Our Word View - Unintentional

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations for the word of the week are very similar.

This week the word unintentional was chosen for our photographic interpretation.  I hope you will go over to Our Word View and see what Liz shares this week.

Shot these two photos today at America's Hometown Parade.  Do you think that Santa intended for anyone to notice him as he wandered the streets?

I wonder if Santa was thinking about getting into his suit and climbing into his sleigh. 

Shortly after Santa left my area I saw him at work.   He had a busy day. 

Peace!

Our Word View - Time

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations for the word of the week are very similar.

This week the word time was chosen for our photographic interpretation.  I hope you will go over to Our Word View and see what Liz shares this week.

So one way we witness the passing of time is by noticing the changes that occur as seasons change.  This fall has been unusually mild.  It is hard to believe that we are in the midst of the month of November when we go outside to mild temperatures and roses that are blooming!  How shocked was I when I went outside and saw this beautiful little bloom.  Truly it felt like a gift.  The person I immediately thought of was my Mum.  She enjoyed roses.  She had several bushes around her yard.  They never grew well near the ocean even though she took very good care of them.  I have one remaining rose bush in my yard.  It has lovely little cream colored blooms that reveal a soft pink as they open.  I am thankful for this little bloom.

Peace!

NaBloPoMo - 12

Daily Prompt: Inside the Actor’s Studio

On the interview show Inside the Actors’ Studio, host James Lipton asks each of his guests the same ten questions. What are your responses? 

1. What is your favorite word?  My favorite word has to be family.  It encompasses all that is important.
2. What is your least favorite word? cancer
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   The beauty in nature and human nature turns me on in all of these areas.  I just love witnessing the beauty that surrounds us each and every day.  Some days I am utterly amazed by the splendor in the simple things.   I do not always appreciate this beauty.  Life gets crazy and I forget to notice.  After all the craziness and when I do finally remember to take a breath and notice again... there it is waiting for me, waiting for all of us really....
4.   What turns you off? The biggest turnoffs for me are ignorance and cruelty. 
5. What is your favorite curse word?  I wish I didn't use curse words... but I do!  I'm not sure I have a favorite curse word, but I have two favorite curse word stories!  When I was a small child, 4 or 5 maybe younger, I spent a lot of time with my Aunt Barbara.  On one particular day I was at her house in the city.  She had two floors with a phone on each floor.  This was a complete novelty for me as my home was a ranch with just one phone.  I am pretty sure I was not allowed to play on the phone.  Well at my Aunt's house I played on the phone.  I talked to her on the other end.  Well evidently I had stopped talking so my Aunt hung up her extension, to which I said, "Dammit Bawbwa I was talking to you!"  I never lived this down!  I am sure my mother was mortified. This brings me to my next story.  I don't remember my mum swearing when I was a kid.  She was prim and proper.  I will never forget the time when she cam out with the following:  " Chuck you Farley, you're not so muckin fuch!"  This had me roaring with laughter.  It makes me smile to this day.
6. What sound or noise do you love?   I love the sound of my quiet house.  It could be early in the morning or late at night or even in the middle of the day when the tv is off and everyone is doing there own thing.  I love sitting on the couch with Flicka, surfing the net and listening to the quiet.  Next to that I love the sound my keyboard makes when I type.  The click, click, click of the keys is so satisfying.
7. What sound or noise do you hate?  I HATE the sound of my alarm clock at 5 am.  
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Two professions come to mind.  Artist and midwife. 
9. What profession would you not like to do?  I would not want to be a funeral home director.  Too much sadness. 
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?   Welcome, here they are... all your loved ones who went before you.  They have been waiting for you to come home. 

Peace!

       

NaBloPoMo - 11

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Daily Prompt: The Perfect Game

You’re set to play poker (or Scrabble or something else . . .) with a group of four. Write a story set during this game. Or, describe the ideal match: the players, the relationships — and the hidden rivalries.

This prompt brings me back to my childhood.  I have very distinct memories of playing games at the kitchen table and witnessing the card games that were played there as well.   The pictures of both of these memories are very vivid.  If I close my eyes I can almost transport myself back in time.

Scrabble was the game of choice in my home as I grew up.  There were other games too, an occasional game of Monopoly, Life or Sorry was thrown into the mix, but most often it was the Scrabble board that was pulled out from under the couch and set up on the kitchen table.  Typically it was Mum, Dad and me who would play on a Sunday.  The game would go on all afternoon.  We would take breaks and walk away to catch something on TV or to prepare part of the Sunday meal, but the game would continue.  My mother was a scrabble champion.  She was an incredible speller and had a vast vocabulary. She was a crossword aficionado.  Some of the words she would come up with floored me and Dad.  We might challenge her but when we went to the dictionary her word was always there...in black and white.   I remember feeling frustrated at times as I struggled to come up with a 'good' word from my jumble of letters.  In those times Mum would come and stand behind me and help.  It was all for fun, more of a learning experience than a competition.    This could not be said, however of the rousing Wist games that would take place at that same table between my parents and my Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Alby!  Those were competitive evenings fraught with wild accusations when subtle clues were given amongst the partners, like "Oh It's so warm in hear I think I'll have to take off my diamond."  I can hear their voices and their banter as if it were yesterday.  Warm summer evenings with the windows open and the cocktails flowing.  I would always be close to the kitchen table in order to witness the antics of my family.  There was a competitive spirit in the game of Wist but in the end, they would all be laughing and joking no matter the results of the game.  

I have not thought of games from my childhood in some time.  Revisiting these memories inspires me to clean off the coffee table and pull out the old Scrabble game out from under and challenge my children to a game.  Perhaps I will!  

Our Word View - Simple

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations for the word of the week are very similar.

This week the word simple was chosen for our photographic interpretation.  I hope you will go over to Our Word View and see what Liz shares this week.

I love finding the simple beauty in the world around me every day.  Recently n and I walked to the end of the road to capture this beautiful sky.  I especially enjoy how the stop sign pops in this image.  Sometimes simple is best. 

Peace!

NaBloPoMo-9

Daily Prompt: About Page of the Future

Write the About page for your blog in 10 years.

 This is quite the challenge.  I am not a big fan of thinking so far ahead in the future.  Fast forwarding ten years gives me an enormous amount of stress.  In ten years my eldest child will be 25 and my daughter will be 23.  I will be ... well we don't have to talk about that now do we.  I hope to be teaching kindergarden in the same beautiful classroom where I teach now but there are no guarantees.  In ten years I'll be about 5 years away from having 20 years into my school system and then retiring.  

What will this blog look like in ten years?  What will it be about?  Such a great question.  The truth is I am not sure. Do I even have ten more years of blogging in me?  I have been at this for seven years.  What could I possibly have to say for ten more years?

In ten years my 'about page' might look like this:  This is where I will share my adventures in aging like fine wine, mothering 20 somethings, education, creativity, living life in the moment and all things artistic.  Pour yourself a cup of tea and visit with me for just a bit.  

Things will change but certainly not the essence of who I am and who I strive to be.  

Peace!

NaBloPoMo - 8

I have been following the prompts for the first seven days but today my thoughts are elsewhere.

I learned today that a high school friend with whom I lost touch passed away yesterday.  From what I can gather it was completely unexpected.  She was a kind, gentle soul.  What a loss for her close friends and family.  Life is so short.  We are only here for a limited time.  This is just one more reminder to live life to the fullest and enjoy each day.

This weekend I am going to be more aware of my blessings and appreciate all that I have just a little more.

Peace!

NaBloPoMo - 7

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Daily Prompt: Cheering Section

Do you have a mentor? Tell us about him or her. Are you a mentor to someone else? Tell us what that relationship has added to your life.

As soon as I read this prompt one person came to my mind.  My dear friend and mentor M.  M was the most gentle soul and creative spirits I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  She was my children's preschool and kindergarten teacher.  She was my boss and my friend.  She led by example and what she said always matched with what she did.  She was compassionate and kind.  She knew how to listen and empathize with parents, children and colleagues.  She had a wonderful sense of humor and was able to laugh at herself and laugh with children.  I learned lessons in listening, compassion, creativity, professionalism, forgiveness, grace, strength, humility and kindness from this wonderful woman.  I think of her often, especially as I teach.  I try to practice what I learned from her.  When the children share their exuberance for each other and all that is kindergarten, I think of her and I smile.  

Peace!

NaBloPoMo - 6

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Daily Prompt: Google and Rescue Operation!

What was the last thing you searched for online? Why were you looking for it? 

Well I am a day late with this post but I have a fun answer for the prompt so I'm going for it!  I am constantly searching for something online.  I love my computer and find online surfing very enjoyable and relaxing.  The last thing that I searched for was children's instruments.  I teach Kindergarten.  It is a full day program and I am fortunate to have the time to integrate both song and art into my day.  I love my job and feel very blessed.  Unfortunately my classroom isn't equipped with everything I want to have available for my children.  I want them to experience playing instruments.  So I am searching for triangles, castanets  tone blocks, maracas, bells and rhythm sticks.  I can't wait to use instruments with my students.  

Peace!

NaBloPoMo - 5

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Daily Prompt: Intense!

Describe the last time you were surprised by the intensity of a feeling you had about something, or were surprised at how strongly you reacted to something you thought wouldn’t be a big deal.

Last week after an abruptly canceled doctors appointment I found myself thinking of my mum.  Thinking of her is not unusual.  She has been gone for thirteen years and  is always on my mind. During my ride home I was overcome with sadness and tears.  I had the overwhelming feeling of just wanting my mum.  Sometimes nothing else will do... I have so much I would like to tell her and so many questions to ask her.  The feelings were intense and went as quickly as they came.   

These clouds came and went just like my feelings the other day.  

Peace!

NaBloPoMo 4

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Daily Prompt: If I had a million dollars...

If you found one million dollars in the morning and had to spend it by nightfall, what would you do with the money?

I love the idea of planning out how I would spend one million dollars.  The first thing I would do is pay off my mortgages and the mortgages of my family and friends.  If I had any funds leftover I would go to the mall with n and let her pick out clothes to her hearts content without looking at the pricetag!  That would be so much fun.  I would purchase updated macs for everyone and a mac to take to school.  If I had any money left after all that spending I would install new landscaping at home and at 40M and then bring the the landscaping crew to the cemetary and plant beautiful perenials around mum and dad's headstone.  

Oh to have a million dollars!  






Peace!

NaBloPoMo: 3

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Daily Prompt: Placebo Effect

If you could create a painless, inexpensive cure for a single ailment, what would you cure and why?

This is a simple question to answer and speak to.  I would cure CANCER.  Although there are many different types of cancer,  I see it as one ailment that strikes fear in the hearts of anyone who has experienced it in their lives.  I think that would include almost every adult I know.  Cancer has taken the lives of so many people I love.  I know many who are fighting the disease right now at this very moment in time.  It is amazing that as a society we have come so far and have made so many advances yet cancer of all types are still killing people.  

One day we will have the cure.  

Peace!

Our Word View - Random

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations for the word of the week are very similar.

This week the word random was chosen for our photographic interpretation.  I hope you will go over to Our Word View and see what Liz shares this week.

Random should have been easy but it was not!  I had several images in mind but I decided to go through my natural views folders to see what I could find.  I was not disappointed.  Anyone who has read my blog knows that I love photography especially taking pictures of nature.  Down the street from my home is a large house that has a lovely view of the ocean.  It is surrounded by a white picket fence.  Along the fence are a variety of grasses.  I absolutely love the way ornamental grasses look in landscaping.  I couldn't resist taking the following shots.  The first looks a bit random to me...

Peace!

NaBloPoMo: 2

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Daily Prompt: Conflicted

You’re in the middle of a terrible argument, and everyone turns to you to help resolve it. How do you respond? How do you react to conflict?

Oh this is an interesting topic to think about.  In general I dislike conflict and in my personal life I tend to avoid conflict rather than face it head on.  I think this goes back to my childhood.  There was a time when I was growing up when every holiday dinner and every Sunday dinner ended up in a huge family argument.  It was awful.  I can feel the physical anxiety it brought out in me by just thinking back to that time.  This is not to say that I am successful in avoiding all conflict.  I have learned to say my peace and move on in order to lessen the length of an argument.  I have also learned when it is best to stay quiet and listen.  It is like a dance.  You must know when to move forward and when to move back.  I am trying to teach my children the art of this communication.  It is important to learn how to have a conversation to solve problems before they turn into huge arguments.  This is a huge learning curve.  I think it is human nature to think that our position is the correct position.  Sometimes it is but there are times when we have to realize that perhaps our position needs some tweaking.  The funny thing about is that as a kindergarten teacher I encounter conflict all day long.  I am constantly in the moment teaching conflict resolution strategies to my students.  We talk about body language, I statements, feelings, rules and so much more.  I am always calm, cool and collected when I have to help someone else manage conflict.  This isn't always the case when confronted with my own conflict.  

The above image began as a photo of the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall.  As a country I hope we learn how to better manage our involvement in conflict around the world.  

Peace!

NaBloPoMo: 1

National blog post month originated with November posts.  Check out the links to many other blogs participating in daily posts here.   If you are interested in writing to a prompt each day check out The Daily Post.  

Today's prompt:

…for tomorrow we die. The world is ending tomorrow! Tell us about your last dinner — the food, your dining companions, the setting, the conversation.

What a depressing first post!  I guess it goes along with The Walking Dead craze that goes on in my house on a weekly basis.  That is a story for another post.  

Well certainly my dining companions would be my children, my husband and Flicka our dog.  The food would not matter so much to me but for my family the all time favorite meal is Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings.  We would share our meal around the kitchen table and enjoy the typical banter of a family of four.  If we knew what was coming perhaps we would talk about those we would see in the end.  That would bring about many stories filled with love.  

Stories filled with love would be the last words uttered before tomorrow came. 

Peace!