blossom

Spring in bloom ~ Bothell, WA ~ 03.31.07

I saw this bud opening up today, and thought it fit perfectly with the quote Seren proposed a just few days ago. So I made a portrait to share here.

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~ Anais Nin

orange kitty

orange kitty waiting ~ 03.30.07

There's an orange kitty that lives in our neighborhood. We love him. He always wants to come inside and visit. In the evenings, on non-rainy days, he sits and waits on the front stoop for us to come home. We've been told his name is Charley, but we call him Orange Kitty - he seems to like it.

portraits of a daisy

pink daisy ~ 03.30.07

pink daisy ~ 03.30.07

Trader Joe's has a good deal on flowers, I usually pass them by. Today the pink daisies were calling my name, so they came home with me.

"Three keys to more adundant living; caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others." ~ William A. Ward

words

People that you meet on the street;
Sometimes seem to keep up with your heartbeat.
Then silence, not a peep.
Makes you wonder, is there really any easy speak?

change is good

I saw a preview for a new airplane today (the 787 dreamliner), at a Schools Foundation luncheon. Seems an unlikely place, but there it was - an advertisement that brimmed with inspiration and good feeling. You know the way I mean - where you forget they're trying to sell you something. The keynote speaker was Bob Watt from Boeing, and though I'd usually have a touch of bitterness about his creatively slipping a plug in for the company - this time I'm letting it slide.

His words were genuine and meaningful. He spoke of intellectual horsepower, persistence and creativity. Then of the constant changes in the world - saying, "change is good as long as we can see it as a challenge and not as a crushing reality".

At first this quote struck me as exactly what I needed to hear, I was prepared to write a glowing letter saying so. Except that now, twelve hours later, I'm less enamored by the sentiment. The question, "what if I am (temporarily) tired of challenges?" has crept into my mind several times. His words are good, and they certainly apply to the world in which we live. In my case, though, I think a respite is in order. I agree change (in moderation) can be good. At this moment though, I'd like to get my bearings. So, if there must be change - I'd like only good changes from here on out.

Okay?

begin

"You can't prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your hair." ~ Chinese proverb
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I'm back to reading more often. Still, I have more books than time to read them - but they are a joy to have around. They're the kind of companions that can sit with you for hours without complaint. Friends waiting, happy for the company. Or maybe inanimate objects incapable of movement, until the reading begins.

what the duck

A friend sent me this comic strip the other day. I giggled for at least five minutes ; ) People have actually said this very thing to me, though I wasn't quite as humorously sarcastic in my reply. ; ) You can find out more about WTD @ http://www.whattheduck.net/

home again, briefly

My footprints on the beach (too cold for barefoot, Lone) ~ Seattle, WA ~ 03.22.07

Small waves heading in @ Alki Beach ~ Seattle, WA ~ 03.22.07

Today was a typical day, weather-wise, in Seattle. Overcast and rainy at times. I had a chance to stop at Alki Beach for a few minutes in the late morning. Click here for some of the sights and sounds via a 2.5mb video.

Yes John, I did pay tribute to your favorite coffee place while I was there. : )

listening to Superstition by Stevie Wonder

inspiration

Some days are just like that. Show up late, and with the wrong order - or the wrong words. Some days no matter what we do, things continually head off track and we wonder why? Where's the inspiration? One thing after another, deep breath or no - out of sync we remain. This is how I imagine the pizza guy feels right now, as he's gone away to find the right order. I hope he finds his inspiration along the way.

forgetting to remember

Somehow I forgot about some photos I shot back in November last year. Found them today, here's one from that shoot.

Ferry on Puget Sound - Seattle, WA - 11.02.06

expect the unexpected

On Wednesday I woke up to sounds of the cat pawing at the blinds. He's a bit of an alarm clock that way. So I got up, pulled open the blinds and what to my wondering eyes did I see? Snow. "No way!", those were the words that escaped my lips without pause. See the snow here.