for two of them. We have a bit of traveling to do before the last check-in so I’m hoping I’ll find them all. Thanks, Mary-Lou, for another fun hunt!

It’s late in the day, but I’m still on time for the first link-up for Mary-Lou’s Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt. We’ve been away nearly every day this week at a cottage on Honeoye Lake with Tracy’s family. Many of them spend the week there, but we always drive back and forth because we have too many commitments in the city. It does, however, take a big bite out of the day. We typically leave after lunch, and arrive home just about now (9:00 in the evening.) So here are my finds so far:

Single and Pretty #2

Two considerations for #3: Repetition

Blurred Vision: #4

Umbrellas (open or closed) overlooking Seneca Lake: #6

A Curving Path: #7

A bridge: #9

Two views of Something Made of Stone: #10

A Fish (sadly deceased): #11

Something that Should Be Found in Pairs: #18

Alternate A: A Birdhouse (If you look closely you’ll see three birds peeking out.)

So I have nine of the twenty on the list, as well as one alternate. Numbers 2, 3, 9, and 18 and the alternate were from our day in Holland, Michigan. I found #4, 7, 10, and 11 while we were in Racine visiting Sarah. Only one was relatively local, #6 was found in the Finger Lakes. Clearly, I’m most tuned into this hunt when I’m on the road!

Thanks, Mary-Lou, for devising the list and hosting it this summer! You can find a host of other entries on her blog, right here.

Today is the last day of September, and the end of the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt. At the end of August, I had just two items left to find: #9 Looks Smaller Than You, and #13 Equal Portions. 

I found the first one on a road trip to Ithaca a couple of weeks ago. On our way into Ithaca, we stopped at the overlook to Taughannock Falls and Tracy helped me get this photo:

Somehow I remembered the Equal Portions prompt amid all the excitement of Skylar’s birthday party, and Matt let me snap this photo before he served any of the delicious chocolate cake.

As I always do, I enjoyed the hunt and look forward to the next one! Thanks to Mary-Lou for creating a fun list and hosting the scavenger hunt. You can find the rest of my scavenger hunt photos here, here, and here. Typically I create an album for all the hunt photos in a SmugMug album, and eventually that will also happen. Travel does seem to interfere with my best posting plans! 

It’s the last day of August, and in some ways it still feels like the end of summer which it surely was all the years I taught! Officially, we still have a few weeks before the end of the Summer Scavenger Hunt, and I have two items left to find. Fortunately, Mary-Lou offered up a couple alternate items which may be easier to find than the last two I need. We’ll see. I have posted earlier finds here, here, and here.

For August, I have three new offerings and one more for Mellow Yellow:

On our weekend trip to the Adirondacks, I found two more items.: #12 Bells and #16 Something that Could Be From a Favorite Book or Movie. Both photos of bells came from the Old Forge Hardware, one of Tracy’s favorite haunts.

At the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, we found this web which immediately made me think of my very favorite book from childhood, Charlotte’s Web.

Last, #15, Out of the Blue–gorgeous hydrangeas.

One of our neighbors has this sign posted. It’s so sad that such a sign is necessary in this country, but it speaks to one of my biggest concerns–the lack of tolerance and lack of civility in our country. 

Thanks, as always to Mary-Lou for creating the hunt and hosting the link-ups!