Imagination Lane

2011-12-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to be taking part in a craft fair this weekend in the Elgin Hall, situated on the road to Crescent Beach and White Rock. I've often thought about framing my prints and producing a line of cards, but I must admit that procrastination has always been my steadfast companion!

This year I took a leap of faith and - a few weeks ago - attended my first art and craft fair as a vendor. It was great fun and I learned a lot.

Imagine my dismay, then, when the show booked for this weekend was cancelled by its original organizer.

Fortunately, a few brave and hardy women jumped in and saved the day.

Many thanks to Nicci, Amanda and team!

If you get a chance to visit, I would love to have you drop by. All merchandise to be sold is produced here in B.C., and the work of many local artisans is highlighted.

With Christmas almost upon us, I suspect my blogging will continue to be sporadic, but in the New Year, I mean to visit each and every one of my dear online friends.

I sincerely wish you all love, peace and contentment in the days ahead....

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON!

Dona Nobis Pacem

2011-11-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends:

Circumstances have kept me from blogging lately, and I've missed my online friendships. I plan to do a better job of keeping in touch, and today's post seems a good way to start.

Mimi at 'Mimi Writes' hosts the annual Blogblast4peace, a celebration of hope wherein we're invited to create our own prayer for a better world using one of the templates she provides.

Today I make a plea for the animals of the world, caught up in a war of their own as we encroach upon their habitats and push species to the brink of extinction. A visit to East Africa several years ago impressed upon me the need to keep as sacrosanct the open plains that allow animals to be free, as they are meant to be. It was amazing to watch this young lion laze comfortably on a sun-baked plateau, secure in the knowledge that the wide Serengeti was his to roam.

I'm also running the globe I posted last year as a reminder that children and animals are depending on us to bequeath them a world where war is obsolete and all living things are cared for.

We must not let them down....

Please, please stop by Mimi Writes and add your voice to the many who know we can make the world a better place by sharing our prayers and joining ideas. Together, we will make a difference.
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http://mimilenox.com/

Thanks to Jules for the tech. support, and I hope to visit you all soon!

Signs, Signs: Beachcomber Mural

2011-08-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

My neighbourhood is enriched by this colourful wraparound mural decorating the outside of a manufacturing plant just minutes from my home.

Painted by international artist and muralist, Paul Ygartua, it is the largest such work done entirely by hand.

Ygartua was commissioned to do this work in 2000 by Keith Scott, founder of Beachcomber Hot Tubs. Titled 'Legends of the Millennium', it recently underwent a touch up by the artist and once more bursts with life.

Mr. Scott's vision has provided a piece that belongs in, and to, the community. As good art should, it gives pleasure, elicits reflection and is accessible for all to enjoy.

The walls celebrate those who impacted our lives in the last century. Religious leaders, sports heroes and film stars are but a few of those represented in the 31 figures the mural portrays. I wonder how many you can name on sight...I admit that a couple of them still give me pause.

It is stunning to remember in what extraordinary ways these exceptional individuals have enriched the quality of our lives, and more importantly, how they've served to remind us that absolutely nothing is impossible if we back up our dreams with hard work and relentless determination.
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Being a great fan of basketball, I end with Michael Jordan, whose unwavering focus has always filled me with awe...

I'm linking this post to Lesley's wonderful 'Signs, Signs' meme. For more signs from around the world, do drop in for a visit!

http://signs2.blogspot.com/

I would also like to dedicate this post to Klaus Peter, an astonishing wildlife photographer and naturalist. Klaus was founder of That's My World, and owner-administrator of Skywatch. He will be missed by the many of us who've come to love his work, and the generosity with which he shared his knowledge and his spirit.
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You won't be forgotten, Klaus...
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http://www.showyourworld.blogspot.com/
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http://skyley.blogspot.com/
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Four Mêmes in One

2011-08-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

On Saturday morning, we drove my sister downtown to catch her flight to Vancouver Island.

As she’d booked a floatplane, we made our way to the waterfront terminal just down from the Trade and Convention Centre.

Though the day

hesitated between

cloudy and clear, I

happily grabbed my

camera to record the

early busyness as we

waited

for boarding time.

Boats of all sorts dotted Coal Harbour...everything from sleek, compact skulls to a massive cruise ship docked at the Convention Centre.

Coal Harbour: North Vancouver Sulpher Works in the background and a marine gas station just off Stanley park.

Once we'd seen Nikki off, we climbed up to the overview of the Olympic Cauldron, immediately reminding us of 2010's wonderful Winter Olympic Games.

This calm, clear morning little resembled the rainy, hectic evening we'd lined up to see the glow of our Olympic torch lighting up the night sky.

Promenade to the convention centre with cruise ship in background.

I wil be linking my post to four wonderful mêmes this week. If you get a chance, do check them out...

My World Tuesday http://www.showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Watery Wednesday http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Skywatch Friday
http://skyley.blogspot/.

Weekend Reflections

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Book Blurb Friday: No Haven Found

2011-08-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

No Haven Found

"With studied insouciance, Molly glanced causally over her left shoulder, then over her right. The coast was clear! Grinning widely, she shed her yellow Wellingtons and traipsed happily barefoot along the sodden path. The explosive blast of a gunshot nearby quickly stopped her in her tracks."

This is our introduction to private investigator Molly Malone, a free spirit whose fey ways lead every new client to question her ability. But make no mistake...on the job, this tenacious girl is a bulldog fighting for every bone of evidence she can dig up.

Third in the Molly Malone Mystery series, this tale of murder, mayhem and mistaken identity plays out at a yoga retreat. In the midst of serenity, a killer is loose. Can Molly stop him before anyone else dies, or will this be her last case?

Hang on tight and expect anything to happen on this riotous and rambunctious ride!

(150 words)

I'm linking this to Lisa's wonderful BBF, wherein she supplies a potential book cover and invites us to compose a blurb (150 words or less) so intriguing that potential readers would immediately buy the book. Check out the fun entries at this link...

http://www.writinginthebuff.net/

Many thanks to Kathy Mathews for supplying this week's photo!

http://oregongiftsofcomfortandjoy.blogspot.com/

Thursday Think Tank: Market Day

2011-08-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

Photo supplied by Poets United

Cool to the touch,

succulent flesh

yields grudgingly

to hands that

reach out and

grasp in need.
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Fingers stroke
soft, lush skin...

imagining how
lips might also

trail across this

naked pleasure.
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Were you mine

my tongue would

taste your juice,

would savour

each fragrant drop

of sweetness.

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Come to me…

my eager mouth

will not rest

‘til I am sated

on the repast

of your love.

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I’m amused to watch the care with which discerning shoppers choose their fruit. They sniff, peer, probe and stroke…no detail is overlooked by those who seek the very best. I find myself wondering if their loved ones are afforded the same intense level of consideration that the dewy peach takes as its due!
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When I saw that Poets United Thursday Think Tank prompt was, "Market Day", this piece came to mind. For more takes on the theme, check out the link below...
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http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/
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Where Women Create III

2011-07-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

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Computer problems caused

me to miss the July 15^th deadline for, ‘Where Bloggers Create III’, an absolutely amazing event hosted annually by the wonderful Karen Valentine of ‘My Desert Cottage’.
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I participated last year and was thrilled at the chance to peek into the brilliant spaces of so many wonderful artist/bloggers. You should definitely check out the link at the end of this post…I can assure you, you’ll be amazed at what you see once you venture into the rooms where women explore creativity, and share their joy!

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Though too late to participate in the event, I thought to share a few shots of my own tiny corner of inspiration for friends who
stop by.

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In this room, I surround myself with things I love. Settled at my desk under the Tibetan prayer flags sent by my dear friend Sherry Blue Sky, it is impossible not to feel inspiration bubbling up to the surface.
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Mine is a space stuffed to

the ceiling with treasures,

and though tightly

packed, I can put my

hand on whatever

I need at a moments

notice,

Colourful boxes help keep me organized, and are cherished as
much for their beauty as for the many items they can hold.

Pens and pencils line up in neat rows...
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and rubber stamps

stand to attention

against an

art-bedecked wall.
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It's telling that my husband never worries I'll drag him into jewelry stores, but does wince visibly when I suggest a quick look into every stationery department we pass!

Order is good, but any decent studio
should contain its fair share of whimsy…

It seems only fitting to me that rulers
reside in boots, and cigar boxes
overflow with jewel-toned buttons.
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While I call this my studio, there is very little art made there, I’m afraid.
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I do tackle the odd project like this shadowbox

honouring my mother and father...

an assemblage built around how dearly my mother loved her father...
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and a collage that says how strongly I feel about the need for art in our lives.

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But when pressed, I’m forced
to admit that my studio is
mainly the repository of
my many collections!
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Things old and worn call out to me….

Cameras long out of use...

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typewriters for which one can no longer find ribbons...
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and vintage sewing notions stuffed into clear jars.

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Some pieces are loved more dearly than others. I truly believe there is magic to be found in my little storybook tins.
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I adore this old
pen-nib box,
quickly salvaged
when it was

discarded at work...
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and I've been collecting
wheeled tins
for so long that
they’re old friends
to me now.

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Discarded film reels,
vintage school primers,
and bright balls of wool
have an intrinsic

beauty that I’m unable
to resist!
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Clearly, I am an incorrigible

magpie!

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I share my studio with Miss Prue.

A quiet and easy companion, Prudence tends to wear all her jewelry at once and simply pulls on more layers when she can’t decide which outfit to wear...
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As I've been known
to take the same
carefree approach
to life, we've come to

consider ourselves

'artistic' rather

than 'eccentric'!

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The very best thing about my studio is that it adjoins my library with it's floor-to-ceiling shelves and scores of books.
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A daily wander from one room to the other is the best way to remind myself how blessed I truly am...
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Hopefully, you enjoyed the tour of my little world. I also hope you drop by "Where Bloggers Create III "- it is a true celebration of the friendship, inspiration and inclusivity that makes blogging the true joy it is in our lives.
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http://mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/
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My World Tuesday

2011-07-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

On the west coast of Canada, the cry of seagulls is a common and welcome sound in the air.

Yet, in spite of the years I've lived here, and the number of birds I've seen, I had never gotten a close glimpse of young gulls.

Imagine my delight then, when I came across these youngsters in White Rock last week.

As we often do, my husband and I had stopped at the beach to enjoy ice cream cones and a walk on the pier.

Approaching the old railway station/turned gallery, I noticed that all eyes were fixed upward. Claiming everyone's attention were three balls of speckled fuzz perched precariously on the roof! Wobbly and awkward, these little ones huddled together in their shuffling attempts to navigate the steep asphalt shingles.

We could hear their thin chirping calls, and the tapping of their beaks as they examined every scrap they found to see if it might be edible.

Hovering nearby, the parents kept a careful eye on the youngsters, but let them continue their explorations.

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It was not long before tiredness overcame the trio. They scratched about for a spot to settle, curling themselves into tight little balls.

This fellow gave our hearts a start. Every time he lay down, he began to slide backwards to the edge. More than a few of us were ready to leap in and catch him if necessary...mine was not the only gasp of apprehension.

We need not have worried. Eventually, he found a corner under the eaves that offered shelter and security, and immediately dropped off to sleep!

While I was delighted to have my camera along that day, the sight of these little guys is something I'll be able to recall in an instant.

There's definitely a reason our province is called Beautiful British Columbia!

For more shots from around the world, do stop by My World Tuesday and check out the amazing entries...

http://www.showyourworld.blogspot.com/

I am also linking up with World Bird Wednesday...I hope you'll stop by and visit the other participants...

http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com

Succinctly Yours: Arbitrary

2011-07-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

James stepped into the workroom, noting the sun’s pale light on orderly rows of tools, and the workbench thick with curled, cedar shavings. Arbitrarily, he picked up a wood file, its rough edges as familiar as his own skin, as evocative as the sharp combined scent of sawdust and oil that peppered his childhood.

Yet this was not the time to ponder the past. They were waiting for him at the church, anxious for whatever wisdom he might share to make this loss bearable. The role of family patriarch was now his to don, with its uneasy mixture of pride and apprehension.

James stepped out into the sunshine. He swiped a hand across his dark suit, dislodging small strings of dust. Squaring his shoulders, he whispered softly, “ I love you, Dad,” as he gently closed the door behind him.

(140 words)

As a wife and mother, I’ve railed against the concept that men should stoically bear the weight of grief, unable to weep openly because it is their job to be strong and ease the pain of others. Surely, our husbands and sons should be free to fold themselves into our arms in time of need, knowing we offer a safe and secure refuge in the midst of life’s trials. Sadness, like love and joy, is meant to be shared, after all…

Grandma's Goulash hosts the wonderful microfiction meme, Succinctly Yours, where each week she posts a photo around which we might spin a tale in 140 characters or in the same number of words. Extra credit is given for using the optional word of the week, which today is, "arbitrary".

For more takes on the prompt, follow the link below.

Our thanks to you and your daughter for this fun challenge, Grandma!

http://grandmas-goulash.info/

Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, When I'm 64?

2011-07-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Some people never grow up…and I am proud to count myself part of that illustrious group, in spite of the arrival today of yet another birthday!

Chronological markers play only a part in the cycle of aging, after all. I have talked to teenagers so jaded and cool that they’re old before their time…and met seniors who have never lost the sparkle in their eyes. Spirit isn’t defined by time, nor is there an age limit on one’s enthusiasm and sense of anticipation. While my body knows without a doubt it is no longer young, my inner child recalls with stunning clarity what it was like to be eleven… remembers with every fibre of her being how she marveled at the breadth of the Great Lakes and was rendered breathless by her first Canadian snowfall.
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Snowfalls still enchant me, and if I ever get back to Lake Huron, I will rush forward with pure glee and throw myself in head first, clothes and all!

Today, I turn into a Beatles tune, the very song I belted out cheerfully as a teenager, never grasping for a moment that one day I, too, would be that age. I admit to bewilderment at how quickly I got to this point.

Throughout the years, I’ve struggled to be decorous. I’ve played the role of good daughter to aging parents, supportive wife to a long-time husband, responsible example for growing offspring to emulate, (all right, this last one may not have been carried off with great success, if my chortling adult children are to be believed)! Still, I’m universally recognized as a dutiful employee, a dependable friend, and an all-round decent person

I am, however, no angel and often chafe at life’s restraints. The girl inside me enjoys a good spot of fun and still fancies shaking up the status quo on occasion, no matter how mild an exterior she displays to the world. I do think she’s entitled to get out and play a little more often now after her many years of patience!

Turning 64 doesn't make me old.

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I think I'll know I’m old when I’m described as ‘sedate’, or am said to have ‘settled down’. Yuk!

And the day - heaven forbid! – when I’m held up as a role model to anyone…. then I’ll know I’m old!
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Until then, I will unapologetically crunch on candy necklaces in public, fill my pockets with rocks and treasures picked up from the ground and splash happily through rain puddles in my bare feet whenever the urge takes me. I’ll dissolve into giggles at the slightest hint of mischief, and will never, ever get too old to laugh at my own foibles.

I will play hide-and-seek with tiny friends, though scrunching up in closets has become a challenge, and will return their little girl hugs with all the fervor kids put into every second of their lives. Birthdays are just another day, filled with endless possibilities as each one is! There are shells waiting to be gathered at the beach, puffy clouds to be watched and wondered at, and stories clamoring to be written down. Of course, I will also wash dishes, weed the garden and mop the floor, as mature adults must.

But there is a big bottle of bubbles I bought last week that has yet to be opened…trying to get a good shot of a fleeting, iridescent bubble should amuse my child-like sensibilities for quite some time!

Happy Birthday, Madiba...

2011-07-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

For eighteen years, Prisoner 46664 was locked up each night in a tiny cell that measured five square metres. The cell contained a bowl, a spoon, a plate and a bucket, and while there was a blanket, the only bed was a thin straw mat for the floor.

Situated in the middle of Cape Town’s Table Bay, Robben Island Prison lies just twelve kilometers off the stunning coastline of South Africa. Conditions during the early years in this maximum-security prison were bleak. Inmates were forced into hard labour at the island’s lime quarry. They were segregated by race, with black prisoners receiving smaller rations than white inmates. Additionally, political prisoners were kept separate from ordinary criminals and had far fewer privileges, allowed only one visitor and one letter every six months.

In 1964, Nelson Mandela was convicted of treason for his anti-apartheid activities. Sent to Robben Island, he became Prisoner 46664, assigned to Cell No. 5. He spent eighteen of his twenty-seven years of imprisonment on the island, eventually being moved to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, then on to Victor Vector Farm Prison for the last three years of his sentence.

Photos courtesy of Google

Mandela was released from prison on February 11th, 1990. In 1994, he and his ANC Party were pivotal in establishing South Africa as a multi-racial democracy. He was elected President of the country, retiring in 1999 when he was in his 8th decade.

There are few people whose wisdom, ideals and unshakeable sense of conviction I admire more, yet this is a man who remains humble, who says simply of his life…

“I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth...but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousand indignities and a thousand unremembered moments produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people. There was no particular day on which I said, Henceforth I will devote myself to the liberation of my people; instead, I simply found myself doing so, and could not do otherwise."

I feel blessed to share the planet with Nelson Mandela. His dignity, his vision and his quiet strength embody all that is good in humankind, and offer hope that we can each be better than we are.

Happy 93rd Birthday, Madiba...

Thursday Tales: No. 68

2011-07-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

The night felt like a dream to me but the dread I experienced on that path was all too real. Ahead of me stood the shadowed house, its sinister presence looming over the subdued landscape, oblivious to the surly clouds that roiled around the malevolent tower. As evil as it looked outside, it was knowing what the tower sheltered that caused fear to grip my stomach in its icy hands. He was there…and I was the only one who could end his madness.
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I shakily moved on, slowly putting one reluctant foot in front of the other…sealing my fate as surely as if I’d taken a knife to my own throat. What did I think I was doing? I could not possibly win. How could I hope to defeat one whose sole goal in life has been to inflict endless misery on the innocent? Yet, it was for these same innocents that I had to try. If we were ever to be free again...if we were ever to breathe air no longer tainted by the dark fog of despair, I had to go on.
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The large front door swung slowly open as I drew near. Seeing a stark shadow outlined by the putrid yellow glow from inside, I understood he’d come down from his tower to welcome me personally. I took a breath, and muttered to myself, “Fine! I don’t need to deal with your groveling minions. This is between you and me now.”
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“Well,” came the silky drawl as I slowed to a halt, “It’s you they sent in the end, is it?”
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I tilted up my chin and defiantly met the hard gaze that washed disdainfully over me.
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“I suppose I should have known it would be you,” he continued in the same soft tone. “Indeed, we have a history, you and I, do we not?”
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His mouth turned up in a rictus of a smile. It was a horrible thing to see, this travesty that lacked all warmth and humanity. I had not known such a smile was possible before he’d introduced terror into my life
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Abruptly, the fearsome figure bowed at the waist and swept an arm backward into the room. “Do come in, my dear”, was the grand invitation. “Make yourself at home”.
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I had no choice. Though I wished nothing more than to flee, I knew I must enter the foul domain...live's depended on it. I stepped across the doorway with more confidence than I actually felt, managing to repress a shudder when the door closed gently, but resolutely, behind me.
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It seemed the feeble farce of civility had lost its charm for my host. The eyes that met mine now were empty and cold, the face assuming its impenetrable mask once again.
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Silence stretched on interminably before he continued, the same cold softness of his tone chilling me to the core. “Now, remind me again how old you are, my plucky girl”, he purred cruelly. “Ten? Eleven?”
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Anger and humiliation threatened to choke me. “I’m not...” I began, but quickly coughed to hide my pathetic attempt at a response. “I’m not a child! I’m thirteen, almost fourteen,” I managed to get out more firmly this time.
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Another silence greeted my words, until at last my adversary deigned to answer.
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“Thirteen, going on fourteen, you say, “ he mumbled, looking to me for affirmation.
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Unable to speak, I jerked my head in the approximation of a nod
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“And when exactly will you turn fourteen, dear one?” he drawled, clearly enjoying the fear I was not altogether able to hide at his oily words.
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“My birthday’s next month,” I responded in a voice that came out more shrilly than I’d intended. “I’ll be fourteen then”.
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The dark figure turned away from me. When it seemed he had forgotten I was there, the force of his hatred came round to me once more. Again, the mouth twisted up in an odious line, and I knew with certainty what he was going to say before the words were spoken aloud.
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“Whatever makes you think I will let you live to see another birthday?” came the expected response, breathed out in the quietest and most measured of tones.
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I could no more stop the tremor his voice sent through me than I could erase the twisted past that had brought us both to this defining moment in time. I opened my mouth to speak, but what, after all, could I say?
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Instead, I stood silent in the face of evil personified, and waited to see where we went from here…

Possibly to be continued...

( 755 words)

I'm not sure why all my tales are creepy lately, but I'm liking it immensely! The spooky photo prompt, aided by the fact that it was cold, gray and rainy this morning made this an obvious piece to pen. I've been thinking I would like to try writing for teenagers/young adults, and this story strikes me as having possible appeal to the Harry Potter crowd. I'll have to do some research...

Unfortunately, the meme's word limitation of 777 forced my story to an abrupt end. I very much enjoyed the exercise, however, and may continue it next week if the prompt seems conducive.

For more Thursday Tales, do stop by Leo's page and check out the entries...

http://talesthursday.blogspot.com/

The wonderful photo this week was provided by Thomas Neilsen at Deviant Art...

http://tinypilot.deviantart.com/art/Bye-bye-Mr-Moon-part-7-25419242
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Signs, Signs: Belfast Murals

2011-07-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

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The Twelfth of July parades in Belfast and elsewhere in Northern Ireland commemorate the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of The Boyne in 1690. People begin celebrating this event on the Eleventh Night with the lighting of huge bonfires that have been months in the building.

Gathering fuel for the fire...

This ‘marching season’, as it is known, historically re-ignites sectarian violence. Members of the Orange Order assert their right to walk with Protestant marching bands along the same route every year, accompanied by the racous protests of nationalist groups decrying what they consider a blatant show of Unionist dominance over their Catholic neighbourhoods.

This year was no exception:

violence broke out and

riot police were called

upon to deal with the

hooligans.

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On a visit home a few years ago, I took
pictures of the murals that were painted
at the height of the Troubles.

These murals are beautiful, horrifying
and heartbreaking
all at once…they are people’s lives and
hearts laid open for
the world to see.

I pray that my beloved Northern Ireland will one day find its way to a lasting peace that recognizes each of her citizens as equal and free...

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For more signs from all over, pop into Lesley's wonderful meme and check them out...

http://signs2.blogspot.com/
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If you'd like to know more about Northern Ireland and the Troubles, you might enjoy a few of my earlier posts...
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http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/08/city-divided.html
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http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/07/young-of-belfast.html
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http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/07/immigrant-experience.html
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Magpie Tales: No. 73

2011-07-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Reach out your hand...pull

me near that I might not

lose sight of all I love.

This painting speaks to me of the disconnect we sometimes feel in our lives...in our families and our passions. Too often, doing what's expected of us has little to do with what makes us feel gloriously alive....

Today, I feel infused with life as I've learned about a poet with whom I was not familiar, and a painter.

The piece above is titled "People of Chilmark', painted in 1920 by American artist and muralist Thomas Hart Benton. His lush, earthy work highlights everyday scenes of life in the U.S. As an admirer of Diego Rivera, I recognized some of the same elements in Benton's work.

This is my first time to join Magpie Tales. For more tales based on this photo, do stop by the link below...

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/

Additionally, my friend Debra left a comment on my page referencing the English poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, whose striking and unique approach to language enlivened the strict poetic forms of the time. Thanks D.,for brightening my day!

Shadow Shot Sunday: Dogwood Park

2011-07-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

As British Columbia's main port, Vancouver attracts immigrants from every part of the world, many of them coming from South Asia. In countless neighbourhoods, including my own, this migration is reflected in the numerous nationalities that co-mingle on our streets.

I love living in the midst of this cultural diversity, and particularly enjoy when my Indian friends and co-workers prepare for weddings by decorating their hands and feet with mehndi. There is a unique and striking beauty to the art of drawing patterns and designs with henna that is simply breathtaking.

On a recent walk through Dogwood Park in nearby South Surrey, my attention was caught by the dappled shadows that patterned the dusty trails.

They struck me as being

similar to mehndi,

though paling by

comparison with

the complexity and

detail found in

the traditional

Asian adornment.

This off-leash dog park is

a favourite for our Sunday

jaunts. The lacy canopy

offers wonderful shade

from the hot summer

sun, a treat for dogs

and people alike

If dogs could smile,

you would see

Meeghan with a

grin on her face

every minute of

the time we spend

in this park!

For a variety of wonderful shadow shots, do stop by Hey, Harriet and check out Tracy's Shadow Shot Sunday. You'll be very glad you did...

http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Thursday Tales and Book Blurb Friday

2011-07-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

I’m combining two mêmes today. Since the photo prompts seemed to compliment each other, I thought they belonged together in a story...

Leo at Thursday Tales supplies us with a picture around which we might spin a yarn of between 55 and 777 words. On seeing this stark window, I knew I would write about it, although I've altered the photo’s original context.

At Book Blurb Friday, Lisa shows us her book jacket, and invites us to pen a compelling blurb that will entice readers to buy the book. With only 150 words in which to do so, it can be quite a challenge. This week’s photo of the old typewriter supplied by Lynn Obermoeller instantly captured my imagination.

This is my contribution...

The Heart's Last Home

Jen looked around in despair. Fifteen years had passed since she’d set foot inside the family home...it was now unrecognizable with layers of grime sullying the once well-appointed parlor. When her eyes fell on the long-unused typewriter, the true gravity of the situation settled heavily into her gut.

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How had her mother let this happen?
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How had she let this happen?

Jennifer Brooks writes compellingly of the descent into senility of a once-brilliant woman whose many books inspired her daughter to pursue journalism.

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Settled overseas with work and a man she loved, Jen imagined all must be as she'd left it. She was wrong. Alarmed by phone calls that became increasingly strange, she returned to find her mother diminished in both mind and body.

Though not an easy read, the story of how Jen became caregiver to the woman who had borne her will surely touch your heart…

(150 words)

To view more Thursday Tales, check out Leo’s link below….

http://talesthursday.blogspot.com/

Be sure to visit Angela, who supplied us with this evocative window….

http://anne-frank.gemzies.com/show/entry_8510/Anne_Frank__039_s_Attic_window.html

And to read more of Lisa’s Friday Book Blurbs, you’ll want to stop by this page…

http://www.writinginthebuff.net/

Don’t forget to visit Lynn while you’re at it…

http://www.lynnobermoeller.blogspot.com/

Signs, Signs: Route 66

2011-07-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

When visiting the American Southwest, we always make sure to fit in another stretch of historic Route 66. It is a treat like no other driving down these old roads that so many before us have taken in search of a better life for their families.

Springfield, Missouri is recognized as the birthplace of U.S. Route 66, given its name there in 1926. Following the old trails laid out by the early explorers and railroads, this new highway quickly became a popular route for trucks because of its flat, open stretches. It eventually reached across the country from the coast of California, up to the windy shores of Lake Michigan.

This was a road that offered hope. The Dust Storms of the 1930s forced many families from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas to head west to California in search of agricultural jobs.

After World War II, Route 66 came to define a generation looking for adventure and freedom on the open road…businesses flourished along the roadside, eager to profit from this new tourist trade.

As progress escalated, faster highways began to replace the old roads. Route 66 was deemed irrelevant, and in 1985, was replaced by the new Interstate Highway System

Many changes were made to the route over the years, with sections altered, discontinued and rerouted; yet it remains today one of the best scenic drives to be found anywhere.

The stretches that survive

are a wonderful slice

of history.

Diners and gas stations

line the route, reminders

of a time when

life seemed simpler

and the

future resonated

with hope.

Time slows down on this gentle

route, and I never tire of it.

We’ve covered less than half of the route so far, from California, through Arizona to New Mexico, but eagerly anticipate completing the rest.

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Amarillo, Texas to

Chicago, Illinois

sounds like a heck

of a road trip,

don’t you think?

For more signs from all over the world, drop in to visit Lesley at the link below....

http://signs2.blogspot.com/

Watery Wednesday: At the Carwash

2011-07-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

If we keep our eyes open, there is beauty to be found in even the mundane moments of life.

Being fond of texture and pattern, I’ve always liked the play of water and soap on the windows in automated car washes.

On my last visit, I thought to take these quick shots as I went through.

The results strike me as abstract art…I can easily see them enlarged on canvas and hung against steel-gray walls.

When I reversed the photos, I found I liked the resulting waterfalls even better.

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In these pairs, the first shot is always the original.

For other water shots more exotic in nature, do check out Watery Wednesday, graciously hosted by 2sweetnsaxy…

http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Succinctly Yours: No. 15

2011-07-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Said the spider to the fly,

“Come and visit me, big guy!

I’m a gal who’ll make you smile,

If you’ll only stay a while.

And of course I mean no harm…

I’m the epitome of charm!!”

Photo courtesy of google (140 characters)

Today's optional word in Succinctly Yours is 'expedient', and while I didn’t actually use it in the piece, my wily spider exercises expediency in her approach to every meal!
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I apologize for the spider pic if it creeps you out. I'm one of the few folk I know who truly like creepy-crawlies of all sorts. Wait....I don't know anyone but me who does...how odd!!

Photo supplied by Grandma

For more microfiction about flies, using 140 characters or words,

do check out the fun entries at Grandma's Goulash...

http://grandmas-goulash.info/
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Book Blurb Friday: No. 18

2011-07-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

What Lies Behind

All is not as it seems in the Robbins’ household. Without question, the well-kept home blends perfectly into the neighbourhood…yet people hurry past it, made uneasy by something indefinable in the air.
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Peering out from behind slotted blinds, the ten-year-old twins who live there know well what the house emits…it is the smell of fear, and it hangs about them like a shroud.

All is not as it seems in the Robbins’ household, but to whom might the children appeal? Not the police…their father is one of them; not their mother…all resistance has long since been beaten out of her.

Ashley and Bryce know all they can trust is each other…

In her debut novel, Clare Raines takes us to the front lines of spousal abuse, viewed through the eyes of the children caught in its maelstrom. Edgy, raw and topical, this is a book you will not easily forget.

(150 words)

Yes, it's another dark piece that came to me as a whole upon seeing this photo. I do believe my muse is telling me it's time to leap in and tackle some serious writing instead of just talking about doing so!

Lisa at Writing in The Buff, invites us to write a book jacket blurb in 150 words or less that will entice potential readers into buying the book. This week's cover photo is graciously supplied by Becky Povich. For more takes on the prompt, do check out the link below...

http://www.writinginthebuff.net/
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NB: I haven't entirely worked out my computer woes yet, so it may take me a while to visit. Please bear with me....

Down Time

2011-06-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends:

My laptop has decided I must need a break, because it's refusing to work at all now after giving me problems for the last few weeks. I'm leaving a quick message on this borrowed computer to say I'll be out of commission for a while, but will check in with everyone when I'm up and running again...:)

Have a wonderful week,
Lynette

Saturday Centus: Dear John

2011-06-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Jenny Matlock hosts the wonderful Saturday Centus, where she invites us to weave a tale around the word prompt she provides. Inclined to throw in extra challenges, she has limited us to 60 words this week using the prompt, 'Dear John'. This is my fervent, (but in good form), contribution...

Dear John:

I can't believe what a jerk you are! You steal my truck, take my money and run off with my sister! And then you kidnap my dog!?! I love that dog!

Keep the damned truck, and my cheating sister, but bring Brucie back or I'll haunt you 'til the day you die! Seriously!!

Sincerely,

Lucy

Photo courtesy of Google

For more microfiction, do check out the link below...

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/

Book Blurb Friday: No. 17

2011-06-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

All Fall Down

Time has forgotten Bedford Falls, although it’s mattered little from the start. Despite appearances, evil simmers in this unloved town. Mary Sykes knows it, as do the residents still trapped in its frozen web.

She had escaped; now death brings her back to the aunt who’d cruelly expelled her.

Cautiously, Mary approaches her former home where cobwebs drape across the open doorway. She falters before stepping inside, unsure what she’ll find, knowing only that it won’t be good.

With a crash, the door slams shut, entombing her in darkness.

“Aunt Esther?” Mary croaks into the void, her words echoing back only charged silence.
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Someone else is in the house…..

With this, Patrick Ferris leads us into a world where secrets fester and things aren’t what they seem. His wicked skill twists terror into the heart and leaves us begging for more. It’s a thrilling read, though you’ll sleep lightly tonight …

( 150 words )

I had such fun with this one. I was imagining reasons why the the aunt who raised her suddenly sent Mary away, and who might be sequestered with her in the darkness...more importantly what do they want with her? And just who is dead....so far?

I'm discovering a dark side of myself that has only shown up recently in these microfiction memes. I think I like it!

For more fun takes on this prompt that use 150 words or less to entice us, stop by Lisa's Writing in The Buff and check out book-jacket blurbs designed to capture our attention.

http://www.writinginthebuff.net/

And many thanks to Sandra Davies for the great photo!

http://sandra-linesofcommunication.blogspot.com/

Thursday Think Tank: Inanimate Objects

2011-06-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

I am not a thing

to play with and discard...please

follow directions!

This tongue-in-cheek senryu came to me today as I was pondering the difficulties people have in understanding one another. Our lives might be easier if they came with a script, but we wouldn't enjoy the movie quite so much if we knew what to expect at every turn of the page, would we?

I'm linking up with the Thurdsday Think Tank at Poets United. For more takes on this prompt, check out their link below....

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2011/06/thursday-think-tank-55-inanimate.html#more

Signs, Signs & Window Views: Sedona

2011-06-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Since my last post featured

Sedona's Chapel of The Holy

Cross, I thought that
for Lesley's Signs, Signs,
today, I would

continue with

photos of the various

notices posted

around the grounds.

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Beavertail Cactus

After a warm, brisk
climb to the hilltop,

I could completely identify with

The Rocks!

And for Mary t's Windows
and Doors, I also wanted to share shots of the home

one sees when

looking down into the valley below.

Take note of the astronomical observatory. Can you imagine starting each day within sight of these brilliant red hills and ending it by gazing at the stars in that huge expanse of clear sky?

This might possibly be the closest we earthbound creatures get to

Heaven until Judgement Day, (and some of us aren't even sure of our chances then)!

I'm linking this post to Signs, Signs today. For more quirky signs from around the world, check out Lesley's meme at the link below....

http://signs2.blogspot.com/

And for Window Views, &Doors Too, stop by and visit Mary t. here...

http://windowviews2.blogspot.com/

Sedona Shadow Shots

2011-06-18T22:56:00.000-07:00

Known as Red Rock Country, Sedona, Arizona is one of the most remarkable spots to be found in the U.S. A small and cozy town, it abounds with art-filled shops and warm people. A day’s visit is not enough…one could spend weeks wending down rugged dusty trails, visiting the many galleries and museums, and exploring its metaphysical
possibilities.

Long recognized as a sacred site, Sedona is said to contain four vortex points whose concentrated energies are conducive to meditation, prayer and healing. If one remains open and accepting, the palpable energy that charges the air can revitalize a tired spirit and renew one’s joy.

Another sacred space in Sedona is The Chapel of The Holy Cross, built right into the high rocks that overlook the valley below. In this land of bright red sandstone, wide-open sky and sweltering heat, stepping into this chapel is to experience instant peace and a clear sense of spirituality, no matter what your religious beliefs may encompass.

I have rarely experienced the
complete sense of ease that
came upon me whilst I sat quietly
in this small chapel.
.
My thoughts stilled, my body
relaxed, and I was able to
simply be in the moment
…not a condition we experience
often enough in our
technologically driven
world.

These pictures take

me back to that quiet

centre, and the

celestial shadows

seem a perfect

match for

Sunday Shadow Shot.

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For more shadow

shots, do stop by
Tracy's meme

at the link

below...

http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Thursday Think Tank: Ocean Waters

2011-06-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

So still it seems not

to move, yet life's tide pulls us

onward to the sea...

I am linking this post with Poets United, Thursday Think Tank. To read more poems about things oceanic, do check out the link below...

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2011/06/thursday-think-tank-54-beachocean.html#comments

And my heartfelt thanks to all who left such kind words about the loss of our boy, Oreo. The blogging world is just bursting with caring souls who understand family is about more than just its people. I will definitely be stopping by to visit each and every one of you...:)
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Yesterday, We Lost a Friend

2011-06-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

We have never had to seek out pets to adopt into our home…they have always found their way to us. We love them unreservedly in the brief time we’re allotted with them, and mourn the loss of a family member when it is their time to go.

Yesterday we lost our boy, Oreo, a sturdy, handsome tomcat inclined to stride about the cul-de-sac, asserting himself as the neighbourhood’s top feline, only to return home and immediately snuggle up in whichever warm lap was available to him.

Oreo was the grandson of our petite tortoiseshell cat, Zoe, though at twice her size and inclined to play rough, there was little matrilineal similarity. Zoe came to us unexpectedly one Sunday afternoon as we explored an old graveyard, cleaning off headstones to read the wonderful words generations past used to honour their loved ones.
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A sudden squeal of brakes near the entrance caused us to turn, just in time to see a girl step out of her car, toss something roughly into the trees, and quickly peel out again. Seconds later, we heard a shrill, forlorn howl, and on racing down to help, came across the smallest, sweetest kitten I’d ever seen. In that instant, Zoe became part of our family.
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Tiny and young as she was, we did not realize she was coming into heat, and in no time understood she would soon be having her first, and only, litter. The next-door neighbours requested a kitten, and though we warned them to avoid our huge error in judgment, they failed to have their cat spayed, and more kittens were soon on the way. From this litter came a cheeky black and white fellow their kids named Oreo.
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In time, the people next door moved to a new house, a few blocks north of us on the other side of a busy street. Imagine my surprise, then, when I went out to the yard a few days later to find Oreo looking at home on the warm top of our picnic table. Luckily we had exchanged phone numbers before their move. We were able to advise his owners that their cat had returned to his old neighbourhood, and handed him over when they came by that night to reclaim him.

Two days later, Oreo was back, meowing a greeting to me from the picnic table as if that was exactly where he was supposed to be. We were not able to reach the owners quickly this time. We left a message on their answering machine but they did not come for a couple of days.

Oreo was definitely a leaner cat than he’d been and happily tucked into the food I began to regularly place in front of him.

Meeghan and Oreo with their toys

When the old neighbours finally showed up, we voiced our concern about the dangerous main road Oreo had to cross to find his way to us, and repeated our advice that he be kept indoors until he got used to the new house. Though they vehemently promised to do that, Oreo was back the very next day.

This time, we did not phone…clearly when his owners noticed him missing, they would know where to find him. As several days passed wherein they neither phoned nor dropped by, Oreo effortlessly joined our family and has been with us ever since.

On Saturday afternoon, he could be seen sitting in the driveway, as he liked to do, surveying his little world with satisfaction. After supper, our son, J.J., came to tell us Oreo was dragging a back leg. It seemed reminiscent of an earlier leg injury, earned upholding his reputation as a scrappy cat, and with our son Jules holding him, we hurried out to the animal emergency hospital.
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Expecting another cast and a plastic collar, we grew concerned when the vet spent overlong on his examination, and even more concerned that Oreo’s entire hind end now dragged behind when he tried to walk. We had never heard of Arterial Thromboembulisn, (ATE), a frightening condition that strikes without warning. The vet explained that a blood clot had shot to the aorta, blocking blood to the legs and hip and instantly cutting of circulation. Cats Stricken with ATE are literally fine one moment and paralyzed the next.

The vet advised leaving him overnight, where he could hook Oreo up to an I.V. and administer meds to help with the considerable pain, but warned us gently that the prognosis was not good…once one rhombus has been thrown, more usually follow.

We got the call at six a.m. to say our beautiful boy had passed away. I am grateful it was swift and his pain was short-lived, but am lost without his large presence in our too-quiet house.

You know we loved you fiercely, Oreo, and you showed us every day how much you loved us. I'm sure by now you’ve found Angel and curled up on the couch beside her as you used to do.

Please take very good care of each other until we see you both again…

Thursday Think Tank, A Little Late...

2011-06-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

Golden plain as far

as the eye can see...room to

roam and to be free.

Having watched lions move unchecked across the wild savannahs of Africa, I wish only the same untouched environment for every new generation of cubs.

To read more poems around animals, do check out the Thursday Think Tank at Poet's United...

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2011/06/thursday-think-tank-52-animals.html#more

My First Book Blurb Friday!

2011-06-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

If Only

Jane raced down the lane, too frightened to scream, whimpering only when her foot slid on a can and sent her crashing to the ground. For a moment she was unable to breathe. Panic clogged her throat, pain tearing outward from her bloody knees, now deeply pierced with gravel.

If she could only rest a bit…

From behind came the sound of footsteps approaching. Jane rose frantically, her mangled legs buckling in protest.

If she could only reach the end of the lane…

Up ahead, headlights blazed on with a startling brilliance that sent her stumbling to her knees once more.

If only Jane knew her life would never be the same again after this night, if she can only live through the night.

In her latest thriller, author Lynn Wright keeps us breathless from first page to last. Read it only if you’re prepared to keep looking over you shoulder…

(150 words)

I believe novels like this work because there is a core of fear in each of us that defies reason and never completely dies. Although I have read many such books, this is the first blurb I’ve written and my first attempt at Lisa’s BBF. Now that I see how much fun it is, I’m wondering what took me so long to join!

For more blurbs designed to lure one into a book based on a photo prompt using only 150 words, do check out Book Blurb Friday at Writing in the Buff…and thanks to Lisa's son Joe for this weeks great picture!

http://www.writinginthebuff.net/

Weekend Reflections and SkyWatch Friday: B.C.

2011-06-09T13:41:00.000-07:00

Some time ago we motored north up the coast of Vancouver Island to spend an afternoon with a much-loved aunt.

On this cold and drizzly weekend, I took uncommonly few shots, deterred by the dampness that settled into my bones - and my camera - each time I stepped outside.

I expected little of the photos, but once copied to the computer, decided they told a tale of life on our rainforest shoreline and might be worth sharing.

Artists like Onley and Markgraf have used the same cool grays and blues to depict our mountains, so often enshrouded with cloud...water reflecting back the weak sun as it attempts to break through.

While I in no way liken my work to theirs, I do hope these shots impart at least a little of the mystery and magic this province weaves around the hearts of those who love it.

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For more skies from around the world, check out this link:
http://skyley.blogspot.com/
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And for wonderful reflections, stop in at the site below:
http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Microfiction Muse #10

2011-06-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

I offer a twisted tale for Diane Estrella's Microfiction Muse...

"I'm going to be sick!"

"Don't worry, sweetie...your mom knows what she's doing."

"Then why is she brandishing that bloody knife?"

.
.
(pause)
.

"I'd say the vegan diet's not going well."

Thanks to Polly at The 5th Sister for supplying this great photo and to Diane for inviting us to pen a tale around it in 140 characters or less. You'll want to check out the other entries...

http://dianeestrella.com/

http://5thsister.blogspot.com/

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Since I'm already on a skewed path here today, I might as well throw in a pair of limericks that came to me at the same time as the above. Madeleine at Mad Kane's Humour Blog unleashed a monster when she opened my world up to limericks!
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A woman who brandished a knife
Took a poke at the love of her life.
Her wrath he did fear,
So he choked back a tear
And reluctantly made her his wife!
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A fellow who brandished a knife
Had a penchant for stirring up strife.
His girl he did whack
When she’d not have him back
And now he’s serving fifteen-to-life!
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You might want to check out Mad Kane's blog, though you could find yourself developing a new passion...LOL.
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http://www.madkane.com/humor_blog/
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Microfiction Times Three

2011-06-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am apparently hooked on microfiction memes since I keep finding more of them all the time, (though truthfully, I believe they find me)! Today, I offer three tiny bits of writing...

Both men pondered the chance of claiming Gwendolyn’s heart…they had dropped drastically in the latest affection polls! Might one yet win her back….and by what means?

(140 Characters)

(Photo provided by Grandma)

The course of love rarely runs smoothly! Grandma at Succinctly Yours challenges us to spin a tale in either 140 characters or 140 words, using the photo prompt she provides. A further challenge is to insert her word of the day, this week's choice being "ponder". To see other takes on this pic, do check out the link below...

http://grandmas-goulash.info/

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Life’s challenge gives us pause

…in the end, it is love

that will temper its harsh turns

and allow our hearts to find

peace therein.

(25 words)
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(Photo by Lynette Killam)

Yes...a mere 25 words is the limit Jenny Matlock set on this exercise, asking only that we base it on the theme of, "In the end". What a wonderful way to combat verbosity! This is my first time playing along with Saturday Centus, but I'll warrant it will not be my last...

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/search/label/Saturday%20Centus

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

This is another new meme for me. Eric 's Monday Morning Photo Prompt asks us to write a piece in whatever style or size the Muse dictates...

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The man woke up slowly, suspended in that place where one knows not which is real and which is the dream. He could feel cold steel under him, its icy, unforgiving surface chilling every inch of his being and setting him atremble. After a time, his eyelids slid open, but he quickly scrunched them shut again to block out the fierce and brilliant band of light that assailed him and pierced straight through his brain.

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Something was not right. Unease settled hard into his gut, threatening to unleash the bile that roiled up and began to demand release. He struggled to remember where he was, but the cold numbed his mind, and his eyelids proved inadequate guards against the riveting brilliance that continued to torment him mercilessly.
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It was now that the first real lick of fear worked its way up his rigid spine. Dear God…what was happening?
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(147 words - Photo provided by Eric)

This one was fun to do- unlike anything I've ever written before - but the picture made me think of alien abduction, and I quickly put down the first thing that came to my head! To read more responses to this pic, drop by Eric's page for a visit...
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http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com/

Skywatch Friday, Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday: Colorado to Utah

2011-06-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

After visiting Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado last year, we passed through Four Corners, where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona come together, then made our way back up Utah to continue our exploration of the state.

Along the way, we passed stunning rock formations as the topography changed with every turn of the road. I was hard pressed to capture the ever-shifting scenery.

All the while, clouds scudded above us, building and releasing in turn

to toss undulating shadows over the striped hills.

I've previously shared the enchantment which Utah wound about my heart...these big skies go a long way toward showing why I was quite unable to resist its lure.

I'm linking this post to Skywatch Friday, a great meme hosted by Klaus and the rest of the team...I definitely suggest you stop by to enjoy many skies

from around this world...:)

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

And though there is only one reflection photo, I will link to Weekend Reflections hosted by James at Newton Daily Photo, always a beautiful place to visit...

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

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I'm also taking part in Shadow Shot Sunday with Tracy at Hey Harriet. Do check out her wonderful posts...
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http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/
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Thursday Reflection: Time Out

2011-06-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

I need only be still,
and let the day unfold

as it is meant to.

Photo supplied by Ella Wilson

While I normally advocate active navigation of one’s own life, there are days when a time out is called for; days to accept that perfect control is an illusion and to trust that what we did not plan might bring us just what we need at that time.

A quiet bench, a moment of pause and a modicum of faith can still the chatter in our heads and reveal to us a world of possibilities we might otherwise not see.

Poets United has introduced an exciting new feature called 'Reflection' into it's Thursday Think Tank. On the first Thursday of each month, the talented Ellen Wilson will graciously provide us with a photo prompt around which to build a poem. If you find this as much fun as I do, check out other work at the link below!

Utah Photo by Lynette Killam

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2011/06/thursday-think-tank-51-time-out.html#more

And if you're up for a real treat, do stop by Ella's Edge and settle in for a great visit...

http://ellasedge.blogspot.com/

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Las Vegas photo by Lynette Killam

Signs, Signs: Signs We Obey

2011-06-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you've read some of my earlier posts, you will know that my husband and I have an unfortunate penchant for ignoring 'Keep Out' signs. For us, the lure of the unknown seems to undermine our normally law-abiding ways, that curiosity inexorably leading us into mischief.

Mesa Verde, Colorado

But there are signs we would not dream of disregarding. We would never risk causing damage to ancient ruins that have stood for many years and deserve to be left for future generations to marvel at as we do.

Nor would we trample through environmentally fragile environments in which plants and birds are protected from the ravages of encroaching habitation.

Serpentine Fen, British Columbia

Surely, we all wish only to be thoughtful stewards of this wonderfully diverse but fraught world.

And of course, it only makes sense to obey signs like the one at left, particularly if you haven't ever seen Poison Ivy up close and cannot readily identify it.

We did go through this trail in Colorado with a little more caution than we normally exercise.

There may be hope for us yet!

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For more signs from around the world, do check out Lesley's great meme at the link below...

http://signs2.blogspot.com/

Microfiction Muse #9

2011-06-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

His journey a quest, the young man came to learn that what he sought was closer than he knew….and that the place he might find contentment and joy lay within his own heart.

(140 characters)

Diane Estrella invites us to write a tale around the photo prompt she provides, using 140 characters or less. Today's photo is of my friend Pat’s son, taken while he spent time with the Peace Corps in Africa. For more words on this prompt, do check out the following link...

http://dianeestrella.com/

Succinctly Yours: Glisten

2011-05-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Brow glistening with sweaty anticipation,

Klaus zoomed by the pedestrian,

snatched her purse in one deft move

and rode off grinning.

Thus began his long life of crime.

(140 characters)

I've posted this for Succinctly Yours, a meme graciously hosted by Grandma's Goulash

Each week, Grandma offer us a photo prompt and a suggested word we might incorporate into a written piece of either 140 characters or 140 words. You might enjoy checking out the humourous entries at the link below. Today's word is "glisten"...

http://grandmas-goulash.info/category/succinctly-yours/

A Preponderance of Posteriors

2011-05-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

This is not actually a post about behinds as the title suggests, although it’s true that a few are featured. As I just shared photos of Colorado’s Mesa Verde, I thought I’d follow up with shots of the many tight spots, steep ladders and narrow stairways one must navigate to explore these ancient cliff dwellings. It is definitely not a place for those with claustrophobia or a fear of heights!

Our Park Ranger had an amusing tale from the previous week about a woman freezing in panic halfway up this ladder, too afraid to go higher or to climb back down. As it is a sheer cliff with no easy access, heavy equipment had to be brought onto the mesa top to lower her to the ground far below.

Needless to say, visitors are more carefully screened than ever to avoid such incidents!

While stairways were carved into the rock for tourists in the 1930s,

the Anasazi scampered up and down the cliff face with ease, winter or summer.

At left are the original handholds carved out by the ancient people to aid in their climb.

Often, access to the dwellings was gained only through a single narrow opening, a clever idea that lent ease to guarding the fortress against enemy infiltraton. It does, however, make a tight fit for today's overfed tourists!

The photo above shows a typical entrance to the cozy kivas. Once inside with a warm fire, family groups could comfortably settle in to weather the cold, dark winter months, bolstered by the knowledge that their store rooms were well stocked with grain.
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To walk in the footsteps of the ancients is worth any effort to get there.

To stand where they stood...to look out on the world they saw is a rare and extraordinary chance to experience history on a uniquely personal level...

Mesa Verde Windows and Doors ...and Signs, Signs

2011-05-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

A U.S. National Park and Unesco World Heritage Site, Colorado's

Mesa Verde National Park was created at the turn of the twentieth century to safeguard the ancient cliff dwellings found in the park.

Cliff Palace.

The ruined homes and villages are all that remain of a thriving community built late in the 12th century by the Anasazi, and inexplicably abandoned a relatively short time later.

These Ancestral Pueblo people were subsistence farmers, growing corn crops on the mesa tops to fill their many storerooms and supplement the meat that hunting provided.

Anasazi women were famous for their intricate basket weaving, and Anasazi pottery is still highly prized. As no written record were left, these artifacts and ruins provide the only clues we have to the history of this civilization whose descendants still inhabit this part of the world.

Kivas at Balcony House

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The largest of these dwelling,

Cliff Palace, became known in
1888, when two cowboys spotted
the ruins from the top of the
mesa, while searching
for stray cattle.

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In these years before
archaeology took it's place in
the world of science, they
marshalled family and
friends,and began exploration
of the site, indiscriminately

knocking down walls and
roofs in search of the
countless artifacts which
they swiftly
removed and sold.

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More vandalism followed as word of the discovery got out, and curio seekers flocked to plunder what they could. Floors were dug up, and kivas were destroyed. While camping on the site to facilitate the removal of souvenirs, looters used roof posts as firewood to such an extent that not a single roof remains intact.

Add to this misuse the

considerable

erosion caused by weather

and time, and it is

apparent that the cliff

dwellings are visibly and

irreparably compromised.

Mesa Verde occupies 52,000 acres of the Colorado Plateau. The climate is semi-arid, and the park has unfortunaelty experienced a number of wildfires in recent years. Juniper seedlings are returning, and oak trees have begun to resprout, but it will take decades for the forest to regenerate itself.

A recent post made clear my delight in the storm that thundered into the park on the day we visited. If you missed them, check out the stormy skies that entranced me...

http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2011/05/mesa-verde-skies.html

I'm linking these photos to Mary t's meme,'WindowViews and Doors Too'. To see more views from around the world, click on the link below...

http://windowviews2.blogspot.com/

I'm also linking to Lesley's 'Signs, Signs', always a fun meme to visit...

http://signs2.blogspot.com/

Succintly yours: By The Sea

2011-05-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

For today's 'Succintly Yours' prompt, I've written two pieces...one semi-serious, one simply silly!

She watched him watch the world; she always the onlooker, he seeing only what his lens allowed. Enough.

“Picture this, then!” she said, walking out of his life for good.

(140 characters)
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and

Myopic, mad and mildly morose, Morris missed by miles the many

moves Marcy made to merge more merriment into the meagerly

mundane. Magic made no mark on this man’s mind!

(140 characters)

For more microfiction in 140 characters or words, pop by Grandma's Goulash and enjoy the feast!

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http://grandmas-goulash.info/category/succinctly-yours/

Mesa Verde Skies

2011-05-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

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I had posted some of these shots previously on a now-defunct sky meme, but thought to share more of them for this week’s Skywatch Friday.

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On a road trip through Utah last year, my husband and I crossed briefly into southern Colorado to visit the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. The day began sunny and dry, affording us relative ease with which to climb tall ladders and maneuver our way through the compact ruins.
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It was not to last…as the afternoon progressed, dark clouds gathered overhead and before long a raging storm had engulfed us.

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Undeterred, we spent a soggy two hours exploring the rest of this amazing park. How clever the ancient Anasazi were to build under overhanging cliffs that sheltered them from the weather and offered protection from enemy attacks.

As evening came on and we began to make out way out of the park, the dark sky at last showed signs of lightening up.

Driving the high, twisting road was amazing with the endless plain stretching out below us and the sun moving ever lower into the cloudbanks that rimmed the horizon.
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I have never seen such magnificent clouds, and am not sure that I ever will again. My heart still beats wildly when remembering that spectacular evening. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do…..

To view more skies from around the world, do check out Skywatch Friday…

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http://skyley.blogspot.com/
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Watery Wednesday: Wild Irish Seas

2011-05-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

I have been a long-time lover of the sea, drawn back repeatedly by the lure of its blue-green depths and the endless cycles of its tides. And I am a lover of wind...from the softest of summer breezes to gales that wildly toss about everything they touch.

Combine wind and sea, and you will find me, and my husband, transfixed with wonder.

A trip home to Ireland in May of 2007 became especially memorable to me for the vibrant play of wind and water we encountered at every turn.

As we drove the coastline, misty spring skies would grow broody and dark, and even if out of sight, waves could be heard crashing into shore with joyful abandon.

From the seas caves of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast, to the Cliffs of Moher in west Ireland and the Skellig Islands in the south, water races ceaselessly in to throw itself time and time again against the rugged Irish shoreline.

It is timeless magnificence to behold, and is but one of many reasons why this small island’s magic will always keep time with the rhythm of my life's blood…

I am linking this post to sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday meme...do check out her wonderful link for more watery pics...

http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Succintly Yours: Look Here

2011-05-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

Wilson went nowhere without his spare head. He thought himself prepared for all scenarios, and it’s understood that any worthwhile endeavour requires the support of a back-up plan.

His second head was not quite as clever as his first, nor nearly as handsome…yet it could leap in and improvise when the first head was invaded with sensory overload and finally exploded. Second Head could supervise the clean-up, get First Head to the repair shop for a quick fix and do a reasonable job of being Wilson for a day or two, though it was admittedly a version of Wilson slightly befuddled and hampered by a disturbing lurch that he stumbled through.

No matter…in the busyness of his day, and the isolation of his cubicle, people paid little attention to either of Wilson’s heads and – sadly - never noticed the difference.

(This is a warped piece of silliness written in response to the photo prompt at Succintly Yours, yet as I came to the end, I realized I could empathize with Wilson’s sense of isolation, and could definitely use a spare for when my head seems ready to explode with craziness…:)

Grandma’s Goulash asks us to respond to a photo prompt in 140 syllables or 140 words. An additional challenge is to insert a chosen word into the piece, last week's word being ‘invade’, (yes, I'm a week behind!) Do stop by her link to read some interesting tales.

http://grandmas-goulash.info/category/succinctly-yours/

Mothers and Madness

2011-05-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

I recently unearthed some pieces written twenty-five years ago and left to neglect. I decided this one was amusing enough to share with other mothers who have found themselves suffused with frustration, exhaustion and a love that's stronger than anything else in the world!

Mothers and Madness

I’m not saying that children cause brain damage, but in my case there is indisputable evidence that brainpower has been seriously diminished since the onset of motherhood.

Before the birth of my first child, I was a sharp productive woman who could make decisions and follow them through with resolution. Thirteen years later, I need a solid hour to decide between fresh and frozen peas for dinner; and resolution is only a word I’m unable to spell when one of my children asks me.

Once a woman who moved with flair and delivered speeches with aplomb, I now stumble about with all the grace of an alcoholic moose, and seem incapable of stringing together a sentence any toddler could master.

I suppose it’s not surprising. What brain could really be expected to hold out against the baby blues and the terrible twos? One mind-numbing childhood phase leads invariably into another; the cycle has been set in motion!

On reflection, I can see that the change from superwoman to idiot took place so insidiously that there was no way it could have been avoided. I went from interviewing applicants for the job I was vacating, to hours spent babbling nursery rhymes to a wide-eyed creature who never seemed to tire of my attention.
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Suits gave way to jeans; trade journals to baby magazines. Executive lunches were replaced by creamed spinach, and weary midnight mutterings pushed aside witty repartee as if it had never existed.

Today, the transformation is complete. While the children have developed and grown, there has been no indication that my brain will return to its previous level of functioning. Indeed, judging by the snickers and outright guffaws that result each time I open my mouth, I have reason to believe that further deterioration has been noted.

In spite of it all, some small flicker of hope remains alive in me. I do have days when everything comes together, and I allow myself to trust that the brain damage might be reversible.

But that will be the same day one son brings home his lunch bag and smugly pulls out the mustard jar I packed instead of a sandwich; and the other one responds with hysterical laughter when I suggest that I might have something to contribute at his school’s career day.
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It’s daunting how quickly one’s hopes can be dashed. Yet, I need only keep in mind one of life’s certainties; children do leave home in the end.

The brain damage may be more extensive than I’d imagined. I’m almost sure I’m going to miss them…

My darling Jules, Nik and J.J....always remember that I love the three of you dearly...the joy you have brought to my life is beyond all measure.

Julian loves parties

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J.J. with our girl Meeghan

My baby sister Nikki is just another one of my kids

White Rock Skies and Reflections

2011-05-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

We are blessed to have lived near the hamlet of White Rock in B.C. for over thirty years, yet each time we walk on the pier or meander alongside the railroad tracks, I find myself charmed by it all over again...

My favourite time to visit is late afternoon, when the crowds thin out as people head home to cozy up by the fire after their wind-swept walks.

We've had an inclement spring so far in our part of the world, with more rain than usual and very cool days. Disliking the heat, this has been perfect for me...more importantly, I love that the lingering clouds we seem unable to escape provide endless photo ops.

I was very glad I'd thrown my camera in the trunk for this recent visit, as was my husband...I've been known to whine horribly when glorious sunsets appear before me and I have only my eyes with which to record them!

I recently met two of my favourite blogging friends here for afternoon tea and had a splendid visit with them. Longtime lovers of White Rock, Kay and Penelope are only too familiar with the radiance that so often paints the sea and sky with a light that's almost magical. I took these shots with them in mind...I know they will nod in recognition upon seeing them and say, "Ah yes...that's our wonderful beach".

I am participating in two memes today, and you might like to check out these sites...

Weekend Reflections...

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Skywatch Friday...

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

And if you get a chance, drop over and visit

Kay @
http://unfittie.blogspot.com/

and Penelope @

http://penelopepuddle.blogspot.com/

I know they will make you feel right at home...:)

Thursday Tales: The Apparition

2011-05-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

A tale is told on moonlit nights of a presence seen gliding soundlessly among the cornrows of a certain field. At this figure’s side appears a crow, equally and eerily silent, though it’s clear those bright avian eyes miss nothing as they relentlessly scan the shadowy landscape.

It is said that an aura of foreboding rears up on such nights and smothers all with the dark tint of unspoken menace. Nerves tingle…stomachs churn…and it seems to those who draw near that comfort will never be theirs again.
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I cannot testify to the truth of this tale. Ever watchful, I eschew this darkened field, wise enough to forgo any shortcut that would allow darkness to swallow me up. Peering in from afar, I am able only to see the faint outline of a tired and ragged scarecrow that has reigned over this domain for as far back as memory takes me. Surely such things do not take on a life of their own.

I cannot testify to the truth of this tale, but I have seen men of stature reduced to shadowy shards of themselves in the course of a single night. It does no good to question their fate…eyes bleak with fear, these unfortunates spurn all contact and slide away, unable to hear aught but their own tortured thoughts.
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You may heed my words or not…I mean only to caution you. But know that I am considered brave, though not stupid, and I state with certainty that some risks are not meant to be undertaken, even by the most adventuresome of spirits.
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You may choose to disregard what I say. One moonlit night, you may find that your curiosity outweighs your good sense. You may be drawn to this dark spot and find yourself unable to resist the force that blinds and beguiles you. Once sucked into the vortex, only destiny can decide what fate befalls you.

I have done all I can in warning you. If your search for truth takes you deep into the world of adumbration, I can only pray for your soul. But prithee...on your return, tell of what you discover that we may know the true end of this tale.

That is, if you make it back at all.....

I'm linking this toThursday Tales, where we're invited to build a story around a picture prompt, using 55-777 words. My story today has 375 words.

For more tales, follow this link....

http://talesthursday.blogspot.com/

Today's photo was provided by Sara Vandermeulen at DeviantArt. Check it out here...

http://staje.deviantart.com/art/Scarecrow-11031052

Signs, Signs: Royal Signs

2011-05-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

Following last week's Royal Wedding, I thought to post signage I captured around the stables at Buckingham Palace on a visit several years ago.

Of course I wasn't worried about the horses biting, and who could resist those beautiful brown eyes, after all?

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For more interesting
signs, do check
out Lesley's,
'Signs, Signs'
meme at
the following link...
http://signs2.blogspot.com/

Haiku Heights: Innocence

2011-04-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

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Innocence born...a

world of possibilities

the birthright of all...

Jules 1971

J.J. 1978

As this week's prompt on Haiku Heights is "Innocence", I thought to illustrate the word with photos of my sons as babies. These were taken back in the days of Kodak Instamatic cameras that used flash cubes, 126 cartridges, and produced square photos of questionable quality. Thank goodness for progress and digital photography!

For more poetry, do check out this link...

http://haiku-heights.blogspot.com/

The A - Z April Challenge: Z...and Reflective Weekend & Camera Critters

2011-04-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

You may know by now that a very special corner of my heart is reserved for Africa alone. This challenge has allowed me to share with you just a few of the reasons I love it so.....

I'm going to miss my daily visit.

Z is for Zebra

The distinctive black and white stripes that characterize zebras come in patterns unique to each individual. Unlike their closest relatives, the horse and the ass, zebras have not been fully domesticated, though humans continue to try, capturing them for display in zoos all over the world.

Plains Zebra

Africa is home to three species. The Plains or Burchell's Zebra, and the Grevy's Zebra are found in East Africa, while the Mountain Zebra is native to southern Africa.

The Mountain and Grevy's Zebras are on the endangered list,

as over time, their numbers have been drastically depleted by drought, poaching and competition from livestock.

On the other hand, the Plains Zebras shown here are so plentiful that permits are freely sold to hunt them. The Zebra skin you see in furniture and rugs generally comes from this species. Nonetheless, one subspecies, the Quagga, has already faced slaughter to the point of extinction and poaching for meat and hide is an ongoing threat to their numbers.

Although adjusted to semi-arid conditions, these grazers are in constant search of green pastures, joining in the Great Migration north come dry season. We frequently came across zebras at waterholes, especially in the morning and evening when they're most active.
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Zebras are highly social, living in groups comprised of a stallion with a number of females and their foals. Foals develop as strong a bond with their fathers as they do their mothers.

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These family groups remain close over many years, mutually grooming and nibbling each other's necks as a form of bonding. Family members look out for each other, even adjusting the herd's pace to accommodate the old and the weak.

When one of their number is hurt, the group encircles the injured animal to keep it safe and will defend it to the death. The earth would lose much were these intelligent equids to be wiped out..
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Grevy's Zebra

For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter Z...
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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

I'm linking this post to Weekend Reflections, hosted by James at Newton Daily Photo. Drop by for a visit...you'll be glad you did...

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/
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I'm also linking to Misty Dawns's Camera Critters, always a page worth checking out!
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http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

The A - Z April Challenge: Y

2011-04-29T00:07:00.000-07:00

For today's letter, I offer two more extraordinary East African birds...

Y is for Yellow-billed Hornbill

The Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill inhabits the dry and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. This bird prefers to forage on the ground, but builds nests in tree holes.

On our way to Lake Nakuru, I was delighted to see this fellow posed sedately at eye level, completely unconcerned when we stopped to snap his picture.

The hornbill lives on a diet of fruit, seeds and insects, using its powerful curved beak to probe termite mounds. It is in most peril from eagles, leopards, chimpanzees, and of course, humans.

Y is also for Yellow-necked Spurfowl

The brightly-marked Spurfowl lives in open bush and light savannah, preferring the edge of flood plains that are rich in the sedge that is his food staple.

This is a noisy bird, most active at dawn and dusk, and is commonly seen alongside the road in reserves and conservation areas. Unfortunately, considerable numbers of spurfowl are found only in protected areas as they are a favourite of poachers.

For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter Y...
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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

The A - Z April Challenge: X

2011-04-28T00:05:00.001-07:00

X is for Xerus Rutilus

The Unstriped Ground Squirrel is a species of rodent native to East Africa.

Inhabiting open woodlands, this ground squirrel lives in colonies similar to those of North American prarie dogs and exhibits much the same behaviour.

While considered pests by local farmers, these little charmers are often kept as pets and given free run of the house.

For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter X...
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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

The A - Z April Challenge: W

2011-04-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

W is for Warthog

Common Warthogs are not considered the most aesthetically pleasing animals in Africa. Mostly bald, they have large flat heads sporting “warts”, which are actually four large bumps serving as protection. Along with their two sets of tusks -one set curved, one straight- wart-hogs are ferocious-looking creatures indeed.

Despite their appearance, these fellows are herbivores, spending their days grazing on the savannah, and choosing to flee rather than fight if a situation arises. Nonetheless, they are capable of inflicting great damage with those tusks when they choose to take a stand.

Their main predators are humans, lions, leopards and crocodiles. Current warthog numbers insure they’re not on the endangered list but human hunting continues to do great damage to scattered groups.

W is also for Wildebeest

The Blue Wildebeest, also known as the Gnu, inhabits plains and open woodlands, and can be found in great numbers in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve.

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The Serengeti herds are migratory and abandon the plains after the rainy season has ended to seek fresh grass in wetter areas. Beginning in May, more than a million wildebeest migrate over 800 miles north from the Serengeti, across the Mara River, and onto the open grasslands of the Masai Mara to feed until November, at which time they head south again.

Wildebeest numbers remain high, but thousands die each year during the long migration, and their many predators definitely keep the herds in check.

We were much taken with the wildebeests. Given their large size and stern demeanor, these animals surprised us with their boisterous natures, seeming to run and frolic for the simple joy of it as they kicked up dust and barked loudly to one another.
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I suspect some of it was to impress females, and some to establish dominance in the herd, but there seemed such celebration in their antics that it left us grinning for hours afterwards
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For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter W...

http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

The A - Z April Challenge: V

2011-04-26T00:05:00.000-07:00

V is for Vulturine Guinea Fowl

Vulturine Guinea fowl are the largest living guinea fowl. Found in southern Ethiopia, through Kenya and into northern Tanzania, these gregarious birds form large flocks, feeding on seeds and small invertebrates.

Terrestrial birds, they will run, rather than fly, when alarmed, and are often tamed by humans who are drawn to their beautiful cobalt colour.

V is also for Vervet Monkey

Vervet Monkeys are the cheeky pests of East Africa. Always quick to scavenge for food left by humans, they are ever-present at rest stops and park entrances.

As we were checking into Serengeti National Park, we looked over to see this fellow clamber into our truck and take off with the banana bread that had been sent along in our luncheon bags.

When we laughingly approached, he scolded us loudly and scampered off to the side where he could keep a watchful eye on us, and eat his snack in peace.

For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter V...

http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

The A - Z April Challenge: U

2011-04-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

U is for Ungulate

Wildebeest and Zebra

“Ungulate” refers to any animal with hooves. Ungulates are the grazers and browsers of the world, accounting for the majority of herbivores currently on earth. Africa’s list of ungulates is longer than in any other continent and East Africa is particularly noted for its diversity and abundance of these mammals. Unfortunately, a fair number of these species are also threatened or endangered.

In areas where rainfall is scattered and seasonal, animals must travel great distances to satisfy their nutritional needs....Zebra with Impala

Zebra foal with Cape Buffalo

The end of the rainy season in May results in the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and other herbivores, as great herds of animals cross north from the parched Serengeti, across the Mara River and into the Masai Mara Reserve in search of food and water. It is thought that one-and-a-half million wildebeest take part in this migration along with hundreds-of-thousands of zebra and gazelle.

Complementary grazers preferring different parts of the same grass, Plains zebra and wildebeest often travel together. Zebras, with their superior vision and hearing, serve as an early warning system for the wildebeest…and given the choice, predators prefer wildebeest meat to zebra, so zebras can find safety in their midst.

Ungulates have always been important to humans all over the world. We've hunted them...domesticated them to provide us with food, fibre, transportation and a variety of other things. In many cases, we've also pushed them to the point of extinction.

This puts more at risk than the animals. Locals depend on the tourism that drives the economy in East Africa. Studies reveal that 60% of the large mammals in protected areas- lions, cheetahs, leopards, zebras, rhinos, and wildebeest - have been lost in the last two to three decades alone. Quite simply,

there is no more time to lose...

For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter U...

http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

The A - Z April Challenge: T...and Camera Critters

2011-04-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid I've been unwell for a few days, and am remiss in returning visits. I appreciate the kind comments and will pop over to see each of you soon. In the meantime, here is today's brief offering...

T is for Topi

The Topi is a handsome antelope that inhabits the flood plains and open savannahs of East Africa from southern Sudan to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Though smaller in stature than his cousin the Hartebeest, there is a definite resemblance between the two.

Topis have an amazing glossy coat that seems iridescent in the sunlight. They are a rich reddish-brown colour, mixed with patches of purple. Dark masks mark their faces, and their pale lower legs resemble stockings.

Among the most socially advanced of the antelopes, Topis live in herds of 15 to 20, with both males and females defending their territory. They are in greatest danger from lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas.

The gregarious Topi spends a good part of his life alongside zebras, ostriches, and other antelopes. Although not in any immediate threat of extinction, populations are scattered and isolated as a result of human encroachment and hunting.

For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter T...
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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting
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I am also linking to Misty Mawn's Camera Critters...do stop by and have a look at the super entries...
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.http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

The A - Z April Challenge: S

2011-04-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

For today's letter S, I offer more amazing African birds...

S is for Secretary Bird

The Secretary bird is a large terrestrial predator, with an eagle-like body on crane-like legs. It is one of the few birds who prey on foot, feeding on insects, lizards, snakes and small birds. These birds do not hunt larger herbivores, although there have been reports of them killing young gazelles.

In mongamous pairs, they prowl for food on the savannah most of the day, covering as much as twenty miles. Just before dark, they return to the safety of their roosts high in the thorny acacia trees.

The Secretary bird has traditionally been admired for its striking appearance and ability to deal with pests. In South Africa, they are sometimes kept in captivity to destroy snakes and rats. As a result of this tolerance, they are in little threat from humans but are adversely impacted by deforestation and loss of habitat.

The Secretary Bird is the National Emblem of Sudan and is prominently featured on the South African Coat of Arms.

S is also for Superb Starling

Also not threatened with extinction are the Superb Starlings, found in great numbers in East Africa, especially in Kenya. Glossy and bright with distinctive white eyes, they are easy fellows to spot.

These photos were taken just outside our cabin at the Samburu National Reserve, an altogether fine thing to see first thing in the morning as they come down to bathe in the ornamental pools.

Though it has a most discordant call, its wonderful colours and ease of training makes this Starling a popular bird for home aviaries. The white bands you see around the chest, indicate that they are adults.

Superb Starlings generally inhabit wooded areas and grasslands, but have clearly adapted well to human settlement.

For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter S...

http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting