A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

blogging challenge

Photo Blogging Challenge (January 2021): Change and hope

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

And just like that, the first month of 2021 is in the books.

For me, it felt like several months packed into one, at least with everything going on – in my world, as well as the world beyond.

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Change and hope is something I am sure many of us look forward to, though I’ll admit, we may be looking at it in different ways. We’re still in a global pandemic, and there’s still a ton of tension politically around the world. Here’s hoping by the end of this year we are somewhat back to normal. People need that in their lives.

Alas, we’re here for a photo challenge.

I hope you all had a good first month of the year and here’s also hoping for the future months to be as good or better. Be safe and healthy and here are my five for the month.

1. Hope for peace

We’ve had quite the year behind us. I know this is a big hope, but I can wish, can’t I? Even if the peace is just a little more calmness in the States and around the world. It would be nice for people to get along more. I understand many people are on opposite sides of thoughts and opinions, but let’s remember we’re all human.

I chose this photo as when I see visions like this, I always wonder how we can’t get along and enjoy these beautiful parts of life.

2. Hope to explore

I didn’t explore enough in 2020. I want that to change this year.

Again, with the pandemic, many things shut down, and often extended work hours, I got out of the practice of doing things I could still do – such as hiking, visiting parks, and geocaching. This needs to change in 2021. I have to get out and see things. There is so much within a couple of hours of me that there isn’t an excuse to not go.

3. Hope to geocache more

Piggybacking off No. 2, I hope to just get out and cache more. I barely did anything in 2020 when it comes to geocaching. I just didn’t have the drive. So far in 2021, I’ve made the effort to get out a few times and I hope that will continue throughout the year. I’m not saying I will be getting 1,000 finds or anything, but it would be a nice change to actually go participate in this hobby some.

4. Hope to take more photos

This one is a little different and is a change. By change, I mean actually get out with the intention of taking photos. I took a bunch of photos in 2020, but not usually with the ideas of it being a photo day. I want to get out with my camera again – not just my phone. I want to use some of the lenses I have and find places to get good images. I’m not saying my phone won’t be a major part of photography for me, but I want to do more with it overall.

5. Hope this glove got home

The glove sure seemed lonely. Here’s hoping the owner found the glove, or at least this glove continues to keep the lock warm!

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.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for December. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for February is I spy with my eye … Remember to come back on March 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: January 2021 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!

Photo Blogging Challenge (December 2020): The Magic of the Season

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change we made in November, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

The magic of the season.

It seems like this year needed a little bit of the magic and I hope each of you experienced it this season and that you were all safe and healthy; and also that you got to spend time with friends and family — again, being safe!

Now, we turn the page to 2021, and I’m filled with hope.

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Still, the month of December was interesting. We got walloped by a snow storm on the 18th, and I thought that meant we’d have a white Christmas. Nope. On the 24th, we got ton of rain and warm weather. Some areas flooded near us (though I didn’t see anything that was devastating; though I also admit I didn’t see all reports) and we had some snow, but mostly green on Christmas.

Again, I hope you all had a wonderful month. Keep staying safe and healthy and let us look ahead to a hopeful better year. My five for the month are below.

1. Winter wonderland

Snow during the season is magical to me. Especially out for a night walk.

2. Excitement

This is the magic of the season to me … watching Cameron open his gifts.

3. Chasing Christmas lights

Each year, usually on Christmas Eve, I take my mother around to see some of the area’s best Christmas displays. This year, with Covid, the regular gathering on Christmas Eve didn’t happen. So we went out on Dec. 23 and it turned out to be the best night to do so. One place has a crazy cool set up and I got my mother with the giant teddy bear.

4. Lights

I still think Christmas lights are magical.

5. Caramels

The caramels are a yearly tradition and done within our family. So good! People wait for these wonderful treats and they are magic!

BONUS PHOTO

OK, I didn’t take this one obviously. My niece did — with my phone! Anyway, in the past, when we were all younger, we used to get gag gifts (me and my brothers). This year, I saw this on Amazon and couldn’t resist. If you know the movie Slapshot, you know these jerseys. The magic? Christmas was magical this year because it was relaxed and calm. No bickering or anything!

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.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for December. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for January is Change and hope. Remember to come back on February 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: December 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: Party season

Party season

Let’s get those calendars ready.

Soon, we’ll be flipping the calendars to 2021. And it will be a hard one, ya know? I mean, who doesn’t want to hang on to 2020, what with the shortages of toilet paper, being shut down or held back, not being able to travel fully, and, oh yeah, a deadly virus. 

Add to that one of the most nasty and contentious presidential campaigns (as well as other offices) in my lifetime and who wouldn’t want it to end. 

Alas, we need to end it with a bang, don’t we? 

It’s December. The holiday season! Parties galore! Maybe it’s for the office. Or something among friends! Booze will be flowing freely, I am sure. Some great food with everybody dipping their hands into the servings. 

Mmmm mmmm good!

Imagine all those hugs. Maybe a few smooches. And depending on the party and people, who knows what else. 

Goodness, the holidays are upon us and the people are ready. 

But wait, 2020. You’ve really messed up our year, haven’t you? 

People are anxious. Tired. Nervous. Well, probably half. The other half seem to think they are bionic and can just waddle through everything. 

So party season? 

It won’t be like it usually is. The holidays – for many – will be smaller. The office parties and huge gatherings? I’d think most will be skipped this year. 

This virus is real and maybe with vaccines and such coming, we’ll start seeing something change. 

But the party season? 

I’m honestly going to be happy if my family stays healthy and we can have a small gathering for Christmas (it’s usually only seven or eight of us). 

I’m not much of a party goer. I used to love our softball team parties for the holidays back when I still played. But outside of that, I was never much for going to them. When I was younger, I loved the holidays with bars. However, I honestly haven’t been in a true bar for a beer since I stopped playing softball a few years ago. 

For those who live in areas where the “restrictions” may not be as strong, I hope you will all consider being smart this holiday season. Follow public health protocols. What we don’t need this party season is a massive breakout.

Stay smart. Stay healthy. Wear a mask.

Blog With Friends: December 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!

This is the final Blog with Friends. It’s been a fun little run and glad I was able to be part of it at the end!

Check out what the others did with home!

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! Join us as well for the Food Photo 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!

BWF: Home

“Home” has really taken on a new definition since this past March. 

For many people, their home became not just home – but their office. And maybe even more. It almost became a bunker. A place where you could feel safe. 

Your fortress, to a point. 

A home is many, many things … but I am not sure any of us could have predicted how things would have been shaped in 2020, right?

I’ve recently, in the past two years or so, have gotten myself better financially and have realized my current job is one I’ll likely be keeping for my career as it’s something I enjoy, has decent pay, and great benefits. 

So I thought it would be good to start thinking about maybe buying a house. Or some land and get a home done so it’s mine from the beginning. 

Finding what I truly want hasn’t been easy. There are times I look closer than others. I probably should contact an agent (I know a few) and have them start helping me. 

What I seek is pretty defined. I want 8-10 acres, especially some wooded, so I can have some nature trails over time. A decent lawn so I can maybe have some apple trees and a garden of some sort. 

If I am not having a house built (I would look at manufactured), I don’t want to have to do a ton of work (I’m not one who would do it myself), or if it requires a bunch of work – the price needs to be right. 

When COVID first came about and then drained into the second and third months … I started thinking maybe I’d be able to find something at a decent price. Would it be a buyer’s market?

Turns out it’s not. 

It’s a seller’s market. People from downstate are buying upstate homes, often sight unseen and paying higher than market value. 

And well, that doesn’t help people like me. 

So I keep working to find a house that I can turn into my long-term home. I know eventually, it will happen and I’ll be able to put my own stamp on it. 

That home, though, might have to come after COVID!

Blog With Friends: November 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 home!

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! Join us as well for the Food Photo 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 (October 2020): The great outdoors

Note: Please make sure you see the end of this post for the new way of doing things. It’s only one small change, but a change nonetheless. Thanks!

If there’s one thing this whole pandemic has taught me, it’s that getting outside is a must. Staying socially distant or wearing a mask is fine, but if all you do is stay inside, you’ll go mad.

Therefore, it seemed like a perfect time to make sure this challenge for the month was outdoors. Maybe you were somewhere with great fall colors. Maybe you did other things outside. Maybe, just maybe, this challenge forced you to take a walk and explore a little

Remember, we can be safe and sill be outside trying to make sure our mental health is being stimulated and hopefully in a positive way.

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My area got a bit lucky this year, it seems. For as bad as 2020 has been, the fall season was quite majestic for the first time in a few years. The colors on the trees popped and stayed vibrant for a while. Our peak season was more than a week, which is something I always hope for. The colors though… reds and oranges and yellows … so nice. I made sure to hit several nature trails, just to be able to see the foliage in all its glory.

I also got back into Polaroids and instant cameras this month, but that’s not something you’ll see here. Maybe in the future though …

This month’s theme was pretty easy for me. The hardest part? Selecting just five pictures for this post. Not an easy task! I’ll have to make sure to start posting to my Instagram even more.

Stay safe and healthy! My five are below! (And despite having the photos done in time .. and writing this up ahead… I still apparently forgot to post …)

1. Exploring

The Fall around here has been pretty wonderful, and it’s allowed me to get out an explore. I’ve hit several nature trails around here, for photos as well as some geocaching. It’s been nice to see some color, as well as be in solitude a little.

2. Fresh air

OK, not much needs to be said here. The fall cover. Some water. So peaceful.

3. Apple picking

Was nice to go to a local orchard and pick some apples for an hour or so. Makes for good photo opportunities, too!

4. Anybody seen those shoes…?

So I’m out for a walk … and I see these. Just on the main drag. Mixed in with the leaves. Almost like.. .somebody just forgot them. They look pretty solid, too. Hope whoever misplaced them, found them.

5. Winter’s coming

With daylight savings and darker days … winter is usually coming. We got a really good frost this weekend and it’s trying to rear its head. Though… end of this week and next week is supposed to heat back up into the 60s!

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.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for November. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for November is Thankful. Remember to come back on December 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: October 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!