Retrospect USA

2:39:37 PM EDT
Feeling Happy

 The first Round Robin Photo Challenge I came across was "SIGNS" (2006) ... and I thought "OH!  My Haleiwa sign would be a great contribution!", but the challenge was already closed!!!  I was hoping there would be an opportunity for me to show off my "sign", and sure enough, HERE IT IS.  It's hard getting an unobstructed photograph of this sign, as usually there are electric wires in the way, or the sign has been "stolen" ... don't laugh, it gets stolen regularly!!!

Of course, while I was hunting all over for my intended photograph, I came a cross a picture of old doors that seemed to beg to be shown off in "MYSTERIOUS DOORWAYS" (2005) ... then I thought .. OH NO ... which former challenge do I highlight?  ( Be Quick, Valorie, upload both before anyone notices!)

Well, then it hit me ... it's the SECOND anniversary .. why not use TWO previous challenges to commemorate two fantastic years!  Dilemma solved!  (Sorry Challenge Team .. can I do this?)  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY  RRPC ... thanks for allowing me to be a part of this Photo Challenge! 

 Linking List   (<== Click for current "POSTED" list) My list is only accurate as to who posted by the time I cut/pasted the list)

**Karen - POSTED!
Outpost Mavarin
http://outmavarin.blogspot.com
**Carly - POSTED!
Ellipsis... Suddenly Carly
http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com
**Kat
In My Dreams I Can Fly
http://inmydreamssfk.blogspot.com
**Steven
(sometimes photoblog)
http://sepintx.blogspot.com
**Suzanne R
New Suzanne R's Life
http://newsuzannerslife.blogspot.com
**Annie
Pictures of Craziness (New Photo Blog)
http://krspkrmmom.blogspot.com
**Nancy
Nancy Luvs Pics
http://journals.aol.com/nhd106/Nancyluvspix
**Valorie
Retrospect USA
http://journals.aol.com/redbird914/RetrospectUSA
**Janet
Fond of Photography
http://fondofphotography.blogspot.com
**Gattina
Keyhole Pictures
http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com
**Marie
Photographs & Memories Too &
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariebm56/PhotographsMemoriesToo
Photographs & Memories Blog Too
http://photographsmemoriestoo.blogspot.com
**Gina
Gina's Space
http://journals.aol.com/rbrown6172/Ginasspace
**rRose
WAIT-NOT YET
http://journals.aol.com/rrveh1/WAIT-NOTYET-/
**Tammy
The Daily Warrior
http://mylifeasawarrior.blogspot.com
**Kerrin - POSTED!
Macro Capture
http://macrocapture.blogspot.com
**Tammie Jean ***Welcome New Member***POSTED!
Long Drives To Nowhere
http://tammiejean.blogspot.com
**Julie
Julie's Web Journal
http://www.barrettmanor.com/julie/journal.aspx

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2:20:43 PM EDT Nostagia.  SO different from person to person.  Not the meaning of the word, but what comes to mind when we say the word.  Each having a personal flashback ... each so different from the person to their right and to their left.  I pondered on this challenge, wondering if there were really any photographs I had taken that really truly represented nostalgia.  I looked through photo after photo, not really finding a photo that sparkled like the north star.  The process was so time comsuming ... I had to look and reminisce at each photograph; each one bringing on a smile or a tear.  Time was ticking away, soon the challenge would come to a close, and I still had not chosen anything to represent Dorn's choice of "Nostalgia" for Round Robin Challenge.  Dorn comes to me in the form of "little sister," and while we've had our fair share of tiffs while growing up, we have established an  uncanny bond in sisterhood.  Thanks, Dorn, ( Through the Eyes of the Beholder) for such a trip down memory lane with this challenge!

My three selected entries for this challenge are in the form of scrapbook pages.  Above, you will find we took "pioneering" to heart.  Hubby went out to the back and CUT down a pine tree for our first christmas.  It took a bit of trimming and splicing, but the end result was a christmas tree like no other!!!  Every year, during the preparations for Christmas, our FIRST tree is always on list of holiday memoirs... it's bigger than santa in our home!

   This entry is dedicated to my father in law who passed away in 1992.  This picture always reminds me that it's not impossible to find lost family members.  My brother in law (far left) was taken from dad as a toddler and never heard of again until dad's funeral.  But what a sweet union it was for "big brother" with my sister in law and my husband. 

My last entry is dedicated to my sister and her family, who have helped make many memories and show us to cease the moment.  They are the ones who get the credit for showing us to make the most right where you are ... no need for high expense vacations ... pack a lunch and go where your engine leads you.  Thanks!  I think I took "Nostalgia" along this avenue of thought because I am missing my family. 
   Be sure to check out all the other wonderful entries at the Round Robin Challenge                                                    

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12:34:06 AM EDT
Feeling Chillin' Noun:  Americana.     <u`meri'kanuh> Any artifact (such as books or furniture or art) that is distinctive of America.

I am currently rejoicing in the return of my youngest son from Iraq.  He is home on R&R, and I know the difficulty it will be to let go of him as he boards another aircraft that returns him to rejoin the troops he left behind.  So, for the moment, ANYTHING red, white and blue and a splash of yellow represent "Americana" to me.   Our men and women have been doing it for centuries, building a strong American culture for the rest of us.  Our American flag, how significant, and bold!   Thank you Cosette of Pandora's Bazaar  for bringing us this weeks challenge:  Americana.  

  My husband served in Iraq over a year ago.  He had tickets to the ProBowl, but deployed before the big game.  In this picture above, my two sons and my brother made a "banner" in hopes of being seen by my husband during the halftime (our service members got to see the game, but unfortunately, my husband did not)  The son in the middle of banner is my son currently serving in Iraq.   My brother lost the blue marker, so if you look closer, you will see the stars are actually the blue colored plastic from an AAFES bag!

The base, Schofield Barracks, found all sorts of way for families and friends to show support.  I signed a ribbon and tacked it on a display board at Clothing Sales.  I was tickled when my husband returned and the board was displayed in the front of the store.  OF COURSE I hauled him over and made sure he saw the ribbon I signed for him! 

This was taken at the Arizona Memorial, where many of our servicemembers lost their lives to defend our country.  Words are wasted here at Pearl Harbor, Silence is welcomed. 

   

  

These last two captures are fun ways of displaying our red, white and blue (with a splash of yellow!)  Please view the main Round Robin Challenge page to view the rest of the Robins as they display their interpretations of  "Americana"

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9:03:22 PM EDT

Flower Power.  NOW WE'RE TALKING! I don't exactly possess green thumbs, but I love growing flowers as well as putting fresh cut flower arrangements around the house.  I especially love photographing flowers.   Flowers are like little kittens, you just can't get enough of them!  I tried really hard to limit my collective selection to FOUR pictures, but ... well, narrowed it down to 16 pictures in FOUR collages.  BE VERY PROUD OF ME!  (Please click on each collection to read the names of each bloom)

This first collection are from deep in my archives ... lily from Arkansas; very unusual pod-like blooms from Diamond Head Crater; plumerias, a common flower used for making leis; and prickly pear cactus flowers from New Mexico.   

This second collection is an african violet I managed to keep alive over three years; then a tiger lily with (freshly pulled out of the ground .. roots and all) wild daisies; a camera-shy peony from my side garden; and a close-up of the same tiger lily.

I called these exotics, but I should have called them tropics. The first plant is very interesting.  I almost missed it because it was green.  It's a jade plant.  Very nice.  The rest are orchids found in Hawaii.  The first one, I couldn't find a name, I call them the smiley face orchids.  Pictured on top are vandas, very popular on the islands, and the last orchid I can't even pronounce.

This last collection are just some very favorites.  Both roses were photographed in Canada earlier this month.  The pink hibiscus we found at the Big Island airport, and the yellow hibiscus was a find in Waikiki.

Special mahalo goes to Renee of TCS2 for this awesome challenge!  Please visit the rest of the ROBIN entries found on the comment list at  Round Robin Challenge

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11:17:34 AM EDT
Feeling Happy           I am infinitely happy today; I just received a telephone call from my youngest son saying he will be leaving for Kuwait on July 4th, and returning to the great USA for two weeks on R&R !!!  My mood made me think of this photograph.  It was taken somewhere along the Natchez Trace Parkway mid-summer 2005.  I had taken it in hopes of entering it in a kodak national photo contest, but I was never satisfied with the way it printed.  Although it made it's way to my "reject" folder, I still love it. 

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8:50:30 AM EDT
Feeling Quiet I'm not exactly sure what this niece of mine is thinking, though more than likely she is thinking how much she adores the Aunty taking the picture.  This is my favorite summertime picture or Turtle, and someway or another, I was going to make it fit into any RRC I could! 
            
Check out the other entries for EMOTIONS   @  
The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Emotions

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9:26:15 AM EDT
Feeling Quiet "Grab your camera and SNAP Baby SNAP" is exactly what I did.  Not knowing if it would flutter away quickly or not, I snapped like nobody's business!  This Robin Moth displayed itself nearby my barn for the remainder of the day, but alas, the following day was gone.  It may look puny here, but it's wing span is between six and seven inches, making it North America's largest moth. 

My husband found this beauty, but was kind enough to let me hog the camera and take credit for displaying this chance sighting.

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12:04:24 PM EDT Reflections ... Round Robin Challenge

Round Robin Challenge.  YAY!!!  This one really grabbed me ... I knew immediately that I was in!!!  Reflection photography excites me the most, thanks   Cheryl, a.k.a. BoiseLadie, for this great challenge.  I have three shots for this selection, well four ... okay!  I have five, but heaps more in archives!!!  Thank me for my self control.
This first one, is possibly my "first ever" reflection photograph, and one that has spurred on the excitement ever since.  Ducks at a man-made pond at our nations capitol.  This particular picture was taken just after my very first photography class, and today I can see some techniques paying off..  Trust me, the pictures did get better after a time.

Here is a photograph that just HAPPENED the day after the challenge was announced.  I went out to get a photograph of the apple tree in full bloom before the wind knocked off most of the blossoms. Mysteriously, yet perfectly timed, a clean window appeared.

This third photograph is my favorite reflection photo taken in at Indian River in Theresa, NY this past autumn. 

Here is an attempt at skillfully capturing a dragonfly before it notices and flies away.

 I was totally honoured when my niece called me up asking me to do her university graduation photographs.  We loved how these came out!

  Please visit Round Robin Challenge for a list of the other participating photo journalists!

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3:40:20 PM EDT                
I found this wonderously weathered dragonfly living out it's peaceful life in this serene setting along the Natchez Trace Parkway.  Summer 2005 


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5:20:04 PM EDT
Feeling Chillin'

Round Robin Challenge.  Free.  Not many of my photographs really express "FREE", so I have to use a little imagination here.  You will truly discover what a zany woman I am when I finish this challenge.  Mowing the lawn, with gas push mower, can be quite B-O-R-I-N-G ... ask any teenager!  I have about 1.41 acres to mow, and the riding lawn mower was still not cranking, so it was "huff and puff" much of the afternoon.  Ho Hum ... I was fully protected from any aggressive allergens .. I was really HUFFING and PUFFING!  THEN, I came across masses of mushrooms under the old willow tree.  Well, I stopped to look.  Of course there was cut grass obstructing my view .. so I ran in the house for a water bottle AND my camera.  I washed off the mushrooms, then picked a few dandelion flowers, composed my salad and SNAPPED the photograph.  NO.  Something was still missing.  I dashed back in and came out this time with a pair of hashi (chopsticks) and holder.

 

Arrangement: my fresh organic salad, free for the taking!  Who says yard work has to be boring!!!  PLEASE check out these other entries http://roundrobinphoto.blogspot.com/2006/04/round-robin-challenge-free.html#links

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