Look at your feet. You are standing in the sky. When we think of the sky, we tend to look up, but the sky actually begins at the earth. -Diane Ackerman
When searching for today's quote, I came across the category "clouds and sky" and was reminded of the beautiful clouds I saw over the weekend. I wasn't alone. As I scrolled through Facebook, I saw others had noticed them too. What struck me about this quote was its different view of what actually constitutes the sky. We think of the sky as this blue expanse overhead. Sometimes it is clear and sometimes filled with clouds. Sometimes it is a brilliant blue, and sometimes it is shaded gray with fog or haze, but always our eyes are drawn upward. It is interesting to consider that the sky actually begins on earth. To get a better grasp of this concept, picture a field with nothing to obstruct your view. Looking at the horizon, it appears that the green grass and the blue sky meet, and therefore if you could suddenly be at that point the sky would be all around you. In reality, no matter where you are, you are always where the earth meets the sky.
Instead of seeing only the negative, find the positive and work with that. Just because things are not exactly to your liking, doesn't mean they have to stay that way. For every problem there is a solution, so don't find fault - find a remedy.
This is what I started with, and while they are pretty on their own, I wanted a more artsy look, so I added texture and depth. I think it has sort of a tapestry look now.
Some things are worth the risk, and if you never take the chance you won't reap the rewards. However, if you sit too close to the end of the bench, it can flip on you, and you end up on the ground. Oops!
Last month I had the long-awaited opportunity to visit Ashley and her family in the far-away place known as Ephrata, PA. We lived next door to each other in our youth, and although youth is rapidly fading into our middle years, we are still close despite the miles between us.
So before I get maudlin, let's get on with the fun stuff. Below is Sheba, a sweet, lovable Labradoodle who belongs to Scott, her oldest son.
Not only is she adorable, she is smart too. We were sitting outside with her and she was demonstrating her ability to come, sit, lay down, etc. when Ashley told Michael to have her l-a-y-d-o-w-n for a treat (spelling it out). Sheba responded by laying down. We tried it again and she did it again. We told Scott later that Sheba could spell.
While Ashley is born and bred a Southern gal, she has taken great pride in finding fun and interesting things to do in her own backyard. She truly does bloom where she is planted. And speaking of blooms, aren't these pretty? This is a flower tree at Knoebels Amusement Park, about an hour or so from their house.
If you like groovin' to the oldies, the group singing here would be right up your alley, with such songs as Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Surfin' Safari and The Twist.
For a different kind of music, check out the old Wurlitzer Organ tapping out a lively beat.
What trip to an amusement park would be complete with a ride on good old wooden roller coaster? Well, it's not my cup of tea, but the boys enjoyed it. We all later enjoyed the Black Diamond ride through a haunted coal mine.
We capped off the adventure with a ride on the giant ferris wheel. It had been a very long time since I had ridden one, but it was fun and afforded us a great view of the park, and the surrounding countryside.
The next day we traveled to Strasburg to ride the steam train. It was a 45 minute journey through Amish country...literally through the cornfields. The engine puffed black smoke from it's coal fire and chugged along at a leisurely pace. Here you can see it at the station waiting to depart on it's next run.
As many exotic places as there are to explore, there are just as many here in our own corner of the world. With every trip I take I make new discoveries, whether it is a new destination or favorite vacation spot. Many thanks to Ashley and her family for hosting us!
The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.- Elisabeth Foley
My best friend and I have many years of living in different states to back this up. While we don't get to visit as often as we'd like, time magically falls away when we do get together, and we cherish each moment.
