Month: November 2021

Lens-Artists Challenge #173 – Interesting Architecture

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

Tina Schell's avatarTravels and Trifles

architecture, modern, contemporary
Going Modern, Kiawah Island

“Photography brings the world to us: art, architecture, fashion, nature, war and far-off lands.”

Tim Mantoani

This week I started out thinking about the evolution of our little island here on Kiawah. Where once the island was restricted to classic, southern homestyles, today we have opened ourselves to more varied, often contemporary architecture. Exhibit A, the beautiful home in my image above. My opening quote then led me to expand my perspective to include architecture from “far-off lands”. So our challenge this week is to share your images of Interesting Architecture – whether in your back yard or anywhere else around the world.

Shanghai, china, architecture, contemporary
Pudong, Shanghai – China At Its Best

“Architecture should speakofits timeandplace,but yearnfortimelessness”

Frank Gehry

When I think about architectural wonders, the first place I think of is Shanghai. We were incredibly fortunate to have visited during a crisp, sunny, beautiful week when the…

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It All Came Right In The End

~ Janet McKee ~ 2 Comments

Yesterday started so badly I was practically tearing my hair out (and I can’t afford to do that). But thanks to a few hugs and encouraging words it all came right in the end. I went to the monthly meeting of the Postcard Club and had a wonderful afternoon visit with some of the family, including my granddaughter home for a brief visit from the University of Arizona. What a black and white day!!

Black
White

A Bad Start To The Day

~ Janet McKee ~ 2 Comments

Have you ever had days when things got off to a bad start? When you got out of bed on the wrong side? Well today has been one of those days – so far. And the problem was that my spouse would not even get out of the bed at all despite about a half hours worth of encouragement, gentle persuasion, help, etc on the part of 2 staff members and me. They despaired, I despaired. HE was being ornery!!

Image of a gargoyle showing how I feel about this ornery man

Frantic Trips

~ Janet McKee ~ 6 Comments

I have snuck out of our downstairs apartment to retrieve some things from our upstairs apartment. I usually leave the door of apartment 1 open so that the staff can make sure my husband is okay in my absence. But I didn’t do that today as there are some residents roaming about and if they were to wander in to say hello to my husband, he would not be happy.. We live in a Memory Care part of this facility and any one familiar with persons who have dementia will understand. Need I say more?

I also only have access to the internet tin the upstairs apartment, hence a quick stab o write this blog.

A dog and 3 kittens – from my postcard collection

Extra Problems

~ Janet McKee ~ 2 Comments

HereI am trying to solve one problem and another one or more pop up. As I told you previously we are in the process of moving from Floor3 down to Floor 1 in our Assisted Living place. Not as easy as you might think. We have moved to a smaller apartment, not designed to accommodate all our clutter. But there will be more care needed by my husband. There are wrinkles galore to sort out.

Katerina is good at puzzles

Sadly our cat Katerina is not with us to supervise the move. But she is well looked after in her new home in our old neighborhood in Ballard.

Help – Where Did I Put The Charger?

~ Janet McKee ~ 3 Comments

Yes that is today’s challenge – where did I put the charger for this laptop???

My work station – and lunch table

All these electronic gadgets need charging and now I can’t put my finger on the charger for my laptop. Another search is underway. I am moving back and forth between 2 apartments so needless to say there is some confusion. Everything is slowly getting sorted though. I won’t despair – Yet.

How Do I Catch Up With My Irish Music Playing Friends?

~ Janet McKee ~ 1 Comment

Phew, this title s a mouthful. I have just watched and listened to a video about the Ullean pipes, a traditional Irish musical instrument. There must be similarities to the bagpipes played in Scotland. Be that as it may, I am more familiar with the recorder and tin whistle and the clarinet.

Morning consort group with Jack Ashworth – at a Recorder Playing Week in Tacoma Washington, 2011
Me (Janet) playing the clarinet – years ago in Dublin
Music making at Ida Culver Assisted Living in Seattle Washington, 2019
Janet (Me) trying to play the bass recorder

Peter’s Pondering Pipes #2

~ Janet McKee ~ 1 Comment

For music lovers.

Peter's pondering's avatarPeter's pondering

In my first venture into pipe music, here, I introduced the Uilleann pipes, most often associated with the Irish.

The tone of the uilleann pipes is unlike that of many other forms of bagpipes. They have a different harmonic structure, sounding sweeter and quieter than many other bagpipes, such as the Great Irish warpipes, Great Highland bagpipes or the Italian zampogna. Uilleann pipes are often played indoors, and are almost always played sitting down.

Here you can learn a little more about the Uilleann pipes with some interesting historical detail and even a bit of narration in Irish.

And here is a more light hearted look at how the pipes work and sound:

and if you are wondering what the young lady is sitting there for, here is the answer:

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