Happy New Year's Eve!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy last day of 2010! I had a lot of fun tonight - we had some friends over

and we just played board games all night. I took this picture on our photo

shoot and I thought it summed up tonight pretty well. I intend to stay up till

midnight...anyone else? :)

Quote Of The Day:

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's

Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to." ~ Bill Vaughn

50 Word Story:

Bringing it In

Anticipation building up through the black blanket of night. The moon sits

high in the sky, as if it's waiting to bring in the New Year. Good food, good

friends, lots of laughter, the night wears on. The clock chimes twelve.

Firecrackers and confetti are blown into the air.

Fresh Produce

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Here's another few pictures from our photo shoot...these ones turned out

quite nicely with minimal editing. I love the market...there are SO many

colors, all so vibrant and popping. The guy at the produce stand here was

pretty funny, comparing the sizes of our cameras.

Quote Of The Day:

"Even the richest soil, if left uncultivated will produce

the rankest weeds." ~ Leonardo da Vinci

50 Word Story:

Organic Harvest

Plots of land prepared in the spring, the warm sun and frequent rains

enriching the soil. Small seeds planted with care and watched from the kitchen

window as they grow, producing delectable fruits and vegetables. Soon they're

plucked from their vines and sent off to market, screaming the word "fresh."

Illegal Expression?

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

This is another picture from yesterday's photo shoot. There was a whole

wall of very fun graffiti that we took numerous pictures of. This wall was

covered in paint of all different colors, shades, designs, and expression. It was

very cool.

Quote Of The Day:

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." ~ Pablo

Picasso

50 Word Story:

Restricted Speech

Bold colors spattered against a city shop's wall, their twisting features

climbing up the bricks. Unlike most graffiti, this particular piece is done not in

hate or derogatory terms, but in passion for the paints and in beauty. That

doesn't make it any less illegal. Something so beautiful, thoughtful...yet

banned.

Oh Brothers!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Went on a photo shoot today with some friends...really fun time. I got to

use a "real" camera - a Canon. It was definitely a difference and I had a lot of

fun trying out the new feel of a bigger camera. This was one of the shots I got

of two brothers. Moments before this shot they were roughhousing. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"Sometimes being a brother is better than being

a superhero." ~ Marc Brown

50 Word Story:

Brotherly Love...

Two boys sitting on the steps, animated and talking about something. The

next moment, one pulls the other's hair while the other smacks his face. They

share mutual laughter. At last they end up in a hug, one smacking the other

hard in the back, resulting in an indignant exclamation.

A Shelter From the Rain

Monday, December 27, 2010

Today was very fun. I stayed over at a friend's house and stayed up till 3 AM

watching two Pirates of the Caribbean movies...then at noon we went skiing!

Fresh powder, quick lines, snowing. It was so great. I had so much fun! :) On a

different note, here's a shot I took a while ago. I really liked the bright of the

yellow umbrella against the rich blue of the sky. A little editing and it turned

out quite nicely.

Quote Of The Day:

"Don't sit under an umbrella waiting for it to rain." ~ Author

Unknown

50 Word Story:

Rain Repellent

Grey skies and the chill of rain to come. As the thick clouds begin to cry -

lightly at first, then harder and harder - a wind sweeps over the grass,

blowing the tears sideways into a driving rain. A bright yellow umbrella,

like a sun. Defiant against the sheets of rain.

Hats Galore

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Sorry this isn't the greatest picture, but I thought it captured two of

her favorite things...My friend received her cat for her 5th birthday and her

hat for this Christmas. The thought running through Sophie's head was

most likely something along the lines of, "Oh look. There's another animal on

your head!" Both the cat and the hat are very fuzzy. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in." ~ Frederick The

Great

50 Word Story:

Hats Hats Hats

Big hats, small hats, fancy hats, plain hats. Tweed hats, plaid hats, striped

hats, feathered hats. Black hats, red hats, purple hats, green hats, rainbow

hats. Sun hats, baseball hats, rain hats, propeller hats. Caps, crowns,

fedoras, plastic umbrella hats. Light hats, heavy hats, furry hats. Hats and

hats galore!

Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas, everyone! I had a really great Christmas...we didn't really

do a ton of gifts this year, just one nice one and some other fun stuff. We were

all very happy with that. :) My family has a tradition of going skiing or

snowshoeing on Christmas day, so we ended up skiing on untouched snow. It

was like flying. Please appreciate the first picture, as my left hand nearly froze

trying to get it...

Quote Of The Day:

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.

To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is

to have the real spirit of Christmas." ~ Calvin Coolidge

50 Word Story:

Sheer Joy

Christmas tree glittering in the living room beside filled stockings. The sweet

aroma of French toast emanating from the kitchen. Skis on, carving down the

hill in fresh powder, zipping on the wind. Dinner and excitement with extended

family. Home in bed, warm, settled. The idea Christmas. Family. Precious

memories.

Christmas Eve Traditions

Friday, December 24, 2010

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! I had a really fun day today. We went

hiking with some family friends and then hung out for a bit before going to get

a picture with Santa. This evening, we went to our friend's church and enjoyed

the Christmas Eve service. It was a good day. Here are some shots from our

hike. The first is a shot I've always wanted to get - when everything is in focus

but the water is soft. I was so happy to get that shot. The second is of our

doggy friend, Molly. The last is of our friend "grabbing that shot" with his

iPhone.

Quote Of The Day:

"Tradition is a guide, not a jailer." ~ William Somerset Maugham

50 Word Story:

Outdoor's Eve

Whether it be snowshoeing, skiing, walking, or hiking, they were always out

on Christmas or Christmas Eve. While most were holed up in their cozy

houses, listening to Christmas carols and drinking hot cocoa, they were out

braving the elements...perfectly happy with that. It had become a much loved

tradition.

Hardware and Variety

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Hmph. If not for the lights and decorations, it wouldn't feel like Christmas.

I can't really believe that tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Odd, isn't it? Anyway, I

just took this shot as we were coming home from hearing some friends play

music. I've always loved this little hardware store. It's very old-fashioned and

has that distinct general store smell.

Quote Of The Day:

"I went to a general store but they wouldn't let me buy

anything specific." ~ Stephen Wright

50 Word Story:

Quaint

A door on squeaky hinges opens, revealing a cozy store. The smell of dog

food, metal, fresh cut wood, and antiques fills the room, washing over those in

the shop. Shiny, old-style toys, pet supplies, hardware, birdhouses, flags,

doormats, and little knick knacks line the shelves. Always familiar and

welcoming.

Coexist

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

I got this very cool t-shirt a while ago at the market. The symbols are all

religious symbols that are arranged to spell out the word "coexist." I've had

many people ask me what the shirt says...half of them realize what coexist

means and think it's really cool...the other half just doesn't get it. Haha.

Quote Of The Day:

"The human race cannot coexist with nuclear weapons."

~ Iccho Itoh

50 Word Story:

Accept. Move Forward.

Endless views of the world, beliefs systems, and religions. One cannot

comprehend the belief of every human, though acceptance is expected.

Acceptance is easy for some, a barrier for others. Coexistence is the only way

anything in the world will progress. So be open-minded. Don't automatically

say no. Try it.

Linked

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Just took a quick picture tonight, sorry for the poor quality. This is Jabber,

one of my favorite Beanie Babies. I was obsessed with these as a little kid...

Anyway, my grandpa thought that Jabber was pretty cool, so we got him a

matching one. :) He named it "Jabber Walkie-Talkie." My grandpa passed

away a few years ago, but I still have Jabber and his Jabber still sits in the

office in my grandma's house. It's like a link I have with him.

Quote Of The Day:

"The weakest link in the chain is also the strongest.

It can break the chain." ~ Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

50 Word Story:

A Last Link

There were no coherent memories after the accident. Just flashes of white

light, someone grabbing her hand, hard impact. Nothing but blackness after a

point in time. Who were they? What happened? When was this crash? She

remembers nothing but the feel of someone's hand gripping hers. A last link.

Eclipsed

Monday, December 20, 2010

*Points at title.* No, I'm not talking about a horrible vampire movie.

*Shudder.* Tonight there's supposed to be a lunar eclipse. I've always found

solar and lunar eclipses to be something magical...(And yes, I'm aware of the

difference between solar and lunar eclipses, don't be confused by the story.)

Quote Of The Day:

"Nations, like stars, are entitled to eclipse. All is well,

provided the light returns and the eclipse does not become

endless night. Dawn and resurrection are synonyms. The

reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the

soul." ~ Victor Hugo

50 Word Story:

Moonblock

A brilliant sun hanging in the sky like a diamond. It emanates heat, power,

and life and isn't afraid. It sparks and swirls with endless energy. The moon, a

small, cratered grey that slowly begins to take over the sun, gradually blocking

it out, then gradually slipping away again.

Take The Leap

Sunday, December 19, 2010

This was a picture taken last summer when my friend and I were goofing

off on the beach. We had time, a camera, and laughter. Oh how I love summer.

Quote Of The Day:

"When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a

microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative

and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the

heck, leap." ~ Cynthia Heimel

50 Word Story:

Positively Lost

The safe and the unknown, separated by a chasm with no end. Familiar

ground beneath his feet. On the other side, a twisting road that disappears

around a bend. No sign of what's ahead or what's coming. Breathing deeply, he

takes a running leap and lands, looking back only once.

A Friend in the Garden

Saturday, December 18, 2010

I took this picture a while ago at my cousins' house. I think I've

mentioned before that they have a bunch of fun yard art and little knick

knacks. I thought this garden gnome looked friendly for a garden gnome...

One of my friends was actually a garden gnome for Halloween this year, it

was great. :)

Quote Of The Day: (A very random one...)

"It's better to help people than garden gnomes." ~ Author

Unknown

50 Word Story:

Spring Gardens

Spring sun warming the gardener's back as she works, her straw hat

resting on her head. Digging up weeds with thick gloves, gently clipping

plants. The beds are neatly tended, each plant blossoming. The pungent

smell of warm dirt and spring flowers. Soft dirt and evidence of a dedicated

gardener.

Christmas Ornaments, Christmas Memories

Friday, December 17, 2010

I was at a friend's yesterday, so I couldn't post...sorry about that! About

a week ago, we decorated our tree. My parents have a tradition of giving me

an ornament for Christmas every year and it's always a highlight to pull out all

the ornaments and hang them up on the tree in order. This is one of my most

favorite ornaments. It's a writing fairy. On the ornament it says: WRITING. I

love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.

~ James Michener.

Quote Of The Day:

"We do not remember days, we remember moments." ~ Cesare

Pavese

50 Word Story:

Twinkling Memories

A twinkling Christmas tree invites warm memories of past holidays to

come out. Shiny ornaments removed from their wrapping, ready to be placed

on the pine smelling branches. A chorus of "Oh, do you remember?" and "I

love this one!" fills the room. The little things objects can bring back...

Inspiration

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Being a writer, I sometimes feel that I find inspiration in the weirdest places.

Things that seem perfectly normal and uninteresting to people are important

to me and what I could use them for in my writing. This is a football stadium -

a pretty average structure in a city. For me, this sparked a whole new set of

characters and a brand new plot line.

Quote Of The Day:

"Easy reading is damn hard writing." ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

And this one, just because... :)

"A metaphor is like a simile." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Gears

Ordinary objects, normal buildings, busy city streets, nothing to be expected

of them. Architecture common to the city. Grey pavement, nothing out of the

ordinary. However, the slightest thing can kick start the gears in a writer's

mind spinning, whirring, clinking, busy creating a work of entwined words.

Inspiration found.

Limitless

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

This sign hangs on my wall. I happen to look at it every time I turn on the

light and I think it's a good reminder and a good thing to think about. So, tell

me...what would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Quote Of The Day:

"Once I decide to do something, I can't have people telling

me I can't. If there's a roadblock, you jump over it, walk

around it, crawl under it." ~ Kitty Kelley

50 Word Story:

Great and Terrible

Limitless possibilities, endless options, so many solutions. Anything is

possible, failure is not an option anymore. It's not an outcome, there's

only success. Great things always dreamed of are now guaranteed to come

true. But world domination is also possible. What do we learn by always

winning? Think about it.

Wiped Away

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Another picture from our snow day. :) I thought these trees looked....elegant

all lined up in the snow. I wish we'd get snow again, it was so pretty. This shot

pretty much sums up why I love where I live. There's this kind of beauty all

over and you just can't miss it. I love it.

Quote Of The Day:

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means

you've decided to see beyond the imperfections." ~ Author

Unknown

50 Word Story:

I Live Here

Tall mountains with powdered snow lines, their tips hidden in puffy white

clouds. Forests of tall pine trees, clear rivers and streams rolling over

smooth stones. Large meadows full of vibrant wildflowers that sway gently in

the light breeze. Birds chirp and elk graze. Imperfections seem to be wiped

away.

Cake Pop Forest

Monday, December 13, 2010

My mother and I just spent an hour making these fun little cake pops. She

found this recipe and we thought it would be fun to make them for my class

and teachers, so this is what we've been doing the past two days. The inside

of the pop consists of peppermint oreos mixed with cream cheese. They're

then stuck on the stick and dipped in melted chocolate, then coated with

Christmas colored sprinkles. Very easy, very tasty.

Quote Of The Day:

"Holy strawberries, are we in a jam!" ~ Mr. Mint from Candy

Land

50 Word Story:

Dreams of Sugarplums

Candy canes the size of lampposts, towers of gumdrops as big as pine trees,

ponds made out of Jell-O. Little huts made out of gingerbread and flower

meadows of sprinkles. Cupcake townships, ice cream icebergs. Lemon drops

for rocks and cotton candy clouds...every little kid's dream after playing

Candy Land.

Floodwaters

Sunday, December 12, 2010

I took this picture today. This is the river and it's very, very high. If the

rising continues at the rate it is now, it has been said that one of the towns in

the valley is going to flood. As for this shot, I actually took it out of the

windshield of the truck to get the "watery" style.

Quote Of The Day:

"We must build dikes of courage to hold back the

flood of fear." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

50 Word Story:

Serenity Turned to Malice

Ugly water filling the rivers. Trees and boulders crashing down with the

current, unable to hold against the sheer power of water. The water is dark

and muddy and ruthless. Normally calm stretches are turned to rapids. Flood

season.

Twinkling Lights

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Sorry for not blogging yesterday! I...just kinda forgot. Haha. This is a house near mine that looks like someone has thrown every Christmas decoration at it. There's lights on the trees, on the grass, on the house, everywhere. They have little set ups of snowmen and penguins and the lights even blink to music. If you were to visit this house and stand there for ten minutes, you still wouldn't have seen everything. You can't visit this house and be anything except happy.

Quote Of The Day:

"Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show.

The secret lies in an inner glow.

It's lighting a fire inside the heart.

Good will and joy a vital part.

It's higher thought and a greater plan.

It's glorious dream in the soul of a man." ~ Wilfred A. Peterson

50 Word Story:

Cheery Night

The dark of the night pierced by twinkling lights hung high from rooftops and pine trees. Beams of Christmas joy in the air, some rainbow, some candy canes, some giant ornaments. The neighborhood looks festive, warm, and welcoming. One can’t help but feel happy when festive lights decorate the town.

Fantasies

Friday, December 10, 2010

Boy, am I happy it's finally Friday...This picture was taken a while

ago at the sand sculpting championship. Many of my blog pictures have

come from that, in case you hadn't noticed. :) This was a small piece, but

there was so much attention to detail in it.

Quote Of The Day:

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy

is a necessary ingredient in living." ~ Dr. Seuss

50 Word Story:

Why Do We Hang On?

Dreams - whispers of fantasies. Fragments of broken dreams that are

known to never have a possibility to come true. But we don't give up on these

fantasies. If anything, we feed them. Feeding our imaginations with things that

never come true. We hold these fantasies close and never let go.

Science

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Sorry for another mediocre picture, but I just had to blog this. We made flashlights the other day in science. We've been learning about electricity and such, and so my teacher challenged us. We were given a certain amount of various materials between two people and were instructed to build a flashlight. The flashlight had to turn on with one hand, stay on, turn off with one hand, and stay off. It took time, and as my friend and I put it "blood, sweat, and tears," but ours worked. :) We named it the Hot Pocket because it looks like a hot pocket.

Quote Of The Day:

"Science does not know its debt to imagination." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

50 Word Story:

Craving Discovery

Science is merely discovery started and spurred with imagination. So many resources, so many ideas and thoughts, so many questions. Overcome by not knowing, we experiment and change things to see what will happen. We explore and learn new things. We call all the time that we have fun research.

Before and After

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

You can guess what I did today! :) No more braces! Hurray! I'm so happy and

my teeth feel SO weird...So the first picture is me with the braces I've had since

March of 6th grade and the second was taken tonight after they came off. (And

no, my teeth aren't yellow.)

Quote Of The Day: (For lack of better ones...)

"Think about the photo before and after, never during. The

secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The

subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be

very quick." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

50 Word Story:

Transformation

She was a mess before. Her hair was scraggly and flew everywhere. Her pants

were ripped and her shirt was splattered with mud. The gap in her teeth was

wide enough to hold a pygmy elephant. Styled hair, lots of dental work, a nice

outfit, and she was polished. After.