PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE
Constants and Contrast
Fourth Week of August
You couldn’t have strength without weakness, you couldn’t have light without dark, you couldn’t have love without loss― Jodi Picoult
Day 1
The constant has been the hot and humid weather this week. The contrast has been the quick switches between clear and sunny skies and thunder and lightning storms. That pretty much sums up the hurricane season impact in the Philadelphia area. We are not usually directly impacted, just whipped by the lingering tails. The cover photo shows a storm that appeared in a flash.
Day 2
On my trip to the park for my walk today I noticed a lot of textures. I enjoyed the contrast between the spiky and the smooth. It made me think about the constant circle of growth, the bright and vibrant leaves in my area will be changing colors in the next few months. The soft and feathery will turn hard and crunchy.
Day 3
On my trip to the city for work, I pass this scene. There are big patches of graffiti that are obscured by the guard rail in the picture of this abandoned pharmacy. Unfortunately, the parking lot is filled with loads of trash and old tires that have been dumped here. There is a kitchen-style chair near the front door. I often see someone sleeping in the chair in the mornings when I drive by. There are usually several other people staggering around the parking lot in the afternoons.
For the past couple of days, I have been wondering about the person that abandoned this cart. What has been gathered in the cart? Why? Where is the person? Is the person ok?
I experience a constant and major contrast from my suburban townhome community each day as I drive to work in the city.
Day 4
These friendly-looking flowers appear to have been intentionally sprinkled along the shaded walking path to cheer me on like the fans along a marathon route. We both chose to hide from the sun on this extremely humid 95-degree day. I love the contrast between the yellow flowers and the wall of green plants and trees.
Day 5
The frame for my puzzle arrived today. I have never framed a puzzle before. I have rarely completed a puzzle actually. But, during quarantine, my husband and I worked together to complete this puzzle. He wanted to keep it for his office. The uniqueness of the variety of feathers on this puzzle makes me think of the many different ways the pandemic impacted every family. The puzzle is resting on the antique step stool I inherited from my great grandparents.
There are a lot of long marriages that have always been a constant in my life, models for me to live by. I think this is part of the reason my marriage grew stronger this year.
Day 6
I snapped a few photos as I left my doctor’s office. I found this one interesting because it shows the phases and stages of roses budding and blooming. This year has been a year of personal growth for me.
Day 7
Meal planning is something I need to make a constant so that I can make a healthy transition back to work. To be honest, I don’t love grocery shopping or cooking but I enjoy the time meal prepping saves me throughout the week and the health and energy benefits. I will keep trying to keep it up.
For each day this week, I packed a spinach salad with roasted and raw vegetables and chicken with apple cider vinegar and oil, blueberries and kefir, and almonds and macadamia nuts and two huge bottle of water for hydration!
Thanks for reading! I hope everyone finds health and happiness as they balance the constants and contrasts in their lives.
Thanks to Dennett for starting this challenge. See her story, A Week of Dittos, below for the rules to join! Thanks to Kim Zuch, Anne Bonfert, Susan Alison, and the other great writers for sharing their awesome stories and photos too!
A few of my past weeks…
