FORGOT HIS GLASSES?

It's possible he's squinting because he forgot his glasses, but maybe it was because it was so sunny. 90+ degrees (32c) yesterday...and will be today too.

A TOUCH OF MAGRITTE

 I knew this scene from a nearby park looked familiar. I finally realized it is similar to René Magritte's 1954 painting "l'Empire des Lumières. And so, here is his: 

I FORGOT....

 Had lunch the other day in an old ethno restaurant. Many of the antique items that were displayed I could recognize. I asked the waiter what these two wooden objects were and he told me....but now I have forgotten. Something to do with weaving, I think...

THROW DOWN YOUR ARMS

 Lying just like this, not arranged by me, was this arsenal of plastic weapons in the park downstairs. A momentary truce most likely, but I imagine the battle will begin again when the small soldiers appear.

PLEASE DON'T DRIVE THROUGH HERE

 Across the street from where I live is a large, green expanse, an urban oasis. For how long, no one knows. To discourage cars from parking there, someone set up these creative 'Zen stones'. I love the one with the Ninja band.

MENORAH

 Yesterday marked 17 years since my husband passed away. I cannot believe that this much time has gone by. I miss him daily. My son and I went to visit his grave in Belgrade's main cemetery. Right next door is the Jewish cemetery. I hadn't  noticed before that the gate was designed with a menorah, but the shadow pointed it out to me. 

MONDRIAN LIVES ON

 This shed wall in the village of Deguric reminded me (okay, it's a stretch...) of PIET MONDRIAN'S PAINTINGS. The colors are faded, but all the same, he's there.

NEVER BORED

 That's the truth. I am never bored when I have my camera. Sometimed photos are just staring you in the face, as was this shadow of chains holding up the bench where I was seated.

CONVERSE 2025

 Sneaked a photo of these sneakers at the bus stop yesterday. When I was a kid, only boys wore these 'basketball' shoes, a far cry from the cushy, modern ones. Here are Converse All Stars with flair...

"I'M ALL EARS."

This sheep gave me a fright when I peeked into the window of what I thought was an abandoned stable near DEGURIC, SERBIA, where I recently spent four days in the area's beautiful countryside.
 

HORNET

 Despite its size and menacing appearance, HORNETS, like most creatures, just want to be left alone. So I just sat on the terrace of a rented cottage and watched it and of course, took a photo. 

OLD HOUSE

 A typical Serbian country cottage near Gradac Gorge where I spent a few days a week ago. Entrance on other side and notice that it sits on stone walls.  Space inside is used as a root cellar..

IN THE VILLAGE

 A rooster and his hen (or one of them....) keep a watchful eye on me as I passed their enclosure in the small village of Deguric near Valjevo, Serbia.

PEELING

 Along with my 'laundry fetish,' I also have a 'peeling paint' fetish and often succumb by photographing same when given the opportunity.

DAMSELFLY

 Well, I learned something  on my recent trip to Valjevo, about 70 kms away. I finally was able to capture what I thought was a dragonfly. It flitted here and there and was nearly impossible to photograph. But I did!  I wanted to place a dragonfly link here, but lo and behold, I found out while reading it that dragonflies and damselflies are often confused. So, this is a damselfly and you can read about him or her RIGHT HERE. I guess there are 'boy' damselflies like there are 'boy' ladybugs....

FIFTY SHADES OF GREEN

Unlike the 2015 romantic erotic novel with another color in its name, here are for sure 50 shades of green. I didn't count them, but I bet they're there.

This is a forest in the Gradac area near Valjevo, Serbia, about 70 kilometers from Belgrade, where I recently spent a few days.

HANGING OUT THE LAUNDRY

This scene is not  an extraordinary shot, but something told me to snap a photo. Then I realized that perhaps it was because you hardly ever see men hanging out laundry. Am I right?

HE AND ALL HIS BELONGINGS

 I honestly con't have a comment for this photo other than this fellow did not come across as a usual street person. I wonder what his story is.

CHIEN HEUREUX

 This French dog seemed to be thrilled sitting at a red light.

LENS BALL NOT SO GREAT

 Terrace window. I have got to do better....

DARK FACADE

 The gate and tower on this facade resemble those in nearby Kalemegdan  Park, but no explanation anywhere on the building why.

LAMP POST AND PIGEON

 Just what the title says, plus some flowers.

A PUFF OUTSIDE THE BAKERY

 A bakery worker takes a break outside a bakery in Zemun, a neighboring municipality of Belgrade. 

PARASOL

 I have been seeing more parasols this summer than I ever have before. I don't use one myself, but ladies, do you resort to a parasol to ward off the sun's rays?

GUARDING THE SHOP

 A good guard dog is any dog that barks a lot. I think the  one on the chair would be good at that; if not, the Frenchie is a back-up.

PIPES, POTS, AND PLANTS

 A visit to the neighboring municipality of Zemun yielded this creative, down in the alley photo. Happy Sunday to you all.

COLORS AT THE MARKET

 The green markets here not only sell produce, but a variety of other items like these fans and shoelaces.

THEME DAY-AUGUST 2025--SWEETS

 Serbia does not lack in sweets.  Many are adaptations of desserts from former occupying countries like Turkey or Austria and are usually super-sweet. The ones pictured are from neither of those countnries, but are from the US!  They are banana/peanut butter bars and I'm typing the recipe below. Super easy and not sweet, unless you overdo the honey or add sugar.  See other SWEETS on THEME DAY.

Here's the recipe:  

One mashed banana

2 tablespoons of honey

1/2 cup of peanut butter

one teaspoon of vanilla extract

sprinkle of cinnamon

2 cups of oatmeal (dry)

Mix all; pat into lightly greased pan and chill.

(Note: I bet coconut would be good too if added....)

FERAL PIGS--YOU'RE IN THEIR 'HOOD!

 My dog and I (she was leashed) went for a walk yesterday on Belgrade's GREAT WAR ISLAND in the Danube River. It was overcast, few people. A lovely, sylvan walk, and despite the possibility of running  into (or away from....) feral piggies, I saw nothing bigger than a butterfly. Note:  Never run from them; walk backwards slowly or climb a tree. Walking backwards I can do, but forget the tree climbing....

FLOWERS IN HER HAIR

 This senior lady in the bus still looks good with 'flowers in her hair'. She sets her own style with the wild prints on her skirt and blouse, and a snazzy bracelet.

BAD FOR ME

 Coke Zero has stuff in it that's not good for me....or anybody. I still indulge from time to time. Ovcasionally, like yesterday, I got a zest of vitamin C ... good for me.

FINALLY

 Rain!! Our heat spell has a bit of a reprieve. I darted over with pup to a café between cloudbursts. Honestly, I hope tomorrow will be the same.

START THE DAY OFF RIGHT

 As a kid, I was a Wheaties, Shredded Wheat, Rice Crispies, and Sugar Pops kid. Later, in France I morphed into a croissant/beurre/confiture person. Serbs eat breakfast 'late. They only have a strong, black Turkish-style coffee and go to work and stop around 10 for some savory pastry like BUREK WITH CHEESE. Kind of heavy. Now I do a substantial but healthy breakfast like above. And strong coffee with milk, too.

PAUSE

This lady was oblivious to my passing by....and to my sneaking a shot. It was a hot day, but I imagine this bench was cooler than perhaps her apartment.

FORTUNE COOKIE COKE?

 Of course this Coke did not come with a fortune cookie nor even a fortune, most likely. I came upon both the Coke and the cards on a bench while walking the dog. If I had to choose one, I'd choose "Take the road less traveled; you'll find joy."  Good advice and it is true.

Please enlarge the photo to read the cards and perhaps find your fortune.

NIKOLA TESLA MUSEUM

 There is always a crowd in front of the NIKOLA TESLA MUSEUM and visitors seem undaunted by the extreme heat. If you do not know, Nikola Tesla was (1856-1943) a Serbian-American inventor, futurist, and an inventor. He is especially known for his contributions to the modern alternating current electric supply system.  Click the link; you will learn a lot. 

MINI-ME

 

For several years, mostly on and off and primarily off, I've been trying to write my life story. I intend to make several copies just for my family. I do this in spurts....  Part of my writing also includes photos of places and things dear to me. One such item is 'my' doll, which really is me. I do not remember playing with it. When I was about two or three (not sure how old I saw in the face abve) my mother had my photo taken at a local department store. Apparently they had a contest going on and I ended up winning Second Place (yes, second....I am still looking for the person who took First Place, ha.)  I don't know if there was any other prize, but part of winning included a doll with my winning photo face. The doll has been with me many years now, but she's lost her shoes and socks.

NEVER BORED

 I have often said that I am never bored when I have my camera with me. I always find something worth 'shootin'. A case in point is this dusty bus window, streaked with condensation on the outside. I liked the abstract pattern it made.

GOTH GIRL

 She fascinated me. She may not be in true Goth fashion, but her skateboarding partner was more so. He conked out about five minutes into the bus ride. This is a phone shot. I pretended I was using my phone as a mirror to pick something out of my teeth....and then click.

THEY GROW AMONG US

 Whenever I see LICHENS, I think of all those 1950-era science fiction films where some strange but unassuming life form settles on Earth and eventually wreaks havoc among Earthlings. I imagine I have watched too many sci-fi films, but no regrets.  I'll check back on these lichens to see if they're up to anything.

NO LAUNDRY NEEDED

 This clothespin will never see a clothesline. It is actually a full-size, three-seater bench in a nearby shopping center. 

BOSS LADY?

 From time to time I stop at this small restaurant/café to have a cup of coffee, a small ice cream, or when hungry,  some CEVAPI. I see this woman more often than not, and imagine she may be the owner or manager since she is often engaged in what appear to be instructive conversations with the staff.

IT'S DRY

Hot and dry. Leaves on the ground crunch when you walk through them and it seems the green ones are hanging on for dear life.
 

THREE ON A BENCH--BASTILLE DAY

 I took this photo around 1972 in Paris. Three people sitting on a bench below Ile-Saint-Louis. I often wonder what lives this people led, for most likely they are no longer with us.

Posted this because it is Bastille Day today.

WAITING FOR THE #71

 I take the #71 bus directly home from downtown. There was another that left from the same place, but it's summer and roads are being repaired and buses rerouted.

This is a hip shot of a fellow who was waiting as well.

NOTHING ORIGINAL

Another moon....every time I see a full moon, I have to photograph it. I am undoubtedly addicted to making cliché -d shots. I am fairly certain many of you saw the same moon, no matter where you are.

OVERNIGHT

 We have recently had a LOT of rain, so it's not surprising mushrooms have popped up. I should have added something for scale, but each was about the size of a salad plate.  However, you won't find them on any salad or dinner plate of mine. Or soup bowl! 😜 

EYE-CATCHING

 I wonder if cherry red is the most eye-catching color. I have a feeling it just might be.

MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TONGUE

 Sansevieria is otherwise known by the less attractive names of snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue.  I am not good with plants and only cacti, ivy, and succulents seem to do reasonably well for me. I receved the top plant for my birthday in February and have watered it very infrequently. The bottom one was recently given to me by a friend. Big boys!  I have joined a Facegroup page called Snake Plant Society (there's literally a group for everything on FB). I hope these continue to thrive.