Tuesday, August 31, 2021

August Monthly Photo Challenge - E

This month's photo challenge theme, posted by Eileen, is "Starts with E".  These are my selections for this theme:

Elephants:

I have a small collection of elephant statues and figurines; here are some of them:

My Father's Wooden Elephant

According to family lore, this black painted wooden elephant that is now cracked and battered (its tusks fell out and the tail broke) dates back to my father's childhood.  It had been stored in a friend's garage for years after I left Sri Lanka until I brought it back with me when I returned from a holiday.  I probably should get rid of him, but, I can't bring myself to do so, yet.

Trio of Ceramic Blue & White Elephants

This set of elephants was a gift to my from my mother who knew I liked to collect elephants and blue and white china.  Elephants with their trunks raised are considered to be lucky.


Embroidery:

A cushion cover I embroidered several years ago.  I've shown it earlier, too, but, I pulled it out when I was sorting out the linen closet and thought I would show it again!

Embroidered "Crazy Patch" Cushion Cover

Close Up: Pansies

Close Up: Mostly Lazy Daisy Stitches


Eggs:

Eggs

When I was a child, we used to often buy eggs from a man who brought them around in a basket on his bicycle.  There used to be some haggling before the sale about the price of the eggs and a discussion about how fresh they were, etc.  It was almost a ritual, with the egg seller claiming that the eggs were laid just that morning, my mother saying the price was too high, and the cook claiming the eggs were probably rotten and she'd end up throwing half of them away!  Eventually, the price was settled on, with the egg seller protesting that he would not be making a profit from the sale.  Then, he would hold each egg up to the sunlight to show that they were good eggs, before putting them in the container the cook held out.  Later, we used to buy eggs from the market, where there would be a similar discussion about the price and freshness, etc.  But, these days, I buy eggs that come presorted by size in containers, with their "best by" dates already stamped on the container, and there is no haggling about the price!  When I used to shop in person, I would open the containers whenever possible to make sure that the eggs inside were not cracked, but, these days, with curbside pick up, that is not possible.  So far, however, all the eggs I've bought have been good.  

Elections:


Elections

Elections and the right to vote!  We, in California, have a special election coming up, next month; a gubernatorial recall election!  There is a lot of discussion, these days, about who gets to participate in elections, how they are held, etc.  I will not go into all that, but, I am very thankful that I am able to vote, right now and participate in the upcoming election.

Entangle:

Entangled Rosemary Branches

The rosemary bush growing in the back garden started out as a cutting a friend gave my mother.  It is over 20 years old and sprawling well beyond the edge of the planting bed, while its bare branches are weathered and entangled around themselves and the bauhinia tree trunk! 

English:

English Language


A fascinating language, in my opinion.  


Thank you for this opportunity to participate in the monthly photo challenge, Eileen.  I had fun and am looking forward to September's theme!  

20 comments:

  1. Some great ideas! I found E very difficult, compared with previous months. I meant to post my photos today but didn't get around to it. Maybe tomorrow! I love your embroidery... and I definitely don't think you should get rid of your Dad's elephant!

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    1. Thank you, Lady Ella. I thought I'd find E difficult, too, but, I sat down and wrote down a list of E words, which made it a little easier. :) Midway through the month, my cell phone acted up and now I can't transfer pictures from it to my computer! I have to text them to my daughter who emails them to me to download to the computer! So, I didn't take pictures of some of the other starts with E words I thought of. Oh, well; a new phone is in the plans, but, we are waiting until Covid numbers go down a bit before we feel safe going into a store! That poor elephant has been through a lot! I need to glue back the one tusk I still have and the piece of wood that keep falling out (a mouse or something ate a big hole in its stomach and the friend who stored the elephant for me cut a piece of wood to cover most of the hole, but, it keeps falling out!)

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    2. Meant to say, as always I enjoyed your reminiscences of growing up. Are you good at haggling? I'm hopeless, and find it uncomfortable. Practically, I swerve between not wanting to drive too hard a bargain and being convinced I'm being cheated - really hard, when you don't know the market! In India my cousins would not let me open my mouth, as they said the price would automatically skyrocket if a foreigner was involved. And so I never improved/got over my discomfort.

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    3. Glad you enjoyed me reminiscing. There were so many street vendors when I was a child - the market came to you, one person at a time! I am not at all good at haggling! About 3 years ago, I went with my daughter to buy some saris at one of the shops in "Little India" as that area is called; before I went, I was told by a friend who recommended the shop that I should bargain, and I did, but, afterwards, my friend I should have bargained more! LOL. No wonder they offered to adjust my daughter's blouse free of charge, while we waited! :D

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  2. I hope you keep the black wooden elephant, it was carved with skill and has a lively look to it. Not just a static standing elephant. It has a family history for you.

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    1. Thank you, Terra. I will probably keep it for now, at least. :)

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  3. Hello Bless, very interested to see your elephants, as my husband inherited a couple from his dad, who picked them up during the war, he was in the Navy. They are in very good condition - and of course I could have used them, but I forgot.

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    1. Thank you, Joy. Glad your elephants are in good condition. I'll be over to check your E selections in a bit. :)

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  4. Well done with "E". I think you should keep your Dad's elephant, too many wonderful memories. Your ability, skill & talent show in your beautiful embroidery. Impressive Rosemary tangled trunk/branches! And yes the English language is most fascinating & furstrating!

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    1. Thank you, Mary-Lou. Yes, I think the elephant will probably continue to live out its years in my home. :)

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  5. I love the stories you told to go with you pictures, but my favorite photo is the entangled rosemary bush.

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  6. My friend collects elephants and she would approve of keeping that cute, wellloved wooden one of your father's. The cushion cover is exquisite, such fine work! Our eggs are bought from next door's hens, no haggling and they are eggselent (excuse the pun). We have a federal election on Sept.20.
    Got a lot done this morning, washed tablecloths etc. washed floors, then had a lovely time pruning out dead and done fruiting canes from the wild berry patch!

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady; yes, the elephant will probably stay. My father is supposed to have "ridden" it as a child! :D I keep thinking of framing the cushion cover, but, haven't done that, yet. Glad you get some eggselent eggs from your neighbor! :D

      Sounds like you've had a busy day! Hope you get to relax in the evening. :)

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  7. I'm in agreement with the others and think you should keep your Dad's elephant.

    You have a great selection of photos. I love the entangled rosemary bush but my favourite has to be the embroidery ... that's beautiful.

    Thanks for joining in Bless x

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. Yes, the elephant is staying for the time being. :) Thank you for posting the monthly photo challenges. Looking at all the blue things for September. :)

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  8. I always enjoy these posts and seeing what you come up with.
    The embroidered cushion cover is beautiful. You need to find an insert for it and get that out of the closet! lol.
    The egg story is a wonderful rendition of times gone by for the most part. At least in this country.
    I continue to be amazed by those rosemary bush roots.

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    1. Thank you, Debra. I should get the cushion cover on a cushion, shouldn't I? :) I don't think people buy eggs like that, anymore, in Sri Lanka, either, Debra. I know there are door to door vendors who still bring things like fruits and vegetables, but, I doubt if they still bring them in baskets balanced on their heads or hanging from either end of a pole they'd balance on their shoulders. That way of life has probably disappeared since I was a child.

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