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Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

Rediscovering Life after Retirement

Categories: Craft and Create

The World Through My Lens 06.2022

The World Through My Lens 06.2022

Shutterbugs and photo-lovin’ friends glad to have you join me for The World Through My Lens 06.2022.  Today I am sharing my snapshots for the June prompts provided by my blogging buddy Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives and my friend Lysha at A Camera and a Cookbook.  Terri hosts the one-prompt-a-week Sunday Stills monthly photo challenge.  Lysha hosts 5-pictures-a-week iSpy link ups each Saturday.

Although I have been away from blogging, I have never stopped taking photos.  Now I have somewhere to share them again.  Have truly missed linking up with these ladies and sharing the images I have captured in my lens.

Just a reminder:  Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links which are usually italicized.  If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

World Through My Lens 06.2022

 

In a recent Where Bloggers Live, we talked about how we keep, store, display and share our photographs.  As I explained in my post, here, I have photos all over the place.  My phone, my laptop, my other laptop, in scrapbooks, frames, photo albums, and in a bin under the bed.  Have decided starting in June, that I am going to go through my photos on my devices and in that ambiguous cloud in the sky.  Going to delete all the extra photos, the fuzzy ones, the duplicates and clean things up a bit.  How do you handle the glut of photographs stored all over the place?

iSpy Week #75

– weather (quarterly shot):  must have missed out on snapping the first weather photo for this quarterly series.  But here is a picture of a very sudden 5-minute rainstorm we had last week.  I heard a clap of thunder, looked outside and it was pouring rain through the bright sunshine.  The wind caught our pool sail and had it bouncing about but the whole thing lasted only minutes and then we were back to normal.

weather
– sharpen:  as in trying to sharpen the focus on these vivid cactus blossoms.  They were just beautiful.  What a gift from God and Mother Nature.

Cactus bloom
– by accident:  our pool water is freezing!!  Even on the hottest El Paso summer days, our water never gets much above 80*.  According to this article the “Mayo Clinic finds that the most comfortable pool temperature range is between 83°F and 88°F.” So, our water is significantly cooler.  We have a pool heater but running it just a few times a month resulted in a gas bill that was 3x higher than normal for this time of year.  Decided to take matters into my own hands and ordered this wet suit.  I love it!!  But putting this thing on is the devil.  The first time I put it on, see the photo below, I had it backwards by accident.  The next time I accidentally put it on inside out.  Today I got it right, though, straight out of the gate.  There’s hope for me yet!!

wet suit
– starts with n: the sharp tiny nails or claws on this imp.  I have been kitty-sitting for 15 kitties, 12 of whom are a month old.  We have had such fun watching them play.  This little one attaches himself to me the moment I arrive, riding about on my shoes, chewing my shoelaces, climbing up my yoga pants holding on for dear life with his nails.

kitty
– your choice:  this isn’t a particularly great photo but this little plant made me smile.  When I was doing a drop-in visit at Lucas the French bull dog’s house I noticed this little plant…basil?…was in terrible need of some water.  At the time it was outside on the patio table in the black pot it was purchased in.  I found a Tupperware container and put the plant in it and watered it.  Ta-da!!  When I visited next time, this is how I found the plant.  Might have just saved its life!!  Now to plant my raised bed garden and have the same green thumb.

basil

iSpy Week #76

 

– front yard (quarterly):  I think I surely captured the first quarterly picture of our front yard, but in going back over my The World Through My Lens posts for the year, I couldn’t find it.  Oh, well.  Here is our front yard from my vantage point laying down in the grass.  It was a windy early evening and I was hoping for rain but was disappointed.

front yard
– spicy:  our favorite adjective to describe Cami is ‘spicy.’  This little 2-year-old is spiciness personified.  I love all of my grandbabies for many, many reasons but one big reason is because they all have such personality, such spirit.  Look at the sparkle in her eyes.

The World Through My Lens 06.2022
– inside:  you may remember that I have begun making a little extra money by doing drop-in visits and dog walking through Rover.com.  You can see my profile, here.  One of my recent charges was this sweetie, Sophie, who is sitting inside but longing to explore the world outside.  Sophie was sitting by the window each time I visited her and her sister Lili.

The World Through My Lens 06.2022
– textured:  these cacti are textured in a number of ways.  The spines, the ridges along the cactus body, and the prongs that surround the smooth blossoms.

cactus
– your choice:  yup, it’s hot in El Paso but it’s a dry heat.  Yes, it certainly is.  Even with our few recent rain showers.  Took this photo on a recent morning walk on a backroad that runs beside the desert.

desert

iSpy Week #77

– event:  4th of July.  Chihuahuas baseball game.  And after a big 10-point win, fireworks.

fireworks
– outfit (quarterly):  would like to share a couple of outfits I have put together recently.  In fact, doing so would help me tick off one of the activities on my summer bucket list.  But for this prompt, I am featuring a casual summer look.  Wore this to go running around with PC…shopping and lunch.  Love the way a kimono can dress up some very basic pieces.

kimono
– played:  one of the things I am most frustrated about with this whole pandemic thing is the days, weeks, months and even years we have lost with loved ones.  Lauren and Francisco moved to El Paso so we could be closer.  But no sooner did they get settled than here came Covid.  I am angry that it has kept me from them and from visiting Brennyn and her family.  Sad that there were visits with my mom where I couldn’t hug her.  And here we are, 2 years in and we are still dealing with the whole quarantine and isolation business.  Grrr.  In this photo below, Cami has played with all the toys while eating her pizza after our afternoon at the water park.  Two days later, Cami tested positive for Covid.

The World Through My Lens 06.2022
– starts with u:  unwelcome pool visitor.  In the 14 years we have lived in our house, I have only seen a mouse twice.  This poor, proverbial ‘drowned rat’ was probably just trying to get a sip of water when he slipped into the pool one night.  I found him too late the next morning.

The World Through My Lens 06.2022
– choose anything (monthly – same vantage point):  I am going to capture our peach tree and the changes it goes through each month, each season.  In my last photo, its branches were bare.  This week, the tree is delighting in our 4th of July rainstorm and the sunshine following.  And check out those peaches, will you!!  Just hope they are sweet and juicy and cobbler-worthy.

The World Through My Lens 06.2022
March

 

The World Through My Lens 06.2022
July

Sunday Stills

 

Moving now from the iSpy challenge to Sunday Stills.

 

– 06.05.2022  all about numbers:  we’ve been monitoring PC’s blood pressure lately and as a result our cuff stays out all the time.  Which has prompted me to check mine now and then, too.  With blood pressure, it is truly all about the numbers.  And mine have been pretty good, if I do say so myself!!  Thankful for good health.

blood pressure
– 06.12.2022  monthly color challenge: pink:  not sure what kind of plant this is…anyone know?  But it has some very pretty, very abundant pinkish blossoms.  I edited the first picture to create the second.  Duh, I guess.

– 06.19.2022 again the solstice:  summer is the rainy season in far west Texas.  It is when we get the bulk of our 9″ of annual rainfall.  Ha!!  This summer has been less rainy so far, though.  Hoping we catch up in the next few weeks.

rainbow
– 06.26.2022 no challenge

Want to join the Sunday Stills fun for July?  Here are Terri’s prompts.  You can find Lysha’s prompts for iSpy on each Saturday for the coming week.

– 07.03.2022 beautiful beaches
– 07.10.2022 monthly color challenge: ruby red
– 07.17.2022  no challenge
– 07.24.2022 road trippin’
– 07.31.2022  under construction (and my WOTY catch-up)

And don’t forget Patio Postcard’s great summer photo scavenger hunt.  Find those prompts, here.  

YOUR TURN

 

Whew, that’s a lot of photos!! What have you been photographing lately?  Do you tend to take mostly family snapshots, selfies or photos of places you visit?  My post seems to be divided among cute kids, cute animals and nature.

Was hoping to stay home this week and get caught up on a whole bunch of things.  Like spring cleaning.  Need to get it finished before spring comes around again and it’s time to start all over.  Really wanting to get the carpets cleaned so that can be my incentive for getting busy.  But the end of the week is BUSY!!

Thank you for stopping by.  Whatever the rest of the week holds for you, I hope you stay happy and healthy.

Hugs and kisses,

  • leslie
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    About Leslie Roberts Clingan

    I am an aspiring blogger and children's author, wife, mother, daughter, sister, - in-law, responsible pet owner and recently retired elementary school librarian. I hope to figure out the next chapter of my life as I transition from crazy, busy work world onto totally idle retirement and now to something in-between.

    Comments

    1. Marsha Banks

      July 6, 2022 at 8:58 pm

      I am terrible about taking photos! Just ask my kids! When they were babies, we just didn’t have the money for a camera, film, and developing the things. Then, along came the easier 35mm cameras…just found one with a roll of film still in it! And, then the digital cameras…the bane of my existence…so many photos in so many places! I did make a couple of photo books. But, we, probably like you, have 1000s of photos! And, the cloud…like where is it and how do I visit? I use my camera on my phone mainly for the blog, but the only photos I keep on it are of family and events. I just never got into the habit of recording things…I kind of regret that now! But, it’s one less things the kids will have to get rid of when the inevitable happens, right?

      Reply
    2. Joanne

      July 7, 2022 at 4:53 am

      These are all fabulous but my favorite is “spicy!”… that expression on her face is just priceless. I also love the capture of the rainbow.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        July 7, 2022 at 10:30 am

        Thank you. I love that spicy baby so much. Have missed so much of her life lately with Covid, and just plain old crud.

        Reply
    3. Dara

      July 7, 2022 at 6:47 am

      It’s great to catch up with you through your photos. I would not want to take on or off a wet suit! lol!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        July 7, 2022 at 10:27 am

        LOL, putting on my wet suit is a workout. Taking it off is, thankfully, a bit easier.

        Reply
    4. Juhli

      July 7, 2022 at 8:25 am

      That is a lot of photos! Love your kimono outfit and the grandbaby pics. All my photos this last 3 weeks have been of our new puppy lol but I’m going to try to join in with some of the prompts you shared.

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        July 7, 2022 at 9:49 am

        Thank you!! Your new pup is certainly photogenic and photo-worthy!! I am enjoying doing these drop-in visits with puppies. Have always had dogs and really miss having one around now. Hope you have plans to see your grands this summer.

        Reply
    5. Donna

      July 7, 2022 at 9:18 am

      As usual, your photographs are stunning, Leslie. I especially like the one of the pool sail caught by the wind!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        July 7, 2022 at 9:37 am

        Thank you, Donna. I am glad to have some weather to photograph. Love our Sun City sunshine but variety is the spice of life!! How’s your mama??

        Reply
    6. jodie filogomo

      July 7, 2022 at 5:26 pm

      15 kitties?? OMG, now that’s heaven.
      I actually thought of getting a wet suit for our water aerobic classes when it starts to get colder.
      XOOX
      Jodie
      http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

      Reply
    7. ShootingStarsMag

      July 8, 2022 at 8:25 am

      Lovely photos. Kitty sitting sounds like such fun. I had some crazy weather the other day – really bad winds!

      -Lauren

      Reply
    8. Joanne Tracey

      July 8, 2022 at 3:42 pm

      What a great photographic catch-up! Cami is certainly spicy – and in the absolute best of ways. What a cutie. I was hard pressed to choose my fave pics. but I think it’s between textured and dry.

      Reply
    9. Terri Webster Schrandt

      July 9, 2022 at 6:09 pm

      Hi Leslie, I have missed you on the blog these weeks! You really shared a bunch of fun photos and glad you were still thinking and snapping! OMG on the wetsuit! Try baby powder next time on your legs to help you get into it before the effort creates more sweat, LOL! We’ve been in Southern California and are still in Scottsdale as I type this on our month-long road trip. It sure got hot here–and here I was hoping for a monsoon to swing by. Love the pink flowers and that rainbow shot!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        July 11, 2022 at 9:43 am

        Thank you so much for visiting and your kind comments. And the baby powder tip. Oh my goodness, we need all the help we can get putting these wet suits on!! That is a workout in and of itself.

        Reply
    10. Kym

      July 10, 2022 at 7:30 pm

      Loved all your photos and the interesting stories they tell! Your little granddaughter is adorable, and I also especially like the pictures of the cats.
      Visiting from I Spy today!

      Reply
      • Leslie Roberts Clingan

        July 11, 2022 at 9:36 am

        Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words on my photos. Our Cami is a pistol!! And loves to pose!!

        Reply
    11. Carol Gunn

      July 12, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      Love you photos (Spicy is my fave too) and the stories behind them (my fave is your wetsuit – really made me laugh, that would be me too).

      Reply
    12. Lysha

      August 8, 2022 at 8:00 am

      Thanks so much for linking up! Great job…Hard to pick a favorite. Very cool to see the difference in the peach tree. Nice fireworks shot too! Hope you have the best week.

      Reply

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    In what felt like the blink of an eye, I have gone from full-time wife to my sweet husband, hands-on mom to my two beautiful daughters and elementary school librarian to a retired, empty nester with lots of time on my hands. Join me on my journey to rediscover who I am. Glad you are here...
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