Shut Out

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Yet another shot of one of my beloved pups. Tavish is extremely busy

relaxing, as you can see. He's always so cute when he sleeps. :) We were up at

the island when this shot was taken. I sure wish I had this much time to just

sleep and relax like him. Lucky doggy.

Quote Of The Day:

"If you shut your door to all errors truth will be

shut out." ~ Rabindranath Tagore

"Shut out all of your past except that which will help

you weather your tomorrows." ~ William Osler

50 Word Story:

Relief

The world swirled around him like a murky stew, items that needed getting

done and dates that needed attending. He was overwhelmed, caught in a

cyclone of events. Finally, he just holed up and shut the world out, doing what

he pleased for once. As he returned, things looked better.

Waterfall

Monday, November 29, 2010

Yet another shot from the snow day! There will probably be a lot of them,

as they were so pretty. :) This is a shot of the falls, framed by a slot in the

observation deck's rails. The icicles were so pretty that day. There are

pictures from when the falls actually froze a long time ago...

Quote Of The Day:

"A strong person and a waterfall always channel

their own path." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Unexpected Falls

The river of her life meandered slowly around curves and over small patches

of whitewater. In general, it was serene and quiet. But then the river came

around a bend and poured over a high waterfall, jarring and roaring. It took a

few miles for the waves to die down.

The Coffee Shop

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Went into the city for some fun today and took this shot. There used to be

a great bookstore along with the cafe, but they had to move. They're still in

town though, thank goodness. On another note, I absolutely love coffee shops.

They're so warm and they smell nice and it's a great place to people-watch...

Quote Of The Day:

"A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness

tasted and time well spent." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Coffee Shop Morning

The aroma of coffee beans, fresh baked pastries, and recently brewed tea

fills the air. The small building is warm and cozy. The bookcases are lined with

old newspapers and board games. The floor creaks underneath. Novels,

dissertations, artwork, and more are all completed by time in the coffee shop.

Moonlight

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Today's shot was also taken along with the snow day ones. It's a shot of the moon - not the greatest picture, but it will have to do. :) I thought it looked cool up over the valley.

Quote Of The Day:

"I don't know if there are men on the moon, but if there are they must be using the earth as their lunatic asylum." ~ George Bernard Shaw

50 Word Story:

Moonlit Darkness

The night was dark and cool, its black fingers stretching into every crevice and corner of the earth, putting out lights and diminishing sound. Nearly all was silent and fearful. Without word, the moon rose above the clouds, puncturing the night, sending rays of moonlight to burn through the blackness.

Ski Day Number One

Friday, November 26, 2010

I went skiing for the first time this season yesterday. Hooray! The pass

was surprisingly crowded. It seemed as though everyone was desperate for

time up at the mountain. We only did three runs as the lines were long and the

lighting was odd - no/little depth perception. It was fun for what it was. Looks

like this year is going to be a great ski season.

Quote Of The Day:

"Now let's see the chairlift carnage..." ~ My dad. :)

50 Word Story:

Slopes and Smiles

Fresh powder up at the summit. Chairlift lines are crowded with skiers

and boarders all longing for the feel of snow under their gear. The excited buzz

of the first ski day hangs in the air. Shaky movements as athletes get back into

the technique. Cruising down slopes with smiles.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving! I went over to my cousins' house and we had a great

time. Lots of good food and good laughter. We played board games, ate food,

and had a lot of fun. Be thankful for all we have. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." ~ W.J. Cameron

50 Word Story:

Family Thanks

Family gathered around the table of fresh, steaming food. Candles lit and

place settings await their guests. Chatter and the sounds of eating good food

fill the room, smiles and laughter all around. Happiness on every face.

Celebrating Thanksgiving with family. Together. Thankful for every person in

the room.

Railways

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

More pictures from yesterday. :) The first is a picture of the train trestle

as you enter town. The second is from another town in the valley. There are

lots of restored cars and they're really cool to go and look at, as there are signs

describing what the trains were used for. Enjoy today's blog and happy

Thanksgiving Eve!

Quote Of The Day:

"Nothing was more up-to-date when it was built, or

is more obsolete today, than the railroad station."

~ Ada Louise Huxtable

50 Word Story:

Freight Journey

A giant freight train rumbles over the trestle. It slowly rolls to a stop in the

station, the whistle blowing, the wheels screeching. It smells of oil and

charcoal. The passengers board, eager to travel. As the train pulls away, the

noise fades to a quiet chug on the tracks.

First Snow

Hello! Wow...it's so pretty out here! Sorry for the overload of pictures...

I had SO many amazing ones that I had to include more than just one of

them. The first is of some icicles on the railings at the falls. The second is

of a tractor by the golf course. I think the black and white filter on that

really makes it. The third is someone's barn. (Sorry, not sure where this

one is...) And the last is a picture of Sycamore Corridor in the snow, blurred

on purpose. This one reminds me of a winter wonderland. Oh how I love snow!

Quote Of The Day: (This just made me laugh.)

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an

unnecessary freezing of water." ~ Carl Reiner

50 Word Story:

Snow Play

Faces pressed against the window as snow continues to fall, blanketing

the land in sparkling, white drifts. Gloves, hats, scarves, coats, out to play in

the snow. Snowballs fly. A snowman stands guard in the middle of a snow

fort. Hot cocoa waits in the kitchen. The first snow day.

Harry Potter!

Monday, November 22, 2010

I went to see the Harry Potter exhibition yesterday and it was AMAZING. There was SO much attention to detail, I loved it. I went with one of my friends and then we met up with another one of our friends to see the movie. Even though I stopped reading the books halfway through number five, (Yes, don't worry. My mother and I are listening to them on tape now. All seven!) I was still enchanted by the whole exhibit. (Yes, I took the picture above. It's not off the internet or anything. That would be cheating.) And it SNOWED today! No school today or tomorrow! Huzzah!

Quote Of The Day:

"Dobby never meant to kill anyone...Dobby only meant to maim, or seriously injure." ~ Dobby the House Elf

50 Word Story:

Potter's Reign

Books written in dark times by an unknown author. They surfaced in society and immediately became bestselling favorites. Popular not only in one country, the books kept coming. Movies shortly followed, providing another source of excitement. An exhibition was dedicated to the series. The world of Harry Potter lives on.

Heart of the City

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Took this picture a while ago. It was just a quick shot, but it actually turned

out to be a pretty good picture...I'm going to the Harry Potter exhibit and

movie today...SO pumped. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"When you look at a city, it's like reading the hopes,

aspirations and pride of everyone who built it."

~ Hugh Newell Jacobsen

50 Word Story:

Market Heart

The city was a lively place. It bustled with activity as people came and went,

some working, and some sightseeing. It may seem like the highest buildings

were the city's heart, but that was not so. It was the market, whose streets

throbbed with the beat of hundreds of people.

Anticipation

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Look! There's snow in the mountains! Hooray! It's snowing at the pass! You

have absolutely no idea how excited I am for ski season this year. I can't

wait for it to start. People say it's going to be a good snow year....

Quote Of The Day:

"Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation,

and a pinch of creativity." ~ Bo Bennett

50 Word Story:

Just Waiting...

The air hung crisp and cold around the mountain, the clouds shadowing it

from view. As the sun slowly peeked over the horizon, the clouds moved,

revealing a spattering of white at the mountain's peak. Skis were pulled

from the shed and waxed. Waiting for the right amount of snow.

I Wish I Could Transport Here...

Friday, November 19, 2010

Last summer we went hiking to this beautiful lake. In the clearing there

were two tents. What a great place to camp...Utter relaxation.

Quote Of The Day:

"It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands

of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to

rain on a tent." ~ Dave Barry

(Oh how true.)

50 Word Story:

Tent House

Deep in a secluded meadow, the summer breeze filtering the scents of

water and pungent flowers through nylon flaps. Various items hang from trees

on a line, drying in the near silence. The tent smells musty and nice, that

familiar, distinct camping smell.This here is the ultimate summer bliss.

Inconspicuous Lives

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Hey...sorry for the late post. I was studying a lot last night and didn't have

time to post. I'm currently in English class where the sub is letting us do

pretty much anything. I had fun messing around with Picnik and the blur tool.

Came out pretty nice. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"The true mystery of the world is the visible,

not the invisible." ~ Oscar Wilde

50 Word Story:

Hidden Existences

The brick wall ran around the block, its rusty red stones grown over with

vibrant ivy and the occasional sweet honeysuckle plant. A single door stood

nearly in the middle. The bronze doorknob was bright and shiny. It stood

out against the wall...one of the only obvious signs of life.

Dew Droplets

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

I took this picture at the beginning of fall on a sunny morning. The light had

caught the dewdrops and the whole tree in sparkles. This is why I love the

early morning. Enjoy!

Quote Of The Day:

"In the hour of adversity be not without hope, for crystal

rain falls from black clouds." ~ Persian Proverb

50 Word Story:

Morning Rainbows

The morning was quiet and still. No one was out except for her. She walked

before the people ruined the beauty of serenity. She wandered the parks and

sidewalks, taking in the reflection of the bright rising sun on the dewdrops,

casting clear, crystal rainbows over the otherwise grey landscape.

The People We Never Meet

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I've often wondered about who the strangers we meet really are. This man

was on the ferry to the island and was helping the person across from him roll

string into a ball to get ready to knit or use for something. I found it

interesting. Odd. Out of the ordinary. Just a stranger.

Quote Of The Day:

"Not until you become a stranger to yourself will

you be able to make acquaintance with the friend."

~ Mark Twain

50 Word Story:

Stranger's Society

He sat a few seats away, nothing unusual, nothing out of the ordinary. He

looked like a man you would bump into on the street or say hello to in a cafe.

She wanted to know who he was. But she couldn't, for society marked him as a

complete stranger.

Orcha-strated

Monday, November 15, 2010

I took this picture a while go when we were up at the island. We went out in the speedboat and there was a pod of orcas. A pretty cool sight. I've always thought orca whales were very beautiful. They've always seemed powerful. This orca, however, was being a bit camera shy...either that or I had bad timing. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"Whale watching is very similar to watching a lot of people on a boat get disappointed." ~ Demetri Martin

50 Word Story:

Orcas' Arrival

The water was choppy as the wind ripped across it. Unknowing, boaters chugged through the water towards the harbor. Suddenly a spout of salty spray shoots out of the blue waters and a dorsal fin soon follows. Boats stop, cutting their engines. Cameras are pulled out. The orcas have arrived.

Running Free

Sunday, November 14, 2010

This is Decaf, my neighbor's horse. He's quite a character. I had some fun in

Picnik editing this shot of him. I feel kind of bad for this horse and the other

two he lives with as they are all kept in a fairly small pen and aren't ridden

much. I was always promised a chance to ride them, but that never

happened...

Quote Of The Day:

"A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages."

~ Tennessee Williams

50 Word Story:

Turf and Triumph

The expanse of field outside was taunting him. He stood caged in a small

compartment, shuffling his feet and looking around anxiously. He'd made a

vow a long time ago to sprint across that field. Today, the door swung open

and he felt the turf and triumph under his hooves.

Victory!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Hello! :) First picture is of my cousin (in the green) playing in one of her

soccer games. The second is just a great shot of another girl on her team. I

myself had a really good soccer game today. Today we had our last game of

the season. Not only did we play the team tied for top in the league and beat

them, their name was Victory. My team happens to be the worst team in the

league, and quite frankly, we're pretty proud that we just beat that team.

What a way to end the season. Pretty nerve-wracking for me, as I'm the

goalie...It was great.

Quote Of The Day:

(This pretty sums up our soccer season...)

"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat."

~ Malcolm S. Forbes

50 Word Story:

Victorious Finish

They'd tasted defeat many times in the season. The team hadn't "gelled" fully

and they were still a bit scattered - players had come and gone. Towards the

end, they began to see the light of victory. The last thirty seconds of their

season - a goal was scored. Finally! Sweet victory!

Lost

Friday, November 12, 2010

This is a reflection of my cousin. She stood here and I took a picture

of the water. It actually turned out better than I'd thought, as she's kind of

blacked out. Sorry if this post isn't the best - I'm blogging at 10:00 after a

day of thinking about math exams....Ughhhhhh....

Quote Of The Day:

"If you don't get lost, there's a chance that you may

never be found." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Interpretations

She was confused, stuck in a dark place. Everyone around her was a

stranger...even herself. She used to know who she was. She knew what her

heart wanted. She'd tried finding herself, but all she found was a reflection

staring back. Eventually, she'd figure out how to truly interpret herself.

In Memory

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served. My dad and I went to the

cemetery today to take pictures of some of the stones. There were a lot

that had served in the military. The first picture is one from 2010. The next

is one from 1930. All should be honored today - old or young, gone or still with

us, men or women. Thank you for serving our country.

Quote Of The Day:

"Freedom is never free." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Heroes' Honor

The war was shoved onto the back bookcase like an unsatisfactory novel.

Despite the attempts to avoid it, the book is pulled out at least once a year and

read over again. Remembered and recognized in honor of those still vividly

with us and those left behind on the battlefield.

Generations

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

I took this picture a while ago in the last days of summer. I thought it was really cute and I remembered how much I absolutely love the beach and taking long walks down it. It was a really nice day and this picture captured the essence of the beach. Sorry for not posting yesterday, I was at a friend's.

Quote Of The Day:

"Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn't have anything to do with it." ~ Haim Ginott

50 Word Story:

Sunset Walk

The beach stretched out far ahead of them, the waves quietly crashing against the shore. A mother and her son walk sometimes hand in hand, sometimes he runs ahead to explore. The walk for a time, sometimes telling stories, sometimes silent, each enjoying the company and comfort of the other.

Getaway

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

I love editing with Picnik. It's really easy to change the exposure, contrast,

temperature, and other things. I took this picture this summer up at the island.

The lighting wasn't exactly like this, I just had fun editing. It makes me laugh

that the post titled "Getaway" follows the one about math and exams...

Quote Of The Day:

"Laughter is an instant vacation." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Imaginative Stress Relief

The stress pushing down on her shoulders refused to be gone. There were so

many things to do, so many commitments. She tried to be rid of it, but it clung.

Finally she gave in and sailed away, her mind wandering into the life of fiction.

Writing is her getaway.

What Honors Geometry Brings...

Monday, November 8, 2010

This picture actually turned out better than expected...These are only a FEW

of my MANY flashcards for math. I have a trimester exam on Wednesday and

Friday. Not looking forward to it at all. Sooooo much to hold in! Ahhhh!

Quote Of The Day:

"Instead of having 'answers' on a math test, they should

just call them 'impressions,' and if you got a different

'impression' so what, can't we all be brothers?" ~ Jack Handy

"The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things

complicated, but to make complicated things simple."

~ S. Gudder (Yeah, right! Psht. He's got the wrong idea.)

50 Word Story:

Exam Day

Students biting the ends of their pencils in fierce concentration. The lead

scrabbles against graph paper, struggling to keep up with the mind at work.

The test sits like a lion on the desk - heavy, frightening, and unmoving.

Buttons on calculators click. The bell rings. A unanimous sigh of relief.

A Pool of Sunlight

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Quite a nice picture from this summer...a birdbath at my cousins' house. On a

completely different note, tonight I think I played the most intense soccer

game ever. We were in a tournament for recreational soccer teams. I'm the

goalie of my team. Neither team scored in the 70 minute playing time, so we

went into two five-minute overtimes. Nobody scored. That led to penalty

kicks, where we lost. Two hard shots at the corner and a few misses by the

shooters. Man, it was a good game...

Quote Of The Day:

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides."

~ David Viscott

50 Word Story:

Sundrops

The clouds hung low in the sky, casting a dark, grey gloom over the valley.

There hadn't been clear skies for months now. Suddenly though, a warm

breeze came from the east and propelled, the clouds slowly inched their way

beyond the mountains. Sun fell from the sky like raindrops.

Pizzeria Pizazz!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

I'm over at a friend's house today and we made pizza...YUM! I

absolutely love pizza for the fact that it's very, very hard to screw it up.

It just got me thinking about how good a pizza from Italy would be...I'm

hungry again.....

Quote Of The Day:

"You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not

hungry enough to eat six." ~ Yogi Berra

50 Word Story:

Heavenly

The smell from the nearby pizzeria was tantalizing. The warm air bounced

down the street, tickling everyone's nostrils and drawing them in like prey

towards the small shop. The line is already out the door and on the sidewalk.

Inside, it smells like heaven. There's nothing like a good pizzeria.