A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

Photography

Photo Blogging Challenge (January 2021): Change and hope

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

And just like that, the first month of 2021 is in the books.

For me, it felt like several months packed into one, at least with everything going on – in my world, as well as the world beyond.

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Change and hope is something I am sure many of us look forward to, though I’ll admit, we may be looking at it in different ways. We’re still in a global pandemic, and there’s still a ton of tension politically around the world. Here’s hoping by the end of this year we are somewhat back to normal. People need that in their lives.

Alas, we’re here for a photo challenge.

I hope you all had a good first month of the year and here’s also hoping for the future months to be as good or better. Be safe and healthy and here are my five for the month.

1. Hope for peace

We’ve had quite the year behind us. I know this is a big hope, but I can wish, can’t I? Even if the peace is just a little more calmness in the States and around the world. It would be nice for people to get along more. I understand many people are on opposite sides of thoughts and opinions, but let’s remember we’re all human.

I chose this photo as when I see visions like this, I always wonder how we can’t get along and enjoy these beautiful parts of life.

2. Hope to explore

I didn’t explore enough in 2020. I want that to change this year.

Again, with the pandemic, many things shut down, and often extended work hours, I got out of the practice of doing things I could still do – such as hiking, visiting parks, and geocaching. This needs to change in 2021. I have to get out and see things. There is so much within a couple of hours of me that there isn’t an excuse to not go.

3. Hope to geocache more

Piggybacking off No. 2, I hope to just get out and cache more. I barely did anything in 2020 when it comes to geocaching. I just didn’t have the drive. So far in 2021, I’ve made the effort to get out a few times and I hope that will continue throughout the year. I’m not saying I will be getting 1,000 finds or anything, but it would be a nice change to actually go participate in this hobby some.

4. Hope to take more photos

This one is a little different and is a change. By change, I mean actually get out with the intention of taking photos. I took a bunch of photos in 2020, but not usually with the ideas of it being a photo day. I want to get out with my camera again – not just my phone. I want to use some of the lenses I have and find places to get good images. I’m not saying my phone won’t be a major part of photography for me, but I want to do more with it overall.

5. Hope this glove got home

The glove sure seemed lonely. Here’s hoping the owner found the glove, or at least this glove continues to keep the lock warm!

And there are my five for the month!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for December. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for February is I spy with my eye … Remember to come back on March 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: January 2021 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge (December 2020): The Magic of the Season

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

The magic of the season.

It seems like this year needed a little bit of the magic and I hope each of you experienced it this season and that you were all safe and healthy; and also that you got to spend time with friends and family — again, being safe!

Now, we turn the page to 2021, and I’m filled with hope.

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Still, the month of December was interesting. We got walloped by a snow storm on the 18th, and I thought that meant we’d have a white Christmas. Nope. On the 24th, we got ton of rain and warm weather. Some areas flooded near us (though I didn’t see anything that was devastating; though I also admit I didn’t see all reports) and we had some snow, but mostly green on Christmas.

Again, I hope you all had a wonderful month. Keep staying safe and healthy and let us look ahead to a hopeful better year. My five for the month are below.

1. Winter wonderland

Snow during the season is magical to me. Especially out for a night walk.

2. Excitement

This is the magic of the season to me … watching Cameron open his gifts.

3. Chasing Christmas lights

Each year, usually on Christmas Eve, I take my mother around to see some of the area’s best Christmas displays. This year, with Covid, the regular gathering on Christmas Eve didn’t happen. So we went out on Dec. 23 and it turned out to be the best night to do so. One place has a crazy cool set up and I got my mother with the giant teddy bear.

4. Lights

I still think Christmas lights are magical.

5. Caramels

The caramels are a yearly tradition and done within our family. So good! People wait for these wonderful treats and they are magic!

BONUS PHOTO

OK, I didn’t take this one obviously. My niece did — with my phone! Anyway, in the past, when we were all younger, we used to get gag gifts (me and my brothers). This year, I saw this on Amazon and couldn’t resist. If you know the movie Slapshot, you know these jerseys. The magic? Christmas was magical this year because it was relaxed and calm. No bickering or anything!

And there are my five for the month!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for December. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for January is Change and hope. Remember to come back on February 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: December 2020 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Food Photo Challenge (November 2020): Plate it

Part of food photography is plating.

It’s not something I can say I am good at doing. I do try, though.

First, let’s get the normal stuff out of the way.

Before we go on, though, if you are new to the Food Photo Challenge, check out this post, which explains everything. Also, the linkup for this month’s theme will stay live for about a week, so join in even if it’s later!

Food Photo Challenge logo

Simply put, though, each month there will be a theme (announced at the end of this post) and on the 28th of each month, come back and link up.

So we keep moving forward with these food photos and it will be fun to see what kind of things happen with this theme.

Let’s check out this month. And yes I know I’m late (again)!

Theme: Plate it!

I figured Thanksgiving would give a perfect chance at pulling this off. 

But, as many of us know, Thanksgiving was not the same as normal. Though a lot of people traveled, not all did. In fact, some did extremely small things. 

So, that means “the good china” doesn’t come out and things are dialed back a little. Alas, this was probably my best of the plating photos for this month. For those in the states, I hope you found a way to have a decent Thanksgiving, or at least found time to relax with all going on. 

If you took part in the challenge, please make sure to link up below. Also, make sure you visit everybody else’s posts (and do come back to see who may have linked up after you!)! 

Let’s, too, try and grow this challenge. Tell others and invite them. And, as always, one can check out the Facebook group for this challenge and others as well. You can access the group here. 

The linkup is below, but how about December?

The theme for December is: Festive. Come back on December 28 to link up!

Food Photo Challenge: November 2020

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge (October 2020): The great outdoors

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

If there’s one thing this whole pandemic has taught me, it’s that getting outside is a must. Staying socially distant or wearing a mask is fine, but if all you do is stay inside, you’ll go mad.

Therefore, it seemed like a perfect time to make sure this challenge for the month was outdoors. Maybe you were somewhere with great fall colors. Maybe you did other things outside. Maybe, just maybe, this challenge forced you to take a walk and explore a little

Remember, we can be safe and sill be outside trying to make sure our mental health is being stimulated and hopefully in a positive way.

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My area got a bit lucky this year, it seems. For as bad as 2020 has been, the fall season was quite majestic for the first time in a few years. The colors on the trees popped and stayed vibrant for a while. Our peak season was more than a week, which is something I always hope for. The colors though… reds and oranges and yellows … so nice. I made sure to hit several nature trails, just to be able to see the foliage in all its glory.

I also got back into Polaroids and instant cameras this month, but that’s not something you’ll see here. Maybe in the future though …

This month’s theme was pretty easy for me. The hardest part? Selecting just five pictures for this post. Not an easy task! I’ll have to make sure to start posting to my Instagram even more.

Stay safe and healthy! My five are below! (And despite having the photos done in time .. and writing this up ahead… I still apparently forgot to post …)

1. Exploring

The Fall around here has been pretty wonderful, and it’s allowed me to get out an explore. I’ve hit several nature trails around here, for photos as well as some geocaching. It’s been nice to see some color, as well as be in solitude a little.

2. Fresh air

OK, not much needs to be said here. The fall cover. Some water. So peaceful.

3. Apple picking

Was nice to go to a local orchard and pick some apples for an hour or so. Makes for good photo opportunities, too!

4. Anybody seen those shoes…?

So I’m out for a walk … and I see these. Just on the main drag. Mixed in with the leaves. Almost like.. .somebody just forgot them. They look pretty solid, too. Hope whoever misplaced them, found them.

5. Winter’s coming

With daylight savings and darker days … winter is usually coming. We got a really good frost this weekend and it’s trying to rear its head. Though… end of this week and next week is supposed to heat back up into the 60s!

And there are my five for the month!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for November. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for November is Thankful. Remember to come back on December 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: October 2020 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Food Photo Challenge (October 2020): Candy

Candy.

Goodness is that something that really takes us all by storm? Doesn’t matter what kind … odds are you like some sort of candy.

It’s not good for me — diabetes and all. BUT.. I can have some if I am smart about. Sometimes I am. Other times… not so much. This pandemic hasn’t been the best for it, either.

Food Photo Challenge logo

Before we go on, though, if you are new to the Food Photo Challenge, check out this post, which explains everything. Also, the linkup for this month’s theme will stay live for about a week, so join in even if it’s later!

Simply put, though, each month there will be a theme (announced at the end of this post) and on the 28th of each month, come back and link up.

So we keep moving forward with these food photos and it will be fun to see what kind of things happen with this theme.

Let’s check out this month. And yes I know I’m late!

Theme: Candy

It’s October. And that means Halloween. And that also means candy.

Lots of it.

I go in stages with candy. I like certain ones more than others, as I am sure most of us are. Straight chocolate — not so much. But add to it? Ot some othr sugar-loaded treat?

Yeah.

The key, I think for everybody, is portions. Sitting down and eating five candy bars is not smart!

My favorite is something with peanut butter in it. Or white chocolate. I do love that. How about you? Favorite? What do you avoid?

Here’s my submission for the month! Yum!

That’s my submission for the month and I am looking forward to seeing who else is taking part in this challenge and what they have to offer!

If you took part in the challenge, please make sure to link up below. Also, make sure you visit everybody else’s posts (and do come back to see who may have linked up after you!)! 

Let’s, too, try and grow this challenge. Tell others and invite them. And, as always, one can check out the Facebook group for this challenge and others as well. You can access the group here. 

The linkup is below, but how about November?

The theme for November is: Plate it. Come back on October 28 to link up!

Food Photo Challenge: October 2020

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!