Saturday, January 2, 2010

Once In A Blue Moon

The busy holiday season found most of us out and about shopping, visiting and preparing for the festivities as we each celebrate them. As usual, I had my camera with me just about everywhere I went. Everyday sights can be boring and mundane but more than once in a blue moon, something can catch my fancy which will inevitably lead to a click. Below are some photos from various places while wandering out and about the town. Please remember to click each image to enlarge.



Snapping photos through the car window is something I find myself doing fairly often. You never know when something colourful will come into view. I liked how these bright, new cars were nestled in together for their trip to the dealership. (please click to enlarge)





In the parking lot of a nearby shopping mall, I happened to glance up at the light standard as I was getting out of the car. This collection of pigeon sentinels readily returned my gaze. (please click to enlarge)





While walking with Benny one day, we took a detour through a city street and happened upon this colourful mailbox. It was a tad embarrassing for me because after I took my time snapping a few shots, I glanced behind me to see that the homeowners had returned and were patiently waiting for me to finish up and notice their arrival before pulling into their driveway. I sheepishly told them that I liked their mailbox. (please click to enlarge)





When busy shopping, we sometimes forget to eat. No, not really. On this day, Frank, his son, Francis and I stopped at a small pub-like restaurant for a sandwich. I liked their simple but inviting decor. This was the view of the bar from where I was seated. (please click to enlarge)





Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in a castle up in the clouds, high in the sky and far, far away... (please click to enlarge)





Or in reality, this was the reflection of the shopping mall across the road and behind me as seen in the glass of the bus shelter. You can also see shiny cars reflecting from the parking lot lower down in the photo and the roof of the shelter overhead. (please click to enlarge)





Late one December afternoon, the orange glow of the setting sun was reflected in vehicles making their way through rush hour traffic. (please click to enlarge)






The last leg of a cold, nighttime walk with Benny as we headed home to Frank's house where belly-warmers awaited us. (please click to enlarge)





These photographic moments truly are everywhere. Sometimes I'm just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. If I'm really lucky, that happens more than once in a blue moon. (Photo of January 1, 2010 moon shamelessly colourized). (please click to enlarge)

83 comments:

Thumbelina said...

Blue moon... you saw me standing alone....

Beautiful Hilary, as always. Shamelessly, beautiful. :)

maddie said...

That castle in the sky is absolutely amazing. It pays to look at things from a different perspective every now and then.

Tabor said...

You have such a good eye for photography! I am so glad that I found your blog as you inspire me to take my camera more places and to be less self-conscious about it!

Gary's third pottery blog said...

Oh my! What a gorgeous collection!

Maggie May said...

I loved those photos. Every last one! Always do.

Nuts in May

Susan said...

You make it very difficult to pick a favorite! Could it be the ketchup and mustard cars? The stunning still life pub scene? The castle arising like Atlantis? I think I just like to giggle at the thought of some family patiently watching some crazy lady taking pictures of their mailbox!

Kathleen said...

These are just fantastic, Hilary. I wish I'd done the same thing with my little point and shoot! I love how you look at the world. I love how you love the world, too.
Happy New Year to you, my dear.

L. D. said...

These are all so good. I really like the spontaneous shooting that can glean such great rewards. I am dealing with a window to take shots of my birds at the feeder and it is not working well. I have done car window shots and that does work.

LadyFi said...

Ah - fabulous everyday moments captured beautifully. You are a real talent!

Mental P Mama said...

Always a feast for the eyes here;) I love that castle reflection! Mesmerizing!

ds said...

Shameless or not, I love that moon!
Also the fairytale castle, before it was revealed to be a mall--LOL.
Thanks for this!

Brian Miller said...

wonderful shots hilary! the dream castle and the cookie tray on the table...very nice!

Daryl said...

Well you covered all my favorite things to take pix of .. reflections, birds, stools, and the moon ....

''M O O N spells Moon'' (extra points if anyone remembers the book or character who said it)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Land of shimp said...

That's The Stand by Stephen King, Daryl. I'd love to get a hold of the original version of that, before King was so well known. The editors really, really did him a favor with what they cut out, and the unabridged version is nowhere near as good.

Speaking of good (oh what a smooth segue, eh?), as always Hilary, your photographs make the mundane magical. It almost feels repetitive to say so at this point, but you really have a great gift.

I have to admit, I love that the people were waiting patiently to pull into their driveway. It's fun to imagine the conversation they must have been having!

Hilary said...

Love them all, but I particularly like the castle.......beautiful shots. You have the eye, for sure.

ethelmaepotter! said...

Hilary, I know you don't bestow post of the week upon yourself, but in my eyes, you've just won it any way, HANDS DOWN.
This is superb in every way. Random photos, moments most of barely notice in our every day lives, become works of art at your touch. Who would have thought cars in traffic could be so mesmerizing? Or a reflection in a bus shelter's glass could invoke fairy tale visions?
And your captions are, as always, perfectly coordinated with the photos.
Not to mention the theme - Once in a Blue Moon.
Perfect. In every way.

Jo said...

Hilary, I love the castle. My goodness. I think my favorite is the pigeons. That's one of your best shots yet. They are perfectly symmetrical, and they seem to be sitting there saying, "Hi, Hilary, we did this just for you."

Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Jo

Dawning Inspiration said...

Your post makes me smile...love the pics. I saw a blue ring around the moon here...but it was so cloudy and I wasn't in a place to get a good shot... so nice to see yours!

Leah J. Utas said...

Oh, that castle in the clouds shot is brilliant.
Loving the blued-up moon, too.

Kaye Waller said...

Gorgeous and as always, so creative! Happy New Year Hilary!

Country Girl said...

LOVE THESE! And ALWAYS look up! Hilarious about the owners of the mailbox. I love posts like this when I feel as if you're taking us through your day.
Cheers, my friend!

Anonymous said...

Great! I love the pigeon sentinals, lol. The moon was quite something, and I'll tell you, with the snow reflecting and the cloud cover, it did indeed look blue! Even if you shamelessly gussied it up! Can you tell me, which camera did you use for the moon photo? I know you have a kick-a$$ SLR with a zoom lens right?

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Lovely pics. Happy New Year. That blue moon was something else here in Southern California.

larkswing said...

The castle shot such fun! All the shots are fun - and great colors!

Reb said...

Hilary, I prefer the castle in the sky to the mall reflection - that's too mundane ;) The pigeons were very accommodating as well. Lovely!

Shammickite said...

A lovely collection of images. I love the castle in the sky. And the mailbox. And the pigeons were sitting in perfect symmetry, I wonder who does their choreography?
I'm so glad that all the celebration days are over, I can't wait to get back to normal life. I've eaten too much, drank too much, visited too much, and worried too much. And here we are on the brink of another New Year.... I wonder what it holds for us?
Coffee, perhaps??
Smiling!

Karen said...

I find it amazing how the everyday things can become beautiful in the eye of an artist. Thank you!

Steve Gravano said...

Some beautiful photos Hillary.

solarity said...

How much did you pay those pigeons???
My favorite is the colorful cars--so bright against their transport's frame.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Anita said...

The contrast in color of the cars, the symmetry in the shot of the pigeons, and the beautiful moon. Love it all!

NJ said...

Your shots and commentary are always so great. I love the castle shot! Amazing how that turned out!

Michael said...

Those were absolutely grand. I envy your eyes! In particular I adore the tail lights picture. Thanks!

Nancy said...

Terrific pictures. I was fascinated with the reflection of the castle tower in the window! And the orange glow, with the orange brake lights, wow.Your perspective never fails to amaze me.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I am in awe! I need to follow you around for a few days and take pictures of the same things you do so I can start to get a clue of how cool stuff is :-)

And how about that moon. It blew me away.

Cheers,
jj

abb said...

The princess story is the best...and I LIVE to actually take a photograph of the moon - in any stage - that's decent! Lovely.

Happy New Year, my friend.

Zuzana said...

Hilary, you beautifully summarized the Holidays (and the aftermath) in your pictures. Love the sky...
The moon has got to be my favorite, I really need to know how you get the details so clear. I can not, no matter what I do. We had a clear view of the full moon on the 31st, as well as the partial eclipse. It took my breath away...
I will post some pictures, but they are light years removed from this one.
Happy 2010 dearest friend,
xo
Zuzana

Sueann said...

Great pics and your blue moon may be shameless but it sure is beautiful! And they said "blue" did they not? I am just saying.....!!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Anonymous said...

Great shots here! Love especially the blue moon! It was upon us all! :) The Bach

lime said...

we're also lucky that your great eye notices such things to capture more often than once in a blue moon. thanks for sharing the beauty in the mundane.

Hilary said...

• Thumbelina, thank you. Carry on singing. ;)

• Thank you, Maddie. That's a lesson I've learned since I've had my camera. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thank you so much for that, Tabor. It pleases me to know. I was (still am, often) very self-conscious about using my camera but getting over it for the most part. Thanks for your kind words. :)

• Gary, thank you. Very much appreciated. :)

• Maggie, thank you. I hope you're feeling better, each day.

• Susan, ketchup and mustard (and mayo?) cars.. I like that! And you made me laugh when you imagined the mailbox scene. Thank so much for your kind words. They are so appreciated. :)

• Kathleen, thank you so much for your very kind words. I'm touched that you enjoy my photo perspective. Wishing you and yours a very happy 2010. :)

• Thank you, Larry. I know what you mean about shooting through a window. It gives very flat images - particularly if there are two panes of glass. I'll usually try a shot like that anyway, and then slowly ease the window (it's a sliding door, really) open and shoot again. If I'm lucky, the birds will hang around. You have to stand pretty close to the window too, and try to shoot directly in front of you rather than at an angle. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks very kindly, Lady Fi. Much appreciated. :)

• MPM, thanks. I'm glad you like it. My son (19) was with me at the time and he asked "what are you DOING?" in that delightful way that only teens can ask. When I showed him the reflection, he rolled his eyes slightly. When I showed him the finished photo, he said "hey, that's actually pretty cool!" Kids! ;)

• Thank you, DS. Maybe I shouldn't have revealed the mall part and ended with "happily ever after" instead. ;) Thanks for the visit. :)

• Brian, thanks very kindly. I'm glad you liked them. :)

• Daryl, I'm glad this post had so many of your favourites. Not surprisingly, they're my favs as well. I believe that Land of Shimp replied to your moon quote just below. Thanks for that pop-quiz. That's a first for my comments section. I'll have to keep you around! ;) Happy new year to you too, my friend. :)

• Shimp, cool that you knew the answer to Daryl's moon quote. :) Thank you so very much for such kind words. They mean a great deal to me. I re-blush at the thought of the couple waiting for me to finish photographing their mail box. I did apologize and tell them that I liked it. When they got out of the car, I was just turning the corner (theirs was the corner property, or next one down). The driver smiled and called out that they liked their mailbox too. And he was smiling.. so no worries. Maybe I should just leave them a printed copy of this blog post and comments in said mailbox, eh? Yes, I think I will. :)

• Hilary, thank you for the kind compliment. Much appreciated. :)

• Ethelmae, thanks very much for such kind words. The sentiment is very much appreciated. I'm so glad you got so much enjoyment out of my post. It does my heart good to know that you did. Thanks always for your incredibly kind words. You never fail to make my day. :)

• Jo, thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed those photos. The pigeon and mourning doves sure were eyeing me, so that might well be what they were thinking. ;) Happy New Year to you too. :)

• SD, I'm so glad to know this post made you smile. The moon can be tricky to capture.. depending on the circumstances. I'm glad you enjoyed my photo. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Leah, thank you. I'm glad you like them. That pleases me muchly. :)

• Thank you, Steph. Much appreciated. Happy New Year to you too. :)

Hilary said...

• Kate, thank you. And yes, looking up sure does help to catch a lot of shots I'd have otherwise missed. I'm glad you enjoy these day-long posts (even though, in truth, they're often different days and places). I'm always thrilled to have you along. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. :)

• Rain, we had a slight haze around the moon which didn't really show in any of the shots I took, and you're right, coincidently, it gave it a blueish hue. Nothing like I gave it though. ;) You're right! I used my Canon EOS 50D with a newly gifted (thanks Santa Frank) zoom. BUT you should be able to get decent photos out of a regular digital camera too, as long as it has a semi-decent zoom. It's all in the settings, really. For this shot, I set it to "shutter speed preferred" and that was at 1/160. The aperture set itself at f/5.6 and the ISO was at 800. You could play around with those some. A lower ISO and slower shutter speed, for example. It was a hand-held shot. I'm glad you liked it. :)

• Thank you, Elizabeth. Much appreciated. And Happy New Year to you, also. :)

• Lailani, thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. :)

• Reb, you're so right about the mall reflection. A shot like that could never end with "happily ever after." ;) Thanks so much for stopping by. :)

• Shammie, thank you. I hear that their choreographer is some bird brain who is feather-light on his feet. ;) Coffee sounds very good to me after all the excess. I just left a comment at your blog suggesting you email me because I don't see your email address. Hopefully we can manage to connect before too long. Happy New Year to you and yours. :)

• Karen, thank you. That's a lovely thing to say. Very much appreciated. :)

• Thank you, Steve. I'm glad you like them. :)

• Mary Anne, the pigeons work for peanuts. ;) I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thank you, Anita. I'm pleased that you like them. Thanks for the visit. :)

• NJ, thank you. I'm always happy to see you stop by with your kind words. Much appreciated. :)

• Cabo, thanks kindly. We're even then because I envy your gift for writing. Thanks so much for the visit. :)

• Thanks very much, Nancy. I'm so glad you enjoyed the photos. It always makes me smile when you drop by. Thanks for that. :)

• Joanna, I would love to have you along with me. I think we'd have a blast! Thanks kindly for such sweet words. They mean a lot to me. :)

• TSannie, thank you. It's a lot easier than you think to take a decent shot of the moon. Google "moon photography with digital camera" and you'll be sure to get a number of hits with clear instruction. Or see my reply to Rain upstream, and approximate my settings.. then adjust. I promise you'll get a decent shot. Thanks so much for stopping by and I wish you and yours a Happy 2010. :)

• Protege, welcome back to the blogosphere! Thank you for your always warm and wonderful comments. Like I just said to TSannie, read my reply to Rain's comment. But your photography is always beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing your blog in action again. I hope your holidays were wonderful. I can't wait to read all about them. Happy New Year, my friend. :)

• SueAnn, thank you. Yes, they did indeed say "blue." That was all I needed to hear. ;) Thanks for your kind words. :)

• Thanks very much, Bach. I'm glad you like it. Much appreciated. :)

• Lime thank you so much for your sweet words. Your kind encouragement is very much appreciated. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh thanks Hilary! I have a point and shoot, but the zoom is 12x so it's not too bad actually. I just don't know enough about the settings, so I copied what you wrote and I'm going to try that when I have a clear night! :)

Kerri Farley said...

Hi Hilary! Happy New Year!! I hope to keep up better with blogging visits in 2010.
LOVE the cardinal mailbox!!

MaggieGem said...

The castle in the sky is wonderful... sometimes I'd rather not face reality!

Love the traffic in sunset shot! You have a very observant eye.

Jean Wise said...

You have a great eye for photography. did you see the recent news show about the lady shooting the smilii facies? she looks for two circles first ( the eye) the the smile. They made a commercial using some of her shots. very creative. I enjoyed your post.

jean wise
http:www.healthyspirituality.org

gh said...

Hilary, i love the random scenes and objects you chose to photograph. It is refreshing actually for someone like myself who is always searching for the golden picture, the most unusual aspect, the staged shot where evrything should come together. These random images of everyday sights and some not so everyday are refreshing and delightful to see with no pretenses or other expectations than simply the moment in a particular point in time.
Really enjoy these delightful bits of spontaniety and your eye is keen on finding the right stuff to bring pleasure to the eyes, and mind.
Love your posts, as always. Just regret that I cannot always find the time to comment on them all.
Happy New Year, and all the best.

Unknown said...

I love your pictures. Especially the mailbox. And the orange setting sun. And the castles. And the pigeons on the light post. And the cars. Oh wait, I like them all... : )

Frank Baron said...

Very nice. I especially like the "castle" and the orange glow on the cars.

It sure pays to keep a camera around at all times because, as you know - you never know.... ;)

Karen said...

Hilary, I have a question. Where/how did you get your blog awards from photobucket? Did you have to sign up? I'll check back if you have a change to answer. Thanks.

the Bag Lady said...

Wonderful post, Hilary! I'm shocked, though, that you would colour that moon! :)

Happy New Year!

Dianne said...

I take a lot of shots thru the car window and I'm often surprised when I get home and see them ;)

I love the shiny cars on the rusty carrier
and the pigeon formation!! - they're so orderly

all beauties Hil

Cloudia said...

GLORIOUS!!!!!!!
Sunsets, castles, snowy nights, WOW!


Aloha, Hilary


Comfort Spiral

Russell said...

Enjoyed all these images .... but my favorite is the first one with the different colored cars on the transport.

It seems that the most simple image is often the best. But, of course, simple is an illusion much of the time.

It is like watching the gymnast performing an incredible routine -- she makes it look so easy when, in fact, it is beyond difficult.

That is why I like the first image. You caught the colors so well and turned a very difficult shot into one that looks so basic and easy to view.

Take care.

Indrani said...

Lovely shots again... what a wonderful way to start the new year. I wish you and all your loved ones a Very Happy New year!

Dave said...

Interesting photos Hilary. Very clever how you take parts out of photos so that they look like something else. I inadvertantly did that once and was pleased with the result but forgot to try it again. Liked your 'fairy castle.' - Dave

Anonymous said...

Hilary, I always appreciate your ability to catch fun shots in every day moments. The birds were my favorite today. It did appear they noticed you!

Happy 2010!!

SandyCarlson said...

I love the spontaneity of your pictures, and I admire your ability to compose under pressure like that. You work wonders with color and light.

Anonymous said...

The pigeons on the top of the lamp post was my favorite, but then I saw the rush hour traffic washed in gold... now I can't decide!

I sang "Blue Moon" all weekend long. Now it's in my head again!

Happy New Year, Hilary! :)

Tabor said...

Hilary if you a looking for POTW you should consider this one http://ceruleanbill.blogspot.com/2010/01/enough.html

Anonymous said...

These are all nice shots. Some are mysterious looking, fairy tale places and things. Nice post.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

My husband gave me a smaller camera for Christmas - one that doesn't take 2 minutes to warm up. I think I will follow your lead as it will fit nicely in my purse.

Happy New Year, to you.

Suldog said...

The reflection of "the castle" is magnificent.

I actually tried taking that shot we spoke of - of the Christmas lights reflecting in my TV screen - but it was not so good. Maybe you could have done something nice with it, but I didn't capture anything close to what was dancing in my imagination when I first saw it. Oh, well. Thanks for giving me the impetus to attempt it, anyway!

Hilary said...

• Rain, I have one with a 12x zoom as well and it took some pretty decent moon shots a couple of years back when we had a February lunar eclipse. You'll do fine. :)

• Kerri, thanks and Happy New Year to you, too. Good to see you. :)

• Maggie Gem, thank you kindly. Reality can be tricky sometimes. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thank you, Jean. No, I've not seen that but it sounds like her photography is a lot of fun. I'll have to see if I can find it. Thanks for that.. and for your visit. :)

• Gary, thank you so much. Your very kind and generous comment is so appreciated. Thank you. It's always so nice to hear that a true photographer likes my pictures. Happy New Year to you and yours. :)

• LWK, thanks so much for the kind words. I'm really glad you enjoy my photos. Much appreciated. :)

• Thank, Frank. I know! We're living proof of that. ;)

• Karen, thanks for stopping by. By now, you have my emailed answer. It is indeed through Photobucket. :)

• Thank you, Baggie. Shocked, eh? It wasn't electric blue. And besides, I don't do stuff like that very often. Only once in a blue moon. ;)

• Dianne, yes. Car window shots are amazingly satisfying sometimes. Thanks so much for your always-kind words, Di. They're so appreciated. :)

• Thank you kindly, Cloudia, my aloha friend. :)

• Russell, thank you. I had a sneaking suspicion that you'd like the car images. Thanks for such kind words. I'm glad you find my photos pleasing. That means a lot to me. :)

• Indrani, thanks very kindly. Much appreciated. Happy 2010 to you and yours, also. :)

• Dave, thank you. The fairy castle was the full photo as I snapped it. I zoomed right in on what I wanted to capture. I zoomed out for the second shot to show everything around it. Thanks so much for stopping by. :)

• Thanks, Meredith. I'm glad you got a kick out of the watchful birds. Thanks for stopping by and Happy 2010 to you and yours, also. :)

• Thank so much, Sandy. I so appreciate your always-kind comments. You always make me feel as if you're peering over my shoulder offering encouragement. Thanks for that, my friend. :)

• KC, sorry for mooning you again but it could have been worse. It's not like it's a Barry Manilow song or anything. :) Thanks so much for the kind words and Happy 2010 to you too. :)

• Tabor, thanks. I have noted it and will include it as your recommendation on Wednesday. :)

• Thank you, Abe. I'm glad you like them. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• MJ, yes, it's a good idea to keep it with you all the time. You never know when something MUST be photographed. Thanks for the visit and Happy 2010 to you too. :)

• Thank you, Suldog. I'm sorry that shot didn't work out as hoped but at least you have your mental snapshot and the memory it evoked. Thanks always for your visit. :)

Merisi said...

Exquisite moments in time,
beautifully captured.
I agree, beauty is everywhere,
one only needs to look!

Happy New Year! :-)

photowannabe said...

Delightful....what more can I say? I just loved looking at each event that caught your eye. I couldn't wait to see the next shot and the one after that.
The castle in the sky is a prizewinner.
Thank you for the wonderful respite before dismantling my holiday decorations.
Sue

Mage said...

I really like that top image a lot. Very powerful stuff.

heph said...

beautiful photos

Clowncar said...

not to be a pest, or a nerd, or a jerk (though I am often all three) but that moon isn't full. I think it was taken the day after the blue moon.

beautiful nonetheless. even if shamelessly colorized.

hope you have a wonderful new year.

Cedar said...

The top of the shopping mall pic was kind of awesome. I thought it was so really neat place I would love to visit in Canada and then I looked at the next picture and explanation and a mall? Me visit? Not so much...but still a great shot.

Lori ann said...

Hi Hilary,
Happy New Year! thank you for sharing your lovely view of the world, i agree that beauty is found everywhere, you only have to look.
I hope my moon images come out, they are in my film camera still, but if they are as clear as yours, i'll be thrilled.
x lori

Wendy said...

Oh what interesting photos! I do like the night ones and the castle in the sky! At first I thought you were referring to the two full moons in December (where the term blue moon came from). LOL!

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Just beautiful, Hilary. Every single shot. The castle is my favorite...along with the birds~

Unseen India Tours said...

Beautiful,lovely and fantastic shots !!

Boozy Tooth said...

The castle in the clouds!!! What a lucky snap! And how in the world did you get the blue moon to look blue? Outstanding!

Anonymous said...

They are all wonderful, Hilary. And I love how you are always able to weave a theme through a seemingly diverse group of pictures.

I am especially taken with the sunset reflected on vehicles in traffic.

steviewren said...

Nice blue moon pictures. I take my camera everywhere too. Sometimes on the weekend I like to go out searching for interesting topics. The castle pic is amazing.

Rosaria Williams said...

Oh, how we love the unexpected, the ordinary made extraordinary, the bird on the wire perspective. Great photos.

Jason said...

You have a great site here. I have a travel blog myself which I hope to be a top resource for information on vacation destinations.

I'd like to exchange links with you. Please let me know if this is possible.

Jason
ThatVACATIONfeeling.com

colbymarshall said...

The blue moon is so cool, but my fav of this batch is the Pigeon Sentinel pic. Awesome ;-)

Hilary said...

• Merisi, thanks ever so kindly. You sure prove that daily with your beautiful photos. Happy New Year to you and yours. :)

• Thank you, Sue. Your warm and wonderful words sure made me smile. Thank you so much for that. :)

• Maggie, thank you. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks, Heph. :)

• Thank you, Clowncar. It was indeed taken the day after - exactly as I stated in the text beneath the image. December 31 was overcast but January 1 was not. As pesty, nerdy jerks go, you're ok. ;) Thanks for the good wishes... to you and yours, also. :)

• Thanks, Cedar. We do have some interesting castles here but that sure wasn't one of them. I suspect though that if you did visit Canada, you might not want to go back. I know you harbo(U)r a love for our country. ;) Thanks for the visit and kind words. :)

• Lori Ann, thank you for such kind words. They're very much appreciated. I hope your shots turn out too. Happy New Year to you and yours. :)

• Wendy, thank you. I was kind of referring to it and making a visual pun, so to speak. Had it been a harvest moon, I might have Photoshopped cornfields on it. ;) Thanks for the visit. :)

• Thank you, Carol. Your kind words are very much appreciated. I'm glad you liked the post. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• UR, thank you kindly. :)

• Alix, thanks very much. The blueness of the moon was courtesy of Photoshop - a simple colour replacement. Thanks for the visit. :)

• Sandra, thank you, my friend. It always pleases me to see you in the comments section. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks so much for the visit. :)

• Thanks very much, Stevie. I've never regretted bringing my camera with me. Photos often appear in the most unlikely places. I'm glad you're enjoying yours too. Thanks for the kind words. :)

• Lakeviewer, so true. Perspective is everything. Thanks for the kind comment. :)

• Jason, I'd feel more confident that you genuinely like my site if I hadn't already seen your exact same comment pasted on several other blogs. Good luck with your endeavor.

• Colby, thanks very kindly. I'm glad you liked them. Thanks for the visit. :)

~JarieLyn~ said...

I seem to take lots of photos from my car window too. I like the colorful cars in your photo and that "castle" is awesome. I studied it for a long time. I wasn't sure if it was real or photoshopped in. But then, once I read in it clarified everything. Great shot Hilary. My favorite though, just has to be the bar. I love the wood decor and the cozy feeling it gives.

Happy New year! :)

Grayquill said...

As always you sure do have an eye for a great picture.
Nice!

Hilary said...

• Jarielyn thank you so much for your always-kind words. I'm not above Photoshopping but I certainly would have said so. :) I'm so glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks kindly, Grayquill. Much appreciated. :)