Shutterbugs and photography-lovin’ friends, welcome to The World Through My Lens, 11.2020. I am sharing my photos for this month’s prompts for the Sunday Stills photography challenge. And some of my photos from the #25DaysofGratitude photo challenge that my friends Deb and Jennifer and I hosted last month on Instagram and on our blogs.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 44
SUNDAY STILLS, 11.01.2020: Leaves
We went from summer to fall almost overnight. As a result many of our leaves didn’t turn…the few trees with leaves that we have in El Paso. The leaves all just fell off. With the exception of a few trees in our neighborhood park. Love the way this branch served to frame the view of the yellow and orange foliage across the park.
In this second shot, I particularly like the contrast between the bright blue in the trash receptacle and bench with the coppery orange of the leaves.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 45
SUNDAY STILLS, 11.08.2020: Weathered
The day before Thanksgiving, my sister Valerie, brother-in-law Roby, PC and I hiked up to Dripping Springs in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is one of my favorite hikes because the natural scenery is breath-taking. And there are weathered remnants of a sanitorium for recovering tuberculosis patients and a mountain camp and hotel. Check out the photo on the New Mexico Nomad website, here, that is very similar to my capture from our hike.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 46
SUNDAY STILLS, 11.15.2020: Color Challenge: Auburn
Turns out auburn looks a lot like leaves. Couldn’t get enough of their vibrant color.
Our kitty Purrsnickitty was very brave to tip-toe onto our balcony to check the season’s first snow. Snick is a tortoiseshell and her fur is a soft combination of black, brown, white, caramel and auburn. The morning sunlight was auburn, too. And it even lit the carpeting on the balcony a ginger color.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 47
SUNDAY STILLS, 11.22.2020 Thankful
For so many things. Check out my last Thankful Thursday post, here, for just a few of them. But for this prompt, I am sharing a photo from our Thanksgiving table. Thankful for home, family, food, good health and happiness – all evident in this photo.
THE WORLD THROUGH MY LENS WEEK 48
SUNDAY STILLS, 11.29.2020: Texture
Another photo from Dripping Springs where texture abounds in both living and nonliving things.
#25DAYSOFGRATITUDE AUTUMN PHOTO CHALLENGE
During the month of November, my friends Jennifer and Deb and I hosted a #25DaysofGratitude photo challenge. We had hoped if all the participants used our hashtag, their photos and ours would be grouped together and easy to find. But that was not to be because Instagram temporarily hid recent posts from all hashtags. Kind of frustrating.
If you participated with us and we didn’t realize or acknowledge your participation, I am so sorry.
Here are a few of my favorite photos from the challenge.
10. Keepsake 
In this case, a collection of keepsakes. My mother’s toy dresser and her little oven, some of my grandmother’s kitchen utensils, my father’s tennis racket, and a plaster paw print of our beloved Rusty, the Pig Dog.
13. Habit or routine Taking a walk. Have traded running in the desert for walking in the desert since my surgery.
16. Morning. As seen from our bedroom balcony.
22. Good health. Several Sundays ago, on our walk up McKelligon Canyon, we noticed a number of vapor trails. They made us smile because we realized we hadn’t seen many in months, nor heard many planes flying over since spring. The appearance of the contrails indicated that more people were flying and our city was beginning to see a restoration to good health. I played with several Prisma filters to enhance the photo. The first is the one I used on Instagram for the challenge.
You can find all of my photos on my Instagram feed, here. Would be obliged if you followed me and I will gladly return the favor.
YOUR TURN
Photography has become one of my favorite past times this year. If the world returns to normal, in 2021, maybe I will finally be able to take that photography class I have been trying to take.
Hope you will run by to see the exciting photography of my friend Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives. She hosts Sunday Stills and is a most talented photographer and storyteller.
PC and I had Covid tests yesterday because he was exposed to a colleague with the virus. I don’t think we have Covid but want to be sure before returning to our normal activities. Hoping to get the official word early this week.
Enjoy a picture perfect Sunday, sweet friends.
Hugs and kisses,
Wonderful photos – you really do have an eye for a good picture!
Thank you!!
I didn’t even know Arizona had trees that turned color in the fall, or snow! I’m happy you celebrated Thanksgiving! A lot of people did not out of fear. Your photography is amazing, I especially love the sunrise photo.
Hi Amy, we figured if my sister and BIL drove out to El Paso from Houston, it was okay to have them visit. Actually, they were leaving the safer city and traveling to visit us in our virus-ravaged city!! We all took precautions but enjoyed feeling somewhat normal for a change!!
My what long legs you have! LOL. These are fabulous photos. I hope your tests come back negative!
Ha!! If only they were long and thin like that…well, maybe not THAT long!! Thank you!!
Fabulous images for November, Leslie! I’m glad you got a bit of Autumn colors despite the abrupt arrival. We were all blessed with small Thanksgivings this year, too.. Once we get moved and situated I hope to join more IG challenges. Thanks for linking up with Sunday Stills.
Hope you are soon settled into your new home. This is a doubly hard time to move, with the holidays and this ridiculous virus.
Leslie these are stunning! I love the texture one, your cat, all of the leaves photos, and the weathered one! What a neat backstory to that!
Thank you. The texture photo was one of my faves of the day hiking.
Love the name you gave your cat. How cute! We used to have a kitty that looked very similar to Purrsnickety. You live in such a beautiful place! And your Thanksgiving table with your family looks wonderful. So much to be thankful for when we stop to think about it, even in this pandemic year.
So much to be thankful for, Laurie. Even the inconveniences of the pandemic have given us valuable down time and taught us to be more flexible and resilient. But I am ready for it to be behind us!!
I love me some vibrant leaves – epecially the red/orange ones.
That picture of the kitty with the sun backlighting – that is GORGEOUS!!!!
Thank you, Rebecca. I loved the colors in the leaves, too. They scream fall!!
I hope your tests come back negative, when will all this madness end?
Anyhow, you have such a good eye. I wish you lived closer and could help me figure out how to take a photo – my gosh, I am so challenged!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, Kellyann. Our tests were negative. I hope mask wearing and testing doesn’t follow us too far into the new year.
Great pictures. Love the leaves! I hope the tests come back negative.
Negative!! Yay!!
Thank you, Dara.
I always enjoy this post! I love the bright colored tree that frames the view and you can see the other fall colored trees in the photo. That photo of your adorable cat is so sweet, too… we have not had snow here yet!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Carrie, thank you. I can’t believe we had snow so early. That never happens!! Maybe we will all get a white Christmas.
I love seeing the world through your eyes, Leslie! The leaves with the blue bench and trash bin might be my favorite… Not because of the trash bin, mind you, but because it’s a fabulous example of how complementary colors make each other look more intense!
Thank you, sweet friend. Complementary colors can make things much more exciting!! I wish the trash bin had been another bench or a flower pot but alas it wasn’t!!
THese are beautiful!!!!