Hello August 2025!


I don’t know whether you can feel it but July, at least for me, is one of the toughest months to get through next to, of course, December and January. So what the days are long, it’s hot to the point that going outside means getting charred by the sun’s UV rays no matter how thick of a layer of sunscreen I lather on my skin.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #358 – Live and Learn


Happy Sunday! Tina from Travels and Trifles is the host for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and it is time to reflect on some of the things I have learned about photography over the years with the theme – Live and Learn.

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#SundayStills: A Few #Feathered Friends


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CFFC: Alongside #WordlessWednesday


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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #357 – Into the Woods


Happy Sunday! Egidio from Through Brazilian Eyes is the host for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and the topic he’s chosen is also one of my many favorites – Into the Woods.

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#SundayStills: Monthly Color Challenge – Red, White, and Blue from the Archive


I will try to not feature the American flag in this post as I did that for my previous SundayStills. I will try to incorporate the colors in other ways. I hope you enjoy.

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CFFC: Up Close and Personal #WordlessWednesday


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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #356 – Quiet Hours


Happy Sunday! SH is the guest-host for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the theme Quiet Hours. Hope you enjoy my take on this theme.

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CFFC: Vanishing Point #WordlessWednesday


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#SundayStills: A Few Stories about #Flags


I have a few stories I don’t think I’ve yet shared about flags, which is this week’s topic for SundayStills. Hope you enjoy.

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Hello July 2025!


There goes June. Bye bye June, and hello July!

I am going to miss June just a tiny bit, just because I am now another month toward my first frost date. This means I should start thinking about the fall garden and all the things I need to plant before the colder months come to settle.

I actually sowed some Swiss Chard last night. The package said it’ll take 14-21 days to germinate, so I’m guessing by the time it matures, we should be nearing autumn. I’ve never grown Swiss Chard before nor have I tasted it but I’ve been told these are pretty hardy plants. Hopefully, I can grow it during the winter months. I’ve also begun harvesting my cherry tomatoes these last few days. I’m only getting 1-2 tomatoes off of a single plant but that’s a good start of what’s to come.

How to describe June 2025?

There are so many words I want to use to describe the month of June. One of them would be adventurous because I got to go on a road trip and visit some of the most remote places in the US. I still cannot believe I got to drive one of the most beautiful roads I’ve ever been on again. It was the second time I’ve driven on Highway 95 – a scenic byway in Utah that showcases some of the most majestic scenery in the state. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

New Mexico also had some pretty scenery but nothing compared to Utah. The only thing I didn’t enjoy about New Mexico was the need to pass through the city of Albuquerque. Even Santa Fe wasn’t as bad and I do not recommend following Google Maps into the city. The city streets were so narrow that even in my rental compact SUV, I felt claustrophobic navigating the tight streets.

The other word I would use to describe the month of June would be chaotic. My emotions have been very chaotic for the past month, to the point where I was having an existential dilemma, as you’ve witnessed in yesterday’s post. Being with my mom is not easy, especially when I’m in a car all day and then in a motel room all night with her.

Even though she won’t admit it, she likes ordering people around. “Turn left, turn right, change lane, why are you changing lanes, I didn’t tell you to change lane.” At times during the road trip, when I got stuck behind a slow truck, part of me just want to zoom past the truck but wasn’t in the mood to be lectured. Sometimes, I do wonder if she cares about anyone’s emotions but her own.

Anyway, what to look forward to in July?

There’s a long-weekend this week as we celebrate America’s 249th birthday on Friday. I’m wanting to do a solo road trip soon, just somewhere close by. I’ve been researching some of Utah’s scenic backways, which I find it’s more beautiful than byways. So hopefully I get to do that.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #355 – Creativity


Happy Sunday! Anne-Christine from Leya is the host for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and she is starting a new series in which she will be looking back at a previous Lens-Artists Challenge theme. For the inaugural challenge, she is looking back at challenge #42 with the theme of Creativity.

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#SundayStills: Memorable Sunrises and Sunsets Over the Years #Sun


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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #354 – Reflection


Happy Sunday! Anne from Slow Shutter Speed is the lead on this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and she has picked one of my favorite topics – Reflection.

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CFFC: View From Above #WordlessWednesday


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CFFC: Made of Metal


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CFFC: Things Made of Glass #WordlessWednesday


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CFFC: Things Made From Fabric


Honestly, I did not think I would have photos for this topic but indeed I do, just took some searching. I hope you enjoy this gallery.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #348 – Serenity


Happy Sunday! Egidio from Through Brazilian Eyes is hosting this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and we’re exploring serenity.

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CFFC: Bridges and Ferries


Here are some bridges and ferries I saw during my 2022 road trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto. Hope you enjoy.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #347 – Break the Rules!


Happy Sunday! Ritva challenges everyone to break the rules this week with Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #347.

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CFFC: Highways


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#AtoZChallenge 2025 – ZhangJiaJie


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