Mi Vida Ocupada: My Busy Life!

Photo Hunt #5 ~ My Results

Photo Hunt #5 is complete and here are my pictures from the month of December.  Thank you to my dad for letting me use his camera! The Canon G10 has been a great camera to use.  Make sure you check out all the participant entries at Photo Hunt Challenges and vote in the polls that will be open starting next week.

1. Holiday Lights

 2. Holiday Spirit

3. A Holiday Treat

4. An Ornament

5. A Gift-Wrapped Package

6. A Window Display

7. A Winter/Holiday Icon

8. A Tree

9. A Tradition

10.Something that says Noel

11. Something Precious

 

12. Something Peaceful

13. Something Hot

14. Something Cold

 
15. Something Red

16. Something Green

17. Motion blur

18. Black & White Photo (with selective coloring)

19. Any photo using an Infrared Photography Technique (in-camera OR post-process)

20. A Macro Shot (coming asap!)

Photo Hunt #5 ~ Details & Sign-Up

 Photo Hunt #5 went up today at Photo Hunt Challenges however the site has been down all day due to an issue with the server.  I had planned to post the details here anyway but I have also included the Mr Linky sign up and all the details until the Photo Hunt Challenges site is back up and running.. 

Here is the list:

1. 1. Holiday Lights
2. 2. Holiday Spirit
3. 3. A Holiday Treat
4. 4. An Ornament
5. 5. A Gift-Wrapped Package
6. 6. A Window Display
7. 7. A Winter/Holiday Icon
8. 8. A Tree
9. 9. A Tradition
10. 10.Something that says Noel
11. 11. Something Precious
12. 12. Something Peaceful
13. 13. Something Hot
14. 14. Something Cold
15. 15. Something Red
16. 16. Something Green
17. 17. Motion blur
18. 18. Black & White Photo (with selective coloring)
19. 19. Any photo using an Infrared Photography Technique (in-camera OR post-process)
20. 20. A Macro Shot

It is preferred that you take your photos between today (December 1st) and December 31st.  If for some reason you are stuck on the 31st without a few of the items on your list, then you can use a maximum of two photos from your archives, as long as they were taken less than one year ago.  You ARE allowed (and encouraged!) to use Photoshop or other photo-editing software as you’d like (it often adds to the artistic quality of the photo).

It is up to you whether you post your photos on your blog as you go, or wait until  December 31st to unveil them and make it a surprise.  One thing I ask is that everyone who participates posts all 20 photos in one single post on their blogs or in a set in an online gallery on December 31st/January 1st.

A new post will go up at photohuntchallenges.com on January 1st. I will be using the Mr. Linky auto-link widget.  Anyone who completes Photo Hunt #5 will need to add their name & the URL permalink of where their Photo Hunt photos are posted.  Everyone who adds their name to the auto-link will have their photos considered for my Favorites.   After I go through all of the participants’ entries, I will post my favorite photos for each of the 2o items on the list in a separate blog post with a poll for each.  Please note that I will not include archived photos in my favorites (it hardly seems fair!)  Anyone who votes is encouraged to vote based on their favorite photo, not just for a particular photographer. Voting is also open to anyone and everyone. The polls are open for exactly one month from the time I create them and I create each post as time allows throughout the month.  After all polls are closed I will compile the photos of all the winners and will display them here on the photohuntchallenges.com blog.

If you would like to participate, please sign-up by adding your name and blog url to the Mr. Linky widget below.  This exact widget will run on both this site and photo hunt challenges, so no need to sign up twice when the other site is back up and running.  If you would like to recruit others for the photohuntchallenges.com Photo Hunt or announce your participation, please feel free to post the above badge on your blogs and remember to link back to this post.

Favorites from Photo Hunt #4

The Photo Hunt Challenges that I started last April are still going strong.  In fact, October 2009 was Photo Hunt #4 already.  Many of you are already familiar with the Photo Hunt Challenges and some of you have even participated in some of them. (PH#1=April PH#2=June PH#3=August and PH#4=October).  Every month following a challenge I go through all the participant's entries and choose my favorite photos.  Then I create a separate post on photohuntchallenges.com for each item on the list and post all of my favorites in that post with a poll for people to vote for their favorites.  It has been a lot of fun to see all the cool photography that the participants come up with and how they interpret the category, there is such a variety!  I would love it if all of you would go take a look at check out some of the Favorites I have up so far for PH#4, like Fall Colors, Something Spooky, A Fall Treat, etc.  The voting is for anyone, I just recommend that you vote for your favorite photo rather than for a specific person.

Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #2 ~ My Results

You can also view each photo individually here if you'd like to leave comments.

1. A View from Above (looking down at downtown St Paul)

2. A Macro Shot 

3. Laughter

4. Relaxation

5. A Celebration

6. A Sunset

 
7. Sun/Lens Flare

 
8.  A Bridge

9.  A Shadow

10.  A Garden

11.  A Park

12.  A Street Scene

13.  Signage

14.  A Summer Activity

15.  A Summer Treat

16.  Earth

17.  Air/ Wind (To be added ASAP)
18.  Fire

19.  Water

20.  Something Vintage (pre-1980)

21.  Something Made of Glass

22.  Something Made of Wood

23.  Something that Floats

24.  Something Railroad Related

25.  Something Round

Attention! New Home for Photo Hunt Challenges!

Today is the day that I have put up the new Mr. Linky for the Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #2.  It is also time to unveil the new home of Photo Hunt Challenges. 

• All Photo Hunt Challenges (including the current one, #2) will now be posted at the new site (make sure you subscribe & add it to your feed readers!). 
• Please direct traffic to http://photohuntchallenges.com.
• Please go check out the site and if you completed the Photo Hunt #2, please make sure you leave your name/location & permalink!!  I can't wait to see everyone's pictures!

It was a HOT one last week

Warning: Long post ahead!

To say last week was hot is an understatement.  Especially when its 90'+ and you go a week without A/C in your house.  The condenser blew and it needed to be replaced with a whole brand-new unit.  An expensive one (of course!), which we were not able to have installed immediately.  I am grateful to have great neighbors with cold houses who gave us refuge from the heat in the evenings up until bedtime.  There were way too many sleepless nights with having a bedroom on the third floor and afternoon sun beating down on it, making it at least 100'.  Fans didn't do anything but blow hot air around.  I was so dang miserable and exhausted from lack of sleep,  I swear living without a/c  is detrimental to my health!  The last few nights I slept in the basement, which helped some.   The good news is a new unit was installed Saturday and my house is cold again.  Yay! I will appreciate it forever and ever ;)

This past week was also the first week of summer school.  I am teaching 5th grade reading to my class and the other 5th grade class.  Its going great so far, my kids are all very well behaved and the room is nice and cool.  Summer school takes place in this building (taken on a rainy morning last week)

 

This is the view out of my classroom. I had been waiting for a clear day and the right lighting to get this photo all week!

 

Speaking of pictures, I bet you're wondering why your blog readers were filled with photo posts from me yesterday.  Well, I decided to import all of my posts from my Daily photo Blog into this Mi Vida Ocupada blog.  I just don't know if it makes sense to me to keep two different blogs when I post so many photos over here anyway.  I have a lot more traffic on this blog and sometimes it seems redundant to post my photos in both places.  Initially the point of the Daily Photo Blog was for me to challenge myself to take better photos more often and  I think I have proven to myself that I can do that.  Especially with all the interest in the Photo Hunt Challenges that I have been posting.  Photography has become my biggest passion in recent months, completely replacing scrapbooking (which I haven't done in a year now and have lost pretty much all desire).    I hope you all don't mind seeing more of my photography right here!

Now about the Photo Hunt:  On Tuesday, June 30th I will be putting up a new post with Mr. Linky so everyone who completed the Photo Hunt #2 can link to their entries.  I know summertime (and life in general) can sneak up on ya when you're busy, but I hope we have a good turnout of people who completed it.  I have just two more photos to take on my list, then I will be posting My Results.  FYI- I am in the process of creating a brand-new blog just for the Photo Hunts.  Stay tuned for more information and when it is ready, I will start redirecting all Photo Hunt related info to that site.

So much happened last week and it was just too dang hot for me to sit down and blog about any of it.  Biggest news of the week: Michael Jackson died.  I was a little shocked at first, but not really.  I guess I had a feeling he wasn't doing very good.  I loved MJ as a kid (didn't everyone?).  Thriller was my very first album and I loved, loved, loved every song.  He has had so many great hits over the years.  I never hated on him with all the drama in his adult life, although there is no doubt he had issues.  I don't know what is wrong with me that I didn't cry when I heard of his passing, I mean I cried when Crocodile Hunter was killed?! Anyway, thank goodness the music of Michael Jackson will live on.

Last but not least, I wanted to direct your attention to the Product Giveaway on the Twin Cities Restaurant Blog.  There are three things to choose from 1.  Lounge Shaker set 2. Bottle Holder  3. Salt & Pepper shakers.  Leave a comment on this post saying which product you like best and a winner will be randomly selected on July 7th.  Feel free to direct anyone in the USA to the site.  Blog about it, spread the word!

 

 

Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #1- My Results!

I completed the Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #1!!!

Here are the photos in my entry.  Please Go HERE to see links to all of the other participants- there will also be a poll open for voting from May 1st-7th.  Thanks for looking ;)

1. Cool or interesting architecture (house on Grand Ave in St Paul, MN)

2. A sign of Spring (budding leaves along Mississippi River)

3. Something musical

 
4. Something sweet (chocolate buttercream mousse cake)

5. Something metallic (art sculpture at local restaurant)

6. A landscape (Bald Eagle-Otter Lake Regional Park)

7. An interesting doorway (St Luke's Catholic Church~ St Paul, MN)

8. A reflection (white crane)

 
9. A cemetery (Lakewood Cemetery ~ Mpls, MN)

10. A pair of shoes (cute pink shoes and sculpted mask from Mexico)

11. A body of water (White Bear Lake, MN)

 12. A drink (sangria)

 
13. A mosaic or mural (District del Sol~ St Paul, MN)

14. Rain (splashing drops on my deck)

15. Classic car (1970 or older) (This was a random car parked in a lot- I could use some help identifying it!)

16. A work of art (painting called Techmobius by artist Chris Peterson)

 
17. A church (Cathedral of St Paul)

18. A statue (Pillsbury Headstone)

19. An interesting sky

20. Something in motion (butterfly mobile)

21. Lights at night (funky lightbulb and its reflection in mirror)

 
22. A silhouette (hill and trees at Lakewood Hills Park)

 
23. Something historical (pre-1900) (Fort Snelling Chapel ~ St Paul, MN)

24. A shot from an unusual perspective (looking up trunk of an oak tree )

25. Flowers (Como Park Conservatory ~ St Paul, MN)

26. Self-Portrait  (Kristi aka Sweetsauer)

Day 56 ~ Cathedral of St Paul

Stopped by the Cathedral of St Paul this afternoon to get some photos for the Photo Hunt.
The original photos were beautiful but these cross-processed ones really grabbed me. I can't decide which I like best.  Any suggestions?

Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #1

Details posted today about Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #1.   The list of items can be found here.  Everyone is invited to participate!

Attention! Photo Scavenger Hunt Details Coming Soon!

Yesterday on my personal blog  I proposed the possibility of hosting my own Photo Scavenger Hunt  and it sounds like there is enough interest to go ahead with it.  Details and the list of PSH items will be posted on April 1st!
This challenge is open to anyone who likes to take pictures :)
Stay Tuned!

Photo Scavenger Hunt & Daily Photo Ideas

If you're like me, you like to scout around for cool things to take pictures of.  I came across several ideas for taking pictures that could be used for a Photo Scavenger Hunt or for Daily Photos. 
Thought I would share! *Some ideas might be duplicates since I gathered lists from a few different places on Flickr.

* something silver
* something you want but can't have
* an old neon sign
* the inside of a diner
* twins
* a garden
* bare feet
* a marquee with the word "new" on it
* your favorite thing in your refrigerator
* something with strings
* a nice sunrise
* a chandelier
* a train
* something that fits in the palm of your hand
* a sidewalk tragedy
* a spine
* something that reminds you of a happy time
* something that you don't understand
* a kitten
* breakfast
a guilty pleasure
* something crystal
* a sign of spring
* something in your favorite color
* a grandfather clock
* a still frame from your favorite movie
* where you'd rather be
* someone doing a cartwheel
* a clavicle
* something that needs improvement
* an airplane in the air
* an interesting doorway
* a sign of emergency
* the cover of the first album you ever bought
* a cool lamp
* the life of the party
* something you should get rid of
* a nice place to sleep
* a pool table
* coffee
* something made of wrought iron
* a quiet moment
* something floating
* the contents of a desk drawer
* something stronger than it looks
* your favorite article of clothing
* a guilty pleasure
* a skyline
* something in decay
* a one of a kind
* a demolished building
* good use of color
* wrinkles
* a sign that contains a word to describe you
* what you see before you go to sleep
* something musical
* strangers hugging
* an afternoon delight
* something you want to get rid of
* jellybeans
something you take for granted
* an object you acquired in the past year
* strangers holding hands
* your reflection
* something sweet
* a mistake
* anything older than you
* the writing on the wall
* something you want but can't have
* flames
* the life of the party
* a quiet moment
* a candid moment amongst friends
* passengers in an elevator
* night lights
* ice skaters
* the view from a tall building
* a kiss
* someone in the holiday spirit
* the sky on the first day of spring, summer, fall, winter
* something bubbley
* a moment of excitement
* dancing shoes
* something that leaves you in awe
* breakfast
something that helps you start your day
* a bad habit
* a mobile object
* an illegal act
* something metallic
* a sign of aging
* a moment of excitement
* colorful wardrobe
* someone playing a string instrument
* chaos
* a cautionary sign
* the local laundromat
* a blast from the past
* stars
* something you never want to part with
* an airplane
* a rough surface
* a place you go to have fun
* something that belongs to your neighbor
* a good sandwich
* something green
* what keeps you warm
* a sign of love
* someone you look up to
* an object you always have with you
* wishful thinking
* something that separates
* an old bicycle
* a late night obsession
* something spicy
* a family heirloom
* a still frame from your current favorite movie
* a work-out
* something perfect
* what you want to be when you grow up
* the contents of a mini-bar
* something sexy
* what your mom gave you
* a sign of jealousy
* chocolate truffles
something rubber
* a swirl
* a good place to hide
* what you want to be when you grow up
* a distraction
* your favorite aisle in the grocery store
* a celebrity look-a-like
* something you don't understand
* something strong
* what makes you feel better
* your friend doing a headstand
* a childhood memory
* laughter
* something you see everyday
* the contents of your friend's pocket
* a vintage car
* a breathtaking view
* what you want to spend your tax return on
* your favorite part of your house/apartment
* dessert
a seedy situation
* how to keep cool
* something that tastes like summer
* surf or turf
* a simple pleasure
* shelf life
* a uniform
* your true colors
* what boys do
* what girls do
* an accident waiting to happen
* freedom
* the life of the party
* eye candy
* something bright
* a contradiction
* something breathtaking
* your best friend
* a new discovery
* what makes you laugh
something you want in the new year
* something that made you happy last year
* a sign of things to come
* fancy pants
* the view from the top floor
* something used
* a good thing to keep handy
* buttons
* laughter
* a still frame from a movie you love
* an oxymoron
* a good friend
* something you forgot about
* an old tree
* somewhere you go to relax
* bravery
* what happens at 5:00 (am or pm, you decide)
* a fashion statement
* something with your name on it
* a favorite food
* Something in decay
* Strangers holding hands
* The eyes of someone you love
* A store window that displays something you want
* A single flower
* An object that has every color of the rainbow
* The stump of a tree
* Something glass.
* Something with a crack in it.
* A water drop.
* Graffiti with more than one color in it.
* The tallest tree in your neighborhood.
* Something made by a child.
* The backseat of your neighbor’s car.
* A pin with something funny on it.
* A green bowling ball.
* The contents of your friend’s pocket (include that friend’s hand in the picture.)
* A bright color in a dull atmosphere.
* A decadent dessert in a fancy display.
* The view from a third story window.
* A still frame of a movie that makes you cry.
* A bird in a tree.
* Someone with a bright color dyed in their hair.
* Your reflection in someone’s sunglasses.
* Pizza.
a nice sunset
* a sign with your name on it
* something flying
* something colorful in the great outdoors
* your friend at work
* a still frame from a movie that makes you laugh
* anything older than you
* a wooden object
* someone performing music or dancing
* the cover of a book with the word "home" in the title
* something from under your bed
* a robot
* the view from a store window
* the machines at a construction site
* your favorite find at a thrift store or junk yard
* a neatly set table at a restaurant
* a spider
* something broken
* fun shoes
* chocolate croissant
* the inside of an abandoned building
* something that reminds you of your childhood
* the cover of an album with the word "blue" in its title.
* a sharp object
* something with rust on it
* a "vintage" car (any car made before 1970)
* a lock of curls
* something you made for someone
* the buttons of an elevator
* the sign of your favorite restaurant
* your friend posing like a mannequin of a store window (include mannequin in picture)
* a creature swimming
* the writing on the wall
* something that annoys you
* a great beard
* your favorite thing to buy at the grocery store
* something that represents where you live
* a funny magnet
* the time on your clock when you wake up on a Saturday
* sushi

1.A hole in the wall
2.A form of transportation
3.Your favorite place to be
4.A tree
5.A holiday
6.Precipitation
7.Someone having fun
8.Something that signifies your heritage
9.A movie ticket stub
10.A pair of shoes
11.A teddy bear
12.A person walking a dog
13.A pumpkin
14.A fair and/or carnival
15.A shell
16.A decoration
17.A four leaf clover
18.A pet
19.Something old
20.Something new
21.A vacation
22.A cemetery
23.Fall colors
24.A trail and/or a road
25.A fruit and/or vegetable
26.Something that makes you think of a song
27.A special date (a birthday, an anniversary, etc…)
28.Favorite hobby
29.One of your talents
30.Something spooky
31.Someone working
32.A ribbon
33.A bird
34.A bumper sticker
35.A view from above
36.Something in action (an action shot)
37.A book you are reading or have read
38.A view from a window
39.An interesting field
40.Something you’d find on a farm
41.Something that grows on a tree
42.A pair jeans
43.Something to do with writing (a writing utensil, a stamp, an envelope, etc…)
44.A get together and/or party
45.A colorful sky
46.A harvest
47.A set of stairs
48.A ruin
49.A place where you relax
50.A pair of socks
51.Something beautiful
52.A light source
53.A lake or ocean
54.A “time” machine
55.An animal
56.A fence
57.A macro shot
58.Something leather
59.A pair of sunglasses
60.Something you’d find in a kitchen
61.Morning
62.Something in black and white
63.A friend
64.An umbrella
65.Your favorite time of the day
66.Nature
67.A rope
68.A shot glass or mug
69.Your state quarter
70.A piggy bank
71.A menu
72.Inside a store
73.Your city hall
74.A mosaic
75.Something for sale
76.A person wearing sports paraphernalia
77.A season
78.A historical landmark
79.A feather
80.X marks the spot

1. Boat without a motor
2. Home of a non-human creature
3. A flag other than your native country's
4. Waterfall
5. Rain
6. Winter
7. A puddle
8. An abandoned building/ruin
9. A junk car
10. An extravagant food
11. A handmade for sale sign
12. A cliche
13. Someone wearing polka dots
14. A locally owned store (non-chain)
15. A toy
16. A cat
17. Fire
18. A child laughing
19. Inside a foreign food restaurant
20. A beach
21. A flying machine
22. Your bed
23. A flower
24. A map
25. An extravagant drink
26. A car with a flat tire
27. A live performance
28. An absurd predicament
29. A motorcycle
30. A person having a bad hair day
31. Sunset
32. Spring
33. A locally owned restaurant (non-chain)
34. A police car
35. Your Vacuum or Broom
36. Someone meditating or praying
37. A work of art
38. A national holiday celebration (a holiday that celebrates a nation, such as 4th of July or Canada Day)
39. Your favorite food
40. Fall/Autumn
41. Someone you love
42. A tattoo
43. A sporting event
44. A knick-knack / bric-a-brac
45. A fish
46. An ambulance
47. A place of worship
48. The tallest building in your town/village/city
49. Your favorite color
50. Somewhere you feel uncomfortable
51. A commercial truck
52. Graffiti
53. An insect or arachnid
54. A stamp
55. Someone with bare feet
56. A bookshelf
57. Something that represents your country or region
58. Money
59. A billboard/sign
60. A bridge
61. The utilization of an alternative energy source
62. A public display of affection
63. A kitchen appliance
64. A water source
65. A bicycle
66. A dog
67. Barbequed or grilled food
68. Something rusty
69. A beast of burden
70. Construction equipment
71. Summer
72. A fire engine
73. Sunrise
74. Food growing
75. Your most comfortable place to sit
76. Wind
77. Wrinkles
78. A musical instrument
79. An exotic animal (use your judgment)
80. Your favorite shade-tree
81. The place where you bathe
82. A statue
83. Your camera
84. The place where you eat most your meals
85. Your favorite pastime/hobby/interest
86. A shadow
87. An interesting sky
88. A license plate
89. A tool
90. A road sign
91. Something dirty (as in a "white horse fell in the mud" not sexual)
92. Something clean (as in "it got washed off again" not sexual)
93. A train
94. An interesting or unusual rock
95. A traffic signal/a traffic control device
96. An interesting view
97. A method of communication
98. Your favorite article of clothing
99. A child crying
100. A funny hat
101. A self portrait

Photo Scavenger Hunt- Completed!

The Photo Scavenger Hunt is now over and its time to look at all the contestants from around the World and VOTE!!!!!!! Click here to see all of the links on Nicole's blog and also the poll for voting.  Make sure to visit her site and if you like my photos, vote for ME!!!! The Poll is located in the right sidebar of Nicole's Site.

Thank you for looking.  If you would like to see more of my photography, subscribe to this blog or check me out on Flickr

Note: All Photos were taken by me with my Canon Powershot G9 (point and shoot!).

Location: White Bear Lake & Hugo, Minnesota USA

1) local currency- money collected for a charity by students at the school I work at

2) local flag- flags downtown White Bear Lake

3) local food- apple turnovers from Pine Tree Apple Orchard.  Apples are grown about 5 miles away from my house

4) something rusty- an old farm truck near my house

5) local wildlife- Big Buck seen while on a walk at Tamarack Nature Center

6) local nature- Winter Scene of White Bear lake

7) local stamp- Current $.42 stamp of Frank Sinatra

8) part of your neighborhood (it can be a very small part ;) )- Night sky over the houses across the street from my house

9) traditional house- The Fillebrown House, one of the oldest remaining houses on White Bear lake

10) a local person- an unsuspecting customer enjoying a quiet moment in a local Mexican Restaurant

11) local weather- warm and sunny enough to start melting ice off the pond!

 
12) local transportation- Metro Transit Bus

13) traditional local clothing- Purple and Yellow Minnesota Vikings clothing!

14) night sky- The sun setting behind a local street scene (downtown White Bear lake)

15) sunrise- Sun coming up over White Bear Lake

16) local product non food- Photo coming ASAP
17) something furry- My Manx kitty, Isis

18) something feathery- Wild turkeys who like to roam near my neighborhood

 19) a sign of the season- New snow after a storm

20) a part of you- my love of necklaces and the color purple!

21) your main hobby- I am a major bookworm and love to read!!!!

22) a local shop- Local market lit up from the morning sun

23) a local restaurant- the clock tower at Bear Town Lounge

24) a street sign- Intersection of Lake Ave and the road that brings you over the bridge to Manitou Island

25) a local mail box-  The mailboxes for my neighborhood

I would also like to link to the wonderful other entries in the Photo Hunt:

Terri (USA)
Jientje (Belgium)
Lisa’s Chaos (USA)
Lisa TL (USA)
Keera (Norway)
Ang (USA)
Pamela (USA)
L-Squared (USA)
Dallas (Belgium)
Mojo (USA)
Macaholi (Kuwait)
Clare (USA)
BLOGitse (Egypt)
Dan (USA)
Scriber’s Web (USA)
Øyvind (Norway)
Kristi (USA)
Chris (USA)
Dekrit (Indonesia)
Carol (USA)
Mathew (Ireland)

Rusty Old Farm Truck

I am considering this photo for # 4 (Something Rusty) in my Photo Hunt

More Local Photos

I may or may not use this one as Photo Scavenger Hunt #24 Local Street Sign

This may or may not be #22 (local shop).  I loved the way the sun lit up the front of this building so early in the morning.

Day 16 ~ Pennies for Patients

These past few weeks at school I oversaw a charitable campaign called Pennies for Patients.  Kids brought in their spare change to raise money for kids sick with Leukemia & Lymphoma.  The students collected an astonishing $800.15.  I am so proud of their generosity!  Since I was the money collector, I thought it was prime opportunity to take my Local Currency photo for #1 on the Photo Scavenger Hunt.

 

Day 15 ~ Sunrise over White Bear Lake

I never leave my house early enough to catch the actual sunrise, but since the sun was rising so  brightly this morning, I stopped at Ramsey Beach in White Bear Lake to get some photos.
This was my favorite.  It has not been edited at all (other than the stamp with my name!)
This will be #15 (sunrise) for my Photo Scavenger Hunt

Day 14 ~ Clock Tower at Bear Town Lounge

This is the clock tower at a local restaurant, Bear Town Lounge.  This fulfills # 23 of the Photo Scavenger Hunt (although I can't decide which image I like best!)

Full view of the Restaurant

Day 12 ~ Winter Wonderland

Just when it got warm enough to melt all the snow, we get another snow storm!
This bridge is at Keller Lake and I drive by it every single day, thought it was so pretty with the new snow.
This will satisfy #19 (Sign of the Season) on my Photo Scavenger Hunt

 

Day 11 ~ Sassy Purple Portrait

Another for the photo scavenger hunt.  This is #20 (a part of me).  The "part of me" I was trying to show is my love of funky necklaces.  You can't see this pendant clearly, but it is one made of dichroic glass.  I liked this pic because it shows off my sassier side ;)

Day 9 ~ Downtown Bear Town

I have started my Photo Scavenger Hunt!  These were all taken this morning on my way to work

Here is #2 (Local Flag)

#6 (Local nature)- A scene of winter trees along the shore of White Bear Lake

 and #9 (Traditional House)  The Fillebrown House in White Bear, local Historical Site.  It was built in the late 1800's at the height of the White Bear Lake Resort Tourism.  More history on White Bear lake here.

Photo Scavenger Hunt Challenge

I am a big fan of Lisa's Chaos wildlife photography and today on her blog she linked to this blog who is hosting a Photography Scavenger Hunt.  I decided to go ahead and jump in for the heck of it, not for a prize but for the personal challenge.  I am realizing it is sometimes more difficult than I thought to take photos on a daily basis.  I am trying to challenge myself to a new level and as much as I love impromptu shots, it is kind of nice to have a list of ideas or a goal such as this list. 
1) local currency
2) local flag
3) local food
4) something rusty
5) local wildlife
6) local nature
7) local stamp
8) part of your neighborhood (it can be a very small part ;) )
9) traditional house
10) a local person
11) local weather
12) local transportation
13) traditional local clothing
14) night sky
15) sunrise
16) local product non food
17) something furry
18) something feathery
19) a sign of the season
20) a part of you
21) your main hobby
22) a local shop
23) a local restaurant
24) a street sign
25) a local mail box

Anyone else want to jump in and try this photo scavenger hunt challenge with me?? There will be participants from all over the world so we will probably see some cool stuff.

The contest runs through March 15, please leave Nicole a comment if you plan to participate, that way she can add your name to the participant list and include your photography in the polls when it comes time to vote :)