Back Story
http://ceenphotography.com/2015/10/01/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-back-of-things/
Back Story: Cee’s Black and White Challenge
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Category Archives: photographs
Oscar and Carmen Play with Flowers (Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge)
Oscar and Carmen Play with Flowers
I think there were twelve of us in my full-sized van that day, off to see the wildflowers and rocks of Tapalpa. This series of pictures is all about Carmen and Oscar. Oscar is the little boy you saw diligently doing his English homework at my dining room table a few days ago. He is now nine. In these pictures he is two. Carmen is his sister and stylist.
Oscar was pretty happy with his handful of pristine white flowers
But Carmen had a better idea.
She looked beautiful in her cosmos garland, in spite of the sun in her eyes that gave her a wistful look.
But she had further plans.
And I’m not too sure how Oscar feels about his sister’s attempt to spruce up his look, but I thought he looked adorable!
For more gorgeous flowers, go HERE.
Selfie Challenge
Selfie Challenge
My prior selfies have been word-oriented, but in this challenge, the assignment was to do a photo selfie, so here are a handful!
For more selfies, look here: http://bulldogtravels.com/2015/09/07/calling-all-selfies-bulldogtravels-self-portrait-photo-challenge/
Terra-cotta
Terra-cotta
These photos were taken at what used to be my very favorite place. It was a large outdoor studio where they made pre-Columbian replicas–huge pieces fired in three colossal wood-fired kilns.
Some of the one-of-a-kind pieces were handmade by a doctor who preferred sculpture to the scalpel. He had become a doctor for his father, but his heart was in the clay studio. His pieces were amazing and much more expensive than the other pieces which were lovely but mass-produced. Luckily, I had the good sense to purchase several of his as well as dozens of their other pieces.
The last time I went back, the place was closed. A huge locked gate was as far as we could get. These pictures were of their refuse pile–pieces that had blown apart in the kiln that they had not yet reassembled and painted. I used to beg them to sell me pieces from this pile, which I loved. It felt like my own archeological expedition. Sometimes they did!
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/monochromatic/
From the Back: A Photo a Week Challenge
The Lonely Haciendas of Mexico : Which Way 2015, Week 35
The Lonely Haciendas of Mexico
Although not obvious to the unschooled eye, the haciendas of Mexico are everywhere in my part of Jalisco. Some are retained by the children of former owners who live in Guadalajara or farther away. The descendants of families who have tended these haciendas for hundreds of years still reside there with no money for maintenance and owners who forget their pay for months or even years at a time. This, although sad for them, is fortunate for those of us who wish to witness the ruins of times gone by, for a few hundred pesos is a godsend to them and wins us admittance to see these aging ghosts.
One of the haciendas depicted was purchased by a Canadian couple who donated it as a boy’s orphanage. Another is a former horse-raising hacienda with all its original furniture, drapes, tackle and games room, complete with a horse racing game. The hacienda in better repair was purchased by a Spanish company and is now a hotel.
All of these haciendas are within an hour’s drive from my home in San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico. Just one of the eight or so I’ve visited is still being used by the family to raise horses. Formerly it contained a sugar refinery and the tall tower still remains.
I’ve chosen to abide by the theme “Which Way” and to show windows, doors and pathways. Perhaps in the future I’ll show some of the interiors.
For more every which ways, go here: http://ceenphotography.com/2015/09/02/cees-which-way-challenge-2015-week-35/
Morrie’s New Adventure–Epilogue, Continued.
Looks innocent, doesn’t he?
Morrie’s New Adventure–Epilogue, Continued.
(To see earlier episodes of the adventures of Morrie, go HERE and HERE.) When last we saw our furry fiend, uh, friend, there were three mysteries left unresolved: why were the curtains tied up in a knot, why was the sewing machine now out in the hall, and what was in his mouth? I just need to add three more elements to the mystery. 
Why are the handmade dolls formerly hanging from the curtain rod now lying in a heap on an upper shelf?
Why is the CD player/radio Yolanda listens to while ironing
in the (former) guest bedroom now in the bathroom?
and just what is this in the waste paper basket?
My old style phone that I use when the electricity goes out? What is it doing there? All of these mysteries will be solved as you get a look at the scene that faced me when I opened Morrie’s door last night. (For those of you who haven’t seen earlier episodes, Morrie needed to be put in seclusion following surgery of a delicate nature that we won’t go into here. Suffice it to say that the doctor suggested I keep him quiet and away from the other dogs, so I cleared out the guest room [more or less] and had an extra gate put up on the side of this room to afford him a small exercise area and since he easily fits through the security bars, I left the door and screen cracked to let him in and out.)
Okay, back to our story. The time is early yesterday evening and yes, I was blogging. I heard a very loud BANG and surprise! It was coming from the direction of Morrie’s room.
This is the scene that greeted me when I opened the door.
The curtains were down.
As was the very heavy copper rod that held them up.
The dolls formerly hanging from the rod were in a heap on the floor
As was the telephone,
Which, thanks to Morrie, I have now retired.
(You’ve already seen the final resting place for the phone.)
Eyeing the cord to the sewing machine and Yolanda’s radio/CD player, I knew they could only be next, so the boom box was relegated to the bathroom and as you know, the sewing machine was relegated to the hall. And this is how the room’s contents shrunk by yet another third. 
Are you sorry for this, Morrie? Morrie?
Morrie seems to be heading for something, but I’m not sure what. Okay, Morrie, time out. Want to come to bed with your mom for awhile and KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE?
Okay, I know you didn’t mean to do it, so let’s have a little loving and then Mom needs to get back to work on her blog, okay? 
You just stay down there and no more licking, okay? You already licked all the lotion off my face and neck and hands..but I’m kind of squeamish, so no more licking? okay? We’ll play again after I get the blog posted! 
Uh, Morrie? I can’t see the computer with your head there, okay? Can you watch me from just a little further away? Okay, just one more rub and then . . . 
Go lie a little further away, okay? And stay there okay? Are you okay with that, Morrie? Feeling happy to be in bed with Mom? Isn’t that enough, Morrie? 
Okay, boy, you’re getting a little too close for comfort again, and ooops! There goes my computer, let me just grab it here, and. . .
Okay, fine. Lick my feet for awhile. Just don’t come up here
and drool on my computer again, okay?
And–here he is again! Do you have any hint about why it is taking me two days to post this post?
Okay, Morrie, let’s go find you a toy! How about my rubber duck with a cowboy hat, Morrie? What do you think about him? Your toys all seem to be gone!
Ah, you like him, huh, Morrie? That’s right. Lick the duck!!!!
But, don’t eat him, okay, Morrie?
Did you hear what I said, Morrie? Do what my mother used to tell us to do with gum, and just hold him in your mouth!!
Morrie! Look what you’ve done!
You’ve not only bitten off cowboy duck’s cowboy hat, you’ve chewed off his whole head! Where is it, Morrie? Oh my God! Did you eat it?
Okay, Morrie, you’re looking kind of crazy, now. Calm down and give it here! Morrie! 
Morrie! Don’t snap at your mother!!! Give it here!!!
Oh, poor rubber duckie. Nothing left but his kerchief and vest!
So you feed bad about what, Morrie? Because you killed the rubber duck
or because you didn’t get to finish him off?
Definitely, not innocent!!!
THE END????
I’m hoping these pictures are odd enough to qualify for Cee’s oddball challenge this week. See her own and other oddballs HERE.
Islas Ballestras of Peru: Cee’s Travel Theme Land Meets Water
Islas Ballestras: Peru’s Galapagos
Sometimes where land comes together with water, that land is an island; and in Peru’s Ballestras Islands, it furnishes a wonderful preserve where millions of penguins, boobies, gulls, seals and other animals are able to live in a protected environment.
To see Cee’s incredible panoramic coastline view and other photographers’ work, go HERE.
Sand Storm: Jennifer’s One Word Photo Challenge
You’ll just have to imagine the wind blowing–and you would have one colossal sand storm! These dunes are in Peru, Taken from the oasis shown in the aerial view.
http://jennifernicholewells.com/2015/07/07/one-word-photo-challenge-sandstorm/
Cee’s Black & White Challenge: Houses
These are all pictures I took on an Amazon River trip in Peru a few years ago.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 