Thursday, February 20, 2014

On the Way Home

Sandford Road

I love the reflection of the sunset on the road!

Random 5

1. "In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
-  Albert Camus

2. Last Saturday I inadvertently baked a batch of "sink-hole" muffins (the tops caved in when they cooled).  No one inside the house wanted to eat them, so my husband took one outdoors to lure a pesky squirrel into a have-a-heart trap to be "relocated" to a nearby forest. The squirrel wasn't tempted either.

3. Consumerism: There’s a commercial on Canadian TV that bothers me.  A woman is talking to her husband saying “I can’t take it any longer!” What is she talking about? Her refrigerator doesn’t match her stove. OK, I know this ad is supposed to be funny, but actually I think it’s rather sad. I have nothing against matching stoves and refrigerators, but a commercial designed to make people feel unhappy if theirs don’t match is WRONG.

4. I beat the winter blahs this week by attending a digital slide show of Keukenhof (beautiful bulb gardens in The Netherlands), the photos taken last April by friends. WOW! 

5. Question: Does chocolate improve your mood? I've read that for some people it does temporarily but then they feel even worse than they did before they took a bite. How does chocolate affect you?


I am linking to Sky Watch Friday HERE.
I am joining  Random 5 Friday Here

67 comments:

Cezar and Léia said...

Chocolate improves a lot my mood!I'm always happy eating chocolate! :)
You know...beautiful pictures always improve my mood as well, like this amazing composition.You EG girl are talented!:) thanks for these lights!
hugs
Léia

Lowell said...

Funny about the muffins. That road looks way too icy. The sunset is magnificent. I hate those kinds of ads, too. Chocolate is wonderful and I'd eat a lot of it for my heart except that it all goes to my waist!

Anonymous said...

WOW - just gorgeous!

Judy said...

You captured a gorgeous sunset. It's an inviting scene even though the road looks icy.
I so agree with you about the ads we see on TV. It is a form of brainwashing.
Sadly, I am allergic to chocolate.

TexWisGirl said...

i'd eat 'sunken' muffins. :)

Elizabeth Edwards said...

gorgeous view!! i love chocolate but don't think it effects my mood. i guess the main food/drink items that i notice that effects me is coffee & alcohol. coffee make me jumping or extra energy. alchohol makes me really sleepy. nothing else that i know of so far. ( :

William Kendall said...

That is a spectacular sunset shot!

My parents have been in Keukenhof... it's spectacular, from all the images I've seen.

Nonnie said...

an amazing shot of the sun setting sky and the road's reflection! I love dark chocolate; it satisfies something in me that no other food can. Ads on TV are all made to make us think we don't have the perfect product. It's amazing how many of us think that our cell phone, ereader, stove, etc. is passe and we MUST have the latest. :(
As for your muffins, I personally would have taken a bite to make sure that they were actually inedible.
I've been celebrating (in my mind) that I've not been bogged down this winter with the doldrums. Whatever is the reason, I am grateful.

21 Wits said...

A most exceptional way to travel, in so many ways. Stunning, golden and yet frosty evening.

MadSnapper said...

Chocolate makes me feel wonderful while i am eating it, then the guilt starts and i think about how much weight i gained,and worst of all at night my bones hurt so bad i can't sleep.
about number 3 commerical, that is really bad and i agree with you. i think the commercials are why this world is in so much debt,the see, the want, they charge.
in our first house my stove was Aqua green, the fridge was coppertone brown and the washer IN the kitchen was white... i was just glad they all worked.

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

Awesome photo! I've eaten a lot of mistakes in my life. Food is to be looked at as an adventure. Plus, you can always pass it off as "I meant to do that. They are Sink Hole muffins". Fully agree with #3. I don't watch commercials as I zip through them for I've recorded anything I am interested in watching. I went with my wife to her MAC (Apple products) group meeting this week for there was to be a speaker about iPhone photography and such. Midway through I found myself asking "What am I doing here?" Oh well. My chocolate fix isn't for mood enhancement, just for something sweet. I have good self control and limit myself to just one. Besides, anymore than that and I'd OD.

Birdman said...

Chocolate does nothing for me. Add salty, potato chips to the snack menu, and you've got me under a spell.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI Love the shot of the sunset on the road and I would nearly kill for chocolate!! Love it!!

LONDONLULU said...

That is just a beautiful sky! #3 I couldn't agree with more, but #5 perturbs me - I love chocolate, always feel good when I get my hands on it!

Gail Dixon said...

Very nice sunset on that road! I am in the minority of women who doesn't like chocolate. I like white chocolate and always feel good eating white chocolate macadamia cookies, for what it's worth. We're on the same page about the commercial making people feel bad about mismatched appliances. Silly and wrong.

RedPat said...

I'm a salty potato chip person rather than chocolate so it doesn't do a lot for me.
I hate that commercial too!

Ela said...

Oh, wonderful view and the reflection of the sunset.
Really lovely :)
Greetings

Ela said...

Oh, wonderful view and the reflection of the sunset.
Really lovely :)
Greetings

cieldequimper said...

I'm blinded by that sight!

My idea of good taste is mix 'n match so no one is going to make me buy anything merely so that it matches something else!

Chocolate? What's that? :-)

HansHB said...

Beautiful sky!

Lew said...

Beautiful trip home! I don't think chocolate affects my mood, but I sure do like it. And I got my view of the world's beauty right here on my screen while the snow and cold were outside.

Jim said...

Great sky captured.

Hootin Anni said...

Oh...wow, would that ever make a great jigsaw puzzle!! Beautiful.

Photo Cache said...

look at that color.

i love the bonus of 5 random things.

Pamela Gordon said...

What a gorgeous sky in your photo! # 3 is an ad that made me laugh too but you're right about the consumerism of it. We are SO materialistic!!

Jocee said...

That sunset shot looks like a painting - just beautiful. Chocolate definitely improves the mood, unless you eat too much, so go for it!

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Fantastic sky and great photo for SWF ~ how fortunate for you to see this view driving home ~ thanks,

artmusedog and carol
www.acreativeharbor.com

Laura said...

gorgeous sky and reflection on the road too!

Carver said...

That's a beautiful sky. I like your random 5 too.

I had to laugh about the stove and refrigerator. I have gradually replaced appliances like my refrigerator, sink and even the stove hood with lights and fans to be stainless steel but haven't managed to replace my stove, especially since I'd already had to get a new stove before I went on my stainless kick quite a few years ago now. Soooooo I have a white stove with a stainless hood above it and a stainless frig beside it and a stainless sink across from it but it doesn't bother me one little bit. I don't replace appliances until they die because I've discovered the newer the appliance the faster they wear out. I guess it's built in obsolescence or something like that.

Sylvia K said...

Gorgeous capture of a gorgeous, colorful sky and such terrific reflections on the road!! Awesome -- as always! Have a great weekend! Stay warm!!

Small City Scenes said...

A wonderful drive home I would say.
I am not a huge huge fan of chocolate. I'll eat it though. I cannot say that it makes me feel better though. Just being outside makes me feel better. I don't watch too many commercials on TV. I just mute them. they are stupid and they are making us sheep following their insane ideas. MB

Stephanie said...

Chocolate makes me happy but I have to eat it early in the day. For some reason it keeps me awake at night.

I don't see why appliances need to match in the kitchen. As long as they work, suits me fine. Some commercials make me laugh out loud.

Beautiful image, Cameragirl!

Jen said...

I do think chocolate lifts my mood, especially if it's Godiva.

That's a beautiful sunset. Those lift my mood, too.

Jack said...

That is such a beautiful road scene, EG. Well done. They cleared that road with local equipment and didn't have to borrow any from Montreal?

Randy said...

Mr. Squirrel must have a delicate taste buds.

Carole M. said...

what a wonderful snapshot!! Home is where the heart is...you were being lead right to it

Karen said...

Wowsers, fantastic sky!

I have seen that commercial, and it reminds me that my exhaust hood is white, but my stove and fridge are stainless steel...yikes. It doesn't bother me, so I guess I am a misfit!!!

Chocolate makes me very happy, and I never feel worse after eating it. I only eat dark chocolate (70-85% cocoa), which has very little sugar. I think it's the sugar that contributes to the "let down" after eating chocolate.

Rose said...

I am not sure how chocolate makes me feel later...probably makes me think I want more!

Regarding your #3...don't you think a big percentage commercials are designed to make us feel bad because we don't have this or that, or we don't look like this person or that. What is really sad is we can let them make us feel that way.

Linda W. said...

Beautiful photo!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

At least your road matches your sky - that's something to be happy about!

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Wow, incredible shot!!

Cloudia said...

Chocolate?

ME WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^= <3

Pat Tillett said...

Chocolate improves everything!
I love the term "sink hole muffins." I've never heard that before.
I really love your photo. It would be a good reflection if it was just sunlight, but sunlight makes it an amazing photo!

s.c said...

Great shot. Thanks for showing.

Anonymous said...

Wonderfully atmospheric image. As for chocolate, it makes me heavier!

Stuart said...

After my daily dose of chocolate, I always feel better.

Dianne said...

Sunset with those beautiful reflections perfectly captured.
I'm a chocolate lover .... it lights up my life.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh pretty pretty.
It must be pretty bad if the squirrel was not tempted:)
Oh I do not like that commercial either I say this as I sit here looking at my mismatched frig and stove.
Chocolate I don't care about after I only live in the moment:) Hug B

Anonymous said...

Good Morning CameraGirl! Chocolate certainly makes me smile when I eat it. Yep I think it improves my mood but I don't get to eat alot of it. We would have eaten your muffins, I am sure of it.. :)

Anonymous said...

Dang I forgot.. gorgeous click!

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

This day was certainly going out in a blaze of glory!

A Slice of Mexican Sky

Icy BC said...

I am in complete agreement with you on your number 3! This is why we are so much more into material things than need too.

I haven't notice how chocolate affects me. I just eat it :)

KL said...

If I say that picture is spectacular, I am not saying enough. What settings did you use? Absolutely gorgeous.

Yeah, it is sad, isn't it -- our life has become so materialistic that we want everything and our lives become sad if we don't get them. In the process, we are creating havoc in our lives and also on earth.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

LOL I think not having chocolate when I WANT it would hurt my mood! :)

My fridge is so old that is it rusting on the outside doors but the reason that it is still running is most likely because it IS old / I had to replace a stove already that was less than 10 yrs old. You are right about stupid commercials :)

Jill of All Trades said...

That photo is stunning.

Chocolate...not my favorite...now caramel...YUMMY!

Nancy said...

I have no issues with eating chocolate... if I exercise every day, it's okay! Loved your randoms and I so agree about the matching appliances. Who cares? :)

Veronica Roth said...

You know, the more Chloe studies communication and the effect of marketing on the public, the more I'm reminded of my own degree and how things change and stay the same at the same time. It's actually fascinating form a CMNS point of view how marketers keep making the same mistakes. And chocolate helps me to the max and doesn't bring me down, but sometimes results in a few spots, especially around PMS time. (I know...at my age?!?)

Photos by Stan said...

What a wonderful catch! The color, mood, reflection of the sky in the undulation of the road is perfect! Kudos.

Anonymous said...

pretty sunset. I like eating chocolate halfway through the workday, when someone leave it after parties - at the museum. Never buy it myself! {:-Deb

Share my Garden said...

Fabulous photo! Your muffin description makes me laugh, I've baked cakes that deserve to be called 'sink-hole.'
Chocolate - I love it, especially with hazelnuts. It doesn't make me feel down afterwards, but perhaps a bit guilty if I've eaten the lot!
Consumer pressure in advertising is grim but it doesn't seem to be working for me because I don't have much that matches!

Barb said...

What a magnificent winter sunset! Don't you have Gray Jays? They'd scarf up those muffins. (Actually my Grands would, too.) I never feel bad about eating chocolate unless I make a big mistake and eat the whole box.

Light and Voices said...

Confession: I am eating chocolate while looking at your sunset reflection on the road.
JM Illinois
U.S.A.

Indrani said...

Oh! Wow!
I wouldn't want to stop driving on this road.

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

Gorgeous sunset! Funny about the muffins.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.
Hope to see you on my blog:)

Sarah Huizenga said...

There are definitely times when I crave chocolate and I would like to think it improves my mood.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photo! I got a chuckle about the muffins. I'm sure the squirrel was tempted by the muffin but was wise to the trap. ;-)

Valerie said...

A stunning capture, EG.
(I'm a chocolate lover, especially dark chocolate with nuts, and enjoy this as an occasional treat, so don't experience any "highs" or "lows" following its consumption.)

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.