Home's Meaning

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Another picture from my cousins' house. Like I said in the previous post,

they have quite a bit of fun yard art. This is one of their miniature houses

beside a fishpond...quite a charming arrangement...

Quote Of The Day:

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I

find myself." ~ Maya Angelou

50 Word Story:

Where Is Home

Home. It's something we all long for, something that everyone has a

need for and right to. But where is true home? Is it in a house? With our

families and friends? Wherever we travel? In a kayak, on a bike, at a job.

Home isn't a definite. You decide.

Myth

Friday, July 30, 2010

Sorry for not posting this yesterday; had a sleepover with one of my

friends...Today's picture is of a yard ornament in my cousins' yard. They

have quite a bit of neat yard art, making for some fun pictures...

Quote Of The Day:

"A myth is an image in terms of which we try to make sense

of the world." ~ Alan Watts

50 Word Story:

The Doll

Sophie and her brothers explored every inch of the new property.

Every inch but the dilapidated rose garden. Something wasn't right there.

The only remains were an old trellis, bare thorns, and a piece of rusting

yard art; a doll that swung back and forth even in the stillest air...

Gray Day

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Today started off pretty grey and misty. Turned out to be really nice;

sunshine, chirping birds...

Quote Of The Day:

"Genius and virtue are to be more often found clothed in gray

than in peacock bright." ~ Van Wyck Brooks

50 Word Story:

Shrouded

A grey veil hung over the landscape, muddling its features. It

looked like an ordinary town, shrouded in thick, gray fog that guarded

it from prying eyes. That was from a distance. As they got closer, the fog

lifted. Before them lay not a town, but a colorful, extravagant kingdom.

Razzleberries

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Went raspberry picking with my wonderful mother today! The

raspberries, fondly nicknamed "razzleberries" by my mother and I were nice

and ripe. There's nothing like fresh berries on a hot summer afternoon!

Z-man was very happy with the turnout of the photo shoot here...he

lingered while I was taking the first shot and was treated to a razzleberry...

Quote Of The Day:

"Heck, do what us locals do, hit a secondary road and look for

berry bushes on the side of the road. Get out and pick all you

want!" ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Sweet Summer

1:00 on a summer afternoon. The sun high in the sky, beating down

on their backs as they crouched in the fields, picking the vibrant, sweet

smelling raspberries off the bushes. Knees and hands covered in dirt and

berry stains. The reward at the end of the day? Razzleberry pie.

Liberty

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Drew this in chalk on the stone we have in my walkway, as I lack a yellow

balloon...

Quote Of The Day:

"The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is

courage." ~ Thucydides

50 Word Story:

Yellow Balloon

Caged. Trapped. Nowhere to go. That was how he felt. Like he was

running out of air in the sinister box of his mind. He couldn't see anything

but darkness. And then he glimpsed it. A yellow balloon. Tiny, but

reachable. He took the string. It pulled him skyward. Liberated.

Reflections

Monday, July 26, 2010

A picture taken a while ago by me...the reflection of the trees on the river...Enjoy today's thoughts!

Quote Of The Day:

"There are two sides to every coin." ~ Proverb

50 Word Story:

True Being

She wasn’t herself. She tried to fit into their standards, their group. She wanted to be one of them. She wanted to be their image. She did everything she could. She looked exactly as the rest of them did. They thought she had changed. But her true reflection betrayed her.

Dusk

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Took this picture today of dusk falling in the branches of my ginkgo tree.

Sorry again for the late post, I was at my cousin's birthday party all day. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"Dusk, is just an illusion, because the sun is either above the

horizon or below it. And that means that day and night are

linked in a way that few things are; there cannot be one

without the other, yet they cannot exist at the same time.

How would it feel, I remember wondering to always be

together, yet forever apart?" ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Dancing In The Dusk

Dusk is that in between time. Where day and night mingle

together before night finally wins the battle and falls over the land like

a welcome cloak. Dusk is when the fireflies linger, their precious lights

blinking in the cool air. Dusk binds the days together. Embrace it and dance.

Viewpoint

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Sorry for the late post...went hiking today at Summit Lake. Beautiful,

breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier all the time...It was wonderful. The lake

was a clear blue and was cold, but fun to swim in. A must-hike!! It made

my top three!

Quote Of The Day:

"Look at life through the windshield, not the rear-view

mirror." ~ Byrd Baggett

50 Word Story:

Steady Hiker

His classmates were always rushed in the hike of life. They wanted to do

things, go places, and be something. He did too, but he was different in the

way he approached his life. As their class neared the peak, they rushed

right on. He stopped to look at the view.

Past Ruins

Friday, July 23. 2010

This is another picture from Gas Works Park. I took it into Photoshop and

changed the hue and saturation. Enjoy!

Quote Of The Day:

"So tonight you better stop and rebuild all your ruins, because

peace and trust can win the day despite all your losing."

~ Led Zeppelin

50 Word Story:

Fallen

The empire was huge; it built up the lands. It stretched, bloated,

a landscape of white marble columns. The people had everything. It

had risen. No one knew what caused the downfall. Many different

theories sprouted. But slowly the white marble collapsed in on itself.

Nothing left but twisted ruins.

Unexpected Visitor

Thursday, July 22, 2010

This is a picture taken yesterday at my cousins' house. They had a little

green frog sunning himself on their doorbell! I was lucky he was still there

when my mom and I came over...

Quote Of The Day:

"I'm looking for the unexpected. I'm looking for things I've

never seen before." ~ Robert Mapplethorpe

50 Word Story:

Who's There?

Life had been boring for the past few days. It was summer...lazy

summer. Nothing happens. I was doing absolutely, positively nothing. My

mom wanted me to do chores. I said no. And there was no way I was

playing with my brother. That's when the doorbell rang. An unexpected

visitor...

World Unknown

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

This is a picture of a little ladybug down in a large plant. I went hiking yesterday with my mom and dad and this little guy just managed to catch my eye. I was just thinking about how big that plant alone must seem to this little ladybug.

Quote Of The Day:

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." ~ Saint Augustine

50 Word Story:

New Flight

She started like a butterfly, in a cocooned, small world. She was nurtured, taught, and helped along the way. She learned and discovered in her warm cocoon. She had everything she needed, but she became restless. When it was her time, she was let out into the world. She flew.

Perseverance

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Sorry for the late post - I've been editing masses of pictures taken on a hike today... My mom and I went to Gas Works Park the other day and there was this adorable little boy trying to fly his brightly colored kite. He finally got it up into the sky. Anyone can learn a lesson on perseverance from this little boy.

Quote Of The Day:

"When the world says, 'Give up,' Hope whispers 'Try it one more time.'" ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

True Champion

They told him he couldn’t do it. They told him that he was disabled, that he wasn’t as capable as everyone else around him. They told him he couldn’t learn. They told him he couldn’t win. He ignored them. He pushed them aside. And he proved them wrong. He won.

Briar Roses

Monday, July 19, 2010

We have some lovely little tea roses out beside our front walk. I love

these little pink delicacies. They aren't very fragrant, but they make nice

pictures! Pretty cloudy day today...not much happening...

Quote Of The Day:

"If you enjoy the fragrance of a rose, you must accept the

thorns which it bears." ~ Isaac Hayes

50 Word Story:

Chances

He stopped to smell the roses, to take a chance at their fragrance.

It was wonderful; the roses were in full bloom and as beautiful and

sweet-scented as ever. He was happy there with the roses...Then

winter came. In the rain and snow, he was left with only thorns.

Starry Dreams

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Today's a nice day...sunny, warm, a soft breeze...This is a picture of the shadow of my hand in the grass. I edited it...It's supposed to resemble the night sky. Enjoy :)

Quote Of The Day:

"To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Longing

Her family had been killed when she was little. She was lucky to survive…or was she? All alone in this world, nowhere to go. She followed the stars, bright in the night sky. They led her in any direction, something that would always be there. She reached for their security.

Soccer Fever

Saturday, July 17, 2010

For all those soccer players, parents, friends, and fans out there... :) I

myself love the sport and play on a rec. team we call the North Benders...

(I know, creative, right?) I tried to re-create a picture I've seen before.

It came out pretty good!

Quote Of The Day:

"The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it

moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does."

~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Breakaway

He was the hotshot of the team. The scorer. The one who always

broke away. His team would watch him, cheering, as he flew down

the field, turf bits scattering under his feet. The defense was no match

for a player like him. Neither was the goalie. Shoot. Soar. Swish.

Treasure Hunt

Friday, July 16, 2010

There's one geocache and one crazy cacher hidden in this picture...can

you find them? Went caching today with my mother and got a "second to

find." Fun cache...fun walk. If you don't know what geocaching is, check out

the website here: http://www.geocaching.com/

Quote Of The Day:

"A bad day of geocaching is better than a good day of having

hot fire pokers jabbed in your eyes." ~ briansnat

50 Word Story:

I Found It!

They set out with GPS in hand. Bushwhacking through the forest, they

turned this way and that, following the arrow of their navigator. Seemingly

completely lost, having encountered bugs, rocky, uneven ground, and

whip-like grasses, they persisted. Crazy, but bent on getting there. Then

came the call; "I found it!"

Book Love

Thursday, July 15, 2010

I'm sure all of you have had that day when you're so wrapped up in a book

that you don't care what's happening around you. This is a picture of my

copy of Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. So far, so good! :)

Quote Of The Day:

"The road to knowledge begins with the turn of the page." ~

Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Hidden

She seemed quiet and withdrawn. People said she didn't have an

imagination; she was as dull as the color grey. But what they didn't realize

was that grey hid the truth behind it. She read constantly, losing herself

and her imagination in fantasies. She was vibrant. They never knew.

Tranquility

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

This is a picture of me holding a ginkgo leaf up to the rest of the ginkgo tree. I put a filter on it in Photoshop to make it look more artsy. This is my tree. I climb it all the time whether to read, get away, listen to music, or get a good view. I love the way the bark feels beneath my feet...soft and rough at the same time...

Quote Of The Day:

"That perfect tranquility of life, which is nowhere to be found but in retreat, a faithful friend and a good library." ~ Aphra Behn

50 Word Story:

Tranquil Waters

His head was always filled with chaos. He couldn’t escape it like most others. He was always seeing colors, numbers and words. In a desperate attempt to free himself, he took up many hobbies. None helped until he reached the water. Then his mind became as tranquil as the waters.

Old Resident

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

This past spring we've had many nests in our yard...maybe four or five. This is one of them that is right outside my parents' bedroom window. We think all of them are robin's nests...quite fun to watch the baby robins fledge.

Quote Of The Day:

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." ~ Lou Holtz

50 Word Story:

Songbird

The days were dark and gloomy. Han was alone. He tried to make his own amusement, tried to lighten things up, but it was no use. It was just dark. The sky and the people. Until one day he found the songbird. She sang her heart out, lightening the misery.

The Freedom Of Art

Monday, July 12, 2010

This was another one of my pictures taken from Artopia. It was a sign on a door and I thought it was a cool look at how art is so free and different from person to person.

Quote Of The Day:

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." ~ Thomas Merton

50 Word Story:

The Individual

He never drew like the other kids. Instead of flowers, he drew massive oak trees. Instead of houses, he drew cities. Instead of cats and dogs, he drew lions and wolves. As time went on, he was admired by the rest. He didn’t notice. He was free in his art.

Fear

Sunday, July 11, 2010

This is actually a picture of a "patch" on my potholed street. I took some chalk to it and created the theme fear after coming out of my kayak. I've always been afraid of being trapped in it, but today I rolled a few times and all's great. :)

Quote Of The Day: (Again, two today...)

"You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith." ~ Mary Manin Morrissey

"He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

50 Word Story:

This Is Fear

Black, sinister hands that come forward out of the darkness. Reaching. Tugging with their long, silver claws at the mind. Try to run, try to push them away, try to scream. No use. They have you, claws sunk deep in mind. Irrational, you know. You can’t fight. This is fear.

Summertime!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Nothing beats the summer heat better than splashing around in your new pool with good friends! It's been pretty hot here and having the pool up is such a relief. Here's to the summer's heat, good times, and fun!

Quote Of The Day:

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~ Henry James

50 Word Story:

Good Times

Bliss is a hard thing to come by in any other time of the year. We’re always busy with school, work, families and other things. But once summer rolls around the whole world seems to take a breath and slow down. With a cold drink and good friends…summer’s good times.

Woodland Companion

Friday, July 9, 2010

A picture taken a while ago of one of the trees in my yard...quite charming with the face. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"A woodland in full color is as awesome as a forest fire, in magnitude at least, but a single tree is like a dancing tongue of flame to warm the heart." ~ Hal Borland

50 Word Story:

Sanctuary

She walked the woods; her sanctuary. She was in solice there, among the trees and the animals and the nature. Among the cool shadows and bubbling brooks. She made friends with the squirrels and the robins. The raccoons and the beetles. She forgot her troubles and she was at peace.

The Writer Inside

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Had to take this picture many times before I got it just right. This is how I feel about my writing = my words equal my soul. I absolutely love to write (as you probably gathered from the stories) and words come naturally to me. Sorry for the late post, guys.

Quote Of The Day: (Couldn't choose between these two!)

"Whether or not you write well, write bravely." ~ Bill Stout

"Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals." ~ Don Delillo

50 Word Story:

Writer’s Passion

To write is to express my heart, pouring my soul out onto paper. I am an individual because I write. My writing style and my words are different from anyone else’s. My writing is one thing that no one can take; my one defiance. It’s escape as much as passion.

Out Of Place

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

This is Mona the camel. Mona (lovingly called Mona-Tina by most of us) lives on San Juan Island. Yes, Mona is a camel. Yes, she lives in the Pacific-Northwest. Mona is quite a character and loves anyone who stops by the side of the road, exclaiming "THAT'S A CAMEL!" She has quite the fan club.

Quote Of The Day:

"I have become a queer mixture of the East and the West, out of place everywhere, at home nowhere." ~ Jawaharlal Nehru

50 Word Story:

In Place?

Danny always knew he was out of place. The others fit in perfectly, like a jigsaw puzzle that created one mass, a rectangle of one color. He was American, but unlike them. He didn’t wear or do the “right” things. Maybe he was the only one who was in place…

Goodbyes

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

This is the view of the gazebo over the beach on San Juan Island. I came back home today, and as you can imagine, San Juan is a hard place to say goodbye to, especially after living up there in bliss for nearly a month...Such a beautiful island, such good times and laughter. Always hard to say goodbye to...

Quote Of The Day:

"We only part to meet again." ~ John Gay

50 Word Story:

Bittersweet Goodbye

They met in the worst of times. They became best friends, never to be separated. Their bond was one of steel. They were fearless, light-hearted, and adventurous. Then one left. They were torn. But the other smiled instead of crying. She stayed fearless, light-hearted, and adventurous, remembering their good times.

Connected At The Soul

Sunday, July 5, 2010

There's nothing in the world that beats sitting with a good friend. This is a picture I took a few days ago of my two pups sitting together on a bench. Zorro is the black and white one on the left, and Tavish is the brown and white one on the right. These two boys are the best of friends.

Quote Of The Day:

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

True Friend

She was completely alone. Going through things that she couldn’t say to anyone else, couldn’t express. She was falling, spiraling downward into a black abyss. Until the other girl came. She pulled the falling girl out of the hole and into life again. She opened her up. A true friend.

Patriot

Sunday, July 4, 2010

This is a picture taken in the San Juan Island's annual 4th of July parade. It's always a fun scene and there's a lot of pride on the island. In spirit of American independence, here's a picture of our flag.

Quote Of The Day:

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." ~ Nathan Hale

50 Word Story:

Independent Nation

Held under. Couldn’t breathe. Captured, imprisoned, treated unjustly. War broke out; killings, front line soldiers hit. Families torn apart by the raging, bloody war. Yet it seemed worth the fight, worth the bloodshed, worth the broken lands and people. All for freedom. All for independence. To be a solid nation.

Old Friend

Saturday, July 3, 2010

This is a picture I took today of my friend's dog, Beaumont. Beaumont is 12 years old and allergic to pretty much anything you can think up. He's bare in some spots where he's itched or chewed and he has arthritis in his back legs. He's shaky and has trouble with stairs, but nothing stops him form being a happy friend. My favorite thing about this dog is that he's so very happy and just wants to be loved and to love...a good message about life.

Quote Of The Day:

"Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them." ~ Author unknown

50 Word Story:

Good Life

Bumbling puppy, energetic and bouncy. Always ready to play, run, and wrestle. Happy to expend all energy. Lively adult dog. Hiking, fetching Frisbees and balls. Going on long walks in the summertime, sleeping on cool porches. Content old dog. Shaky, slower. Naps in the sunshine, basking in the warmth. Happy.