First of all: I want to apologize for not having replied to all your lovely comments on my latest post yet. Just two words of explanation: stomach bug. 😦
So now that I almost feel like a human being again, I will get to it as soon as I hit the publish button for this post. 😉
I can´t actually believe it, but it´s been a year now that I joined the wonderful monthly Photo challenge “The Changing Seasons” originally invented by Max at Cardinal Guzman and that since then has been hosted by my very dear friend Su from over at Zimmerbitch.
And because of my own disbelief, I thought it would be nice to do a little recap, sharing with you one pic representing each post. If you´re interested in reading the original one, just follow the links added to each picture.
And of course we start with January, where I found this interesting little leaf hiding behind one of my succulents.
In February I had to get a new passport and came upon this lovely little window in the Citizen Registration Office. I couldn’t help it and had some fun editing the shot with Snapseed.
This was taken one early morning in March…
Finally Spring was nearly there, and I enjoyed the beauty and the colors of a bunch of tulips I´d gotten as a gift.
More signs of new life in May. I just love these curled up ferns!
Due to circumstances I didn´t participate in The Changing Seasons in June but did take part in the Seven Days Photo Challenge. Here´s my contribution for Day 6 of the challenge:
After having so often admired Su’s wonderful sourdough creations, I finally gave in and tried to make my own sourdough starter in July. There were a few ups and downs, some of my starters didn’t pull through because it was just too hot, but my current starter is now 5 months old and happy as can be. As is his mother. 😉
In August I had the most fun watching this particular indefatigable bee that kept coming back to my pomegranate tree, enjoying the rich pollen and getting a little high on it. 😉
In September I spent a lovely day at our Zoo:
In October I started experimenting with a new painting technique, acrylic pouring, after having watched some amazing videos on youtube about it.
Another new hobby was found in December, the art of crocheting little amigurumi animals. This little fox I made for a friend´s new baby:
What I enjoyed even more than writing these blog posts at he end of each month, was reading what all the other bloggers who took part in this challenge, were up to during that same time.
And I look forward to a new Year of Changing Seasons and hope you do too!
If you´d like to know more about this challenge or even participate, here are the rules:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
- Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
- Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
- Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
- Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to Su´s original monthly post, she can update it with links to yours.
Pictures are so beautiful. Each one has its own story!
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Thank you so much!! 😄💕
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Beautiful pics Sarah! I enjoyed them all!
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Thanks so much, Leah! 😄
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Hi Sarah, hope you are well! What a fab year you have had.I remember some of your lovely photos from your posts throughout the year! 🙂 Happy 2019 xxxx
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Hi Gill! So lovely to hear from you! Happy New Year to you too!! 😀 Hope your move to Spain is all settled? Heading right over to your blog to find out!! 😀 xxxx
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Oups, I forgot to mention the Barren Branches pic. It speaks to me. I like it a lot as well.
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Thanks a lot, Dominique! ❤ xoxo
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While watching your beautiful photos, your blogposts came back to me. Great round-up. Time flies indeed! One thing does not change though: you are so talented! All of your photos are truly beautiful, but that window – Wow! Stunning. I’m glad to hear you are feeling better Sarah. Hugs. xoxo
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Thanks so much, Dominique! So glad you enjoyed this round-up of a post! It really is amazing how time flies, especially when you´re having fun! 😀
Wishing you a tremendously happy weekend, dear friend! Hugs&love! xoxoxo ❤
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Ditto Sarah! ❤️
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I hope you are feeling better. Those stomach bugs are awful. I love all of your pictures especially the animals and that gorgeous window. Such a wonderful collection.
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Thanks so much, Lisa! So glad you enjoyed these pics! And I’m feeling much better and ready to indulge in all kinds of food again. 😉😁 💖
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Such a beautiful collection, Sarah. We call those ferns ‘fiddleheads” because they look like the end of a violin (aka fiddle) when they sprout. Cheers!
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Thanks so much, Chris! And I love the name fiddleheads, it’s just perfect for them! Have a wonderful weekend! Cheers! 😄
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I’m so sorry you were feeling sick, Sarah, and hope you are better now! Believe me, I understand. While I’ve been fine, I’ve been caring for my sick grandson for the past two days and am very behind on my blogging as a result!
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Thank you, Ann! And I’m so sorry to hear that your grandson suffers from the same thing now too. sending lots of healing wishes for a speedy recovery to him!!
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I am so glad you are feeling better now.
I love this round-up post and there is no way I can choose a favourite image (although I am very impressed by your sourdough— and glad the starter is thriving).
You inspire me with the range and depth of your talents and I’m so glad to know you.
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Aww – thank you so much for your lovely words, Su! Did I complain just now about cold feet and hands? Forget about it, now I’m toasty warm thanks to you! 😄❤
And the feeling is mutual – your talent in all the things you endeavour in always keep me in awe! I’m beyond grateful for having met you here, my friend! Xxxxxx
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Blush ☺️
I am so glad we met too.
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Wonderful pictures! The sourdough makes me want to stop by a bakery.
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Thank you, Jacqui! Why not come over here? There´s a new loaf baking in my oven and it smell amazing!! 😉 😀
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You’ve made it too hard to pick a favorite from all of these delightful photos! (It takes real talent to make rats look appealing.) I’ll have to go with the ferns as my favorite because of their texture and color.
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Thanks so much, Liz! So glad you enjoyed this post, and even the rats!! 😉 You´re right, it´s not easy to make them look appealing but I´ve found out that what seems to repel most people are their hairless tails – leave those away and it works. 😉
I look really forward to the ferns sticking up their lovely curly heads again!
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The secret to rat photography: no tails. I love it!
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Hehe! Now that you’re in the loop it’s your turn. 😉
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I’ll leave it to the experts.
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Sarah, I hope you’re feeling much better now. This was a fun post as I remember most of the original articles. You’ve had a busy, exploratory year. Can’t wait to see all your new posts for 2019 – and I hope you remain healthy.
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Thanks so much, Shari! I do feel much better – and am admittedly already back on eating too much cookies! 😉 LOL!
It was such fun doing this challenge and I really look forward to continue with it. I would suggest that you should join it too, if I didn’t know that you’re already busy with writing and finding editors/agents. There´s only so much one human being can do, even though we sometimes try to do it all, right? But better to invest more time in one goal than in several at once and be successful in it. Priorities are so important to bring us where we want to be. 🙂
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I’m not much into taking photos, that’s the real problem. And also spread too thin. Though this comment has nothing to do with my weight, sadly.
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LOL! You always manage to make me smile, Shari! 😉
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Very nice collection of season changing pictures. They are lovely!
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Thanks very much! 😀
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What a lovely photographic trip through the year, Sarah. I love those March trees, but I have to say that my favorite is those three mice. What a great shot! I hope your new years is fabulous and creative. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Diana! Yes, those cuddly little faces are quite something, aren’t they? 😉 It´s been a lot of fun to do this challenge and take more photos than usual. 😀 Have a beautiful and creative week! 😀 ❤
P.S. How was the Super Bowl drawing/painting?? 😉
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My grandson and I are making pictures for each other and mailing them back and forth. My drawings are now “commissioned.” 🙂
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That sounds wonderful, Diana! What a lovely activity to share with your grandson! Happy painting! 😄
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Great photos! I hope you’re feeling better!
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Thanks a lot, Jill! Much better now, and back to eating more cookies. 😉 Have a lovely day! ❤
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Wow it’s amazing that you kept this up for a year- well done 🙂 And love your life out of decay pic 🙂 And gosh that window and the barren branches are simply stunning!! In fact I just love all your pictures (is it obvious that I just began listing them all- cos *wow* they’re all amazing!!) Such an awesome wrap up!! 😀 ❤
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Hehe! No one was more surprised than me! 😉 Good thing this challenge only takes place once a month! 😀 Thanks so much for your lovely comment, they always mean so much to me and make my day! Have a wonderful one! 🙂 💕
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Glad you are on the mend Sarah. I really like this, your photos are superb, March in my Favorite (Photo not month!). Great shots all round though. I would live to take part, I have been chatting to Su myself recently, being a half and all that! I’m struggling with time to work on my own projects though, so I will probably just live all your months vicariously instead. I hope you have a wonderful year.
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Thanks so much, Gavin! I think it would be awesome if you decided to join The Changing Seasons! You don´t have to do this every month, you know, just whenever you feel like it. 🙂 It´s really a lovely way to recap your month and add maybe some aspects you don’t cover in your usual blogging. Just a thought. 😉 Have a wonderful year too and thanks again for your lovely comment!
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Oh I love the window, Sarah. It looks like a magic button 🙂 And the little rodents munching on the sunflower seeds are so innocent and sweet. Thank you for sharing smiles 🙂 xx
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My pleasure, Inese! ☺That window did have a magical touch even without the editing, it was pure coincidence I came upon it.
And those cheeky rodents know what’s good, lots of omega 3 fatty acids for a soft and glossy fur. 😉 xxxxxxxx
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Hope you’re feeling better. Your photos, like your artwork, are always a delight to behold 🙂
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Thanks so much, Rosaliene! And I’m feeling much better now, thanks to gallons of ginger and turmeric tea that helped settle my stomach. ☺
Have a beautiful week!💕
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Sarah, thank you for a wonderful collection of photographs!
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You’re very welcome, Charles! Glad you enjoyed it. 😄
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Great collection of photos for last year. I love the rats eating sunflower seeds. The leaf with growth off of it was impressive.
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Thanks so much, Marlene! 😊
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