On jan 1 2012
Photogrl57 aka Sherrie posted a challenge..this is what she said.

"Not sure how long this will last but I decided to challenge myself and make at least one photo everyday this year of something I normally wouldn't shoot.
Feel free to post yours if you are up to the challenge"

Sherrie…thank you for starting this challenge and helping me with my photo shop phobia.

Sherrie continued to start the challenge with a new subject and photo a day until late July.

What happened next was pretty neat. You see, she started something that could not be stopped….that’s how good things are sometimes…they just cannot be stopped. Some changes were made…responsibilities distributed and the Challenge went on with multiple hosts, many volunteer hosts, and many contributors….It has been a grand and fun and learning time.
A special thanks to GG who has taken my black and white calendar of hosts and subjects and made it beautiful and fabulous and postable ( I couldn’t even do that) and reminds us daily of how much there is to learn. LAYERS GG LAYERS.
A special Thanks to Janice for her kind and warm ways, for always having something nice to say, for trying to make sure that all images and new contributors have been acknowledged and for scrambling around to help others and also to host and post when her computer took a, well you know.
Thing is some of us have been on since jan 12 and have developed crazy cyber relationships. Honest I don’t know how…it just happened and it is. There has been talk about a get together and ….drum roll….It looks as if we have a host for that too.
A great big thanks to SHER in Colorado who is in the middle of the US. She has what it takes to organize a gig. Now this is some serious stuff and time is necessary to make it work. We are looking at the end of June for a gathering in Denver.
We can plan a meal together, a shoot together, provide advise on how to get there and where to stay and other activities that may be of interest to those who wish to participate. Thing is we need to know who is really serious and who is just talking…well you know what. If you have a serious interest in a gathering of this kind make it known to me or SHER….for now we will be working on it together.
As already mentioned….sometimes things just change…and today I would like to tell you of some impending changes. Just two: Many of you have indicated, a desire to continue with daily challenges. My personal challenge is coming to an end with the December 2012 Calendar…although I might be available to play and maybe even host a day, the feat of organizing it all is not on my list of things to do for 2013…BUT WAIT…GUESS WHAT?….WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FOR THAT TOO
Thank you ANNETTE for all the days you have hosted, the excellent lessons you have provided and now for graciously volunteering to keep the Challenge going… The second thing is that with me goes RED….because I SAW SOMETHING RED and RED IS RED. Annette will have to come up with her own wild card…RED IS MINE.
Which leads me by way of a million miles to: WHY NOT BLUE?
Blue is primary just like red....show me something blue....

OK, I know strictly speaking she's not a stranger, but you can't tell me this puppy wasn't screaming with laughter in this pic? and the second?.......I have many pictures of people who were originally strangers to me, but have become close friends as a result of having one of my pups! Hope you don't mind yet more canine photos and stretching the box somewhat. I can't think that I have ever taken pics of anyone other than friends!

Thanks for hosting and bringing a smile to my face..well you always do!

Great Challenge. Thanks for hosting!

These are a series of shots from our "Sleepy Valley Sleepyheads" night. They make me smile every time I look at them. The last one is my son and Granddaughter making music together.

Besides being "The Festive Season" for most, it is also a time of sadness for many. To counter that, today's challenge involves the posting of photographs of "HAPPY STRANGERS." Adults that are laughing, smiling, generally cheerful or, as evidenced by my avatar, recently lobotomized. People who at the time you snapped them you were not acquainted with. Perhaps in a parade, a sporting event, at a concert, on the beach, in the background etc. etc. etc. Main purpose is to elicit a smile from all and sundry. Cheers! Modest.

Hi..went downtown this morn to see what i could find...i didn't read the part about smiles...just stranger portraits on the calendar so here it is..slightly off topic but strangers none the less...sure hope the posting police don't come after me...