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Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

Rediscovering Life after Retirement

Categories: Craft and Create

World Through My Lens 05.2025

World Through My Lens 05.2025

Shutterbugs and photo-lovin’ friends glad to have you join me for The World Through My Lens 05.2025.  For this month’s edition I am joining Kym at A Fresh Cup of Coffee for her Every Day Images and Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives for her Sunday Stills series.  Wanted to wait until we were back from Colorado to publish this post but heavens, now June is almost over!!

Before we jump in here, 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.

Please find the places and posts where I link-up on this page.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

I was dazzled by all the beauty in Colorado.  Thank goodness, we don’t have to buy film these days or pay to have pictures developed before we can see them.  Remember those days?  Now, if our first shot is blurry or we cut off someone’s head, we can take another photo instantly.  That is something about technology I really love.

 

Everyday Images #61

 

colorful:  the custom-made jigsaw puzzle I purchased and took to Creede to work with the family during our week in the Rockies.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

selfie (quarterly):  coming to you from Bachelor Loop in Creede, Colorado with a few of my closest friends (actually, fam).  Felt like I was having a good hair day.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

perspective:  on our cruise, a guide on one of the excursions demonstrated how turning our phones upside down to take a photo can provide an interesting perspective to the subject we are photographing.  I am turning my phone upside down every chance I get these days.  In the photo below, I held the phone just above the creek to capture the grass in the forefront and the water and sky that leads the eye to the background.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

garden:  with our desert heat, we can’t seem to grow much of a garden.  PC built a raised vegetable garden bed in the fall, and we planted a variety of veggies but have only had a couple of plants pop up.  We have worse luck with flowers.  It is just too hot for anything to thrive.  Instead of having a garden, we have little bits of color here and there.  Our cactuses bloomed a few weeks ago and our hollyhocks are continuing to bloom even now.

 

PXL_20250521_015003929.MP
PXL_20250505_011129896.PORTRAIT

 

chair(s):  after one of the excursions on our crusie, we indulged in an all-you-can-eat king crab legs luncheon.  The little cafe was very attractive with its navy and white checked tablecloths, black chairs and tables set with big porcelain bowls for the crab shells. I like the contrast between the dark chairs, the light walls and the daylight outside the windows.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

wings:  we rarely see pretty birds here in El Paso.  It was very strange, when in the summer of 2020, mid-pandemic, we began seeing so many tiny chartreuse-colored birds.  I think God sent them to entertain and cheer us.  Haven’t seen them since!!  Today, we were at the lake fishing, and saw at least 3 of these red-winged blackbirds.  Another God-gift or glimmer.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

Everyday Images #62

 

at home (monthly):  after 2 years, I have finally put my  ‘new’ bedspread on our bed.  Wanted to wait until we did the spring cleaning and that took 18 months or more, ha!!  It is much brighter than our comforter.  I like all the colors.  Wish I had neatened the nightstands before I took this picture.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

kitchen:   this is the kitchen in our VRBO in Colorado.  The whole house was really nice and this was the best stocked kitchen in a rental I have ever experienced.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

chocolate:  because the VRBO kitchen was so well-stocked, all of the cabinets were full of little appliances, cookware, dishes, bakeware.  So we had nowhere to really put our groceries other than on the counter.  This is a photo of the snacks we brought for a week.  Two bags of Hershey’s kisses and a bag of Snickers minis were some of what I contributed.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

reflection:  we couldn’t have asked for better weather for walking and fishing and visiting than we had at Love Lake, Colorado.  The scenery was incredible and how about that reflection?  If you look closely, you can see  PC in the bottom right corner of the photo, fiddling with his fishing rod.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

park:  the view from the walking path around the pond at Ascarate Park where Paul plays baseball, and has begun fishing.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

spiral:  the way I rolled up these cinnamon rolls, following my mama’s recipe, creates a spiral of cinnamon inside the pastry

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

Everyday Images #63

 

blue:  I have always loved Siberian Huskies.  Had 2 of my own and bred several litters of AKC registered pups.  So when I saw this sweet dog in a Creede gift shop, I had to stop and say hi.  He had one brown eye and one blue eye, which I was always told means he would be a lead dog in a team of Husky sled dogs.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

neighborhood spot (quarterly):  hallelujah, it rained for a couple of hours on Tuesday night.  Our ground is so hard that some of the water ran off and some of the water puddled.  We had sprinkles again today and a chance, so says Google, for heavier rain ‘soon’.  Not sure when soon is.  This is how the neighborhood looked as reflected in a big puddle at the park.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

family:  a selfie from the balcony of our VRBO in Creede, Colorado.  From left to right:  PC, me, my BIL Roby, my sister Valerie, my SIL LeeAnn and my brother Kevin.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

repeat:  the shapes in the architecture of Parliment House in Victoria, British Columbia.  And the lights, of course, repeat around the building.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

brick:  I was dazzled by all of the green, the hanging baskets, the potted flowers and plants set about downtown Creede, Colorado.  I do miss flowers and green in my life in El Paso.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

in the dark:  view of the cruise ships at port in the dark from our carriage ride in Victoria, British Columbia.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

Everyday Images #64

 

at home (monthly):  PC has worked so hard on our yard this year.  I love the walks he built and the grass is coming in around them now.  With the rain we had this week, I hope our yard will look better than ever very soon.  Here’s a peek from the backyard.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

current season (quarterly):  wildflowers peeking out from the dried, dead grass are a sign that spring has arrived.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

flag:  flowers sure grow well in Colorado.  I was so envious of the bright colored blooms in hanging baskets up and down the main street of town.  Patriotism is thriving in Creede, too.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

strong:  on our Mother’s Day hike at Slot Canyon, the sun was so strong

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

path:  captured this shot of my brother-in-law Roby, brother Kevin, PC and my sister-in-law LeeAnn walking in front of the ranch where my family vacationed when I was a child.  Was last here in 1990 with my parents, brother and sister and my own daughters.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

water:  early in May I happily chaperoned Cami’s prekinder class at the El Paso Zoo.  After we toured the zoo and had a picnic lunch, all of the kids played in the splash pads.  Cami Jean was the biggest duck in the puddle.

 

World Through My Lens 05.2025

 

Sunday Stills

 

05.04.2025 Monthly Color Challenge: Pastels:  Lucia and Cami wearing pretty spring pastels.

World Through My Lens 05.2025
05.11.2025 NO CHALLENGE

05.18.2025 Flight:  this was the teensy-tinsy plane that was our flight home from Seattle to El Paso.

World Through My Lens 05.2025
05.25.2025 NO CHALLENGE

 

Your Turn

 

Well, now that I have finally, finally shared photos for the May prompts, I need to get busy on the prompts for June.  What have you captured in your lens lately?

Watching the clouds turn heavy and gray and the wind pick up and hoping that means we might get another rain shower tonight.  Oh, our world is smiling with the rain.  Everything looks cleaner and greener and fresher and the afternoons have been cool this week.  Should be some good sleeping tonight.

Thank you for spending some of your day with me.  I appreciate your visit.  Enjoy your weekend, friends.

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. Juhli

    June 27, 2025 at 6:41 am

    Thanks for sharing these glimpses of your life and travels. I bet you could grow a garden in late fall through early spring. Have you looked at a veggie planting chart for your zone?

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      June 28, 2025 at 10:22 am

      We have looked at planting zones and thought we were planting at the right time but we have about 15 minutes of spring and then go straight into triple digits with no precipitation. Our garden area doesn’t have much sun but the sun here just fries everything. You might be on to something…maybe we should plant in the very early fall. I get easily discouraged!! Thank you for the suggestions.

      Reply
  2. Kym

    June 27, 2025 at 7:59 pm

    Oh my, these photos were well worth the wait! All are lovely. Creede looks like an amazing place to vacation, and I’m so glad to see the flags and the flowers and nature. The reflection photo is absolutely stunning. Isn’t Victoria such a pretty city? It’s been ages since I was there last but I remember how beautiful and charming it was.

    That’s a really neat trick about turning the phone/camera upside down. I read it somewhere recently as well and kind of forgot that I wanted to try it. And yes, I remember having to send my film away to be developed and hoping that at least a couple of the photos turned out halfway decent. Digital photos instantly is indeed one of the greatest little perks technology has given us!

    Thanks for linking up with Everyday Images and sharing all these great photos!

    Reply
  3. Deb

    June 28, 2025 at 6:51 am

    What fabulous photos! I shall be sure to try that upside down camera trick, it really changes the perspective. You look like you had the best trip with your family – lots of memories made!

    Reply
  4. Joyce

    June 28, 2025 at 9:11 am

    What beautiful photos! I love all the prompts and need to check that out for July. Looks like May was good to you.

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      June 28, 2025 at 10:19 am

      May was delightful. June has been good, too!! Come do everyday images with Kym!!

      Reply
  5. jeanie

    June 30, 2025 at 6:00 am

    There is so much to love here so I’ll pick a few things — like loving that your best friends in that photo are your family. Family that are friends are wonderful. Your new bedspread quilt is so pretty and that room is a lovely, comfortable space. Creede looks like a nice spot to visit and I love that husky!

    Reply
  6. Lysha

    June 30, 2025 at 6:53 am

    Your “Strong” photo is really, really amazing! Great job on all your pics in this post.

    Reply
  7. Terri Webster Schrandt

    July 3, 2025 at 9:58 am

    Hi Leslie, May was an exciting month for you. Thank you for hopping into my abbreviated Sunday Stills themes. You may know that my father passed in April, so we road-tripped it back to Scottsdale, AZ, for three weeks to plan his services, which were held May 24th. Here are the stories:

    https://secondwindleisure.com/2025/04/16/words-for-wednesday-until-we-meet-again-dad/
    https://secondwindleisure.com/2025/06/01/june-is-great-outdoors-month-visit-a-community-park/

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      July 11, 2025 at 6:55 pm

      Sweet friend, I do remember reading that you had lost your father. Glad you were able to go to Scottsdale to celebrate his life. Hope you begin to see little signs from him letting you know he is watching over you. Those signs bring me such comfort. I am so sorry for your loss. Praying your memories of a lifetime together help ease the pain of your loss.

      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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