A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

blogging challenge

Photo Blogging Challenge (February 2022): Photographer’s Choice

First things first — I have to say that these challenges can be hard for one reason: I take so many photos of Harper. I’ve decided, though, that I’m going to try to not fill this challenge each month with Harper.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be some photos of her!

Every once in a while I like to throw themes like this into the fold. It makes it a somewhat easy month for people, but I also feel like it also gives people the chance to be creative and make a theme of their own. When you have the choice, it often means you can really think outside the box.

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It also means you have the ability to just have a potpourri of photographs!

Not so purposely, I ended up with a bit of an adventure/outdoor type of a theme. I spend a lot of time with Harper outside, so I get to see a lot of nice scenery. But I also got away a couple of times this month, so I’m adding some items from that.

It seems like we are coming slowly out of the pandemic and more things are available. This lends to some fun opportunities, especially with photography. But I am still going to keep having adventures and such, and photography — both with my phone and my traditional cameras — is becoming fun again.

This theme always gets me excited to see what others have done with it. I hope you all had a great month and have a great March!

Here are my five for the month!

1. Selfie game

Before Harper, I hated selfies. I think it’s safe to say my selfie game has stepped up some! I do some with Harper when I can get her to settle down. This one was on a recent hike and I wanted to get the sky and such behind me. As I was snapping, she reached up and gave me a pepper kiss and this is the photo that happened. I really liked how this one came out.

2. Found it

I had the chance to get out and do a little geocaching this month, which was nice. This was a grab I made on the way to a New York Islanders game. I used the Hipstamatic + app for this shot and I thought it looked pretty cool.

3. Snowman

I couldn’t resist this photo — taken at a week of toss and fetch. The colors and the ice etc., just looked so cool to me.

4. Cannonsville

My area has several reservoirs, which are water sources for New York City. The reservoirs were made, if I remember right, came about in the 1960s. To make the reservoirs, they had to evacuate and flood several towns. The towns are remembered around the reservoir by these signs. I actually think I might do some research on some of these items and do some blog posts in the future.

5. Puppucino!

Harper had her first Puppucino from Starbucks. Something tells me she loves it!

BONUS PHOTO!

I needed to put a bonus photo in this month. I attended an Islanders game, the first NHL game I’ve been to in years. I loved the new arena. They even won that night, which was even better. Had some good seats and really enjoyed the time. The food prices, though, were crazy high!

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 January. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for March is Nine! Remember to come back on April 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: February 2022 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 (January 2022): Black and White

The one month I would have loved to have been able to use color photos, and I selected black and white as the theme.

Go figure!

That’s OK, though. That’s part of having a challenge like this. Sometimes images you capture won’t always fit the theme, so you have to figure something out!

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Black and white is always cool to me, but more for nostalgia. As a kid, I learned how to develop my own film. There was a darkroom in the house when I was growing up. I was also a “darkroom technician” at a local weekly paper.

So black and white reminds me of newspapers of old, and the smell of the chemicals etc. It always gives a cool feel to photos.

But, in today’s way of photography, no everything fits black and white. We are so accustomed to having everything in color that sometimes taking said color away is almost jarring. But there are some scenes that still scream to be without all of the color.

I’m excited to see what others have come up with.

I hope everybody has had a great start to the year!

Here are my five for the month!

1. Harper!

It’s hard for me to put Harper in black and white because she has such a beautiful color. But this one seemed to work out well. This is her frolicking in the snow!

2. Abandoned car

This is something we found while out geocaching. It’s always interesting to find an old car in the woods, no matter how far from a main road.

3. Cold picnic

I was out for a wintry walk with Harper at a local park and came upon this scene. I thought it worked quite well in black and white, though the pieces of blue in the sky were nice.

4. #BallLife

No matter the season, Harper love retrieving and chewing on her Chuckit! balls!

5. Covered bridge

I had the post all set for publishing, and then I passed this Sunday and I loved the look. I knew it would be perfect for this challenge. So I snapped some shots and had to, unfortunately, eliminate, some ice!

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 January. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for February Photographer’s Choice! Remember to come back on March 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: January 2022 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 2021): Holly jolly

As this post arrives, we’ll already be into 2022.

And, I’m sure we will all be looking ahead to new things and a new year full of hope. Maybe we’ll finally find our way through the current situation that the world has been facing for almost two years.

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Alas, we can all only do our part. And that part is up to each individual. I have my thoughts and beliefs and the such, but this is no place for it. All I hope is that each of you remain safe and care about not only yourself, but others as well.

So, holly jolly for this month’s theme.

For those who know me, Christmas is likely my favorite holiday and season, The music and everything going on. The colors and the lights. It usually makes me so happy and in a truly great mood.

I won’t say that I was in a bad mood this season. But I will say I never fully reached the spirit like I usually do. I enjoyed parts, but I really didn’t get far in other parts like I normally do. I attest that to so many changes in my world, and then just everything going on not only in the world, but locally to my state and area.

Still, this was Harper’s first Christmas. So, I’m sure you can figure what my post is heavily centered on. I’m sure she will be featured quite a bit in future themes, too, but I am trying to start using the newer camera I got more, so hopefully I’ll be able to challenge myself in each of these challenges.

I hope everybody had a great holiday season!

Here are my five for the month!

1. Ho! Ho! Ho!

I took Harper to see Santa. This photo is one I actually took and you can see how she wasn’t having sitting with Santa! There are better ones with me in the photo, but those were taken by somebody else. It was nice that Petsmart offers this to people for free.

2. Waiting for the big guy

Harper destroys toys. I had so many good Christmas ones that she ripped through. Some I took away before they were fully done so I can keep them and hope she’s calmed down on destroying by next year. But then I found these… and this one withstood her constant chewing. So, she also got one for Christmas that wasn’t holiday related.

3. Happy birthday!

Cameron’s birthday is just a few days before Christmas, so there’s usually a small gathering and then they throw him something more for his friends and such in July. I figured this was quite a bit holly jolly!

4. First Christmas!

It was Harper’s first Christmas and she had her bandana saying so! I was happy I got her to stay still for a few moments to get this shot!

5. I mean, she did try…

Some days naughty… some days nice …

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 Black and White! Remember to come back on February 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: December 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 (November 2021): Give thanks!

In the United States, November is the month of Thanksgiving.

And, it’s a time where we should all try to give thanks for something. Truthfully, we should all be doing that even more than we do on an everyday basis, but November gives us a reason.

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In this world right now, sometimes it can be hard. So many are divided and one’s opinions and beliefs will differ from others — and at times, that can make things tough on both parties.

Alas, there’s still things to be thankful about.

As I write this, the one thing I truly give thanks for is snoozing against my leg. It fills me with so much happiness and joy (well, most of the time).

I’m also thankful she’s not a barker, considering my one neighbor’s dogs bark pretty much non-stop if the owner isn’t home — which is nearly every day from 5 p.m. and for several hours. So yeah …

I know the direction I am going with this post. And then I will look forward to seeing what you all have given thanks for with this theme. Only one month left in 2021 … and maybe we should give thanks for that, too!

But, for now, we go upward and onward.

Here are my five for the month!

1. Cuddle naps

I’ve had my ups and downs with having a dog. I’ve had Harper now for five months, which is crazy. And Harper and I are settling in better. She’s still frustrating at times but we are both growing. I laugh way more than not with her. And since the battle for her being on the couch was ended, she seems way calmer — probably because she can be up on the couch. I’ve also adjusted where I sit, so I am usually on the couch and she snuggles up with me almost every night. Sometimes in ways I don’t get how they are comfortable! How can’t you give thanks for this, though?

2. Curiosity

I am truly thankful that Harper is curious. She liked to explore. She likes to see different things. She gets spooked, and she’ll also grab what she can with her mouth. But she really does like to see and experience things. I have a lot of plans for the two of us in the coming years, so we keep building!

3-4. Two of four seasons

As much as there are times I can’t stand certain seasons, I truly do love living in an area where we get all four seasons. Hopefully, we’ll get a white Christmas, too. But I’m thankful that we can see the fall (even if you have to clean things up at the end of it!), have nice winters, great springs, and good summers. It’s nice to experience it all and it does give you a different feel when the seasons change.

5. If I fits …

I love watching Harper grow. My mental state is getting better. She was spayed a few weeks ago, and I think that has helped her calm a little. But she’s really enjoyable to watch. When she plays. When she eats. When she sleeps.

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 December is Holly Jolly! Remember to come back on January 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: November 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 (October 2021): Get out and play

I imagine most of you know where I’d be going for the most part this month.

But no matter what — getting out to play has been an important part of trying to get grounded. What’s more, on the inside aspect, I’ve actually found time to blog a little. That is hopefully also going to get me back into the rhythm of doing more than looking at other blogs — but actually leaving thoughts!

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One thing is for sure … getting out and doing something fun is good for your mind and body. I’m still not quite where I need to be for health things, but I’m getting back to where I need to be a little at a time.

The weather my way hasn’t been the most perfect, but it’s been decent enough to get out and explore. Playing is also a key with having a growing puppy, that’s for sure.

So that’s where I stand this month.

I actually had the chance to attend a minor league baseball game this month, too. That was all because of how the schedule worked out this year. Who knows if I’ll ever get that chance again, so it was pretty neat to do so.

Here’s hoping you are all doing well, getting outside, smiling and trying to live life to the fullest!

Here are my five for the month!

1. Happy place

I’m starting this post out with a non-Harper shot. For the first time in two years, I had the chance to take my yearly Columbus Day weekend trip to the Jersey Shore. I spend several hours for two days on the beach, walking it, taking photos, having chats with people and just enjoying the slower side of life. Harper was boarded for the weekend, which was nice, but at the same time … I look forward to next year and hopefully being able to bring her to enjoy the beach as well!

2-3. Dock Diving

Harper did her first two lessons of dock diving! I’m hoping she’ll be able to do one more lesson this weekend before the weather really starts to turn. These two images were from her first lesson. The second one I went in the water, so the photos I have are not ones I took, so … no using them here!

4. National Fetch Day

National Fetch Day fell in October and it was nice to be able to get out and have some fun with Harper. The weather got poor in the afternoon, so I made sure she got a lot of fun play in the morning!

5. A good day of play

I have a lot of photos of Harper sleeping. This one isn’t the best, but it’s the one that makes me smile the most (at least of the ones taken this month). This was after a good day of play and she was exhausted at night. Note that she is curled up on my foot (which eventually that means my foot might go numb). Nights like this are when I know her and I are building a really strong bond.

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 October. Make sure you drop your link there. The theme for November is Give thanks! Remember to come back on December 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month!

Photo Blogging Challenge: October 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!