A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

Photo Blogging Challenge

Photo Blogging Challenge (August 2019): The Written Word

NOTE: It seems the Simply Linked thing we used the past two months is now gone. I am attempting inLinkz again, though they are now image based. So you will have to add an image, I believe. It should work out decently, though. That does mean that when going back June and July linkups are now gone (those who linked up anyway). 

The fall seems to be arriving sooner, rather than later.

Now, don’t get me wrong — I can handle that in regard to weather. It’s probably my most favorite time of the year in regard to weather. It can still be warm, and not overly hot. And then have that good crispness when the evening rolls around.

And as the summer slowly eases into the fall, we continue on with the Photo Blogging Challenge and see what we came up with for August. This one intrigues me and I look forward to seeing what others have come up with.

So, let’s get underway with this month! My five are below!

1. Back in my day…

My previous career came in the form of newspapers. I spent many years as a sports writer. I loved the aspect of newspapers and always got a chill and thrill seeing my byline. At times, I’d go in the back after deadline and watch the press run, just because it was so magical. That time in my life unfortunately (though, I’d argue fortunately now) ended back in 2013, but it’s something I will always look fondly back on. I still read a newspaper pretty much every day, though it doesn’t take too long to get through the local one as there’s not a lot of substance to it anymore. 

2. Tapping away

The written word these days, as we are all doing here, is mainly done with keyboards. I guess, to a point, it’s still a written word. 

3. The younger generations

This pretty much speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

4. Our hands can still write, though

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than writing things down. With pen to paper. I have a few subscriptions to notebooks. And I’m trying to get better with utilizing them more. I have realized that, even if you don’t go back and look at everything, just writing things down can help. My chosen pens lately, too, have been fountain pens (this is a selection of ones I have). The writing seems more pure and it’s easier to take care of what you are doing. 

5. Keep writing

We need to keep writing. Make sure our hands can do what they are supposed to do. Grab a notebook and a pen and jot some notes down. It’s better than tapping away on a small screen. 

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: I set up a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

A ‘lil HooHaa: August 2019 linkup

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge: August 2019’s theme is …

I’m in a lot of shock thinking that we’ve reached August already. This summer has been crazy busy at work (and I can’t wait for the vacation I have planned in September!).

And, for the record, I’m trying to keep on time for these posts and I’m doing well this month at least! Alas, it’s odd how the blogging world changes over and over. It’s something I’ll tackle another time in a different post, but it’s interesting how things evolve.

But, no matter how many people participate, the Photo Blogging Challenge will move on in one form or another.

I’ve been trying to come up with new and interesting themes for the challenge, with the hopes of keeping it fresh and exciting. With that in mind, I’m trying to build a list of themes to use.

As of this writing, not many had linked up for July yet. Hopefully more will. The linkup stays open for about a week or so, so there’s plenty of time to check it out. And, give it a week and if you are participating, hop back and check some of the other posts.

Before we get to this month’s theme, let’s do our monthly “group” challenges:

Challenge 1: Tell others about this photo blogging challenge and get some friends to come join us.  Let’s see if we can get people interested in the challenge again.

Challenge 2: Make friends with your camera and see what you can come up with. Have fun!

Challenge 3 is at the end of this post (the theme!).

Before this, here’s some housekeeping items. For those who might be new to the challenge, here’s how it works.

  • See the theme (first day of the month);
  • Take photos throughout the month (don’t use old ones!);
  • Select five photos and create a blog post;
  • Come back here and link up on the final day of the month;
  • Use the official hashtag — #Photoblogchal — on social media posts;
  • Hopefully go visit and comment on other blogs.

That’s it. There’s no rules on equipment or anything else. Blog posts can be short and to the point, or in-depth. Interpret the themes as you see fit.

The one big rule?

Have fun!

This month’s theme? The Written Word! I will be highly interested to see what people come up with for this one! Please make sure your blog post publishes Saturday, August 31. Then come back here and link up.

If you think you are going to take part in this, drop a comment below so we can see who all might be trying to tackle this challenge!

There is also a Facebook group for those who are interested.

If you would like to visit the history of the challenge, which started in 2013, please go to the Photo Blogging Challenge page for more!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!



Photo Blogging Challenge (July 2019): Patriotic

Another month has gone by and here we go with a linkup. And a fun one it had the making of being. I didn’t get everything as I would have liked, but it’s all good.

I took some liberties with patriotic.

I looked at it from my country (US) and what kind of things I felt were not just “patriotic,” but things that maybe symbolized the country as whole — at least in my eyes. I look forward to seeing others, especially if not in the US!

So, let’s get underway with this month! My five are below!

1. Baseball

On July 4… it was worth taking in America’s Pastime!

2. Fireworks

What a way to end July 4 — with fireworks after a baseball game!

3. Hot dogs and baseball

Catch a theme here?

4. Flags

I’ve seen a lot of these mini flags around the town; though I don’t like seeing them touching the ground.

5. Hydrant

Fire hydrants around our town are painted up .. this is one of them.

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: I set up a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.  

A ‘lil HooHaa: July 2019 linkup

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge: July 2019’s theme is …

Here we go! 

It seems I wrote this post and didn’t hit publish. See, I usually schedule things to go at a certain time, and with the new WordPress setup with blocks and all, I haven’t always done it right. 

So, my apologies. Especially seeing as I said I would have this published later in the day to a post in our group! 

Anyway, the month is long. For man, it will probably be hot. Hot isn’t fun, at least in my world.

Anyway, I know.. on with the theme! But first … here are those other challenges!

Challenge 1: Tell others about this photo blogging challenge and get some friends to come join us.  Let’s see if we can get people interested in the challenge again.

Challenge 2: Make friends with your camera and see what you can come up with. Have fun!

Challenge 3 is at the end of this post (the theme!).

Before this, here’s some housekeeping items. For those who might be new to the challenge, here’s how it works.

  • See the theme (first day of the month);
  • Take photos throughout the month (don’t use old ones!);
  • Select five photos and create a blog post;
  • Come back here and link up on the final day of the month;
  • Use the official hashtag — #Photoblogchal — on social media posts;
  • Hopefully go visit and comment on other blogs.

That’s it. There’s no rules on equipment or anything else. Blog posts can be short and to the point, or in-depth. Interpret the themes as you see fit.

The one big rule?

Have fun!

This month’s theme? Patriotic! This will be very open to interpretation and it doesn’t matter what country you are in — celebrate it! Please make sure your blog post publishes Wednesday, July 31. Then come back here and link up.

If you think you are going to take part in this, drop a comment below so we can see who all might be trying to tackle this challenge!

There is also a Facebook group for those who are interested.

If you would like to visit the history of the challenge, which started in 2013, please go to the Photo Blogging Challenge page for more!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge (June 2019): Get out and play

It seems when these themes are announced, I have such grand plans. 

This month didn’t work out as planned!

During this time of the year, my work is pretty packed. So much to do, and so little time. That usually means working well beyond my normal hours. That proved to be the same this year. 

That meant, I didn’t get outside and do a lot of “play” things. I did hit up some baseball games, but I haven’t taken a lot of photos at games this year. 

Alas, we must go with what we have and find a way to shape the story we give, right?

My interpretation this month was simple – things I took while out on walks or hikes. Though both of these activities are with exercise and health in mind, the reality is it’s a bit of play, too. It’s nice to get outside and see things. When hiking, a lot of times it’s for geocaching when I do it, so that’s also play. 

So, let’s get underway with this month! My five are below!

1. The view

Earlier in June, I hosted a geocaching event that was about a half-mile hike. This is one of the views on the way out. 

2. Old can

After the event, I had the chance to do some caching. One spot was a cache I had found before (alas, we couldn’t find it this time), but on the way up the side of a hill, I found this. Always interesting to me to see old cans and bottles out like this.

3. So many signs

This is right near a trail where we were hiking for caches. I guess we should stay out of this area?

4. Closed

This is the municipal parking lot in my town. Down on the right is a small park (yes, I have a cache here) and a basketball court. The lot, court and other areas have been under construction. So, for now, there’s no play down that way!

5. Ball field

As out for a walk this month, I saw this carved out baseball field at a local spot. Note, there are regular ball fields here already, but I have a feeling this may have been for a practice or something of a local old-time baseball team. 

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too!  

NOTE: I set up a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

A ‘lil HooHaa: June 2019 linkup

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!