Lens Artist Photo Challenge #124 Before and After
The entire world is adjusting to life after COVID. Now Vince plays free poker online and complains about it every time he does. “These people don’t know how to play.”
Fortunately our friends Glen and Carol came all the way from Australia BEFORE the COVID lockdown. We had such a good time that they went back the third week they were in the US, and we went back in February. The clear blue sky contrasted so beautifully with the statue and the pharaoh’s head dress.
Because of the cooler weather, November through March or April were the best months to visit Las Vegas. Now travel is limited. Even though COVID had not reared it’s ugly head, when we went in February 2020, Vince was careful not to touch railings and to use hand sanitizer constantly.
These adorable polar bears visited the Bellagio for the winter. I’m sure they had to go home after COVID hit.
I just realized that I spent some worthless time putting white frames around all these pictures. So much for trying to impress you all with my Photoshop talents.
This next photo shows you how hot it gets in Las Vegas. This shade covering stands outside of the Shelby Car Museum. What interested me was the tree growing underneath the cover. The heat in the summer is brutal. I swore the last time we went in July for a Kiwanis conference that I would never do it again. It was easy to stay away this year. Because of COVID, Kiwanis put all their conferences on Zoom.
Finally, you all know I love history, but I was more interested in the contrast of colors in this picture of New York New York in Las Vegas. I think I was shooting for the doughboy on the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, but I can’t tell you for sure that’s what it is. I’m making an assumption based on the fact there is a Doughboy Park in the Queens in New York and I think his clothing and weapon look more like WWI than WW2. Agree or Disagree?
Before the destruction that followed COVID, I don’t remember any statues in my lifetime – controversial or otherwise that were torn down by rioters or protesters in the United States. Vandalized statues are something we no longer have to imagine in the United States. As of July 22, there were 179 monuments ruined including a 120-year-old statue of an elk in Portland, Oregon. History will tell if this violent method of protest was more successful in bringing about racial equity than the marches of the 1960s.
Visit the Challenge Hosts & Leave Your Mark
I hope you enjoyed my whites and creams for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, which runs from Tuesday through Monday. I barely squeaked in this week. Click to see some other samples of whites and creams and to learn how to submit your own photos.
Amy of the Lens-Artist team invited us to reminisce about life before and after COVID in Challenge #124. Check out her comment section to visit other contributors. Their challenge comes out each Saturday at noon.
Talk to Me
If you host or contribute to a photo or writing challenge, I would love to interview you and get the word out to other hobby bloggers. Contact me below or by email- marshaalwayswrite@tchistorygal.net
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
24 responses to “#CFFC: White or Cream Colors Before COVID 19”
Great photos and commentary. I’ve stayed at the Luxor. Interesting interior, and fun rides. Love the NY NY roller coaster too. Woo hoo!
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I’m too afraid to go in the roller coaster. Pure chicken. I’m much better on the ground taking pictures, John. 🙂
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Hi Marsha,
enjoyed your take on the themes for the challenges and a top photo for me of this post was the shade covering outside of the Shelby Car Museum – so cool with the angle and the tree growing like that
and your story about the heat at the time – whew – it reminded me of a time I was at Busch Gardens in FL and it might have been the hottest day I have experienced trying to do something – too hot –
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I know that place, too. We went there when I was a kid- in August! Too hot but a gorgeous place. Thanks for stopping by. I’d been thinking about you so I stopped by your blog. Loved your responses to Now and Then.
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Thanks Marsha – I had to take a bit of a blog break but am back now and plan on doing your interview post in early December – and I am looking forward to it – be In touch about that as it gets nearer
– and Marsha –
I also stopped doing the august “neighborhood night out” in our area because it was too hot – I can handle heat a lot better now (crazy how cleansing helped me with that – and the health of the blood and immune system also helps the body regulate cold and hot temps better – so more iron in my blood has seemed to really help me with weather) anyhow – still don’t like humid days over 100 – 😫
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I hate humid days AND days over 100! I have an awful time regulating my hot and cold flashes – even more since I started taking Tamoxifen. Glad you’re back. I’ve missed you. 🙂
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Oh thanks for the nice comment – 😉
And ttys
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🙂 Hugs Have a great weekend, Yvette.
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I haven’t been LV for a long while. These are great photos. I remember the Christmas decoration of the Bellagio, so creative and fabulous. Thank you, Marsha for joining in.
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Thanks, Amy. I wonder what Bellagio is doing during this time of reduced travel. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 🙂
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Wonderful response to the challenges Marsha (and a good use of multiple challenges too!). Been to Vegas, been to NY, hope to see the pharaoh and polar bears some day. Loved Vegas although I didn’t do any gambling. There is marvelous golf out there (I suppose for all the high rollers. We were picked up in a white limo for one round LOL) and the restaurants are superb. It’s kind of a mini world unto itself. So glad I got to see it, probably wouldn’t go back. The heat was unbelievable, and that’s from a southern girl!!
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Hi Tina, Thanks for the comments. I am not a gambler either, and I can’t stand cigarette smoke, but there is so much to see and do, I don’t mind going – except in the summer. WOW – a white limo. You must be famous. LV is definitely a mini-world with its casinos replicating different famous buildings and places.- well put
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I’ve never been to Vegas, but I have lived in Queens (East Elmhurst). I had to look up the word “doughboy”, and there is indeed a Doughboy Park in Queens. I learn something each time I read the entries for the weekly challenge.
I was drawn to the shade covering, which has an outline similar to a Star Wars Imperial Cruiser.
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I know exactly what you mean, Khurt. I learn something all the time, too. I did not know the term Doughboy either, LOL. Interesting observation about the shade covering. I hadn’t seen that.
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Lovely, Marsha – and days of white or cream seem far away these days. Thank you for taking us back!
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I hope the colors of white and cream come back. They are so fresh and clean. Have a great week, my friend. 🙂
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I love them too – I use them a lot in my home. ♥
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Can’t live without them. They make everything else pop.
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Your images speak of innocent times, Marsha. Who would have ever thought we would find ourselves living in and through a global pandemic? The stuff of sci-fi, not so much. Everything changed, some for the better, as you and I personally experienced. Sounds like you are starting to settle in. Im packing still and we will be on our way in 3 weeks. Weird and exciting times, you stay safe, ya hear?
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Wow, three weeks. It has flown by. I thought about you last night as I prepared my post and marveled at how much you have accomplished in such a short time. It took me months to pack everything. Are you having a garage sale, or just taking everything? You stay safe, too and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Vince has a birthday on the 25th, so he wants to eat out on Thanksgiving. Are you doing anything special for the holidays?
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Marsha, I started packing in March. I went through every drawer in the house and donated mountains of stuff. Our last trip we took a ton of boxes of things we don’t need and put them in storage there. We have a PODS coming this Saturday to start loading. We hope to be driving away by Dec 15 at the latest. Happy birthday to Vince! Where can you eat out? Enjoy! We are having Thanksgiving in the house with my two daughters, so they can say their last goodbye. I ordered a turkey dinner for 4 from Raleys, they deliver it on Wednesday!
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Raley’s sounds like the perfect solution. March makes me feel a lot better. I thought you were a whiz kid. I am in awe that you have time to respond to so many people who participate in Sunday Stills. 🙂
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I do take a few breaks from blogging, Marsha. I’m a planner from way back, so I have to pack accordingly with winter clothes. Just packed a bunch of boxes of clothing today. The rest of mine will now fit in two suitcases.
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Happy packing, my friend. Talk to you when you have a sec. My life has settled down until the next move. 🙂
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