Photo Blogging Challenge (March 2025): Twelve

While the theme for March makes sense and keeps in what I’ve done over time, it doesn’t make it easier. Coming up with things to represent 12 was a head scratcher.

On March 14 (give or take) I thought — I should have taken photos on March 12 and did it that way. Too late. Then I thought, well maybe I could find things with 12 on them. Not so exciting to me.

Then it hit me what I could do. After all, we’re open to interpretation, right?

First, I’ll back track a little.

This is the time of year when my stress goes up and up. Work is highly busy and there’s a ton to do and get done. The weather is changing and you get a really nice day, and then you get some crappy days. At this point, I’m done with winter, so I’m just hoping we keep trending away from it.

Add in everything going on in the world and anxiousness creeps in. Then you start thinking about anything and everything else and … phew! It’s a bit much at times

Where to go with this then? What I’ve decided to do was to take the normal five photos and push it to 12. But why? Because I want 12 things (some overlap, of course) that make me happy and able to relax and feel good about life.

So here we go. Another month down. I hope you all had fun with the theme!

Anyway, onward. Here’s my five 12 for February!

1. Boops and snugs

You know that this post will be heavy on Harper. Let’s be honest, if it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure where I’d be. She’s been a loving, faithful, and amazing companion. I know a lot of people talk about emotional support animals — and so many people get pissed because they can’t take an “ES animal” on a plane or something — but to me, it’s just that she gets me. Or at least seems to. And the nights we sit and snuggle on the couch are some of the best. This photo was too much — and makes me laugh each time I look at it!

2-4. Family

Family is important, so it’s always nice when we can get to see something. The next three photos cover this. The first one is my mother and Cameron after Cameron took part in the Wizard of Oz. He likes the arts, so it’s nice when we can get to see him doing things like this. Maybe one day Broadway? That would be pretty fun.

The second photo is of Jordan and her final high school basketball game. Jordan is my brother’s girlfriend’s daughter — so basically fam! She’s going to play soccer and basketball in college. It’s a shame they didn’t win this game, but she played well and did awesome.

The final one is, again, of Cameron. He and his father came over on a weekend and we tackled the first part of a a LEGO Technic build. The second half will have to come when he is over again.

5. Walking

Though I’ve always been a walker, with Harper it is a necessity — not just doing it to do it. But our walks are great. We do multiple a day and it is, often, a really fun time. We do it in all weather — warm or cold — and it’s been amazing for me. In fact, I find it to be one of the most therapeutic things I do (most of the time, anyway). It’s done wonders for me health-wise, and it allows her and I to have time together.

6. Geocaching

Though my geocaching adventures go up and down, it is always nice when I get to go. Harper is with me the majority of the time, which is nice. I have a few others who I will cache with and I’m lucky they are fond of Harper. This is one of my geocaching pals Jeff — as he makes a find on a recent trip to Syracuse. It was a great day of caching!

7-8. New friends and dog park fun

I don’t always go to dog parks as they can worry me. You don’t know other people or their dogs. Sometimes a dog will be very unruly, or an owner doesn’t watch their animals. The dog park most local to me has a huge area with some small hills and trees etc., so it’s nice for Harper. What I usually do is leave my car near the entrance of the city park with the idea of walking around the whole thing. That usually nets us a little more than a mile. But what I can do is walk by the dog park and scope it out. If it feels fine, I head in. If not, I walk on by. In one of my trips there this month, this younger dog took a liking to Harper a bit and just kind of ran around with her for a bit. They look like they are having a chat.

The second photo is from my second trip there this month. There were a bunch of dogs and sometimes they all sniffed one another, but Harper and I kind of hung in the middle/lower section and I whipped the ball around with the chuckit stick. She had a blast chasing and chasing.

9. St Patrick’s Day

My village holds its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade the Saturday following St. Patrick’s Day. It’s pretty smart, actually, as they don’t have to compete too much to get a couple of pipe bands. This photo is of two of the local college kids putting beads on Harper (shocked she didn’t fight it) and then posing with her. Harper got a lot of attention that day, though I had to shorten the leash some when floats were throwing candy to others nearby.

10. Lambchop!

Yes, it makes me smile when Harper is walking around with her Lambchop. But the amount of people who walk by or drive by and smile when they see it is awesome. Sometimes we take breaks, too, and when I can get her to pose — I’m shocked and pleased! When she is ready to go, she grabs Lambchop and is on her way. Harper has been carrying stuffies for years now — it’s her treat after poops on walks!

11. Clever folks

I love when people are clever. This sign was placed on this cone … and a day or so later, it had disappeared. Such a shame. But I got a laugh out of it!

12. Baseball

I am not sure I’ve gone to a baseball game in March in the Northeast. Especially not a minor league game. Alas, I did it this past weekend! And it was sunny and in the 80s in Allentown for this one! It was also a bark in the park game, so that made it even better. I’m also glad I found this smaller scorebook last year — it’s easier to keep score with Harper around!

There’s my five 12 — I hope you were able to stick with me! These are all things that make me happy and smile, which is pretty important in this day and age! Let’s see what you came up with! If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below.

And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!).

Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too! NOTE: We have a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

** CHALLENGE CHANGE **

From this point forward, I am going to do the next theme at the bottom of each linkup. Also, the posting date will now be the first of each month, thus giving you the entire month to take the photos etc.

That means it’s a one-stop shop! Hopefully this helps out with everybody.

So, below is the linkup for February. Make sure you drop your link there.

OK, so it’s time to keep on moving! And just like that, it’s April! No foolin’! And our theme for the month? Sidewalks and roads. Have some fun! Remember to come back on (hopefully) May 1 to link up and check out the theme for that month! I’ve set a calendar reminder for me, so let’s see if that works!

Photo Blogging Challenge: March 2025 results

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook!