Arizona Shadows

Those of us with restless souls have our bucket list of places to see before we die, corners of our wide and wonderful world that call out for us to experience them first hand. Travel can make home seem even sweeter when one returns from afar with hearts and minds made large by a glimpse into other lives.

 I was lucky enough to realize my number one dream of a lifetime when I got to Africa a few years ago, an experience that changed me irrevocably.

But wonder does not only exist in far-away lands…it can be close at hand or just a road trip away. Last year took me to a place I’ve yearned to visit since seeing photos of it that literally stole my breath away in astonishment.

 In northern Arizona, not far from the border of Utah lies Antelope Canyon, an extension of the glorious canyon lands for which Utah is renowned. Though I believe I have some facility with words, I can find none to properly describe the magic these slot canyons wove into my psyche for all time.

For now, I will allow these photos to speak for themselves, but I promise there is much more to come…

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I'm linking this post to Shadow Shot Sunday, hosted by the wonderful Tracy at the link below. You will find delights galore if you drop by for a visit...:)

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http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

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Watery Hippo Reflections

On our photo safari through Kenya and Tanzania, we saw countless magnificent animals whose beauty and stealth stirred in us incredible awe.

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Alas, the hippo was not one of them!

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Interesting these fellows are…and most definitely entertaining, but by no-one’s definition of charm would they be placed high on a list of the world’s beauties.

Driving through wild game reserves necessitated our remaining in the trucks most of the time. Danger was ever present as lions slid by close to our wheels and elephants stood nearby in angry disdain, looking as

 if they’d like nothing better than to charge.

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Hippo pools were one of the few places at which our driver allowed us to set foot on the savannah. There were some who regretted doing so one Serengeti evening…

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Too busy frolicking to pay us any heed, these lumbering beasts swam, played and fought at a frantic noise level one rarely hears elsewhere. But it was the stench that made a few of the less hardy scurry back to the truck.

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In the interest of remaining ladylike, I will not even mention what the brown stuff splashing about is…but it’s not water. I need only point out that hippos have a quite unorthodox way of greeting one another!

 

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Enough said…I am too easily able to visualize the look of  horror my mother would shoot my way, were she still here to read this post…:)

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(I think I know what kind of comments I'm going to get on this one!)

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Today, I’m linking this to three wonderful memes you would very much enjoy checking out…

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Watery Wednesday

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http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/
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Weekend Reflections

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http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/
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Camera Critters

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http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

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Skywatch Friday:Utah

Yesterday I posted shots of a wonderful abandoned ranch we enjoyed exploring in northern Utah…that is, we enjoyed it up until the moment we got busted for trespassing!

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Because I found the whole area extraordinarily beautiful, I am posting more photos of that day to participate in Skywatch Friday.

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To view skies from all over the world, click onto the link below and enjoy…

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http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Thursday Think Tank: Homage to Robb

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Quentin Tarantino has said, 

“You can’t write poetry on a computer.”

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I beg to differ…and I offer this homage to the founder of our online forum!

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Our brave friend Robb took on the job of being poets’ host,

And I can’t help but wonder what he likes about it most.

Is it the endless questions that we always seem to ask?

Or is his joy found in the role of keeping us on task?

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When night falls, does he tear his hair and wonder what he’s done?

Or is he like the rest of us, too busy having fun?

Who wouldn’t want to nudge along a group so keen to play,

That we’ll line up with haste for one brief chance to have our say!

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All jest aside, our gratitude we offer to our host.

This man of wisdom thought to carve out space for us to post.

He gave us room to grow and shine our light for all to see.

He helped us know we could become all we were meant to be.

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As writers, we’re prolific and our minds resound with rhymes,

We’re always jotting down new thoughts at quite peculiar times.

But it can feel quite lonely living in one’s muddled head…

And ideas left unshared can seem to be as good as dead.

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I used to write within a void; my words the weight of stone,

And now I am much heartened to know I am not alone!

So many clever people leave their gems upon this site,

And I can soak up wondrous words at any time of night.

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The poets I have come to know inspire me with their zest,

Though it’s the gift of sharing that I’ve come to love the best.

For kindred souls and seekers who explore the world in rhyme,

This is, without a doubt, our favourite way of spending time.

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As captain of our crew, we tilt our caps to Robb with pride,

No phrase seems quite enough to say how much we love the ride!

Our work is launched, our writing ship sets sail with banners high,

The world is ours to conquer, and our limit is the sky!

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For more poems insired by the words of others, you should really stop by the link below and settle in to enjoy the offerings...

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http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2011/03/thursday-think-tank-38-quotes.html#more

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I am also linking to Theme Thursday, graciously hosted by Megan. Do stop by to see more words and pictures about books...
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http://themethursday.blogspot.com/
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Busted!

I so enjoyed the response to my trespassing post yesterday that I thought to share a tale about one of the rare times we’ve been busted.

 Our road trip through Utah last fall ended in Salt Lake City, our departure city for the flight home. As often happens, we had no plan for our last day, deciding randomly to head north and cross into Wyoming for lunch, (just because we could).

The scenic back roads served to heighten our awe at the sheer scope and majesty of this state. And when I spotted a collection of timeworn buildings at the side of the road, it was a given we would stop for a look. A fellow traveler in full motorcycle gear was regarding the ‘No Entry’ sign with disappointment as we approached…clearly a more law-abiding citizen than either of us! With cheeky grins, we edged through the wide fence slats and were not surprised that the stranger soon followed our lead.

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Such beauty there was in the weathered wood, the rusted hulks of trucks and the pale grass that was steadily reclaiming everything! I almost forgot to take pictures, so interested was I in poking carefully about.

Our peaceful exploration was soon interrupted by a loud screech and rattle as a dusty pickup roared up to the front of the gate. Out of it climbed a young -and very angry- cowboy…the property owner who had spotted us from across the fields.

We made our way quickly and contritely back to the gate to accept our well-deserved lecture on the dangers of breaking the law. It does seem proof of my incorrigibility that while hanging my head in repentance, I could think only that I’d love to get a picture of this wonderful, fierce defender whose cowboy hat bore the sweat stains of hard work, and whose duster coat and battered boots made clear he was the real thing!

We did apologize – profusely and sincerely…it would never be our wish to offend anyone or cause harm to private property. I seek only to preserve in photographs the worn, forgotten memories of times past.

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While he remained understandably irked by our disregard for his sign, the landowner calmed himself when he saw we had taken nothing but pictures. Others have not been so restrained…he told tales of many things pilfered away over the years by looters hoping to profit from this small piece of history.

We most certainly deserved what we got…had this man called the police, who knows what mess we would have been in outside our own country!  But seriously…could you pass by this glorious collection of buildings and cars long abandoned, and not stop to admire? Clearly, we cannot…

I do, however, feel bad that our unwitting partner-in-crime had to bear the tongue-lashing with us…no doubt he would have resisted temptation had not we led him astray. Courting trouble for ourselves is not new, but I think we’re seldom a bad influence on others. Still, you might not want to ask our children about that last bit…:)

Signs, Signs: No Trespassing!

 My husband and I consider ‘Do Not Enter’ signs a personal invitation to do exactly that.

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I am certainly not bragging…as a mature adult, I know this attitude is ill advised and decidedly illegal.

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Still, it is a fact that forbidden places inexorably draw us in by dint of those clear and simple signs.

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The lure of new and curious things to discover is irresistible, for surely if there is a need to post such warnings, something good must lie ahead! We have entered decrepit buildings that dearly deserved to be explored with caution, and driven roads that challenge car and driver both.

It's true there have been a few disappointments, times when we end up nowhere, with nothing to show for an often uncomfortable trek. No matter…we have never for a minute regretted taking any one of our many detours.

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After all, the best road is always the next one waiting to be found…

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For more signs from all over the world, you will enjoy stopping by Lesley’s intriguing meme, ‘Signs, Signs’ at the link below…

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http://signs2.blogspot.com/

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And if you want to read more of our trespassing adventures, here is a short and similar post...

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http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/04/no-entry_12.html
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My World: Snow Day!

My girl Meeghan loves snow as dearly as I do. Sadly, we are out of luck a lot of the time…in our mild West Coast climate, precipitation most often comes in the form of plentiful rain.

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You may then realize the giddy excitement with which we greet our occasional snowfall. In short, we turn into grinning fools…leaping through the drifts, (well- Meeghan leaps and I lumber!), chasing snowballs, and cheerily greeting other small dogs in their winter coats.

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Alas...our snow celebrations are, of necessity, brief: by afternoon, we are usually wading through slush. But for those fleeting, magical moments in time, we happily throw ourselves into the glory of winter’s icy offering and grab from it every sweet minute of pleasure that we can…

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I am linking up today with Klaus and his team at My World Tuesday. For a glimpse at many wonderful sights, do stop by the link below...

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

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Microfiction Monday: A Fairy Tale

Clever Susan at Microfiction Monday asks us to elucidate on the photo she provides in 140 characters or less.

 

With 120 characters, here is my take on this week's prompt.... 

 

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Part fairy dust and angel dreams,

                 our nights are wrapped in elfin schemes.

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Come sunrise and the break of day,

                like fairy dust, they've blown away...

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For more of Microfiction Monday, do visit the link below...there is much good reading to be found there!

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http://www.stonyriver.ie/

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Shadow Shot Sunday: Relics

 I like all things weathered and worn, (tilting swiftly into that category myself!).

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Where some in my neighbourhood are offended by this local property turned into a vehicle graveyard, I consider it a gluttonous feast for my photographer's eye!

Coming across it late one day with the afternoon sunlight slanting through the trees, and a dappled coat of shadows blanketing all, I shot frame after frame…as eager and pleased as if I’d found a palace to photograph!

Some time ago, I vehemently refused to sign a petition, begun in an effort to force the owner to clean up his lot...heaven forbid!

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 In my staid suburban enclave of subdivisions virtually indistinguishable from one another, this jewel of a yard adds a much-needed note of whimsy and individuality that stands out and makes one take notice.

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I say it’s time beauty at all ages was admired…even we weathered and worn relics need our day in the sun, after all!!

I'm linking this to Shadow Shot Sunday hosted by Tracy at Hey Harriet. I know you'd enjoy stopping by the link below to check out other shadow shots!

http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Saturday Photo Hunt: Monkeys

On photo safari through East Africa's game parks, one is lifted from the ordinary and transported to a world of such stunning beauty that the senses can barely take it in. Miles of golden savannah, thorny acacia trees that dot the landscape, and sky that goes on forever instill such awe that speech becomes inadequate and unnecessary.

 And most amazing of all is that this brilliance is but background to the

majesty of the animal life that calls these grasslands home.

While I marvelled at the lions and elephants, and found myself enthralled by the gangly giraffe, I developed a special fondness for the cheeky Vervet Monkeys with their tiny black faces and soft brown eyes.

 Locals do not consider these little guys cute...they are bold, opportunistic and altogether too quick to leap into safari trucks and dining rooms to steal away what they can...

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  I never tired of watching their antics, and the futile efforts of the humans who tried to control them!

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You might like these other posts of my Africa trip:

http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/07/african-morning.html

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http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/07/hot-air-balloon-over-serengeti.html

The photos above were taken at the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya

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I'm linking this post to Saturday Photo Hunt, graciously hosted by tnchick. Do stop by and check out other photos that spotlight black this week!
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http://tnchick.com/

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I am also linking up to a great meme I just discovered called Camera Critters. I can see I'm going to love this one...
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http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

Racoon Reflections

One of our favourite spots for weekend wandering is a small fishing settlement called Finn Slough that remains little changed since it  began early in the twentieth century. For many years, it provided work for the now-historic cannery in Steveston, and is still inhabited by a handful of fishers who seem to live in easy harmony with their surroundings, despite being minutes away from the busy metropolis of Richmond B.C.

One day as I stood on the shaky wooden drawbridge looking up the slough, I was delighted to see a racoon making his way toward me. He slouched along methodically, digging into the mud and rinsing off whatever edible treats he brought to the surface

 Low tide had uncovered a treasure trove for him and he was not going to miss a bit of it...every inch of mud got a thorough inspection.

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Patiently, I waited and watched, until he was right under me, completely unconcerned by my quiet presence.

Busy with his labours, he continued under the bridge to forage some more...

I am linking this post to the wonderful 'Weekend Reflections' hosted by James. For a real treat, stop by and peruse more reflective photos!

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http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Thursday Think Tank: Lemons

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Like lemons, bitter

on the tongue, your caustic words

eat into my soul...

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For more poems using 'lemon' as a prompt, do drop by Poets United Thursday Think Tank at the link below...you'll be glad you did!

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http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2011/02/thursday-think-tank-37-lemons.html#more

Irish Signposts

A wonderful crossroads in West Ireland.

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Profusion of signs... 

  shall I follow a lead or

  seek my own clear path?

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I am linking this post to 'Theme Thursday', graciously hosted by Megan, who supplied this week's prompt, 'point'. Do check out the link below...

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http://themethursday.blogspot.com/

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I am also linking to 'Signs, Signs', hosted by Lesley. You'll want to check out this link...
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http://signs2.blogspot.com/
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