Sunday, October 16, 2011

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

When I was putting together this collection of images, it struck me that it was full of signs. In some cases, literally. In other instances, I simply saw indicators of an upcoming event or the status of a current situation.


countryside
The combination of rolling countryside, multiple road signs, colourful wildflowers and rows of harvested crops is a good sign that we're no longer in the city.




red leaf
A red maple leaf is often the first sign of autumn.




Indian Balsam
Indian Balsam is a sure sign that summer has come to an end.




Indian Balsam and seed
Their seed pods grow plump. This one has attracted a small seed from a different plant.




Indian balsam popped pod
The slightest touch causes them to burst open with a silent pop, resulting in the scattering of the seeds contained within. They're quite irresistible - like bubble wrap.




cloud of birds
Another sign of the season's change - a cloud of grackles flying south.




Whatcha
This was a sign I snapped from the highway on a "drive-by shooting." No, I wasn't doing the driving.




bench graffiti
A message written on a park bench "Wanna get high?" and its reply "Only with U."




froggie
This little guy is a pretty good sign that the lake water is healthy.



beaming
And here is a universal sign of hope.

69 comments:

Cloudia said...

love your posts & shots!


Aloha from Waikiki;

Comfort Spiral



> < } } ( ° >

Indrani said...

Whoa! beautifully presented again. :)
Always a joy to see your shots. :)

Dave said...

Nice photos as usual Hilary. I specially liked your cloud photo. That 'beam' of light made it look special - Dave

Anonymous said...

A wonderful range of shots of plain, real life...

June said...

Your photos (and Woodswalker's) make me want a GOOD (read "expensive") camera. I wonder if a better tool would make me a better photographer.... ;-p

Vera said...

gorgeous post!
I love all the pictures and especially that little frog and the last photo!

http://withmiracle.blogspot.com/

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful photos and the frog living in the clean water is marvelous.

ADRIAN said...

Another very enjoyable set but the frog is perfect.

Naqvee said...

the way you have showed a sign along with a picture is itself a sign that you are not only a very talented photographer but also a deep thinker ! i enjoy your blog not because it has pictures but because it has words that depicts a picture in itself. My imagination is given a picture here. thank you for sharing your mind with us.

LOve NAqvee♥

Out on the prairie said...

Nice collection of signs. I like the Indian Balsam shooting off its seeds.I brought in some castor bean seed pods last year and wasn't aware they did the same when properly dried.A cupboard was shut and seeds shot all over from on top where i had placed them as decoration.

CorvusCorax12 said...

gorgeous picture..the cloud picture is magnificent

CiCi said...

The red leaf picture is my favorite. I picked up a red leaf here the other day to mail to my mother. Your pictures are wonderful. The last photo is also great. I would name it Radiant Hope.

Leah J. Utas said...

Beautiful. That top photo is magnificent.

Steve Gravano said...

Some great signs, especially the ray and clouds photograph. The title is a sign of how old you are to remember that song;)

DJan said...

I love the pictures, all of them, but especially the maple leaf on the rocks and the last one! :-)

Brian Miller said...

ha some fun signs...i like the autumn signs...the get high one is rather funny...and the what cha ma jig...happy sunday hilary!

TexWisGirl said...

lovely. those balsam seed pods sound fun!

Anonymous said...

Oh, the thing a ma jig photo is priceless. :-)

Betty Manousos said...

wow!! what beautiful set of photos!!

the flower photos and the clouds are my favourite ones!
i love all of them soo much!

betty xx

Reena said...

Enjoyed all these signs, especially that universal sign!

Dan said...

A sign of the times.

You served each photo with a lovely story. The 'pairings' are magnificent!

Mental P Mama said...

Oh that last shot....I need that one.

Cheryl Kohan said...

I love this post, Hilary...that pretty brain of yours just doesn't stop turning, does it? You are so right...there are signs everywhere if we just take the time to notice them. Now, I've taken this post as a sign that I need to get myself back on track so thank you for that!

messymimi said...

What cha ma callits and Thinga ma jigs -- i couldn't help but love it.

Thanks.

steviewren said...

Nice signpost!

sage said...

I like how the signs are from the backside on that first photo!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

lovely signs, especially the frog showing the lakes health...so might it always be. Oma Linda

Cricket said...

Third from the bottom reminds me of a recent playground trip...

"Dad, what's a 'twat?' "

On a different trip, we saw in the usual elaborate graffiti script

"I LOVE MY FAMILY"

Wish I'd had a camera for the second. Soundtrack is self-provided, of course. I saw quite a few signs this wkend, mostly along the "99%" theme. Good. It's about time.

Tammie Lee said...

such a gorgeous post, love all the photos, the leaf one really caught my eye~

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

The thingamajig and watchamacallit sign reminded me of one we saw on a scrapyard once. It said "We've got everything you need...if we can find it."

Loved that last sunbeam shot. Beautiful.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Love the pics and especially the last one of the light in the cloud- beautiful!

Barb said...

Great signs, Hillary! That last is a stunner, but I also love the little frog.

Grayquill said...

You even came through for the little toad. Good one
Were you singing the song in your head or out loud when you prepared this post?

yaya said...

All the pics are super but that last one took my breath away!

SandyCarlson said...

Awesome and beautiful!

Gail Dixon said...

I enjoyed all your "sign" photos and then gasped at the last one. Wow!

Jayne said...

Fabulous photos. I think I've seen those grackles heading south too! ;)

Maggie May said...

Particularly loved the flying flock of birds and the last photo of the fabulous sky!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Sueann said...

Seeing the signs everywhere is wonderful! Love the photos!!
Seeing Mr. Frog made me smile for sure!
Did I say that the photos are fabulous?? Wowzers!
Hugs
SueAnn

Miz said...

amazingly beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful images, but I especially love that last one.

Daryl said...

lovely .. I think that Indian Balsam looks like Lady Slippers .. now I have to go Google to see if they are the same plant

Dianne said...

oh wow!! that sky! the light, the clouds
just wow

love the little frog
and the seed pods
I am addicted to bubble wrap
the other day I put a big sheet of down and me and Hope jumped all over it
"you silly Nana" always makes me smile, much like your posts do :)

Crabby McSlacker said...

Not all of us are as talented as you are at even noticing the signs, let alone understanding them.

Lovely images!

Linda said...

Loved your signs, and you saved the best for last.

Lynne with an e said...

Good examples of seeing the writing off the wall and reading the signs of the times.

Karen said...

Wow, I've never seen those plants that pop open. How neat! Love the froggie and clouds, too.

Kat said...

Beautiful signs. The first and last are my favs. :)

photowannabe said...

Another set of winning photographs. Love the red maple and the "bubble wrap" pods. Well, darn I like them all.
The universal sign of hope especially.

Bill Lisleman said...

I didn't know there was a bubble-wrap type of plant. Sounds fun. Many plentiful signs if you look, I think.

Pauline said...

Sigh of happiness. Thanks Hilary.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Beautiful as always. Seems so odd to me the beauty found just on the side of the road. All those things we once called weeds - now carry such beauty with our notice.

Dawning Inspiration said...

Wow - gorgeous shots... love those rays going into/from the clouds and that FROG!!

Kerry said...

Oh wow, just look at your cloud and that ray of light, so perfect.

I love those seed pods, and am unable to keep my hands off of such things.

Aren't grackles and starlings in flight just amazing?

Anonymous said...

I have visited your site many times, however commenting for the first time.

AMAZING pictures and SUPER-AMAZING perspective to interpret them the way you do..

Do keep posting!

Anonymous said...

Such gorgeous shots! Those two signs made me laugh.

Zuzana said...

Beautiful post filled with covert signs, so much lies written if we only notice.
The last image is stunning.;))
Am currently out of town visiting family and sneaking in between to blog, hope all is well dear friend.;)
xoxo

Suldog said...

I do like the faux Gaelic design of the whatchamacallit sign :-)

Wendy said...

Your shots are so clear and perfect! How do you make an ordinary maple leaf look outstanding??

Those flowers are beautiful and little froggie so sweet.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Yep, loaded with sighs, but it's the last one that touched my heart. Beautiful.
xo jj

Reasons said...

I miss those maple leaves from our years living in Montreal. Lovely shots x

Deb said...

Hello ~ I love all of these signs. Your shots are so clear and perfectly framed. I have missed your photography. I took a blogging break while I tried to understand some of the signs in my life. Glad to be back with my blogging friends ! Take care.

Redbush said...

Ahhhh! That's all I can say. What gorgeous snapshots of the balsam, and the maple leaf. Just a little poem for you: The maple is a dainty maid,
The pet of all the wood,
Who lights the dusky forest glade
With scarlet cloak and hood.

ellen abbott said...

I seem to have missed several. Isn't the balsam fun! And a beautiful shot of the clouds and sky.

Birdie said...

I love the hope picture. It does indeed, give me hope.

The Retired One said...

My favorite one is the one with the plant with the other seed on it...very cool!

Jenny Woolf said...

You're so observant for the little things. These are lovely images.

Sebab said...

Beautiful pictures!

I know i am lazy with blog walking and comments...thanks for stopping by!

lime said...

all such great shots. that last one is so dramatic though!