~Dryspell~

Posted in Wordful Wednesday

Inside myself is a place where I live all alone,
and that's where I renew my springs that never dry up.
~Pearl Buck~


Patience is the key
a virtue unknown to me
I wait for a spark

This photo was taken at Oakland Cemetery back in October.
Click here to experience the S T I L L N E S S.
It will take you to a slideshow.

Moments : Shooting the Moon

Illuminated



it cast a haunting glimmer



everlasting light

The night sky is a miracle of infinitude.
~Noelani Day~

Etc.

• The prompt for this weeks haiku: Never-ending.
  
• My intent was to go to Bass Lake to get some fall color shots last week.
• We didn't make it before the sun started going down.
• We stayed to shoot the moon because of a suggestion from another photographer.
• I was glad that I took the strangers advice - even if it was cold & I was hungry.
• I need to practice night shots more, I don't do them enough.
• The days are getting shorter. I barely make it home in time for good light.
  
• Maybe I need to make a lightbox so that I can take photos inside!
  
• Speaking of inside, we have gutted our laundry room, it looks so much better.
• I forgot how big that room was......it was so cluttered. Now, it's a brand new space!
• I will work on more excursions this weekend, so look forward to some fresh outings!!
  

I hope you all have a terrific weekend!

Posted in
Haiku Friday , One Single Impression , Photo Friday & Sky Watch Friday

Motivation Is my Middle Name

It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done,
compared to what he might have done.
~Samuel Johnson~


I've been having a terrific week!
I can't quite remember the last time I uttered such a statement, but it's true.
What am I doing that is making such a difference, you ask?
Changes.....I'm making some changes.
So far, I'm not having any trouble keeping in line with my vision.

For instance, I've been going for a walk everyday; at least 30 minutes.
I know you get to see a lot of pictures from our hiking excursions,
but in everyday life, I'm not as active.
However, I'm working hard to change that.
We've also resolved to make dinner earlier in the evening, instead of eating at 9.
And having our meals at the beautiful dining room table that Cody made months ago.
So, we've got eating better and exercise........

On Tuesday, we attended volunteer night at Appalachian Voices,
and heard presentations about mountaintop removal*,
and what we could do to get involved.
I am extremely serious about contributing more to this cause,
and will make every effort to 'do my part'.


I remembered that I took this photo, and decided to add it to the post.
It was taken mid-March this year. The first photo was taken more recently.

Other than that, I've been really motivated to get mundane tasks out of the way, too.
Like, renewing my license plate tag.
Getting craft supplies for a new project.
Washing clothes. Actually putting said clothes away!

And more important things like.....
Figuring out where to stay for an upcoming trip for my birthday.
It's on the 29th! Right around the corner.

Even items that have been on my list for some time....
I finally have a custom domain! Got rid of the blogspot.
So now it's just www.wayfaringwanderer.com.
I've been hanging on to that address for a while,
but before now have been too scared to change it.

It's only Wednesday, and I've gotten so much stuff done!
I'm in another one of those modes.
I'll keep my fingers crossed in hopes it will last until I vacate next Wednesday!


Do you have any "Motivational Moments" to share?
How's your week going so far?

*Read more about mountaintop removal, here.

Weekend Snippet

Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove


This is a shot from the first annual "Music on the Mountain" festival.
It was an all-day event that had us exhausted by the days end.
We have spent the entire day recuperating!

I want to share more photos from the event with you,
but for now, here's my favorite from the bunch.
I really lucked out here because taking photos while in the crowd was no easy feat.
I got elbowed, bumped into, and mowed over by Deviled Eggs, AND a dude with a bear hat!
Yeah, I know.....What?!....don't ask!

Anyhow, we enjoyed ourselves immensely,
and will be looking forward to the second annual "Music on the Mountain" festival.

I hope you all have had a terrific weekend!

Here is a live recording of "Perpetual Groove" from Saturday.
Have a listen if you are so inclined.

*Fiery Finish*

View Large On White

May the sun shine, all day long,
everything go right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true!

~Irish Blessing~

...:::Taking the Sun from the Day:::...

View Large On Black

Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.
~Benjamin Disraeli~

I am in the most severe state of yearning to feel the way I did - I felt so free.

This photo gives me such a sense of peace. I remember that tranquil breeze. And how we were supplied with a colorful conclusion to a flawlessly spectacular day.

We caught this scene at the tail-end of an action packed day. It was so serene, and windy, but still magnificent. It makes my heart ache and smile all at the same time.

More to come......

[Shadow from the Sky]

Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves!

~Andre Gide

_________________________

If you like trees check out these:

• Splendor of the Sun
• Tree on Hilltop
• Orange Blaze (Fall photo)
• Snow Days Feel Like Saturdays
  

Snow Days Feel Like Saturdays

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

~John Muir



Yesterday was an adventure! When we went to bed on Tuesday night, it was cold, but no sign of snow. By the time we woke up in the morning the ground was blanketed with snow and a thin layer of ice. Cody and I got to stay home since freezing rain was involved making the overall conditions unfavorable for operating a vehicle. We were happy to sit home, and play with the kittens, who by the way woke up us bright and early around 5am attacking our feet as we rustled them around under the covers. Those little buggers were way to alert, it was cute. We decided later in the afternoon to go for a walk on the Greenway Trail near the house to get some snow photos. The photo above was actually taken last weekend, I only wished the sky was that bright and blue yesterday! Outfitted with our hats, jackets, and snow boots we headed out, hiking in the snow is a lot more tiring than you would think. By the time we had walked halfway, I was tired, and didn't really want to walk home just yet. Cody had the idea to go to the Applcart covered bus stop and see when the next one was due. We had to wait about 30 min or so, in the meantime we played Scrabble on Cody's cell phone. The bus came, this was my first time ever really taking public transportation so it was interesting. We got off at Earthfare starved, so we went to their deli area and grabbed a sandwich and chips, ate, then asked the girl about the next bus, according to her it was going to be like 45 minutes! It was dark, I was ready to go home, but I didn't get upset, I rolled with the punches, haha. We ran over to the main area where the buses park and wait in between routes, and luckily the one we needed to be on hadn't left yet!!! Thankfully there were some really helpful folks on the bus who assisted us with the stops and where we would be best getting off at in relation to our house. We had to walk a little ways back to the house, but it was okay, I was just happy we were finally heading that way, it was as Cody kept reminding me "An Adventure!".

Tree on Hilltop...........

I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do.

Willa Cather (1873 - 1947)

Someone once said that the "Tree of life is self-pruning", I have slowly come to understand and embrace this simple little statement. You see, I have been feeling somewhat disenchanted as I wait for the holidays to roll by. I've watched the meaning of the season get lost in the midst of the turmoil created by certain pressures we feel at this time of year. Waiting until the last minute to buy for someone on your list is particularly stress inducing, although I think the cause for my distress comes from other issues that go a little deeper. Looking back on the past year has opened my eyes to how much has really changed during these 12 months. When I began to anticipate what is to come for two thousand and eight is where I begin to get anxious. I've had so many ups and downs and I know that 2008 will be filled with the same, but different?! The majority of my discomfort is in part due to my inability to 'really' come to terms with the changes my body has gone through during this time. I have told people many times that I have come to terms with it all, but inside when I dig a little deeper, that just isn't true. My Acupuncture treatments are offering some very valuable insights into other underlying problems that the pain I have and feel on a daily basis is a very small part of when looked at as a whole. I am attempting to absorb as much as I can with what little they give me to work on, and through some independent research am learning about changes I need to make with things that I'm either doing or not doing right now. This is a commitment that I need to make in order to aid my recovery that has taken way longer than I initially expected. I don't want to end next year with my body in the same condition. I want to support my whole body by treating it the way it deserves to be treated. I'm not going to set myself up by making this some New Years Resolution, the time is now and I need to adopt these practices as soon as possible. I plan to continue with my Acupuncture treatments as I've seen some minor results thus far, my hopes are that I will continue to see results which have a bigger impact in the near future. I like the idea of what is to come, not just with my condition, but for the future. I'm sure you've noticed that time doesn't wait for anyone, and unless I want to watch my ideas go to waste I need to embody that which inspires me!