Sunday, February 6, 2022

Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt - 2nd Link Up

It's time for the second link-up for the WPSH, hosted by Eileen.


No. 2: A Star

No.2: A Star - Star Shaped Ornament
(Could have been for No. 4, too!)

No. 3: Something You Use Every Day - I couldn't decide on one photo for No. 3: Something You Use Every Day

No.3A: Something You Use Everyday - Favorite Tea Cup

No.3B: Something You Use Everyday - Laptop 

No. 4: Form or Shape
No. 4: Form or Shape - Christmas Tree Shape

No. 6: Currency

No. 6: Currency - A $1 Note and Several Quarters (25 Cents Coins)

When I first came to this country, I brought with me the cashier's check I was required to bring (to pay for the part of my tuition fees the scholarship didn't cover, for the housing rent, and text books, etc.)  I had no other money with me and just before I left to go to the airport, one of my aunts gave me a single dollar bill and a dime (10 cents coin) to have on hand in case I needed it to make a phone call or tip a porter at the airport.  That was all the spending cash I had on me when I came.  I held on to that dollar bill for a long time! 

No. 7: A Rainbow

No. 7: A Rainbow


No. 12: Symbolic of the Country You Call Home - Again, I couldn't pick on one thing to be symbolic of the country I now call home:

12 A: The Great Seal of the United States of America


The Great Seal as if appears on the dollar bill

Embroidered in Crewel

My first Christmas in the United States, a college friend invited me to spend the holidays with her and her family.  Her sister gave me a crewel kit of the Great Seal of the United States that she had, saying I was more likely to finish it than she was.  I finished the embroidery during the holidays and my friend's brother, who owned a frame shop, framed it for me as a gift.  It hangs on my wall and every now and then, I wonder if I should declutter it, but, I continue to keep it because of the memories associated with it. 

12 B: The Flag of the United States

12B - Flag of the United States

No. 13: Graffiti/Street Art - How about some sidewalk chalk art, instead?  

No 13: Sidewalk Chalk Art

Photos to the first link-up are here.  

Thank you, Eileen, for hosting the WPSH; I've enjoyed participating in it.  


  1. Party time!
  2. A Star
  3. Something you use every day
  4. Form or shape 
  5. Diagonal
  6. Currency
  7. A rainbow
  8. In profile
  9. A single letter of the alphabet
  10. Tree(s)
  11. Represent your zodiac sign or your Chinese year animal
  12. Symbolic of the country you call home
  13. Graffiti/Street Art
  14. A tea break/coffee break
  15. An external light
  16. Half
  17. Wheel(s)
  18. A gift
  19. A decoration
  20. Small

Alt A. Free choice
Alt B. The weather today

Alt C. Square(s)





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28 comments:

  1. Lady EllaFebruary 6, 2022 at 4:05 PM

    Well done, Bless! (And I definitely don't think you should declutter that embroidery. It's really special, for so many reasons. )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 6, 2022 at 6:29 PM

      Thank you, Lady Ella. I'm a sentimental fool, but, memories are special, aren't they?

      Delete
    2. Lady EllaFebruary 7, 2022 at 10:40 AM

      Not a fool! Our memories make us who we are, and are so very important.

      Delete
    3. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 3:29 PM

      Thank you. Yes, our memories ground us, don't they? I have a cousin who is currently experiencing dementia and it is very sad to see her memories starting to fade.

      Delete
  2. SharonFebruary 6, 2022 at 4:22 PM

    Nice photos! What a wonderful memory of the money given to you when you came to the states.

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    1. BlessFebruary 6, 2022 at 6:32 PM

      Thank you, Sharon. Money was incredibly tight at that time, but, we managed. :)

      Delete
  3. MarthaFebruary 6, 2022 at 5:20 PM

    All perfect Bless! It's amazing that you arrived with only what needed to go to necessary expenses and only had $1.10 for yourself. I would really love to hear more about your arrival and how you managed someday!

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    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 6, 2022 at 6:38 PM

      Thank you, Martha. My arrival in this country was one of those "opportunity knocks" moments. I was planning to go somewhere else for my studies, but, doors opened to come here, instead, and I walked through! Quite unprepared, I didn't even know where Wisconsin was, but, there I was! :D

      Delete
  4. Anne in the kitchenFebruary 6, 2022 at 7:44 PM

    Love the photo prompts interpretations, and especially the dollar bill story!

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    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 6, 2022 at 9:45 PM

      Thank you, Anne. :) My mother was living and teaching in Hong Kong at the time. I was very conscious of the fact that the exchange rate at the time was 5 HK$ to 1 US$. I did get a part time job after the first semester (I could only work on campus and only part time); minimum wage was $2.10 at the time, I believe, and after deductions, I received $1.90. I used to calculate any purchases in terms of how many hours I'd have to work to get that amount of money. :)

      Delete
  5. AngelaFebruary 6, 2022 at 11:48 PM

    The Great Seal embroidery is lovely - the object itself, the memories it evokes, and the demonstration of your skills. Don't declutter it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 1:31 AM

      Thank you, Angela. I've lost touch with that college friend, but, I still remember her and her family and how kind they were to me. :)

      Delete
  6. Eileen HFebruary 7, 2022 at 12:12 AM

    Lovely photos and I like your dollar bill story. May I ask how old you were when you emigrated to the USA?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 1:34 AM

      Thank you, Eileen. I was 18 when I first came, as a student, to attend university. I officially emigrated a couple of years later, when my mother and step-father emigrated. :)

      Delete
  7. 56stepsFebruary 7, 2022 at 4:39 AM

    My goodness. $1.10 pocket money. You could write many posts about managing during that time in your life that I would love to read.
    As far as decluttering, if you love it, keep it! That's my motto. The crewel work is very special and if it continues to please you then there is no question it deserves a place in your home.
    I enjoyed reading your life stories associated with your prompt pictures this month.
    (And the cleverness of finding street art in your own yard!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 2:48 PM

      LOL, it wasn't quite as dire as it sounds; once I had opened a bank account with the cashier's check I was carrying and paid all the things I was expected to pay with it, there was money leftover for groceries and so forth. Later, I was able to get a part-time job at the campus and I did OK. :)
      Thank you, Debra; just about every single photo I've selected has a story to tell - the star was a gift, the wooden ornament was bought to celebrate my daughter's 2nd Christmas, the tea cup was a 50th birthday gift from my daughter, and so on. :) As for the street art, the artist obliged and enjoyed it as much as she did when she was 3 or 4! :D

      Delete
  8. Live and LearnFebruary 7, 2022 at 4:48 AM

    My mother always stressed that you should have change to make a phone call if needed. Now a days, I guess instead of change we need to make sure our phones are charged.

    I agree with everyone else. I think you should keep the eagle embroidery, but you get to decide what is clutter and what isn't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 3:00 PM

      These days, it would be a challenge to find a public phone to make a call, wouldn't it? At least, over here, they seem to have removed all the public phones!

      I think the embroidered Great Seal will stay for the time being. :)

      Delete
  9. Patio PostcardsFebruary 7, 2022 at 5:28 AM

    Lots of good finds for the WPSH. I thought your little shape/form ornament of wooden people looked as thought they were visiting my little library :)

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    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 3:04 PM

      Thank you, Mary-Lou. Yes, they would fit very well into your little library, wouldn't they? :)

      Delete
  10. Eileen TFebruary 7, 2022 at 7:39 AM

    You've made a good start on the hunt and have found a great selection of photos. I agree with what everyone else is saying ... don't even think about decluttering the Great Seal embroidery. It's lovely and holds so many memories for you and decluttering isn't about getting rid of those sort of memories. I do like your star ornament and the pavement chalk art. Thanks for taking part in the hunt, Bless. x

    ReplyDelete
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    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 3:08 PM

      Thank you, Eileen. Yes, the Great Seal embroidery is staying for now. :) The star ornament was a gift from a friend and the chalk artist was very happy to oblige my quest for street art! :D Thank you for hosting this, Eileen. :)

      Delete
  11. BushladyFebruary 7, 2022 at 7:39 AM

    I can see why number 1 might be a challenge in a pandemic. Maybe a scattering of special food for the garden cats might gather them all together at once for a party shot?
    Yesterday I mended a sheet with a large rip, by patching with one side of a matching pillowcase, since I have loads of spares. Then I finished repairing a burlap tote bag made by a friend over 30 years ago. It has travelled to many countries and has been admired for the appliqué cat on each side. Since they are of a patchwork fabric, it is not too hard to patch ripped parts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 3:17 PM

      Once again, great minds thinking alike, Bushlady! I did take a photo of the garden cats having breakfast, but, only two showed up and there are usually three. Will try again, another day.
      Well done on your mending! Those spare pillowcases do come in handy, don't they? :) Your burlap bag is a one-of-a-kind gift from your friend! I'm glad you repaired it. :)

      Delete
  12. Lyssa MedanaFebruary 7, 2022 at 8:55 AM

    Thank you for sharing the lovely pics and stories. I love your tea cup. It's beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 3:23 PM

      Thank you, Lyssa. The tea cup was a 50th birthday gift to me from my daughter. I have admired this particular china design for years and every time we went to a certain store, I would stop by the china department to admire it. But, it was costly and I couldn't justify spending that kind of money on myself. But, my daughter bought me a set, saying a 50th birthday was special. :) Then, I broke the handle of one tea cup and she bought me a replacement, using a gift card she had been given. I still have the broken tea cup, too! I use it to store something! :)

      Delete
  13. CelieFebruary 7, 2022 at 4:38 PM

    Oh yes, do keep that embroidery! It represents a special memory for you. I also would love be to read about your arrival here on the US, Wisconsin of all places!! Best, Celie

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    1. BlessFebruary 7, 2022 at 7:21 PM

      Thank you, Celie. I had written about my arrival in the US in a few blog posts, but, here's one of them:

      https://bless2cents.blogspot.com/2017/08/august-25-anniversary.html

      :)

      Delete

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