This week, on Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #182, host Patti asks to explore interesting objects.

Shortly after the start of the pandemic, after we were all sent home – me with a computer monitor in hand and mom with a tote containing her desktop – I began taking daily walks around the neighborhood and the park. It was my way to relieve the anxiety I felt from the uncertainty of the pandemic but let’s face it, everyone was feeling it at the time.

Toilet paper was running low, there were lock-downs (thankfully I never experienced one) all over the world, and the uncertainty of everybody catching this thing.

One day, as I did my walk around the park, I noticed these painted rocks with positive messages on them. I wondered who placed them there. It turned out to be my neighbor’s kids who were stuck at home being home-schooled. Anyway, seeing these messages made me feel less anxious and more optimistic that we’re going to be okay.

I haven’t walked much around the park in 2021, especially because the summer was so hot and I had gardening chores. I recently recommitted to do a few weekly walks around park – baby steps – and last Tuesday, after work, I decided to drive straight to the park from the office.

There were so many planes flying that afternoon, like loud flies buzzing across the sky. The interesting thing about these planes is you can hear them but you can rarely see them. I saw one that afternoon and it was flying real low, so low that I caught it on my phone with no zoom. I believe this is a transport plane as opposed to the F-35 that’s buzzing loudly in the sky.

You may not think a tree is interesting but I think it is. Is it strange to say that photographically, I think a tree looks better bald than with leaves? I like the wispy and defined lines and with the winter sky in the background, it gives an unique feel.