Bicycles in unexpected places

For some reason, in the last week I’ve come across some bicycles in unusual places which I took that as a sign that on a day when I’m finishing packing and last pre-trip things, I should share them. (Did you realize that almost half of the letters in the word “unusual” are u’s? Did you care? But you can’t unlearn it now.)

This extremely uncomfortable looking cycle hung from the roof of the auction house we visited last weekend. Besides all the auction items (online auctions), the ceiling and walls were home to an enormous variety of interesting items and signs. You definitely wouldn’t want to tumble from this bike. It’s a long way down…and not just because it’s hanging from the ceiling!

Bathroom fashion rarely includes bicycles that appear to be escaping from one of the stalls. But why not? If this were in your home bathroom, that basket might be the perfect storage place for extra rolls of toilet paper.

This looks more like Charlie Chapin than Butch Cassidy, (and not positive Butch is the inspiration for this, but either one on the outside wall of Schmooze in Scottsdale is unexpected. And fun.

Having mentioned Schmooze, I couldn’t leave without a photo of the blogging babes who met there recently. A good time was had by all, even those of us not wearing pink. That would be me. On the left. In the blue. Next to me is Donna from Wind Kisses, Marsha of Always Write, Jodie from Jodie’s Touch of Style (you can see I need to read her blog more), and Nancy of Two Trails One Road. Happy trails to all of you until we meet again…hopefully in a month or so. BTW, our photographer was Jodie’s husband, Rob. He wasn’t wearing pink either!

No doors today. Too much to do here. Happy Thursday!

Lens-Artists Challenge #205 – The Eyes Have it

Tina’s challenge to us this week is to feature eyes. Let’s have a little fun with that theme.

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.”
― Martin Buber

What do you think these eyes are saying? Are they wistful or just enjoying what they see? Apologies for any imperfections but I took this photo through the car window with my phone, stopped at a light I hasten to add.

Here I offer you two eyes and one I in some California street art. 🙂

“His eyes are so intense I want to look away . . . or never look away, I can’t decide.”
― Kasie West, The Distance Between Us

Hunter’s eyes.

“I watch what I eat every day. I mean, who actually eats with their eyes closed?”
― Brian Celio

But what if it’s looking back at you??? Pancake eyes.

Soft but stubborn mule eyes or at least one of them.

And finally we have ramen eyes, one of tastiest types of eyes. I told you we were going to have fun and now you have a delicious meal as well. Eye yie yie yie!

Thanks for a theme that let me have some fun, Tina. I hope everyone of you is having a wonderful weekend.

If you say, “Gnarly!”…

…this is what comes to my mind. 🙂

Wordless Wednesday…Sticking it to you

Gimme a head with hair

Looks like Windows is doing another update on my laptop making it impossible to read blogs or schedule a post. Thank goodness for my iPad!!

Isn’t this a great advertisement for a hair salon? It works well in California where things grow year-round. It wouldn’t look quite the same if the hair were cacti. 😂😂😂

Welcome to Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday…leaf dancing

Scotch, whisk(e)y, and everyday black and white

I’ve wondered about the difference between black and white and monochrome, terms that seem to be used interchangeably. However, as I researched, I found out that’s only partially true. The differences and similarities are the same as those between Scotch and whisky/whiskey. Grab your glass and read along.

Grammerly points out the differences in the spelling of this type of alcohol:

Whisky (no e) refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits. Whiskey (with an e) refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States.

Now if you picture the drink, no matter the spelling, as the large circle of a Venn diagram (Dan, I know you would draw this but I don’t know how to do it online). Scotch whisky (not wiskey) is made only in Scotland while adhering to certain laws. So Scotch is a small circle inside that large whisk(e)y one. Bourbon whiskey (not whisky) is made in the US and mostly from corn, so that’s a separate small circle in the large circle making up whisky/whiskey. So large whisk(e)y circle with small Scotch and bourbon circles inside it but not overlapping each other.

SO…all Scotch is whisky but not all whisk(e)y is Scotch and all bourbon is whisky but not all whisk(e)y is bourbon AND Scotch and bourbon aren’t the same.

Now I’ll cut to the chase, hoping you’re still enjoying this. All black and white (the Scotch or bourbon of photography) is monochrome, an image composed of one color (the whisky/whiskey of photography and the big Venn diagram circle.) But any image composed of one color that isn’t black and white (or the more accurate term “grayscale”) is monochrome. All black and white/greyscale (small circle) is monochrome (big circle) but all monochrome is not black and white.

So if anyone asks you the difference between black and white and monochrome, you can tell them black and white is Scotch, while monochrome is whisk(e)y. That should start a lively conversation. And that means my photos over the next few days are whisk(e)y, Scotch, and greyscale. Cheers or Slàinte mhath in Scottish. pronounced slan-ge-var. Go figure.

P.S. Today I’m taking my parents to get theirs (and my) second Covid vaccination shots (Moderna.) Tomorrow I’m taking my husband to get his first shot. These are blessings!! Hopefully we’ll have no side effects, but both mornings will be full so if I don’t get to your post right away, my apologies. You know I’ll always be back. 🙂

Fun with editing

These bushes growing in the water and providing great reflections attract me for some reason. Then I got to playing with editing and this is the result. Happy Tuesday.

That “I’ve been in lockdown too long” feeling

Every time I walk by this poor ball, I think maybe its situation is really a metaphor for the times. So I present it to you for some fun on Friday and I hope your weekend is a good one. Because all kidding aside, if you’re healthy and have a job, anything else is a first world problem!

(Even though the video looks sideways, at least when I see it, it will play correctly when you click on it.)

Feeling alienated?

Yesterday during my walk I found 8 lovely lemons (which I had to carry with me for over half an hour!) I also saw this. And I wasn’t even anywhere near Area 51! Bulk trash pickup is what they say, but I don’t believe it!