Friday, May 4, 2012

A to Z April Challenge 2012 Survivor: Reflections + R is for Rhododendrons, L is for Love and D is for Drain Cover

- I have to say - I ended up enjoying the A to Z Challenge more than I thought I would.  It was fairly easy to continue with my usual three things that I love, find funny or find pleasure in and just use the alphabet letter scheduled for me.

Thank you again to all of you who stuck with me and to the new readers who came by.  I found a few new blogs to read and was delighted that Hilary (who I had seen on others' blogs) was doing the challenge, too.  I thoroughly enjoyed her A to Z castles posts. 

The following three things were meant for challenge posts, but fell by the wayside.  So here they are - three leftover random good things.  :) 

- R is for Rhododendrons.  We have one lone rhododendron bush in my condominium complex and it has been blooming for a few weeks now.  I love those purple blooms.  When I flew from London to Edinburgh several years ago in the month of June, there was an entire hillside covered in blooming rhododendron bushes - spotted as we were circling the airport to land.  The purple blooms were spectacular massed like that. 

- L is for Love.  "True love", is what niece Amanda labeled this photo she took of her boyfriend scratching her dog Lucky's tummy.  New boyfriend has just been in the picture since last fall, but we all like him very much and Lucky LOVES him.  It must be that he warms up canned food for Lucky and slips him extra treats.  Lucky sits and gazes at him whenever they are together. 


- D is for Drain Cover.  I spotted this on my walk at the park off Collier Road and thought what a nice job someone did designing this drain cover.  Love the fish surrounded by water plants design.

It's Friday!!!  Yay!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend and find beautiful things around you!

24 comments:

LL Cool Joe said...

I'm really glad you enjoyed the A to Z Challenge. Did you prepare your posts in advance?

Lucky looks very lucky! I feel a Kylie song coming on now! :D

Elephant's Child said...

I am so glad you shared these 'left-over posts' with us. The hillsides in Nepal are ablaze with rhododendrons in season. An incredible sight.
Lucky is obviously just that and I loved the drain cover. Thank you for all of these.

Claudia Moser said...

Nice reflection after the challenge, I am also writing one!

Leonora said...

I am struck by the beautiful artwork in the drain cover. How many people take the time to notice it as you have?! I'd hang that on my wall!

happygirl said...

I think rhododendrons are so lovely. I love that they like the shade. It makes them surprising. Cool drain cover. I love that you photographed it and shared. :)

Granny Annie said...

It is very appropriate that you call yourself an "A-Z Challenge Survivor". You did a great job meeting that challenge and now, after all those great posts, you manage to delight us even with the leftovers:)

Joanne said...

The challenge was definitely fun to follow along with! And what a cute puppy!!

Lynn said...

Joe -

All of the A to Z posts were done the day before so I could do the scheduled post at midnight.

Lucky is very lucky on all accounts. His first owner died of cancer and she put him up for adoption before she passed away. Lucky was living with a foster home, who happened to be one of Amanda's friends. Amanda applied to adopt him and was approved. This was about five years ago. We all love Lucky, but now that Brandon is in the picture, he only has eyes for him. :)

The Elephant's Child -

The hillsides of Nepal - I would love to see those hillsides.

Claudia -

I have nothing but good things about the challenge, and another of them is getting to meet new bloggers like you!

Leonora -

Thank you - I also loved the shadows playing across it. I think you would have noticed it, my friend.

happygirl -

Thank you - I couldn't believe I forgot about the rhododendron for the R post.

And I got an odd look from another walker as she saw me photographing the drain cover. :)

Lynn said...

Granny Annie -

I'm glad you are delighted. :) Someone else designed that badge - it's kind of a wrap up thing.

Joanne -

I'm glad you followed! And he is cute. I adore Lucky.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Lynn .. that's exceptionally kind of you - many thanks .. just delighted you enjoyed the Castle posts.

I love rhododendrons .. they'll be out now .. and just make spectacular displays in parts of the country.

Oh how wonderful that Brandon loves Lucky and that Lucky lives with Amanda!

That drain cover is amazing ...

Cheers and have a great weekend .. Hilary

M. Reka said...

Beautiful post, Lynn
Lucky looks really very lucky :)

Take care

Short Poems

Chatty Crone said...

Well that doggie was sure getting some love and the flower was gorgeous. Good shot. sandie

Riot Kitty said...

That is an amazing flower pic! Wow, I thought I got some good ones, but this is fantastic.

Snaggle Tooth said...

Thanks for your leftovers- pretty good- Great purple flower story n pic. I remember Lucky- Hope the relationship works out for all 3 of them!
I've never seen artwork on a drain cover before!
Have a fun week-end

Lynn said...

Hilary -

Thank you and Cheers! Your blog fits right into my regular blog reads.

M. Reka -

So lucky...

Sandie -

I specifically did a rhododendron photo shoot and then forgot all about it when it was R day. It gets its day now. :)

Riot Kitty -

Thank you - I just used that macro setting on my camera.

Snaggle -

I think the relationship is working out very nicely between all three of them. She doesn't cook really and he loves to. They both love outdoorsy stuff and he is a farmer by profession (which I think is so cool - I had a million questions for him.) And he loves Lucky, too.

Ileana said...

Beautiful purple flower! You take the best photos of nature, my friend...and the pup looks playful and cute. I always tell my daughter we can know a lot about a potential boyfriend by seeing how our dogs react to him. So far so good with the new guy. :)

Melissa Ann Goodwin said...

it's really a spectacularly classy drain cover, isn't it?? Rhododendruns are beautiful, almost regal, don't you think?

Lynn said...

Scarlet -

The funniest thing happened - he had made dinner for Amanda and the two of them were sitting at the bar in the kitchen eating. She reached over to give him a loving pat for making her dinner and Lucky barked angrily, as if to say, "Hands off - he is mine!"

Melissa -

I do think they are regal!

Sparkling Red said...

That is one luscious flower. What colours!

Please accept my sincere apology for hitting too close to the bone with my last post. I did not stop to think that I might be triggering others to recall traumatic experiences. In the future I will include a warning first, indicating my subject matter, to give people a choice to skip that one, instead of being blindsided. My bad.

Fireblossom said...

Aw, Lucky is a cutie!

Lynn said...

Sparkling Red -

No worries - it's just something that I go over and over again in head sometimes. It's OK.

FB -

So cute!

Jannie Funster said...

That's the loveliest no dumping drain cover I've ever seen!! And I used to design them in NYNY. Just kidding!

Ummm, Edinburgh, me lass. Did ye sport the "M" Family tartan over yonder?

Yes, Hilary is a true gem, I've had a lot of fun with her in blogging for over a couple years now. Glad you two gems met up.

oxoxox

Lynn said...

No - I didn't wear my tartan over there and in fact, saw very little of tartan wearing unless it was a tourist event.

As always - all bloggers lead back to Jannie.

xo

troghead said...

You popped by when i was around S for sloth, I am still catching up. Thanks for the visit and thanks for sharing Lucky!