Quote of the Week

Nothing revives the past so completely as a smell that was once associated with it. - Vladimir Nabokov

The smell of freshly baked bread transports you to your mom's kitchen.  The salty scent of the sea returns you to a special vacation.  The delicate fragrance of a rose reminds you of your first bouquet.  These are all examples of how scents can bring the past to back to life.  Our sense of smell is a unique link to memories, good or bad, pleasant or painful, happy or sad.  

It's a Good Life

A few of my favorite shots to brighten 

an otherwise dreary day.

I love my blankie

Queen Sophie

A sunny spot

Three's Company

Have a great weekend!

Write From The Heart

Photo courtesy of Magpie Tales

Janet threw down her pen in disgust. “Whatever made me think I could be a writer in the first place?” Her cat, curled up on the sofa, barely acknowledged her outburst.

“Just because I wrote a few short stories and dabbled a bit in poetry over the years, I suddenly thought I could write the next great novel?” Never mind that her friends had been reading her stories for years and encouraging her to write more and longer pieces. You’ve got the knack. You’ve got talent. You can do this!"

“Ha! What do they know? No, that’s not fair. They were probably just being nice, and who knows maybe they really enjoyed my scribblings but that doesn’t mean I’ve got any real talent."

While she was ranting to herself about her inability to put any coherent words down on paper, she glanced at a magazine lying on the table and saw a quote by someone whose name she didn’t recognize. It said “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self” by Cyril Connolly.

That struck a chord with Janet. "Maybe that’s what’s wrong with me. I have been so worked up about trying to find the right plot, and the right storyline. What do people want to read?"

"Yeah, that counts for something, but it’s not everything. For a story to be good, you need to put yourself into it."

Finally! She put her pen and paper aside, and turned to her keyboard and began to write. This time from the heart.

Written for Magpie Tales.

Quote of the Week

Image Source: Wikipedia

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.  

- George Carlin

Strange things happen on All Hallow's Eve.  Let's listen in!  

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween

Image source: Joelk75

All kids, big and little, like Halloween, right?  All the candy, and parties and candy, and now the latest craze - Trunk or Treat, which I just heard about last year.  This is a relatively new Halloween activity where children go from trunk to trunk in a parking lot collecting candy, and is a safer alternative to traditional door-to-door trick or treating.  All you need is a parking lot, cars with decorated trunks and loads of candy.  Add ghosts, goblins, pirates and super heroes, and throw in Cinderella and a witch or two and you have the ideal Halloween recipe.

When I was growing up, we walked around our little neighborhood which had all of four streets.  There weren't even any street lights back then. As the sun was setting, the neighborhood kids, decked out in dime store costumes, took to the streets toting their bags or plastic jack-o-lanterns hoping for the "good" candy.  Yeah, baby, I'm talking CHOCOLATE!

The pictures below shows the bag (front and back) that my Mom painted for me one Halloween.  Did I mention that she was creative and talented?  This bag is one of my treasures.

Who wouldn't want a custom made, hand painted Halloween treat bag?

Fast forward to adulthood, and living on a busy road that isn't suitable for trick or treaters.  Upside?  I get to eat ALL the candy.

Now we come to my artistic talents.  I painted some treat bags a few years ago when Ashley's kids were here.  Below we have a witch with some bats and a ghost.  Scary, huh?

Boo!

And here we have a very spooky tree, a full moon and a black cat - all essentials for Halloween.

Mrrrooowww!

I'd love to hear about your Halloween memories.

Faces of the Sea

Once upon a midnight blue

I sailed a sea of green

A more gorgeous sunrise

My eyes have never seen

Once upon a night so dark

The sea now ebony

And that perfect sunrise

Is just a memory

Written for dVerse poetry

Quote of the Week

Image Source:  Wikipedia

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
- Confucious

We are distracted and things heard are easily forgotten.  Things seen are filed away like snapshots.  Things done are learned, understood and remembered.

All About 60 (in 55 words)

Image Source:  Herkie

There are 60 months in 5 years.
There are 60 inches in 5 feet.
There are 60 minutes in an hour.
There are 60 seconds in a minute.
60 years - known as the diamond wedding anniversary.
A mile is 5,280 feet and is divisible by 60.
60 years is also known as three score.
Zero to 60 is an automotive standard of performance.
Gone in 60 seconds.

 

This was written for Friday Flash 55.

Nursery Rhyme Redo: Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

Image Source: Emma Paperclip

Peter Peter pumpkin eater

Had a wife who was a cheater

He caught her in a big fat lie

And baked her in a pumpkin pie

Posted for dVerse Poetry.

Quote of the Week

Visualize this thing you want. See it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin. 

- Robert Collier

You may tell yourself, "I can't do that".  You see many times we are our own biggest road block. What if no one likes my work?  Does it matter?  Who are you really trying to please? Answer these questions and then do what makes you happy!

The Wedding Planner Blues

Image Source:  pinkangelbabe

First Chelsea changes her theme to chocolate – chocolate cake, chocolate martinis, and even coordinating dark and milk chocolate outfits. Then JoAnn moves her ceremony from inside to outside…in November. Now what was she thinking? Finally, Melanie’s maid of honor just broke up with the best man. I bet you can see where that is heading.

Written for Friday Flash 55.

Disclaimer:  I am not a wedding planner and this is totally fictional.

I Am Free

 

Clinging to the leaf

I left only a shell of

My previous life

Written for dVerse poetry.

Quote of the Week

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.- Leonardo da Vinci

A friend of mine said we finger paint with our words.  It's true!  Words paint pictures and pictures tell stories.  Each unique on its own, yet intertwining to create great beauty.

The Bubble Bug - Identity Revealed

UPDATE:  Last year I posted a picture of a bug I spotted while walking at Salem Lake.  I'd never seen one like it before, and thought it looked like a bug in a bubble.

While looking up another critter from the insect world, I recognized this as my bubble bug.  

Mystery solved.  It seems the little guy is called a Tortoise Beetle.  While the markings on my beetle aren't identical to the one I found online, tortoise beetles come in many other colors and patterns.

Varieties of the tortoise beetle are found throughout the world.  They are common, and apparently harmless to people.  Agriculturally considered a minor pest, they can attack foliage but rarely cause significant crop damage. 

The Deer Roam Free

My husband's brother and family live in a small town a few miles from us.  Their property backs up to a large park, so this is a normal sight in their yard.

When we were leaving a few nights ago, there were two deer in the yard just past the driveway, two more in the yard across the street, and we spotted several more as we left the neighborhood. 

The deer roam free

In our town

Beware the deer

At sundown

When darkness falls

And shadows flee

In our town

The deer roam free

Fortunately, they also come out during the afternoons for photo ops.  Hubby got this with his cell phone.  The deer rarely make an appearance like this when I'm there with my camera.

Quote of the Week

Image source: Wikipedia

 If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves. 
 -Thomas A. Edison 

As a scientist, inventor and businessman, Edison is responsible for over one thousand U.S. patents.  Home schooled by his mother, his work advanced communication, the motion picture camera, the light bulb and the concept of mass production.

Imagine if he had said "I can't do that" in his process of invention.  We may not be famous inventors, but we are all capable of amazing things.  Just say "Yes, I can!"

A Wine Weekend

Ten people in five cars visit seven wineries in three days.   

Rain, fog, misty clouds hung low made for slow go round and round the mountain. 

A blast that passed too fast.  

Good food set the mood for our eclectic brood.   

Good friends and good wine equals good times.  

Cheers to all wine lovers everywhere.

Written for Friday Flash 55.

Mountain View

Afton Mountain Vineyards

Mountainous backdrop

Layered behind the vineyard

Like smokey shadows

Written for dVerse poetry.

Quote of the Week

Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  - Maori Proverb

As our shadows fall behind us, we can better see all the good that life has to offer, so turn your face to the sun and make the most of each day.

Moving Day

Amber sat down hard upon the steps, still hot from the afternoon sun. She thrust her chin into her hand, trying hard not to cry. Callie was leaving tomorrow. It was totally unfair. Her lower lip trembled as the tears started to fall. At ten the whole world ends when your best friend moves away.

Written for Friday Flash 55.