Halloween

 Day 304

 

 

Shadows of a thousand years 

rise up unseen.

Voices whisper in the trees,

"Tonight is Halloween!"

Unknown 

 

Happy Halloween!

 

 

May the witch that's in your town,

Look you up and chase you 'round.

With spooks and bats and owls unseen.

Here's luck to you on Halloween!

 

 

Happy Halloween and all a good Fright!

Until tomorrow!
Have a warm, fun, safe night!

 

Jewels

"Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, 

Keep Rosemary by your garden gate,

Plant lavender for luck,

Fall in love when ever you can!" Practical Magic   

Treats ~ Still Life photo

Day 303

 

It is almost Halloween and the treats most kids of all ages are thinking about is the Treats that they will receive when they go out 'Trick or Treating' and for  the adults nibbling in the Halloween candy bowl before Halloween!

 

These Three friends, Rat, Bird and Spider were so glad to leave the castle in search of tasty treats. They were hoping that the witch would of turned them in 'real' life creatures... but.. they accepted their freedom the way they are. For a few hours anyways. They scampered off quickly before the witch changed her mind!

 

Treats for you, if you dare!

 At the first place they found such tasty treats! Everything smelled heavenly to these 3 friends. Wrapped chocolates from as far as Australia and as near as the shop around the corner! They started to nibble and chew! Then they heard a noise.... they stopped and frozen, terrified! 

Mao checking out my photo shoot!

 

To their surprise it was the house cat! He came for a sniff, he was a curious cat! These 3 treat snacking friends quickly and quietly left this house and went down the street to find another. They did not want to be a treat for a cat!

 

 Happy Halloween Treats for you all! 

 

I will see you again tomorrow!

Jewels 

 

"Just curious if you can recommend a wine that pairs well with eating all the Halloween Candy I am suppose to hand out tomorrow night?"  

Shadows

Day 302

 

As a child growing up in an old copper smelting, mining town, Greenwood BC. There were a lot of old Victorian style house.We always wondered which ones were haunted! We were lucky to grow up in a lovely Victorian home, I am not sure if it was haunted, but you never know!

 I was lucky to have a dad that helped me turn the house into a bit of a haunted house. It was really the front entry! 

I had a 45 record of sound effects from the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland.. and a dad added moans groans to my recording. My brothers and I, we made a ghost so that when a trick or treater's came to the door they were met with sound effects and a ghost who flew down the staircase to greet them. I think there were a few kids that scrambled down the front stairs in fright..  or was that my own childhood memory!

shadow

Shadow ~ photo taken and edited with my Iphone

Haunted house in the shadows of the night with the mist rising up creating such a fright! Curious will you enter or are you afraid and will run for home... unless... you are stopped in the mist, by a... ghost.. then what will you do! 

 

Have a great evening! 

Thank you for taking a peek at my photo challenge!

Stay healthy and happy!

Jewels 

"If one door closes & another door opens... Your house is probably haunted!" Boo!

 

 

Flat Lay ~ Scarves

 Day 301

 

Scarf is a length or square fabric worn around the neck or head. Other words for scarf are: ascot, muffler, maniple, neckerchief, throw, sash, tippet, comforter, stole, wrapper and prayer-shawl. 

These scarves are made from some yard that I have in my yarn stash. I was trying a new stitch called the brioche knit! Since I love to bake, I thought this stitch would be fun! A baking/knitting joke!

Did you know there are at least 5 different knitting styles? (I googled!)

 English (throwing)

 Continental knitting (picking) is what I do.

 Lever knitting (flicking)

 Portuguese Knitting

 Shetland Knitting 

That is why I had difficulties in learning how to  Brioche knit... the instructions were in English throw and I pick knit (Continental)!
Well, after a few #@$&^% words and ripping out my work. I Did It!!

Scarves ~ Flat Lay ~

The finished scarves are soft and warm. I am not sure which scarf I will keep for myself, and which ones I will give as gifts..or maybe I will donate them all. 

Keep warm! Stay healthy! 

Until tomorrow! 

 

Jewels 

 "Oh the weather outside is frightful but, 

The yarn is so Delightful!

And since we've got no place to go...

Another Row

Another Row

Another Row!"

 

Action Shots

 Day 300

 

An Action Shot: is a still photograph that shows someone or something in motion.

Action Shot? We have action at our bird feeders!

 I thought of trying to get an action shot of birds in flight. Since we have a couple of bird feeders out, I thought I would give it a try and see what kind of Action Photos we get. 

Breakfast time

Chickadees favorite seeds are black oil sunflower seeds. 

They can fly at a speed around 12 to 13 miles per hour! (That is why I see blurry wings in my photos!)

We already know that the Chickadee is very curious and trusting. I am hoping that they will land on my hand like their pals at Cottonwood Island Park. 

Here is one more photo.. not an action shot.. and not a Chickadee! 

Woodpecker ~ taken through the window ~

 

I will see you tomorrow!

love to all!

Jewels 

 ~ We are at Day 300! That means 66 days until the end of 2020 and also my 2020 Vision photo challenge ~

Trick

Day 299

 

We are getting close to that favorite time of year (for a lot of my family members!) Halloween! 

Mother Nature is playing tricks on us... we have snow! It doesn't feel spooky or scary outside with all that white fluffy snow!

For my photo challenge I decided to edit a photo as my trick for you!

Vintage Filter

 

B & White

And the lightning struck the Castle! (edited in light room)

The Witch cast a magic spell (edited in lightroom)

 

 Three friends waiting in the dungeon of the Witches Castle for the Witch arrive and cast a magic spell so that these 3 friends will come to life. Then they can leave the castle and find some tasty treats to eat!

Thank you for taking a peek at today's photo challenge!

Until next time!

Jewels

 "The moon has broken with the sleep of the sun, the light has been broken, the spell has begun."

Squirrel

Day 298

I was outside taking some macro photos of the frost crystals on our deck railings........Squirrel!

He visits frequently.. usually hanging like a monkey in the bird feeders! 

He is very quick, running the fence, down the fence across the lawn, finding frozen wild mushrooms, apples and seeds from the bird feeder.  

 

Squirrel on frozen pond

 

 

I took the last 2 photographs of the squirrel in the bird feed the day before we had our snowfall. They are a bit hazy because I was shooting the pictures through the living room window! 

 

Until tomorrow!

Jewels

"I don't have a short attention span, I just... Oh Look! A squirrel!

Cat

Day 297

 

A week before Halloween, I am thinking I am suppose to take a photo of a black cat. 

Considering today's weather, it is a nice brisk -10c outside. We should all be doing what Mao is doing... finding a piece of warm sunshine and taking a nap! 

 

Mao does like warmth, sunshine, blankets on the bed, laying in front of the fireplace, and Roberts lap! 

 

We are suppose to warm up to a balmy -5c this afternoon! Time for a hot cuppa!

Until Tomorrow!

 Take care. 

Jewels

"A dog has an owner. A cat has staff!"

so true Mao so True!

Window

 Day 296

 

With the change of seasons and the weather, you can see the effects around the house, yard and gardens. Watching the water droplets on the window shimmer and shine in the morning sunshine, just after it had finished snowing. 

I then decided to head outside and take some macros shots of the window. 

Looking in

Spider plant in water droplets

 

Water Droplets

I like the effect of this last photo, it looks like there maybe a pumpkin or some sort of light at the window... but it is not! 

Thank you for taking a peek at today's photo challenge! 

I will see everyone again tomorrow!

Keep warm and stay healthy!

Jewels 

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." H.D. Thoreau

The Great Pumpkin Baking Day

 Day 295

 

When I was doing the research on Pumpkins during my Pumpkin Photo Challenge, I was inspired to do some pumpkin baking! 

I won't be using my pumpkins that I used in my photos (I still need them for a the Halloween photo challenge) I have some prepared pure pumpkin that I have in my pantry! 

The Great Pumpkin Baking Day

I started with a New recipe. I have seen Sugar Buns posted on Pinterest and Google. They remind me of Sticky Buns/Cinnamon Buns, except they are baked in muffin tins and coated with melted butter and sugar.

 

I love the colour of the dough

Ready for the Oven

Pumpkin Sugar Buns

While my Sugar Buns are doing the 2 hour rise..I threw together a batch of Pumpkin Muffins. The house is already smelling like Pumpkin Spice!!

 

Pumpkin Muffins

The final Great Pumpkin Baking Day creation is also a new recipe. I was excited when I stumbled upon this one! Pumpkin Pudding Cake... and for those who like/love my Chocolate Pudding Cake,  we have one in Pumpkin. Maybe this will be the new dessert served during the holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas..heck maybe anytime you are craving Pumpkin Pie! Tonight after dinner will be the taste test!

Tonight's Dessert ~ Pumpkin Pudding Cake

As the baker of this Great Pumpkin Baking Day, I got to sample my creations. I must say....YUMMY! 

Tonight's dessert was very good.... this dessert has been added to the holiday baking menu! 

Thank you for taking a peek at my photo challenge!

Jewels

PS, I didn't get voted out of the kitchen!

Recipe for Pumpkin Spice:

4 tsp. cinnamon 

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground allspice

Mix well and pour into a small spice jar

 

 

 

 

A Walk

 Day 294

 

My walk at Cottonwood Island Park this morning gave me a chance to see the last remnants of fall. There were a few people who were doing the same thing, walking with their dogs and kids in strollers, feeding the squirrels and chickadees, taking photos.

Nechako River

Snow on Seed Pod

A tuppence to feed the birds?

Two....

....And flew off

A bird in the hand

I had 6 birds flying back and forth onto by hand....

This little guy stayed on my hand while these people passed. He watched me as I was holding my camera and seemed to listen as I spoke to him. He let me take his picture before he picked up a sunflower seed and flew off.

Frozen

It was a lovely walk... 

 

Until tomorrow... Thank you for taking a peek at today's photo challenge!

 

Jewels 

 

" Sometimes all you need is this....and into the forest I go, to lose my mind and feed my soul."

Pumpkins

Day 293

 

It's the season for pumpkins, they come in all sorts different shapes, sizes and colours.  Pumpkins are used as fall decor and centre pieces and kids of all ages love to make Jack Lanterns for Halloween. 

You can can also bake them to eat, make pies, soups, use the puree as a beauty treatment. Feed the wild life, and the seeds for the birds. 

You can google & Pinterest recipes to make drinks for kids and adults and even pumpkin butters and don't forget to roast the seeds for a snack! 

 

Pumpkins ~ Used Lightroom to create a dark effect

Yep, you can eat the skin, leaves, flowers, pulp, seeds, and even the stem! 

 

 

Used a filter on my Powershot SX530 HS Canon Camera

 And for those have read fairy tales, the first time word 'pumpkin' was used was in the story of Cinderella!
It wasn't until the 17th century that they were first referred to as pumpkins. 

 

So.. go find some pumpkin and create something wonderful! 

 

Thank you and I shall see you again tomorrow!

 

Jewels  

"Advice from a pumpkin: Be well rounded, get plenty of sunshine, give thanks for life's bounty, have a thick skin, keep growing, be outstanding in your field, think big." J.Lantern

Octobers Winter Wonderland

Day 292

 

I should be outside taking photos of Fall Landscapes. With the leaves on the ground, the leaves littering the paths on the Nature trails. I should be focused on taking photos of pumpkins, leaves, Halloween themed abstract photos... instead everything looks like a Christmas Card!

I must say, that even with the snow arriving early, it is very beautiful... like a Winter Wonderland. 

I am putting my Fall/Autumn/Halloween photos on hold for a day or two...Here are a few photos of our back yard taken this morning!

Red & White

 

 

October 19 2020

The first snowfall is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found. JBPriestly

Thank you for taking a peek at today's photos. 

Until Tomorrow!

 

Jewels 

"Kindness is like snow-it beautifies everything it covers." Unknown. 

 

 

On Our Frozen Pond

Day 291

 

Our frozen pond looks more like a frozen leaf fossil this morning.

 The ice is clear and you can see the leaves frozen in time.  Life has stopped for a time, holding everything still,  until the spring weather warms up the pond. 

 

Icy designs

 

Icy Designs ~ different angle

On Frozen Pond

Frozen Reflection

Looking at these photographs of our frozen pond, sometimes, I do wish I was a poet...Maybe the photograph is the poem, the story? 

Until tomorrow!

Thank you!

Jewels 

"Photography takes an instant of time altering life by holding it still." D Lange

 

 

Frost on Flowers

 Day 290

 

Today's weather forecast was suppose to be a cloudy day with snow and -1c. Now is its 2c. and sunny, we may even reach 3c! You just never know what kind of weather will happen here... its all dependent on Mother Nature and her side kick, The Weather Man. Then there is Jack Frost... he is back too, not to mention Old Man Winter who is somewhere lurking about!

Frosted Coneflower 

 

 

 

I rather enjoy viewing my frost covered Coneflowers through the macro lens on my camera. Then the sun came out and the sparkly frost melted away.

We will see what the weather will be like tomorrow... Sun? Frost? Rain? Snow? 

I will see you tomorrow! Thank You! xx

Jewels

"Jack Frost was in the garden. I saw him there at dawn. Dancing round the bushes and prancing on the lawn. He wore a cloak of silver, a hat all shimmering white. A wand of glittering stardust and shoes of moonbeam light. In the flowers was Mother Nature, as Jack Frost approached she bowed... together they danced in the garden, putting a magical spell on us all." Author Unknown