A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

blogging challenge

Photo Blogging Challenge: May 2020’s theme is …

Another month and … still restrictions!

Some places are in a harsher situation than others. It’s not so bad in my area of New York. Sure, we have to wear a mask when in stores an all. But I go to work (in the actual office) a few times a week and work from home the others. I still go walking. I can go for a drive. And people, for the most part, are going along with things. I am pretty sure we’ll start easing on things soon enough.

PBC logo

Still, the world is trying to see where we will go. Some leaders are making better decisions than others. But as a people, hopefully we can get over this. No matter where you are in your thoughts, I implore you all to think about others — not just yourself. I wear a mask in stores and such not for me, but for others. I respect other people’s space. I walk around others to give space. You’ll find things are better if you just give that space.

But even with everything going on, we continue with the Photo Blogging Challenge! I hope you’ll join us this month, and maybe even try and convince another blogger or two to join us! I’ll be making the rounds for this past month soon … make sure you go back to the linkup to see if there was any you missed!

The new theme is below!

So with that in mind, let’s look at the 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? Keeping busy. This should and could be good. Maybe you’ve started a new hobby? Or worked on an old one? Maybe you’ve found other ways of keeping busy through all of this. Show us! Please make sure your blog post publishes Sunday, May 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 (April 2020): Your World

My hope had been by the time we posted April’s results, our world would be changed. And maybe it has, but not to the level I and I am sure many would have hoped. We still have safety orders in place and we don’t know what is going to happen.

It does seem, though, that things have flattened a little. Some places are pulling back slowly. This summer will definitely not be normal, but hopefully we’ll be able to do so some things. But our worlds have definitely changed.

This month’s theme will be quite interesting, I think. It’ll give us all a chance to see what everybody’s world is currently like. Nobody is the same, that’s for sure.

For me, things have changed, that is for sure. But I think for me, mostly it’s the little things we don’t think about and take advantage of — like a haircut. I’m still employed (though working more hours it seems, even with some at home). I go out for walks a couple of times a day (fewer people sometimes; about the same others in regard to how many I see). There are some businesses open and some closed. I go to the store or post office and I have or wear a mask.

Mostly, I try and stay sane and as healthy as possible. I’m in the office a couple of times a week, but we remain socially distant and there are far fewer people in the buildings when I’ve been there.

Maybe in a month, things will get better. We can all hope. It’s a crazy time in our world, but I am ready to start pushing forward to healing our country, and healing our world.

OK, with all of that in mind, let’s get to some photos and look at what your worlds are all about right now. Here are my five!

1. Artist … ?

I’ve been to Paint Nite (paint and sip things) before and they were fun. With this global pandemic going on, Yaymaker (those behind Paint Nite) have made things virtual. I saw this one listed one night and got into it. I had a lot of fun. I haven’t done another yet (I have painted again on my own), but I’d like to. The virtual version was fun as you don’t have to travel somewhere and make sure you can get there in time etc., it’s all online. (You, obviously, have to have your own supplies)!

2. Photos

My walking has stayed pretty consistent during this time, but I’ve started taking more photos while out. That will be somewhat of a theme with the rest of this post. I also have discovered some processing techniques (this is a preset with Lightroom) and I’ve enjoyed learning new things.

3. Sidewalk art

This time of year, I usually start seeing more and more sidewalk art. Kids are out, usually, and enjoying better weather. I’ve seen a lot more messages like this while I am out and about.

4. Nature

One thing I’ve really worked to do is get out and find some trails, rather than just walk around the village. It’s been nice and refreshing when I do so. I’ve worked to take more photos and do more with video as well (and work on my YouTube page more!)

5. I found a rock

As I was walking in one park here recently, and doing some video, I found this rock on a stone wall. It was nice and colorful on this day, so I snapped a few shots and left it behind. It’s funny how something colorful like this can just make you smile.

And there are my five for the month!

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: We have 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.

Make sure, too, to come back tomorrow to see April’s theme!

Photo Blogging Challenge: April 2020 results

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!

BWF: Carrots from the eyes of a mischievous youngster

When I was a kid, we lived in a small neighborhood. The summers were spend playing with friends — baseball, football, riding bikes, exploring the woods, and jumping around in streams.

This was before the internet age, so … we had to actually find things to do outside.

We’d leave in the morning. Then we’d all go home around noon (we knew when that was as the fire whistle went off) for lunch, and then back we went for the second half of the day. That would be much the same, and sometimes a trip to the village pool on the best days.

To say we were mischievous would be an understatement. Though we never did anything really criminal (my father was the chief of police … I was a bit too scared to do anything bad), we still definitely caused trouble.

That included carrots.

How, you may ask, could you create trouble with carrots?

Simple, I say. You visit people’s gardens for an afternoon snack.

Now, we didn’t do this often. But there were times when we were hungry and there were some neighborhood gardens that weren’t so hard to sneak to and snag a carrot. (Others grabbed peas or whatever else… but I stuck to carrots).

We’d get things cleaned off and would have a healthy snack to get you through the rest of the day.

Not bad.

But yes, totally mischievous.

I still like carrots. But mine pretty much all come from a store, rather than yanking them from a garden. It’s something that does always make me chuckle though, when I think back more probably like 35 or so years ago.

Here’s some DYI, though.

Cleaning garden veggies from a mischievous kid:

  • Sneak into a garden
  • Find the veggie you will eat (remember not to waste)!
  • Find the closest creek
  • Wash off your veggie
  • Have your snack
  • Get a drink from the creek
  • Go back to your daily activities

How about any of you? You ever do anything like this as a kid?

Blog With Friends: April 2020
Blog with Friends is a themed collaboration challenge where a group of bloggers get together and publish a project based on a theme. Please see the others who have taken part for this month’s theme carrots. Links to their posts can be found below the image!

Check out what the others did with carrots!

Enjoy blogging challenges? We have several that happen here, and we’d love to have you join us! The Photo Blogging Challenge is one of our main ones and it runs monthly! Starting up is the Food Photo Challenge and the Can of Corn Challenge. We’d love to see you!

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: April 2020’s theme is …

Well, 2020 has been wonderful so far, hasn’t it?

And we are already into April. Heck, with everything going on in the world, I see people on social media saying “April Fool’s Day is canceled.” I mean, I guess if people think they have some sort of power, but who are they to tell anybody anything during this time? We all cope differently.

PBC logo

Our world is in uncharted waters. We are battling so much right now, and mix all that with the amount of hate in this world and it’s even worse. Somehow, our current situation is hitting every person in this world, be it direct or indirect. The numbers climb and we stay glued — watching and wondering.

Alas, I will probably touch upon this in another post I am working on. No need to clog it all up here. But, photography — along with laughter and whatever else you need to do to get through these times — is here to help. And this challenge will continue, though I did change up the theme for April from my original plan.

So take this theme that is posted below and think about it; interpret it; and make it yours. If you know other bloggers who could use something to join, have them check out this post and take part with us. Let’s use this to help us.

So with that in mind, let’s look at the 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? Your World. Whether you are inside or outside, or being isolated somewhere else, show us your world. Maybe it’s a walk on empty streets. Maybe it’s something inside. But show us your world as we all go through this together. Please make sure your blog post publishes Thursday, April 30. 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 (March 2020): Seven

To say that this theme changed a bit for me this month would be an understatement. Though I didn’t have a full plan of attack when we first started, I really didn’t have a plan once everything went full-on crazy throughout the world.

So this was a bit tough for me in regard to what should I come up with for this theme. Numbers aren’t always easy for me to figure photos for.

I did my best to capture seven … we’ll see how it comes out though!

Let me first take a moment to talk about this challenge. When we first started, the idea was to have a place of creativity — and it still is. But it was a sense of community and a way to grow people’s reach. Blogging over those seven years has changed, and maybe not all for the better. Blogging is still out there and great, but over those seven years, things have changed in how people do it. I still try and keep things the way they were when I started this blog — personal blog telling stories that I feel like sharing. I don’t have ads or anything like that and it’s rare I do sponsored posts (though I will sometimes … I mean, money is money), so I try to keep to the roots.

This challenge has always been a lot of fun and I hope it continues that way. I’ve started getting back into blogging more (as people I hope have seen) and I’m doing my best to visit more (though, sometimes I’m slower with the challenges… I have been catching up!) and see what everybody else is up to.

Seven years.

This challenge has gone through a lot over the years. It doesn’t always draw a lot of people, but I keep hoping maybe people will join and we will grow. If not, we have a great group of people who make it a lot of fun!

Thank you all for being part of this challenge and here’s to many more years of fun!

With all of that in mind, here are my five for March!

1. Thank you!

I’m not much of an artist, so this will have to work! Thank you for seven years of this challenge, no matter if you’ve done one month or been around since the beginning!

2. Seven letters

This used to be a car wash in my town. Though it’s changed, I love that this sign has remained.

3. Seven treats

Being diabetic, I’ve had to find ways to have a sweet treat when I crave it. Turns out Hershey Kisses are good because you can have just one or two and it fills the need. Even better is how many different types of Kisses are out there!

4. Pathtags

If you are a geocacher, you likely know about Pathtags. These collectible “coins” are small and really nice things to find or trade for. Some have holes, so you can attach to a keychain or something like that. Others are more like shaped coins. These are seven of my personal ones. The top one can only be won via contests on my blog or social media. Keep watching as I’ll have a contest coming soon. You don’t have to be a geocacher to win!

5. Dice

I had to bring out some dice. There’s seven of them, of course. And then there’s the seven showing on them!

And there are my five for the month!

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: We have 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.

Make sure, too, to come back tomorrow to see April’s theme!

Photo Blogging Challenge: March 2020 results

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!