So there’s this WordPress photo challenge that I started …
… then last week was kind of chaotic and I just didn’t get around to posting.
But inspiration hit this morning with today’s theme, challenging us to find a Pop of Colour.
We woke up this morning to the first snow on the ground and I wandered out to my backyard and took this photo:
Winter picnic anyone?
I liked it. And it kind of sums up my feelings about winter here and summer gone.
The abandoned toys of summer fun.
But all pretty in pink. So somehow less depressing, right?
Then I also snapped this one which I liked – and which I think works for the Mystery photo theme I missed last Thursday:
No, I don’t want to build a snowman. I want to ride a bike. Dammit.
As for my photographer husband’s comments on these? Did I at least put them in the shed after I was done being creative?
First snow always hits me with mixed feelings. Pretty? Yes. But in September and October I find myself clinging to those last beautiful days of warmth – spending time outdoors and enjoying the Natural World with my family before it changes dramatically for the next seven or so months.
I took this on a particularly warm weekend in late September when I took my girls out for an afternoon at Hog’s Back – a gorgeous park, waterfall, and wooded area in the middle of Ottawa.
And I find there is always something so … final about checking off the milestones towards its end.
I took this last photo last Tuesday, and while I don’t know that it works for any theme, it certainly works for my whole feeling in late October/early November, that I’m holding on to those last few days before Winter truly shows her face.
I had the girls in the car and was about to leave for daycare when I saw them looking at me from the recycle bin. Made me feel a bit sad seeing them in there… and they also sort of seemed to be taunting me…
I went shopping with my girls yesterday to buy them their new snowsuits for the season.
They were thrilled when they woke up this morning and realized they could wear them.
As for me?
I will TRY to enjoy winter.
Promise.
Baby Gates Down 
You got the hang of watermarks, at least. I really like that last pic – something mocking about it indeed, after people have been frantically doing HALLOWEEN EVERYTHING for the past number of weeks and now all that’s left is a few rotting pumpkins…
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Glad to know the watermarks worked this time – I wondered if they were too small 🙂 I guess that’s what I’ll go for for the next while until it feels natural (ie: too small feeling).
Yeah – I was looking for a reason to post the pumpkin picture – it sorta called out to me last week…. like you say, all that effort and a week later there’s the remains. Sigh. Then a week later? Snow. Bigger sigh.
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If you went bigger, maybe fade them a bit more and see how that works – another way of keeping them there but making them less punchy.
Snow. MASSIVE sigh. I hope it all stays stateside. I really, really, really, REALLY don’t like snow.
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I haven’t figured out the fine art of fading yet – not sure about being able to do it with PicMonkey and may play around with another free editing software for the next bit to see how that one works instead. All part of the fun.
And well – snow – so more time for indoor activities like that 🙂
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In PicMonkey, in the text tools box which pops up, there’s a slider bar for fading the text…under the colours, I think 🙂
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I did it tonight! And feel rather silly that I somehow missed it all this time…. Ah well – learning, so yay!
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Bless your boots. That’s the kind of thing I’d do 🙂 YAY LEARNING
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I’m not ready for winter either. We had our first snow day today! The pictures of the table and the bike say it all–it’s too early for snow!
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Yup – so not ready. Had to call for my snow tire appointment this morning – makes it really feel like winter’s here.
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You know, I haven’t even bothered watermarking my pictures. Never occurred to me. Hmm. Is that an app?
I like all of these but especially that juxtaposition of the first one, summer pink and winter white.
Hope this week is less hectic for you! 🙂
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I just use PicMonkey at the moment to do watermarking, but I’m still working out the kinks so not sure if there’s a better way to do it.
I like the first one too – what I would have loved to do was figure out a way just to make the table and chairs in colour and everything else black and white – but haven’t found a free editing software to do that yet…
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Mix App for Android does that, and I think PicsArt does too. Not much help with an iphone but I may give it a try if you are OK with that 🙂
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I’ll check out PicsArt when I get a chance – but sure, give it a try – happy to collaborate on this fine work of art :).
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