Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #182: Interesting Objects

Patti’s Lens-Artists Challenge today is set for fun as it’s about interesting objects. The possibilities are endless. I’m going to start with one from nature, my preferred photo local. This appears to be a little garden spot right inside a tree.

If you ever get the chance to eat at a Din Tai Fung location, grab that chance! After fleeing China with virtually no money, Mr. Yang, the founder,

“Mr. Yang decided to open his own shop to sell cooking oil and named it Din Tai Fung. Mr. Yang and his wife dedicated half of their shop to making and selling Xiao Long Bao—steamed pork soup dumplings.” From the website

But the food became so popular that he left the oil business to concentrate on the restaurant. The Hong Kong location has a Michelin star but you won’t notice any lack if your location is star-less. The food is outstanding and this cutie will welcome you.

Spotted as we waited in line for food. 🙂

If you’ve made it this far, give yourself and hand or if you can’t, I’ll give you this one. Happy weekend!

Ghost in the garage

It’s a strange new blogging world. The monthly challenge Life in Colour has ended, no Squares until February, and I’m too lazy to put together a Monday walk, leaving me free and challenge-less. What to do?

Although it tried to hide by going sideways, I spotted this ghost in our garage the other day with the door open and the sun shining in. Seemed like the perfect thing to share on the first Monday morning of 2022. After all, how often do you see a ghost during the day?

My husband actually has today off (a miracle of major proportions) and our plan is to visit the Desert Botanical Garden to enjoy the Chihuly installation if I can get a reservation. That will generate a spate of photos! In the meantime, happy Monday!

Thursday doors…tiny doors 3

This is the last set of the tiny doors I found lining the edge of a yard in Redondo Beach, California. Someone took a lot of time to add details and make them interesting. This one even includes the home owner.

A little more rustic, but the surfboard with the dolphins is worth it.

You can barely see the door here but hey, a unicorn and the flowers should make up for that!

This final one looks like it should be on a South Sea island somewhere. It also looks as though it got short-changed in the details department, but it will get equal time nonetheless. I hope you’ve enjoyed the three weeks of tiny houses. Come back to see what’s on tap next week.

for Thursday Doors 6.24.21

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.

Garbage in. Garbage out? Can’t wait!!

for Six Word Saturday 1.2.21

V.I.P.

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!

To all males: suggest you avoid!

For Six Word Saturday