Scavenger Hunt Sunday



Dashing through the snow . . . trying to get to the scavenger hunt.

That has been a challenge this week, as I'm sure it has for everyone else.
Tis the season to be very, very busy!!

So here we go....

1. Less is more: I don't know what to say, but that they didn't get the memo? You had to see this one in person, looked just like a gingerbread house!

2. Holiday lights:  I thought I saw Buddy, skipping through the Candy Cane forest! ; )

3. Ornaments:  Yeah, this was a little tricky since I don't have my tree up yet . . . sigh . . . long story,  and since I waited til the last minute (shock) I had to rummage through some Christmas boxes in between games of the basketball tournament. I'm really hoping Buddy the elf will come work his magic on my tree! Maybe if I put a sign in the window that says, "Worlds best coffee" . . . and then bribed him with his four food groups, candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup!!

4. Cup of Cheer:  I love the movie "Elf" (just in case you hadn't figured that out) and this prompt reminds me of when Buddy reacted to a sign in the window of a diner on the way to find his dad, "You did it! Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Great job everybody, it's great to be here." Not only did this coffee taste great, but I could swear I saw visions of sugar plums dancing from my cup that morning . . .

. . . or at least two seals! The steam that came out of my cup that morning was truly magical!

 

5. Nativity:  There were several nativity scenes that I've seen around town, and then my daughter told me about one at a church nearby, a "live" nativity. Well of course I had to go check it out. Not only was it a Nativity, but this church had set up a town, a bustling little town complete with roman guards and some on horseback, shepherds keeping warm by a fire tending to their sheep, a market with people milling around and even the tax office. You could see Mary riding on the donkey being led by Joseph, and then the three wise men and finally Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus all while listening to the story they gave us on CD. It was truly an amazing experience . . .unfortunately it was very dark and it was a drive through so there are no pictures of that. Instead, I have one of the kids nativity sets they had when they were younger. One that survived many other nativity reenactments!

Have a wonderful week ahead and remember,

"the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

Love, Kim

XO

   

Foto Friday - The Holiday Season, Victorian style

Here ye, here ye, grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and stroll along with me . . .
as we wander through the Holiday season with a little Victorian style.

One of the things I love about the island of Galveston is that it's so full of Victorian architecture,

  and this weekend there was a hustle and bustle of people during it's 38th annual festival called

'Dickens on the Strand'. It's a festival celebrating the times of Charles Dickens,

where the Victorian era of the 19th century comes to life. And come to life it did! 

For an entire weekend there were gorgeous Ladies, and handsome Lords meandering through

 streets while store vendors in period clothing were rolling their carts and peddling their wares.

There were magicians, acrobats and jugglers, and carolers on street corners.

And the merriment of the Christmas holiday was everywhere as bagpipers and street musicians

strolled through the crowds playing music from the Victorian era. There were also costume and whisker contests, parades, and Victorian bed races. But of course no festival would be complete without funnel cake and turkey legs, and that would be Texas style!!

I took far too many pictures so I made a few collages to give you a better flavor of the day. 
I'm already looking forward to this next year, only next time I just may be dressed up too!

There were chimney sweepers . . .   and all I had to do was put my camera to my eye and if someone spied me, they were poking each other to strike a pose - Loved these guys!

There were high necklines, and low necklines!

Your eyes do not deceive you, yes that is snow, real snow only made by a machine  . . . and snowball fights ensued until it disappeared! That girl in the green dress was soaking wet, and having a ball!

And hats of all shapes and sizes.

{Sharing this with Photo Art Friday}

Yep more fun with smudge and hexagon pixels to give it the feel of an impressionistic painting.

{Sharing with Shoot, Edit, Submit}

And this woman really stood out in the crowd, just so beautiful and she kindly stopped to let several of us photograph her. Of course I love her dress - it's PINK!

There was a little bit of everything, a foxtail and some steampunk, well quite a bit of steampunk . . .

Oh yes . . . and who doesn't love a Jack Sparrow, just not sure what he has to do with Dickens?

More snow, I mean soap bubbles. When you live in Texas they get really creative to set the mood.

I mean what's a Christmas parade without snow bubbles right? Haha, yes it's okay to laugh!!

Pickwick's lanternlight parade . . . and incredible bagpipers!

And when we were walking back to the car, here was this absolute darling playing Christmas tunes

and his little brother happily managing his lute! ; )

And the very last stop before we walked out of the gate, was this precious. A young camel . . .

and are they ever soft and sweet. My daughter and I rubbed his head and he literally melted!

. . . and so did I!

Not sure about you but I need another cup of coffee, hope you enjoyed our stroll!

Have a fabulous weekend friends!!

Love, Kim

XO

   
   
Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

"Remember Pearl Harbor"

On this date in 1941 Japanese warplanes attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

and it's this attack that brought the U.S. into WWII.

In his now famous speech Franklin D Roosevelt delivered to the U.S. Congress the following day

he said, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by navel and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

Yes, that day lives in infamy in more ways than one. 

This fall my family and I attended Wings Over Houston, and during this airshow, the attack on

Pearl Harbor is re-created by the Commemorative Air Force in a show they call "Tora, Tora, Tora".  

It's a real live history lesson, unlike anything you will ever find in a

museum and for me always an emotional one even though I've seen it many times!

The announcer starts recreating the day and patriotic music starts to play and then . . .
as the planes start to fly in you can hear the hum, which quickly turns into a roar

and

as you stand there, 
watching and listening to the initial bombing there is this fleeting moment of

helplessness and a sense of complete panic.

You have a primitive response of fight or flight until you realize it really is just a reenactment.
But it is unsettling still, as you're whisked back in time, getting a glimpse of that day,
bearing witness to a sudden and massive assault. 

The chaos. There is utter chaos.

You are overpowered by the explosions that rock the ground you stand on and you can feel the

heat from the fire on your face. The sound of machine guns comes from every direction.

And. It. Never. Stops!

The smell of smoke not only fills the air but makes it almost impossible for them to see where they are going.

And it's in watching something like this that you realize just how grateful you are for our men and women in uniform, their commitment and courage of selfless acts

And

for your freedom!

Thank you for joining me to "Remember Pearl Harbor"

Love, Kim

XO

Sharing today at The Creative Exchange

 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Oh snap, I did the same thing this week,

lather, rinse, repeat.

I shot first, and then I had to seek.

We went to a festival yesterday where I shot over 700 photos!

And since it's already the wee hours of the morning,

I only had time to go through a handful!

But I will be sharing more next week.

And let's just say I had a close encounter with something of a large kind

but that's okay, I really didn't mind!

  I will however be needing new reading glasses . . . .

Onward, to review my find(s)!

1. Portrait: By the time we got to 'the festival' it was completely overcast and very gray. So I was having to

    work really hard to get any good lighting. This bagpipe group is soon going to be on their way to Ireland

    to compete in the world competition!

2. Nostalgic: I don't know any parent who isn't a bit nostalgic over the baby stage! And check out that pram!

    Did you know that word is short for perambulator, thank goodness! ha

3. Time: This guy was wearing all kings of mechanical things so I went over and asked if he had any
    "time pieces", aka a watch. He did and he was happy to strike a pose!

4. Full of light: Oh, I  do have so many 'full of light' beach photos and sunrises etc., but I have a theme going

     here from 'the festival', and these glasses intruments that he played beautiful Christmas tunes on, were

    bathed in an orange glow from the (orange) streetlights.

4. Motion: Dancers, dancing to the pipers. Some were in motion and some were not. And sometimes you
    can use low light to your benefit since low light equals slower speed or blurred motion.      

And since I couldn't decide, I'm including another one of a horned owl coming in to perch.

What a magnificent bird!





Now, to tackle my pre-lit treet, the one that is no longer lighting!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Love, Kim

XO

More scavenger hunt items here, with Ashley!