Kite String

Saturday, April 30, 2011

One of my favorite parts of the trip was flying the kites we made in

science class on the beach. The first shot is of my friend, and fellow kite

maker, trying to get our kite up in the air. Yes, it has a rainbow, a fire

breathing unicorn, a fire breathing dinosaur, and lollipops. We're just that

awesome. The second is a shot of a friend's rainbow kite up in the sky.

Quote Of The Day:

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly." ~ Lauren Bacall

50 Word Story:

Beach Flight

Salt spray wafts over the soft sand. The waves crash against the

ground, their sound comforting. Giggling girls run down the beach, tugging

colorful kites behind them. Attached to the ground by just barely a string,

a kite has the closest thing to freedom. Flying among the clouds, sand below.

Beacon in the Night

Friday, April 29, 2011

Another trip shot! We took a quick little hike/walk up to this old

lighthouse after eating lunch. It was beautiful up there - the view went

on forever. I've always loved lighthouses...

Quote Of The Day:

"Lighting up the night so bright...for all those who sail by night.

Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine." ~ D.L. Moody

50 Word Story:

Lighthouse Keeper

The waves crashed loudly against the sharp, black rocks of the reef. The

wind howled its eerie song, its voice ripping through the night like nails on a

chalkboard. A small beacon of hope stood out on the cliffs, warning sailors to

keep away from danger. A soft, lifesaving beam.

Bridged

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Sorry that these next few posts are a bit late...I was off on my class trip.

It was really, really fun. There was absolutely nothing educational - all just

fun. This was the view from outside our hotel room window.

Quote Of The Day:

"The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and

which to burn." ~ David Russell

50 Word Story:

Life's Bridges

A large expanse of metal ran into the sky and across the water, its triangular

supports glittering in the light. The suspension bridge hung in the air, a bridge

between worlds, between dark and light, between emotions. The world may be

black and white, but a bridge is merely grey.

Whirligig

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

This is a shot I grabbed a while ago of a cool piece of art that spun in the

wind. I liked the little bits of color against the blue sky and puffy clouds...Also,

I'm going on a class trip starting tomorrow, so I most likely won't post until

this upcoming Saturday...

Quote Of The Day:

"The whirligig of time brings in his revenges."

~ William Shakespeare

50 Word Story:

Spinning Expression

The whirligig, for lack of better words, sat on top of the pole in the square.

It spun and creaked softly in the light breeze, jagged metal edges cutting into

the blue sky. Its colored pieces of glass cast rainbow shadows on the

cobblestones. A mark of freedom and expression.

She Sells Seashells by the Sea Shore

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

How's that title for a tongue twister? I really, really want summer, so I

couldn't resist posting something beachy. It's not the greatest shot, but it'll

work...

Quote Of The Day:

"Sit in reverie, and watch the changing color of the waves that

break upon the idle seashore of the mind."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

50 Word Story:

Shellfish, Shell Fingers

Hundreds of shells line the beach, wet and shimmering in the early light. A

small girl rushes down to sit in the ankle deep water, digging the different

shapes out of the sand. This one a clamshell, this one belonging to a hermit

crab. Sandy treasures that others left behind.

Ribbit!

Monday, April 25, 2011

I took this picture about a week ago when I went to see the infamous

chicken....There was this really cool frog fountain with three frogs hugging

under an umbrella. I really liked the way the raindrops were captured in this

particular shot. A bunch of frogs live in the park near my house and during

the spring and summer, you can hear them croaking at night.

Quote Of The Day:

"Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are

interested and the frog dies of it." ~ E.B. White

And this one just because it's funny...

"It is a truly wise man who does not play leap frog with a

unicorn." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Frog Calls

Warm summer air is thick with moisture and the fading songs of birds. As the

stars begin to twinkle in the sky, the croaking of frogs picks up so that it can be

heard all around the neighborhood. Methodic and strangely calming, it carries

on into the cool night.

Happy Easter!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter everyone! Two shots captured the fun today...The first

is of my little cousin's Easter basket. The second is of the bunny cake that

my mom made and my cousins helped to decorate. We have a tradition of

going over to their house for egg salad sandwiches and bunny cakes...It's

always a really fun time.

Quote Of The Day:

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life."

~ S.D. Gordon

50 Word Story: Poem today...I thought it was cute.

Easter duck and Easter chick

Easter eggs with chocolate thick

Easter hats for one and all

Easter bunny makes a call!

Happy Easter always brings

Such a lot of pleasant things!

~ Author Unknown

Dying Easter Eggs...

Saturday, April 23. 2011

Sorry for the poor quality of the first shot - I just grabbed it real fast as we

were dying Easter eggs. Easter egg dying is always something fun for our

family. Nobody ever has any plans for what they're going to put on their eggs

and all three of us pretty much just wing it. My dad just ended up sticking

stickers all over one of his and then dying it red. My mom often has problems

with getting her designs to come out...and me? I try to make mine relevant to

life somehow, but they're pretty random too. I'm just looking forward to the

egg salad sandwiches tomorrow...The last shot is of my lazy little pooch taking

a sunbath on the deck. Had to throw it in because it was so cute. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate eggs home

from the store in a hot car.

The solution: Eat the eggs in the car park." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Vibrant Digits

A dozen eggs lined up on the kitchen counter, ready to be designed and dyed.

White crayons are scattered across the wood and six jars of very strong,

vibrant dye sit in the middle. Stickers and designs galore sit there, waiting for

creativity. In the end, colorful eggs...equally colorful fingers...

Chillin' With My Peeps

Friday, April 22, 2011

So it is agreed by everyone who is remotely awesome that peeps are the

BEST Easter candy there is. No doubt about it. At all. So my friend and I didn't

have school today. Her mother bought us two quite large boxes of peeps. Now,

what are you going to do with two giant boxes of peeps? (Other than munch a

few, of course.) Take them out for a photo shoot! What else? So for three

hours the two of us had jousting peeps, strolling peeps, kayaking peeps,

camping peeps, climber peeps, floral peeps, skateboarding peeps...etc., etc.,

etc. It was a great day. Note: I'm all caught up on stories that I missed...go

back and read. :)

Quote Of The Day: (Because there are no quotes that

pertain to Easter peeps, I thought this one would be

funny.)

"I had a dream last night, I was eating a ten pound

marshmallow. I woke up this morning and the pillow was

gone." ~ Tommy Cooper

50 Word Story:

Peep, Peep, Hooray!

Pink, yellow, green, blue, purple, and orange marshmallows sit on the

counter. They're in the shapes of bunnies and chicks - each one heavily

sprinkled with colored sugar. Joyful and sweet, they bring out the essence

of Easter candy. Of course, everyone knows that peeps are the best. Peep,

peep, hooray!

The Red Hat Society

Thursday, April 21, 2011

When we were off to see the chicken about a week ago, we spotted a

group of women from the Red Hat Society. They looked like they were having

so much fun together! The Red Hat Society is a group for women with the

following goals/mission:

"Fun - we celebrate life at every age.

Friendship - we solidify and expand the bonds of sisterhood.

Freedom - we discover and explore new interests.

Fulfillment - we realize our personal potential.

Fitness - we embrace healthy, life-lengthening lifestyles."

If you'd like to find out more about this fun group, check them out at this site:

http://www.redhatsociety.com/

Quote Of The Day:

"Red hatters matter." ~ Georgia Reyes (Society motto)

50 Word Story:

The Red Hatters

A group of older women gets out of a few cars that have just pulled up in the

market. They giggle and laugh with each other, each adjusting her purple and

red, vibrant, characteristic hat. They pause to take in the view, then, holding

hats and hands, off they go.

Fire Flight

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Today is a good day! I have just decided this. Today my group finished

a pretty big step in a project we're doing and I, thanks ever so much to my

photographer friend, got my pictures that had been erased back! Hooray!

Quote Of The Day:

"Night is a world like by itself." ~ Antonio Porchia

50 Word Story:

Paper Lanterns

The night sky hung over the dark town like indigo velvet. Not even the

stars dared poke out in this cold. A few brave souls arrived in the center

square with hundreds of paper lanterns, each a warm glow against the cold

night. They floated gently away, like lazy comets.

All I can think about right now is Tangled....Hahaha.

Watchful Eyes...

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

I grabbed this shot of our neighbors' cat on a walk the other day. This cat

seems to like to sit on the back of the couch and watch the world...particularly

that bird feeder out there...

Quote Of The Day:

"A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes." ~ Indian Saying

50 Word Story:

The Huntress

Two yellow eyes peer intently out of the window, keeping a close watch on

the outdoors. A white tail flicks back and forth as the eyes travel up to the

birdfeeder not too far from the window. Whiskers twitch. Paws shuffle in to

get a better view. Best lion impersonation.

Just for Ducks

Monday, April 18, 2011

Guess what? It's a duck. Yep, a pretty nice duck there. I am lacking ideas

of what to say...I really liked the marbled quality of the water in this shot.

Um...yeah...Have a nice day. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it

must be a duck." ~ Proverb

The Essence of...Duck.

Waddling around on webbed orange feet, the mallard struts his stuff, the

sunlight just catching the fine, green feathers on his head. Water drips off his

impressive, yellow beak. Ruffling his damp feathers, he quacks importantly

and waddles away, his chest puffed out in pride of his obviously handsome

looks.

Guess What? Chicken Butt!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

This, my friend, is a chicken. Well, a rooster, actually. This thing was

hilarious. It would crow every few minutes...I swear I jumped every time. We

went down to see the "big spotted chicken" today. It was actually really fun.

There's this giant chicken statue and then there's this little village shopping

center thing. It's all very quaint. My SD card decided to delete a ton of my

pictures, however, so I'll post a picture of the infamous spotted chicken if I

can get them recovered. (We have hope...)

Quote Of The Day: (I read this, did a double take, and

laughed.)

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken."

~ Chuck Palahniuk

50 Word Story:

Landmark Chicken

The giant white chicken with black polka dots stands out like a sore thumb

on the road. It's pretty impossible to miss... It stands and watches the cars and

pedestrians that come to shop in the quaint, country-like market. Nobody

ever complains though, because it never utters the smallest squawk.

Street Performer

I grabbed this shot of a street performer last week. He had one

guitar balanced on his chin, the other one in his hands, a harmonica

in his mouth, and he was playing all these instruments while hula hooping

not one, but two hula hoops. I've gotta give it to this guy...I could never

pull that off.

Quote Of The Day:

"The whole motivation for any performer is 'Look at me,

Ma.'" ~ Lenny Bruce

50 Word Story:

Look at Me!

A man stands on the corner, decked out in colorful clothes and carrying a

variety of props. He holds a teddy bear, juggling pins, rainbow beach balls, and

a guitar. As soon as he has a sufficient audience, he begins juggling and singing,

enjoying the rapt eyes of the crowd.

Storm Clouds

Friday, April 15, 2011

I was at a friend's house for Chinese last night, so I didn't get a chance

to post this. So the 15th is the Day of Silence. It's a day where mostly high

school students, though some of my friends and I participated, as well as some

of our teachers, don't speak unless required to be in solidarity for those who

feel as though they can't speak who they are - mostly referring to gay, lesbian,

bisexual, and transgendered teens. If you want to read more, check out this

link: http://www.dayofsilence.org/. On another note, this is yet another shot

of the mountain with a pretty impressive cloud over it. (I had to tie this back

to today's theme somehow....)

Quote Of The Day:

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain." ~ Author Unknown.

50 Word Story:

Angel's Tears

Grey storm clouds hung low in the sky, blocking out the warm sunshine. They rumbled with thunder and flashed with lightning, unrelenting. Fat raindrops, tears of the angels, plummeted to the ground. It's too heartbreaking to watch, so why stand by glumly when we can dance and scream and laugh?

Partners & Crime

Thursday, April 14, 2011

This shot is of a bookstore in Greenwich, NY. I really enjoyed the name and

the fact that they specialized in mysteries. I really like the reflection of their

website in the window that starts off with "crime pays." ....On another note,

I've probably been watching way too much Castle...

Quote Of The Day:

"Society prepares the crime, the criminal commits it."

~ Henry Thomas Buckle

50 Word Story:

Noveling...

As he turned the corner, stopping to catch his breath from running at

a full-out pelt, he heard something rustle in the bushes. He straightened

up slowly, the hairs raised on his arms and the back of his neck. Is it a crime

to murder a projection of your imagination?

Traveling Taco Bus

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Another shot from New York! We spotted this bus on one of those

crazy streets and I just had to grab a picture of it. I mean, how great is it?

Quote Of The Day:

"Food is an important part of a balanced diet." ~ Fran Lebowitz

50 Word Story:

Meals on Wheels

Through the crowded, honking traffic of rush hour in New York City

comes a brightly colored bus. Delicious smells waft from its painted windows

as it cruises by, looking for a place to open up shop. Not only is it decorated

on the bus, it's a decoration of unique flavors.

Backstories

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Yesterday's post! Yay! I spent a really long time on my math homework

last night, so I didn't have time to post this. I snapped this shot in the city

while trying very hard not to look conspicuous...I'm not sure how well that

worked out. When I see strangers, I always wonder who they are, what their

views are, how they act, etc. This shot just stood out to me.

Quote Of The Day:

"Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even

to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story."

~ Max Ehrman

50 Word Story:

Reasons

One stranger walking down the street, head down, feet scuffing the grey

pavement of the sidewalk. She's wearing a tattered coat and a look of battered

determination. She appears focused, though it would seem she has nowhere to

go. What has this person endured? Who is she? What's her story?

Feathers

Monday, April 11, 2011

Not one of my best shots, but it'll work. I'm back at school. I was SO

tired today. I've got service tomorrow...Yay! Anyway, back to the picture...

my mom collects feathers she finds. Each one is a bit different and comes

from a unique bird.

Quote Of The Day:

"I am a feather for each wind that blows."

~ William Shakespeare

50 Word Story:

Runway Birds

Feathers ruffle in the light wind, dancing in the sunlight. Bright, vibrant

colors popping against blue sky. Brown, earthen hues flapping against green

summer grass. Patterns and shapes found in each one, unique war paint and

decoration to each bird. Each struts their stuff, flapping their glossy wings and

singing.

First Tracks

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Another couple shots from the other day...It was absolutely beautiful on

the upper chair...sunny and sparkly...great view. You could see Rainier and

everything. Oh how I wish I could stay on the mountain...School's back in

tomorrow.

Quote Of The Day:

"Skiing is a dance, and the mountain always leads."

~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Snowdance

Other than the squeak and rumble of the old, metal, two person chairlift

and the swish of skis and snowboards in fresh powder, all was silent at the top

of the mountain. The sun sparkled across the new snow...so much untouched.

Tracks just begging to be made. Dancing on air.

Playgrounds

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Sorry for the lack of a good picture...but this is all that I could come

up with...I didn't post yesterday as I was at a very fun birthday party for

my friend who just turned 16. :)

Quote Of The Day:

"The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing."

~ Natalie Kocsis

50 Word Story:

Recess

The squeak of swings echoes across the blacktop. Little school kids

take turns riding down the big, plastic, yellow slides. The monkey bars are

full of little acrobats and the rock wall full of young climbers. The sounds of

four square and basketball mingle with the sounds of happy voices.

Why I Love Where I Live

Friday, April 8, 2011

The first shot is of where I was yesterday afternoon and evening. The

second is of where I was this morning. I love where I live. I can go from the

city straight to the slopes. How much better could it get?

Quote Of The Day:

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's

not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when

you've had everything to do, and you've done it."

~ Margaret Thatcher

50 Word Story:

Best of Both Worlds

Standing in the middle of a bustling market square as the sun slowly sinks

lower into the horizon. The water sparkles in the background. One man plays

guitar and hula hoops nearby. Next day - all is quiet. There's the squeak of the

chairlift and that softness of fresh powder.

Meet Me at the Center of the Earth

Thursday, April 7, 2011

We went to a really cool exhibit at the art museum today called Meet Me

at the Center of the Earth. The artist, Nick Cave, makes these suits called

Soundsuits that you can get into and dance in. There were so many amazing

suits stitched out of all kinds of material such as rugs, straw hats, handbags,

old tops, sequins, fake fur, buttons...you name it, he probably has it in one of

those amazing suits. Here's the blurb from the art museum: Meet Me at the

Center of the Earth is an invitation to meet the AMAZING creations that

spring out of Nick Cave's imagination. Cave calls them Soundsuits. We call

them a beautiful, joyous, EXUBERANT, colorful opportunity to explore an

ALTERNATIVE WORLD which challenges conventions and inspires new ways of thinking. Check him out...these Soundsuits really are spectacular.

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/exhibit/interactives/nickCave/index.html

Quote Of The Day:

"Oh sure, but you want to leave it open to the imagination. It's

not always a good thing to think of everything. You have to have

a level of curiosity." ~ Nick Cave

50 Word Story:

Still, yet Bursting with Life

Still forms stand on the white display blocks. Each is dressed in a different,

incredibly unique suit made out of the funniest items. One displays a collection

of buttons. Another is made completely out of twigs. A third has toy tops

resting on its shoulders. They beg to dance.

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzaKTMC2HHQ&feature=player_embedded

Candy Apples

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

I really liked the way this shot turned out with the editing I did...It's a

picture of M&M candied apples in the window of a really good chocolate shop

down in the city. I took this one a while ago - just for fun.

Quote Of The Day:

"Forget love - I'd rather fall in chocolate!"

~ Attributed to Sandra J. Dykes

50 Word Story:

Sticky Glee

A young girl with brown pigtails stares at the candy apples, her face and

hands pressed to the glass. Just this once, her parents smile and take her inside

the shop. As they walk down the street, she looks up at them with a sticky face

and a stickier smile.