Keeping it all in perspective

I awoke this morning feeling ...... sad.

It's cloudy outside, a slight breeze is blowing and the temperature likely will not make it out of the 60's. It feels like a fall morning. I stepped out the back door and heard a flock of geese flying overhead. "That's great", I mused. "They are heading south already." When I spotted them, thankfully they were flying north... perhaps they had a change in perspective and turned around.

'Here she goes again, whining about the weather', you might say.

And I'd agree. Here I am lamenting about the weather when there are Kenyans and Somalians (and Texans) who would gratefully trade places with me.

A talk show host recently spoke about Yakima, WA. For those of you who haven't visited Yakima, it's kinda sorta considered the armpit of the world. Where once it was a thriving, middle income community situated in the desert of eastern WA, due to harsh economic times over the years it has now become a magnet for crime, high unemployment and a mecca for gangs. It houses a huge transient migrant worker community and the host pointed out that although you and I may not choose to live in Yakima, there are Mexicans sneaking into our country, swimming dangerously across rivers and hiking through arid landscape, anxious to leave Mexico all for the opportunity of living and working in such a place. It's all about perspective.

Which brings up another philosophical point. Often, I say, "It is what it is". But it is really? Our viewpoint of life in general is dominated by our personal perception of any given event. Yakima, WA may seen like the armpit of the world to you but it's a thriving paradise to another.

So, back to the our cool temperatures....

TODAY IS A GIFT and since gifts make me happy, regardless of the temperature outside, today will be a great day!

(Postscript - 4 hours later... the marine air has burned off and not a cloud in the sky can be seen. I'm thinking the weatherman is wrong, once again.)

Queen of the Prairie

This flower, Queen of the Prairie, is aptly named. It looks like something that would be used to adorn a hat worn by royalty. Having a handful of these flowers reigning over the other flowers in my flower garden is very regal indeed!

I'm having great fun creating an art journal. I'm not one to share my thoughts by writing in a journal. However, my heart is full of emotion, longing to be expressed. I'm a huge collector of quotes and by creating art around these quotes, I find I'm able to express those feelings .

(This page is waiting for inspiration.)

Camping fun at Ft Flagler state park

The weather gods were obviously pleased with the Jensen clan, thus ordering up pleasant weather for a camping trip to Ft. Flagler state park last weekend.

Allow me to insert a 10 second bite of history: Ft Flagler, east of Pt Townsend, is one of three forts established in the late 1890's to guard the nautical entrance to the Puget Sound. The fort closed in 1953 and was purchased by the state in 1955.

The majority of our clan stayed in their tents in the campground area. The Howard's rented an NCO house, circa 1903, because #1, Glynn does not sleep in tents and #2, Nick and Courtney were not interested in tenting it with a non-walking 13-month old.

The house is located on a bluff overlooking the water. Early morning found me sitting on the front porch soaking in sounds of silence broken only by the twittering of birds and the lap of gentle waves on shore.

3 generations, relaxing.

The park contains underground bunkers and armaments ready to explore. It's a great place to exercise one's imagination muscle. Ghosts likely haunt the nooks and crannies after dark....

The beach was glorious. Plenty of driftwood, shells and rocks for beach combing.

Dirty campsite feet. Thankfully, we had a clawfoot bathtub to wash off the residue of the day.

Mr Clean - how does he manage to stay pristine even when camping?

Remember.....

Baby souls follow.

Young souls lead.

But old souls, Susan, are happy to dance alone.

Not that I'm spying on you,
The Universe

orange swirl

If I can place the blame somewhere it would be 'summer made me do it'.

I went grocery shopping while hungry (always a mistake) and gave in to the temptation. Orange delight: vanilla and orange sherbet ice cream.

Back in the day - age 7, Hatton Street, San Diego - mom would give us kids a dime when we heard the tiney sound of the ice cream truck coming our way. I'd scurry to the curb, peer at the menu board and agonize. The multi-colored missile pop or a creamsicle?



Although the missile pop was bigger, the creamsicle's flavors blended so nicely; a bit of creamy yet tangy on a stick.

It's a flavor I haven't yet outgrown.

Adoption

This video made my nostrils flare and tears leak from my tear ducts. Especially the part where Sarah tells of seeing the picture of her soon-to-be daughter and knowing right then that she was a mom.

My daughter and son-in-law have plans to adopt one day.

I can't wait.

(PS - Choose - or not -to ignore the reference to Mormanism)

The beauty of tension

Summertime is a busy time. Places to go, gardens to sow, weed & harvest, barbecues, overnight guests, camping trips, vacations, days to simply enjoy the season..... I love it all. But, cram all of the above into a 34 hour work week and my edges feel squeezed.

My BFF, Kathleen, listened patiently while I vented recently. 'The worst part is I have no time to create & my brain is overflowing with ideas', I whined.

Her gentle response is wise and noteworthy. 'Remember. It's the tension in our lives that gives rise to creativity.'

Without tension, our landscape would be muted and mundane.

Thank you, Kathleen, for once again freely sharing the wisdom you've learned through the' school of hard knocks'. I will continue filling my little notebooks with inspiration and ideas, biding my time until the rainy days return (all too soon) when I'm stuck indoors and have opportunity to create to my heart's content.