TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: Apple/Eye

Well I think I 'm on a roll here. This is my THIRD week in a row to join the Two Things Challenge crew. This week's theme is APPLE/EYE. I had bag full of apples to try and shoot, but I stopped by the Pepper Place Market yesterday for just a few minutes. Look at this little cutie EYEING the APPLES! Oh yes!!!

To see how the rest of the gang interpreted our theme this week click here.

BLOG WORD A DAY

From Biz Stone's book Who Let the Blogs Out

Linky Love - Noun. To link to another blogger or link to another blogger because they have linked to you.

Yeah, Biz is going to be linking to my blog any day now! :)

Two Things Challenge -Early/Late

Early

Here today ...........gone two hours later. Fresh peaches grown right here in Alabama don't last long at the Pepper Place Market on a Saturday. This truck was full and they went like hot cakes...... I mean like peach cobbler!

I FINALLY join my beloved TWO THINGS CHALLENGE TEAM again. YEAH!!! To see how the rest of the gang interpreted the challenge click here.

LATE

TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: Local/International

Independent Presbyterian Church

Birmingham, Alabama

Sainte-Chapelle

 Paris France

I am happy to join  Team Two Things this week.  My photos are similar, yet half a world apart.

TOP PHOTO:  LOCAL, is a stained glass window in the sanctuary of my church,  Independent Presbyterian Church here in Birmingham.  A sight I never tire of seeing.

BOTTOM PHOTO: INTERNATIONAL, features the breathtaking windows at Sainte- Chapelle in Paris France.  One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.

The Tune du Jour is " Panis Angelicus" sung by Andrea Bocelli

Discover Andrea Bocelli!

TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: Texture/Pattern

This week's Two Things Challenge is Texture/ Shapes.  My top photo is obviously TEXTURE, a shag bark tree common in Birmingham. Isn't it just great?  You want to run your hands all over it don't you!  SHAPES, well again I am really stretching for this one.   The shapes of these crape myrtles at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens formed such a graceful ailee ( yes I know it needs an accent mark but i couldn't find it when I changed to French!) in the late afternoon sun.  For more interpretations of the Challenge this week click here.

100 Stranger Challenge

Several days ago I featured a street portrait that is part of my 100 Strangers Challenge.   Some of you expressed an interest in finding out the specifics.  I am including Flickr's official site so that you can read all about it.  As I stated, I decided I had enough on my plate so opted to just do a personal challenge and not actually join the Flickr group.  D.C. Confidential has jumped in and is getting her toes wet with some fine examples.  We simply share our latest efforts from time to time.  I have been keeping track of mine in a Web Album,  and have now added them to my Photography Web Site as well.  Let me know if I can help in any way.  The more the merrier!

The Tune du Jour is...."Autumn" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons

PARIS COUNTDOWN....14 DAYS! ( That's just TWO weeks!)

Discover The Vivaldi Orchestra!

TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: East/West

Up until a few days ago I thought I was going to have to let this TWO THINGS CHALLENGE pass me by.  Thanks to D.C. Confidential, who kindly gave me a few hints, I am able to be a team player this week. Merci my friend.

Here goes:  This gorgeous red  Chinese basket and vase are obviously my EAST, and these well worn and nicely polished cowboy boots are my WEST.  There you have it!

( Christopher House Antiques and Goodyear Shoe Hospital)

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!  The American Institute of Architects  has a new series titled THE SHAPE OF AMERICA.  In the category highlighting the St. Louis Arch, I am sure you can guess that our very own Strangetastes  from St.Louis Daily Photo captured 14 out of the 19 photographs that they selected.  Recognition well deserved!  We however,  can see a fabulous Arch photo each and every Thursday. 

The Tune du Jour is "L'hymne a l'amour" by Romane.  Stick around and give this one a listen. You'll like it!

Discover Romane!

Two THINGS CHALLENGE: Solid/Pattern

You frequent visitors will probably remember that we had a plethora of celebrations around here last week. My Laura Kate and Davis both turned four (born a day apart - YES!  to different moms). This week's Two Things Challenge is Solid/Pattern. While the rowdy little guys were jumping their brains out on the "Pirate Jumpy Jump", all the girls decided to turn the brick sidewalk into a work of art. Each SOLID colored brick became a gorgeous PATTERN!  Bottom photo shows Davis eagerly anticipating getting to make a wish and blow out the candles,  so he can dive into that pirate cake.

Click here to see the creative folks participating in TWO THINGS CHALLENGE!  What a fabulous group of outside the box thinkers they are. Bravo!

The Tune du Jour is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Isreal Kamakawiwo.  I love this medley!!

SKYWATCH FRIDAY/ TWO THINGS CHALLENGE Blue & Green

This fountain is in the centerpiece  of historic Linn Park and the downtown area.  One of the first parks built in Birmingham,  it is the site of City Stages and the Magic City Art Connection to name just a few.  It is surrounded by City Hall, the Jefferson County Courthouse, Birmingham Museum of Art and Boutwell Auditorium.  I have been saving this one and today seemed the perfect time to post it,  because it showcases a lovely blue sky for my Skywatch Friday entry and the colors of Blue and Green meeting the challenge this week as well.  I covered all my bases with one photo!  

For more participants of Skywatch Friday click here.  Two Things Challenge participants are here.

TOMORROW...... Have I really been at this for 100 DAYS  ?????

The Tune du Jour is back.  "Aquarius" by the Fifth Dimension should be a nice backdrop to this lovely fountain.

2 THINGS CHALLENGE - The Calm Before the Storm

While enjoying my "girls' weekend" (I use the term girls loosely)  at Lake Martin this past wekend,  another gal dropped in .... Hurricane Fay!   Yep, she blew up from the coast on Friday night and hung around till Sunday.  To say she tried to put a damper on things is an understatement.  Well,  if you can't sit on the dock and enjoy the sun and the view ,  jump in the car and shop!  We made the best of a rainy weekend by doing just that .  My entry for the  2THINGS CHALLENGE  of  Hard/Soft is a teensy bit of a stretch but here goes.  The SOFT light of this fabulous sunset last Friday was a prelude to the  HARD rain that came through within hours.  Click above to see this week's challenge participants and their clever interpretations of Hard/Soft.

Lake Martin, located about an hour and a half  SE of Birmingham,  is one of the largest artificial lakes in the U.S.   A beautiful place,  rain or shine.

Tune du Jour: "Remember When It Rained" by Josh Groban,  one of my very favorites artists.

TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: People/Watch

This is my first time to wade in on the TWO THINGS CHALLENGE.  The theme this week is People/Watch.  I decided to include one photo for both. This precious pooch looks like he's people watching.  I'm thinking he's probably guarding his TAIL!   The Pepper Place Market is a meet and greet (or sniff and snarl) for a wide variety of dogs who are nice enough to bring their masters each Saturday!  So what do you think this pup is looking at? 

Click Two Things Challenge for the other participants today.

My new photography web page is up and maybe running. Hope you will visit.