Sunday, April 3, 2011

Potluck

The following photos are images that just never fit in with any of my recent posts so they're getting served up as a leftover potluck post.


dragonfly
Earlier this month, when we were with our son after getting his license, we stopped at a restaurant for a celebratory lunch. I love dragonflies, as to which this post might attest, and when I saw this one up on a Tiffany lamp, I had to snap it.




wintered over
Just over a month ago, the ground was clear, but icy. This scraggly, but heroic maple leaf weathered the winter, to show off its textured finery.




snowychair
Less than two weeks ago, after we'd had balmy temperatures of 14C (57F), Mother Nature decided that we had become too complacent. She spent all night and all day blowing this white stuff all over the neighbourhood. It's almost entirely gone now.




bearpawicecream
Speaking of white stuff, Alex opened a new carton of ice cream to find that it left an impression of a bear print on the lid.




piano
Sunlight streaming in through the back window of my living room and across the piano and bench. I thought it made an attractive image.




tiny blooms
Teeny-tiny flowers budding on a plant in the kitchen. Each one is no larger than an eraser on the end of a pencil. I can't wait until it's mild enough to put my plants back outside for the summer.

I hope you enjoyed the potluck. Coffee, anyone?

64 comments:

Brian Miller said...

i love dragon flies too...that is a marvelous pic...and the sun on the piano looks almost sacred...

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I surely did enjoy the potluck. What an eye you have. The shape of the snow on the chair is very interesting. I agree with Brian about the light on the piano. The lid on the ice cream carton? Okay, who saw that first...you or Alex?

Kristina P. said...

I love the bear print ice cream!

Anonymous said...

What marvellous shots! That dragonfly is amazing - as is that huge snow cone of snow on the chair.

And those tiny buds in the last photo - so gorgeous and delicate!

ADRIAN said...

Another interesting set. The piano is classic and the flowers have the DOF just right, Thank you.

Glo said...

Potluck often turns out to the best kind of meal, as in this case served up just so! I take my camera into restaurants,too - in fact nearly everywhere I go. I think having it in close proximity makes it nearly second nature to notice more details. I'm in agreement with the other comments here about your delightful photos.

I think I'll skip coffee, but would like to try some of that bearprint ice cream for dessert ;) (Was it to be plopped on apple pie...choc. cake??? ;))

Glad to hear most of the snow is nearly gone ~ the amount on the chair is unbelievable! Great photo though.

Thanks, it was delicious :) I'll be back for seconds.

Zuzana said...

Beautiful blend of every day living my dear friend. Each picture mad me feel something, that is very unusual.
The last one made me realize how close we are as I have the same flower in my home, or several ones, coming from the same mom, so to speak.;) It is my favorite pot plant and I do not even know the name. Mine is red or white and has been blooming since a month back..I call it my survival flower as it needs virtually no water and loves the sun. And the shoots that come up each spring can be broken off so easily and will put down new roots as soon as you place them in water.;)
Have a lovely Sunday dear friend,
xoxo

Birdie said...

Lovely and wonderfully simple shots. You are a true Miksang artist!

http://miksang.com/miksang.html

June said...

Are you sure there isn't a gnome sitting in that chair?

The light across the piano feels nostalgic to me.

Anyes said...

I love the bear print ice cream and if it's OK with you I'd love some coffee ;-) Thank you for this potluck, hilary

Andy said...

I'm glad you saved the best for last.

Cricket said...

Yes, indeed... coffee would be the thing right now.

Love the dragonfly, and dragonflies in general. There is a park near my childhood home where the dragonflies absolutely swarm a certain path in the summer... beautiful.

The piano is lovely too. Reminds me of my great-aunt's parlor spinet.

Hmmm. Let me give you another personal favorite: The Grateful Dead, Attics Of My Life.

Happy Sunday, my friend. Hope it's as beautiful there as it is here.

CiCi said...

The sunlight streaming across the piano and bench is indeed a lovely photo. A homey look, comfortable.

Hilary said...

Love the flower shot.
How about a cuppa tea?

Dawn said...

Love some coffee! That was a beautiful potluck....and thinking that heroic maple leaf deserves applause!
(Your snow chair looks like mine;) We should sit them together...)

Ruth Hiebert said...

Thanks for the invitation to this lovely potluck.Yes,I'll have a cup of coffee,as I savour the beauty seen here.I can't even begin to think about which is my favourite,they are al special.Thanks agin and have a fantastic day.

Tabor said...

I enjoyed it very much...thank you. Spring is here this week and we are going crazy with chores...hope I find to enjoy it as much as you have enjoyed these scenes.

Anvilcloud said...

You have some lucky pots over thataway.

Out on the prairie said...

Some very nice photos. That leaf could almost be a sea slug or similar creature.

Anonymous said...

Talking about pot luck, I need to go check your last post to see what the theme was.

interesting about that bear claw!

Elizabeth Grimes said...

What a great title. :) All of those are so different. I especially liked the shadows on the piano, it reminds me of a post you did a while ago. I enjoyed the potluck!

steviewren said...

Nice leftovers! That's why I do my random photo days occasionally. I'm glad your snow is almost gone...it's time for it to go.

yaya said...

Many times people will say to me,"I can't have a blog..I don't have anything I could write about". They overlook the everyday ordinary that with a click and a good eye can become extraordinary...Bravo to you!

the Bag Lady said...

Excellent potluck, Hilary! I can't even choose a favourite.... loved them all!

The Retired One said...

Love the flower shot--just gorgeous!

Friko said...

yes please, one sugar, no cream.

I love the lamp, it's like a church window with the sun streaming through.

What am I saying, I love them all, as per usual.

There should be more words to express appreciation.

Shammickite said...

oh no, I just wrote a comment and then my finger slipped onto the wrong key and it's gone!
Mr ConeHead must have been sitting in that chair.
Thank goodness the snow has gone, however I heard that we can expect wet snow tonight, ugh!

Frank Baron said...

As you know, I'm a light n' shadows guy, so my faves are the dragonfly and the piano. Nice depth and richness of colour. :)

Bossy Betty said...

I will have seconds of everything, please!

My favorite is the snow on the chair. Are you SURE there's no one under there?

Rosaria Williams said...

What an eye you have! The chair in the barn is unusual and stunning.

Mage said...

As usual, you start my day with a smile. Nice stuff.

Pauline said...

Your photos are so lovely! Enjoyed them with tea.

Bob Bushell said...

I love your photos, everyone tells its story.

Unknown said...

Love the teeny-tiny flowers; love the sunlight streaming in through the window across the piano and bench. Lovely stuff!

Mental P Mama said...

Always beautiful. I am particularly fond of the shot of the kalanchoe...it was one of my mother's favorites.

messymimi said...

Some potlucks are better than others, and this was the best in a very long time.

Thank you.

Unknown said...

too funny re the ice cream.
I love loved the flower photo, Hilary.

Reb said...

Oh, I like the stained glass and the bear print! Beautiful as always.

Red said...

Potlucks are the best!
Really like the photo of the light streaming in on the piano.

Cloudia said...

glad we got to see these





Spring Aloha from Waikiki


Comfort Spiral

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Dan said...

Each are definitely unique, the bear print is cute; that said, you shot of the tiny flowers is superb!

Dave said...

Interesting photos Hilary. I went to your dragonfly site and was very impressed with your photos, video and story. That video was interesting. Thanks for re-showing this blog. That chair with the snow heaped up was funny. - Dave

Betty Manousos said...

Wow! You're absolutely talented!
I love those photos, gorgeous!
I love the balance of the light and shadow on the piano.

I also love the leaf photo! Amazing!

Happy Monday!
Betty

Anonymous said...

These are all gorgeous photos.. way too nice not to be shared, so thanks for the potluck... nothing wrong with potluck now is there?

Di

Sandra said...

Perfect! A potluck that isn't fattening! And a feast for the eyes. I really enjoyed these. The flowers are my favorite. So perfect.

Leah J. Utas said...

All very lovely. That leaf looked like a small creature.

Hilary said...

• Thanks, Brian. I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. :)

• Linda, I should have also offered up tea. ;) It was Alex who opened and noticed it right away. My boy knows me and told me to grab my camera and come see. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks, Kristina. :)

• Lady Fi, thanks so much. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the post. :)

• Thank you, Adrian. Your kind words mean a lot to me. :)

• Glo, I take my camera with me everywhere too. And you're so right about how it has opened my eyes to so much more around me. If I told you about how my son and his girlfriend indulged in the ice cream, it might not be quite as appealing to you. They put sour candies called "Gushers" in it. Thanks so much for those kind comments. They're very much appreciated. :)

• Zuzana, thank you. I'm glad that the photos each evoked some feelings. I just happened to see more of those plants in the store today, and noticed all the different colours. Mine was a gift from a neighbour a number of years ago, and was part of a collection of three plants in one basket. Over the years, the others have not survived but this one has outlived them and continued to thrive. I see by what Mental Pause Mama said several comments down, that they're called Kalanchoe. I didn't know that either. Thanks always for stopping by. :)

• Birdie, well thank you so kindly. That's a lovely compliment. Thank you for that, and for the link. :)

• Thank you, June. I'm glad it evoked a sense of nostalgia in you. As for the chair.. there's no place like gnome. ;)

• Thanks very much, Anyes - I'm glad you stopped by to join me. :)

• Thanks for stopping by, Andy. :)

• Cricket, I'm quite in love with dragonflies since arriving at a cottage late one summer afternoon and seeing hundreds of them fill the air around the dock. They were so magical and I couldn't stop watching their dance. Thanks always for the soundtrack. Listening to your choices are one of the best parts of replying to comments. My day was indeed a beauty. Thanks always for stopping by. :)

• TechnoBabe, thanks so much. I'm glad you like it. :)

• Hilary, I most certainly should have offered tea. Irish breakfast, Chai, Earl Grey or Green? Thanks for stopping by, my namesake and friend. :)

• Dawn, thanks so much for the kind words. I'm glad you could join me in acknowledging the leaf's heroism. ;)

• Ruth, I'm so glad you could join me for the potluck. Thanks so much for your always-kind words. They're very much appreciated. :)

• Thanks, Tabor. Spring is here today, too.. in the way of lots of rain and very mild temperatures. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• AC, thanks for the visit. :)

• Steve, thank you. You have an interesting eye to see that. :)

• Thanks for stopping by, Jillsy. :)

• Elizabeth, thank you. I'm not surprised that the piano grabbed you. ;)

• Thanks, Steviewren. I'm glad you stopped by. :)

• Yaya, thank you so much for such kind words. It's funny that you said that.. I was one of those who said "A blog? What could I possibly say that would be of interest to anyone?" I'm very grateful to the person who nudged me in that direction. Thank you again. You've made my day. :)

Hilary said...

• Thanks, Baggie. I'm glad you joined me for potluck. :)

• Thanks, RTO. :)

• Friko, thank you kindly. And in the same light, there should be more words to express gratitude because I often find myself short in that area. :)

• Shammie that's too bad about losing the comment. Hate it when that happens! I wonder if that chair was from France. ;)

• Frank, thanks muchly. I was pretty sure you'd like those two. :)

• Bossy, a second platter coming right up! I'm not positive about the chair. Shammickite (2 comments above yours) had a theory. ;)

• Rosaria, thank you kindly but that "barn" is the balcony off of the bedroom in my suburban townhouse. ;)

• Thank you, Maggie. You've just done likewise for me. :)

• Pauline, thanks kindly. :)

• Thank you, Bob. :)

• Susan, thanks very kindly. :)

• Thanks, MPM. I had no idea what the plant was called so I really appreciate your telling me. :)

• MessyMimi, thanks very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

• Deb, thanks, my friend. :)

• Reb, thanks very kindly. :)

• Thank you, Red. I'm glad you stopped by. :)

• Thanks for the visit, Cloudia. :)

• Daniel, thanks so much. Your kind words are always so appreciated. :)

• Thank you, Dave. That day with the dragonfly is among my fondest memories. Thank so much for stopping by. :)

• Betty, thank you so much. Your kind words are very much appreciated. Happy Monday, right back at you! :)

• Thank you kindly, Di. I'm always happy to see you stop by. :)

• Sandra, thank you. I guess you can't go wrong with a calorie-free potluck. :)

• Thanks, Leah. Always interesting to see how folks see things and you always have a unique take on things. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Anonymous said...

I posted this suggestion for a POTW under the wrong post... Trying to get it right this time! ;-)

http://lifeworkandpleasure.blogspot.com/2011/04/wherever-i-lay-my-hat.html

Daryl said...

I too love dragonflies and I have a mini (copy) of a dragonfly adorned Tiffany lamp next to my bed.

Tammie Lee said...

I love the autumn leaf, you capture the sweetest light, clarity and reflection in that photo. Also the snow piled up on the chair made me pause.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I love potlucks like this-- Beautiful and low calorie ;-)
The dragon fly window is gorgeous.
xo jj

Unknown said...

I thought that crunchy maple leaf was a seashell at first glance! Wonderful photos, as usual, Hilary.

sage said...

I like the dragon fly, but he probably doesn't like being "snapped" (that'll remind him of frogs)! Nice photos.

Ms. Becky said...

I think they are each grand. I especially like the piano is shadow. it's a lovely image. (and that last one is a Kalanchoe).
have a great day.

Kerri Farley said...

Oh I LOVE this Potluck!
What a GREAT dragofly lamp!! You have such a great eye for beauty Hiliary!!

Clowncar said...

bears in the ice cream! run!

the sun across the piano is indeed a lovely and quiet image.

Redbush said...

I enjoyed your potluck! I love the shape the snow made on your deck chair. I also loved the music the sunlight played on the piano!

Wendy said...

Coffee? Sure, make mine a latte, please. I'll bring the brownies. LOL!
You are so good at capturing the sunlight. I'm jealous. I especially loved the little pink flowers. They look so clear and the tips highlighted by the sun.

Bear paw ice cream. LOL! That was cute and I don't think too many people would even notice the pattern.

Your dragonfly looks magical! That was a cool "pot luck."

SandyCarlson said...

I think a Smurf in a catatonic state was sitting in your chair when the snow fell.

These are wonderful photos.

xxx said...

I like the snow shot on the chair... something I have not seen before.

Hilary said...

• I've got it covered, Lady Fi. Thanks. :)

• Daryl, I enjoyed exchanging images of our respective dragonfly lamps. :)

• Tammie Lee, thanks so much for such kind words. They're very much appreciated. :)

• Joanna, thank you kindly. Low cal is always a plus. :)

• Jane, I don't think you were alone there. Thanks kindly. :)

• Sage, good point. You made me smile. Thanks for that. :)

• Miss Becky, thank you kindly. I appreciate knowing the name of the plant because before this post, I did not. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thank you, Kerri. Your kind words always mean so much to me. :)

• Clowncar, I just can't bear it! ;) Thanks for the visit and for the kind words. :)

• Redbush, thanks very kindly. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

• Wendy, one latte coming right up! Thanks so much for such kind and encouraging words. They're so appreciated. :)

• Welcome, Sailor and thanks for the kind words. :)

• Sandy, now that makes perfect sense. I wonder if it will melt into blue. Thanks for the kind words, my friend. :)

• Thanks, Robyn. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

Cheryl Kohan said...

A very delicious potluck, Hilary, with great photos, as usual. I think that snowy chair looks like a throne and I love the teeny tiny blossoms.

Hilary said...

Thanks very much, Cheryl. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. :)