Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 8 - "Fall Fun"

This week thousands will converge on Old Louisville for the annual St. James Art Fair with over 700 artists--in all media--exhibiting and selling their works. It used to be my idea of fall fun to spend the first weekend in October with some friends on St. James Court checking out new and returning favorite artists:
However, for the past two years I've passed on this mega event in favor of a much more peaceful art event--the Locust Grove Fall Antiques Market. Last weekend I grabbed my camera and set out alone to enjoy the afternoon at this historic (family of Lewis and Clark) farm on the edge of downtown Louisville. The gardens and surrounding fields were just beginning to promise fall and the antique booths were set up in a locust grove near the home. Here's a sampling of what I saw:
A long view of the Locust Grove home through the gardens.

A painter from New Zealand working on a watercolor of Locust Grove. People were fascinated by his work and stopped to watch him and ask questions.

This is the old home and the entrance to the market.
Several views of the booths. This year I bought old flour sack tea towels. Last year I found a school slate bound with leather stripping from late 1800s and old books, including Ben Franklin's autobiography.


And finally, a nice view of the Locust Grove grounds. Everything was still green, but you could feel fall in the air and know that in just a few weeks this same view would be in shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown.


If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below. Also, since some of the photo subjects may take a bit of planning thought I'd give you a few of them ahead of time.

October 1, Day 9 Subject - "Early Fall Landscapes"

October 2, Day 10 Subject - "Nature Closeups"

October 3, Day 11 Subject - "Autumn Sunlight"

October 4, Day 12 Subject - "Autumn Walk"

October 5, Day 13 Subject - "Fall Colors"

October 6, Day 14 Subject (the end of 2 Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--thanks for playing and visiting) - "Your Favorite Early Autumn Photo"
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Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 7 - "Harvest Moon"

This photo could be titled "Blue Moon of Kentucky". It's a best effort at moon photography. Over the past couple of weeks we've had some wonderful round harvest moons. I've tried several settings and read through a couple of tutorials without great effect. Apparently to get a good moon shot you have to have something more than a point and shoot camera. And be aiming it at just the right time--when it first appears and there's still enough light so that other things--like trees, mountains, water show up as well. Moon photography is going to require some further study. In the meantime, be on the lookout for harvest moons in your area and snap away!

If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below. Also, since some of the photo subjects may take a bit of planning thought I'd give you a few of them ahead of time.

September 30, Day 8 Subject - "Fall Fun"

October 1, Day 9 Subject - "Early Fall Landscapes"

October 2, Day 10 Subject - "Nature Closeups"

October 3, Day 11 Subject - "Autumn Sunlight"

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Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Autumn Photo Challenge, Day 6 "Fall Reflections in Water"

After several months of almost no rainfall the little creek in the park where Willie and I stroll each day was almost dry. Now, with the beginning of fall, the water is running again. I was able to capture a few reflections in the water that give hints of the season.

Here blue skies are mirrored in the water, along with the first fallen leaves:

Here I used the watercolor application in photoshop to give the same photo the look of a watercolor painting:
This a quieter part of the creek where fall leaves and branches float in the water:

And then here's the watercolor version:

If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below. Also, since some of the photo subjects may take a bit of planning thought I'd give you a few of them ahead of time.

September 29, Day 7 Subject - "Harvest Moon"

September 30, Day 8 Subject - "Fall Fun"

October 1, Day 9 Subject - "Early Fall Landscapes"

October 2, Day 10 Subject - "Nature Closeups"

October 3, Day 11 Subject - "Autumn Sunlight"

______________________
Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

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Thought I'd make this post do double duty as a Watery Wednesday entry.

Want to see some more dramatic "watery" photography? Click here for the players.

Autumn Photo Challenge Day 5 - "Fall Decorations"

Of all the seasons to decorate my home, fall is most appealing for me. There's the abundance of nature from brightly colored leaves to sturdy flowers to the last harvests from gardens and fields. Fall is also a time to pull out much loved antiques and primitives and let them shine with fall colors.

On Sunday I spent a few hours at an outdoor antiques fair at Locust Grove, an historical farm, home and meeting facility just outside downtown Louisville. Here are just a few ideas for fall decorations that I wanted to bring home:

This hand-molded trough would look perfect with a few herbs that needed to come inside before the first frost:

This old tin basket would look great on the hearth filled with a variety of gourds, pumpkins, leaves and berries:


Or, how about this brown speckled ironware bowl filled with mini pumpkins?

I could find a spot by the front door for this old wooden box holding a russet mum:

Usually I'm not in favor of large inflatables in the yard, but I thought these large metal sun flowers and pumpkins were quite whimsical:

This lovely green bottle/vase filled with a few burgundy/rust dried flowers and berries would be perfect on a side table or buffet:

And finally the surprise and my favorite idea--this loose bouquet of blooming field weeds, including goldenrod, ironweed (or maybe wild ageratum?) and pearly white. I'd risk sneezing for a day or two to enjoy this:


If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below. Also, since some of the photo subjects may take a bit of planning thought I'd give you a few of them ahead of time.

September 28, Day 6 Subject - "Fall Reflections in Water"

September 29, Day 7 Subject - "Harvest Moon"

September 30, Day 8 Subject - "Fall Fun"

______________________
Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge - Day 4 "Soup Weather"

September 26, Day 4 Subject - "Soup Weather"

This Taco Soup recipe has an interesting
origin. I first had it from a lunch buffet set up on a flatbed truck in the middle of an Arkansas rice field during September harvest. At that time I was working in leadership training for a large farm organization. A couple of colleagues and I took about 15 young farmers on a tour of some major farming operations in southeastern U.S. We saw cat fish farming in Mississippi, cotton and beef operations in Tennessee, and rice production in Arkansas. Our Kentucky farmers were hosted by a group of rice farmers out in their fields at harvest time. Taco soup was on the menu. If you like all things taco, you'll like this soup. Here's the recipe:

Taco Soup

In a large saucepan, brown 1/2 lb. ground beef and 1 medium chopped onion. Add the following,undrained: 15 oz. can chili beans(or ranch style), 16 oz. can dark red kidney beans, 11 oz. can shoepeg corn, 10 oz. can tomatoes and green chiles, 1 oz. pkg. dry ranch style dressing mix, 1.25 oz. pkg. dry taco seasoning mix, 6 cups of water, and 1 cup cooked brown or white rice. Bring to boil and then turn down to a simmer. Simmer on low for about 25 minutes. Serve with tortilla or taco chips. And, if you want to gild the lily, add a dollop of sour cream, chopped avocado, and cilantro. Yum! (Note: previously people asked about the "shoepeg" corn. It's white with kernels that look like pegs or small baby teeth! Comes either canned or frozen.)

If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below. Also, since some of the photo subjects may take a bit of planning thought I'd give you a few of them ahead of time.

September 27, Day 5 Subject - "Fall Decorations"

September 28, Day 6 Subject - "Fall Reflections in Water"

September 29, Day 7 Subject - "Harvest Moon"

September 30, Day 8 Subject - "Fall Fun"

______________________
Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge - Day 3 "Autumn Fruits"

September 25 Day 3 Subject - "Autumn Fruits"

This is the Honeycrisp apple and I was so excited to walk into our local market and see them piled up in the bin a week ago. The Honeycrisps have a short season, only available from mid-September through October. Like anything that doesn't last long, you really appreciate them while they last. These apples wouldn't win a beauty contest, but the taste is just delightful--clean, sweet, and almost icy crunch. And the Honeycrisp cider is equally delicious.

Re photo - I played a bit with Photoshop special effects, this one to make it look as though the apple was painted with watercolors using a dry brush. Fun.

If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below.

September 26, Day 4 Subject - "Soup Weather"

______________________
Here are today's possible players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge - Day 2 "Autumn Flowers"

September 24, Day 2 Autumn Photo Challenge - "Autumn Flowers"

By this time of the year most of our flowers are beginning to look a bit tired or have disappeared altogether. Not so for the aptly named sedum Autumn Joy. In the summer you get these succulent pale green mounds capped with an almost cauliflower-like bloom. Then with the first cool weather and a bit of rain the "cauliflower" turns into a beautiful bloom cluster that ranges from a purple-pink to the rich burgundy of this photo.

If you'd like to participate in the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge--and I hope you do--it's simple. Just grab your camera and take a photo of your interpretation of the day's subject. Post on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can visit you and include your link on the player's list below.

September 25 - Day 3 Subject "Autumn Fruits"

______________________
Here are today's players:

Pamela @ The Dust Will Wait
Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge - Day 1 "First Signs"

Recently I completed a 30 day good photos challenge where one blogger selected daily subjects or techniques which would challenge our abilities to take better pictures. This exercise was very beneficial for a novice photographer like myself. I was learning to use a new camera with the goal of taking better travel photos. So, for an entire month I faithfully posted a photo which was my personal take on the assigned subject whether it be sunrises or sun flares.

September 23rd is the beginning of autumn so, to celebrate this most gorgeous time of the year, I thought it would be fun to host the Two Weeks in Autumn Photo Challenge. Look around you as you go about your daily lives the next two weeks and see if you can capture the magic of autumn with your camera.

September 23, Day 1 "First Signs" -- Maple tree leaves just beginning to turn in the neighborhood.

Check back here daily to see my photo of the day's subject and get your topic for the following day. Let me know in the comments if you're participating so I can visit you and steer other readers to your site.

September 24, Day 2 Subject "Autumn Flowers"

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Today's players:

Janis @ As Jan Sees It
Joangee @ Musings n Waffle

Borgund Stave Church - Norway's Oldest

A highlight of my recent Scandinavian tour would have to be the Borgund Stave Church in Norway's northern fjordlands. Amazingly, the timber for the Borgund church was felled during the winter of 1180 and the Viking-influenced building was constructed soon afterwards. The design and construction was modeled after traditional ship building methods in that part of the world.

A "stave" is the upright timber that forms the framework of the church. The construction has survived all these years because the staves were set in stone. The church roof is capped with Viking-inspired dragon heads, much like ships. The dragon's heads provided drainage and ornamentation:

Here's a closeup of the roof shingles which were tarred to prevent rot (the church was undergoing some preservation when we visited, which is why there's scaffolding in the photos):

The interior of the church is quite small--probably holds about 30-40 people. It is still used today for small ceremonies like christenings and weddings. The staves are held together by large pincer beams. The stave framework was probably assembled on the ground and then raised with poles:

Here's a closeup of the church interior. The diagonal cross braces are named for St. Andrew who was crucified on a diagonal cross. The only source of light is the upper port holes, reminiscent of a ship. If you look up on the inside of the church, the exposed ribs remind you of an inverted ship:

The pulpit is from 1550s. There would not have been a pulpit in Catholic (medieval) times:

The medieval stone altar was painted in the mid-1600s to depict Christ's crucifixion:

The churchyard gravestones and markers were just as interesting as the church itself. Many stones and markers were hundreds of years old. Up until the beginnings of the 19th century it was common to bury the dead under the church floor until the practice was banned. Stillborn infants or babies that died before being baptised could not be buried in the consecrated ground of the churchyard. Tiny coffins are still placed under the floor in modern times.

Some closeups of the most unusual stones and markers:

Some stones were moss and lichen-covered which added to the ancient feel of the churchyard.

Finally, here's an example of a living thatched roof cottage on the church grounds.

On this trip I saw several castles and fine mansions. None were as interesting in illustrating the Norwegian culture as the Borgund Stave Church.

Almost Fall - Full Moons, Blazing Sunrises & Spiced Cider

In just one week it will be the official start of fall. However, here in Kentucky we've been getting some promises of cooler weather already like this morning's starting temp of around 51 degrees. So, never mind those days earlier in the week when it was just plain hot and summery. I think it's time to do some fall things:

Like trying to get a good photo of the brilliant harvest moon--which is no easy feat for a novice photographer. This is a best effort, using my Canon SX130 IS set in "low light" mode:

Then this morning at 7:15 a.m. the sky was a blazing red for about 10 minutes. Just time to grab the camera, set it on "super vivid" and get this shot of the sun coming up behind the trees. What's the old saying--"Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning." Hope that means we'll have rain before long--good reading weather.

Finally, yesterday I was in our local Paul's Fruit Market and spotted the first apple cider from Huber's Orchard & Winery. That, along with the cool temps this morning, called for making spiced apple cider. It's easy. Just simmer 1/2 gal. of cider with the juice and peel of a lemon and orange, 2 sticks cinnamon, 1 T whole cloves about 30 minutes--or until the house smells delicious. Enjoy hot with your favorite book or movie.
Keep your camera handy and be on the lookout for signs of fall. It's just around the corner.

Gardens - Scandinavian Style

Early one morning the last week in August our tour bus left the hotel in Loen, Norway in time for us to see frost on the roadside fields! And then there was still snow on the lower mountains left over from last winter. To say the growing season is short would be an understatement. Still, we did see some exuberant plantings all over Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

The most extensive garden that we toured was at Sofiero Slott (castle, I think) in southern Sweden. This castle was the summer home of King Gustaf VI Adolf and a young Crown Princess Margaret (one of Victoria and Albert's many descendants). Gustaf and Margaret lived here as a young couple in the early 1900s and quickly filled the castle with five small children in their 20 year marriage. Margaret died when pregnant with their sixth child. Both she and the king were very interested in botany and gardening and established an extensive garden at Sofiero:

This is the young Princess Margareta:

Sofiero is now a public attraction, gifted to the people of Helsingborg by the king. People enjoy the gardens, public concerts, art exhibitions, and the castle restaurant. The day we toured workers were setting up tents and decorating for a big event. Still, we were able to enjoying the garden closeup. This gatherer was going through the gardens with her basket looking for inspiration:


The chrsysanthemun beds were at the height of bloom:


Hollyhocks were trained on wires to make separate garden rooms:

This was a long view of an elaborate ornamental and functional vegetable plot (used in the castle restaurant, probably--we had lovely asparagus for lunch and I saw the asparagus ferns):


Here are a couple of closeups of artichokes, first the globe:

And then the bloom:

How about some black kale?

I saw several varieties of fruit, grown both as trees, like these plums:

And then this beautiful espaliered apple:

Finally, at the end of the season, it all ends up in the cleanup bin (reminded me of those paintings of dead fowl):

In Oslo, I saw this late season planting of annuals at Vigeland Park among all the sculptures:

And finally, a different garden experience could be had at Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, which is probably more amusement park than public garden. This shot was taken after dinner in the park:
So, the Scandinavians may have to garden fast, but the result is worth the effort, wouldn't you agree?