Don’t play with your food, young lady!

Brown rice syrup among the primrose...

 Did you mom or dad ever tell you not to play with your food? 

 I’m not sure if I ever heard that phrase as a child, but I am here to tell you that this blog is completely sticking its tongue out at that  admonition.

 First, we’re all in agreement that we should embrace a lively sense of play whenever it presents itself, right?  And we all know the best kind of play is spontaneous, creative, silly and fun.

 A couple of days ago Ms. Suzi suggested a playdate on the comments section of her blog Laundry Line Divine.  Here was her suggestion:  Your post today was beautiful. I loved what you taught me about my camera. Let’s do something like a simul shot…you and I both take a photo at the same time one day this week. What do you think? Love and hugs, S

 Fortunately, I happened to amble back to read her suggestion.  So often I leave a comment on a blog and never return to see whether the blogger responded.  (Unless the blogger is from WordPress in which I faithfully subscribe to most commentaries.  The RSS function from other sites leaves me crazy, however and I do not usually subscribe.)  

Agave syrup honeys up to some other pretty-colored primroses.

 Back to the playdate.  First we ascertained a time.  It had to be after my work.  We determined 12:30 to be the witching hour.  We would simultaneously grab our cameras and shoot….what?  What would we shoot, Suzi?

 Here were Suzi’s suggestions:

 Leaves?
Mail?
Lunch?
Water droplets?
My feet in various places?
My hand?
Weeds?

 She then added that she wanted to shoot food labels.  Her friend had given her a food label called “Perfect in Puddings” and that sounded like an Ideal Photographic Subject.

 “Yes!” I said enthusiastically, “Let’s do food labels.”  

Madras Simmer Sauce--up close and personal

 Food labels it was.

 The 12:30 hour approached.  I rummaged in the cupboards looking for the oddest food labels we possessed.  Brown rice and agave syrup sounded strange enough to entertain folks.  As did Simmer Sauce and Kombucha tea (which I always say very loudly in a thundering tone…accent on the BOO in the middle…only those who have sampled Kombucha tea might possibly understand why.  Or not…) Found some BBQ sauce with an interesting label and, of course, a bag of Wakame seaweed.

 But where to photograph the labels?  Where should we play with our food?  

Kombucha! (And when you say this word, say it like you MEAN it!)

 Of course the answer presented itself immediately.  Where does every good North Woods photographer go to take pictures?  Outside.  And the first thing that caught my eye was our flowering perennial garden in front of our house.

 The rest is History.  

Don't get the barbecue sauce all over the Iris, dear...

 My question for all you folks today is this:  Do you like to play?  When was the last time you played and what did you do?  Do you engage in silliness easily, or is it harder to let go of “adult” behaviors?  

Wakame seaweed in the center of the garden hose.

 Thank you, Suzi, for the challenge!  All you readers please hopscotch over to her blog and read about her food label adventures and watch her slide show: http://laundrylinedivine.com/426/my-playdate-with-kathy-in-lanse-michigan/

Here’s to play!