No Need to Get Technical

I'm not a doctor and I don't know the technical terminology, but I
do know that sunshine activates our happiness glands.
~Jessi Lane Adams~


I am so ready to soak up all I can!
Cody and I piggy-backed a few vacation days onto the July 4th holiday.
We will be spending this time camping in the woods of Shenandoah National Park, VA.
Hope you have a great holiday whatever you do. See you on Sunday!

Posted in Wordful Wednesday

Reminder {8}

Shine Bright.

Someday perhaps the inner light will shine forth from us,
and then we'll need no other light.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe~

Wildflower Medley

As promised....
Wildflowers found along the Gentry Creek Falls Trail.


Spring Beauty

Wild and Free you Grow
much Beauty and Joy you Bring
Treasure I have Found


Yellow Violet


View Large On White

The links below will take you to the resources that helped me identify what we found. Identifying flowers is like a treasure hunt for me; I like playing detective. The only ones I knew were Wake Robin, Violets & the Trout Lily.

From left to right: Dutchman's Breeches, Fraser's Sedge, Cut-leaved Toothwort,
Wake Robin, Chickweed, Trout Lily, & False Hellebore.


Question of the day:
If you were a wildflower, which one would you be?

Posted in Hooked On, Haiku Friday, & Photostory Friday

Weekend & Winter

Autumn is about to come to a screeching halt here in the mountains.
Tomorrow is predicted to be unseasonably cold with a chance of snow flurries!
I'm not ready for a high of 35. Guess it doesn't really matter if I'm prepared or not, it's coming.

Our weekend was a great mix of spending time outdoors, as well as, at home.
Saturday we went to the 35th annual Balloonfest,
which you'll hear/see more about this week.

Today, we stayed within the confines of our home.
The early part of the day was spent re-watching some old movies,
and the rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning up the dining room & kitchen.
Afterwards, we played a game of Scrabble on the table we cleared off while cleaning.
I was even able to cook dinner while we were playing our game - Cody helped too.

This weekend definitely went by way too quickly........
then again, I say that every weekend!

Posted in Today's Flowers

Moments : Golden Memories

haiku friday & one single impression

There's no way to pause,
memories fade over time,
cherish these moments

New England Aster

We've had a somewhat uneventful weekend.
I suppose that maybe I'm saving it up till Wednesday.
Tomorrow I'll pack so that we can high tail it out of here after work on Tuesday.
Other than that, cleaning the house is always necessary before we leave
to go on a trip, which is what we spent most of the day doing.
I just like to come home without feeling like I need to do housework.


Aster in the Pasture TtV

When I came home on Friday,
I was surprised to find 5 different bouquets in the kitchen.
I just got around to arranging them all today, and plan to take some photos tomorrow.
Until then, you can enjoy these dainty, New England Asters I found in the field next door.

Posted for Today Flowers
Interested in learning more about TtV, click here.

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.

~Dainty White~

A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.
~Adabella Radici~




It seems like it's been far too long since I've taken any TtV photos.
This is one I took a couple weeks ago with the Enigma shot.
As you can tell, some texture effects were added.
The flowers remind me of vintage lace, which is how I got around to adding those particular style of layers.
Dainty White was the magnet that Liss won in the contest - I think she'll like it!

Speaking of magnets, you six lucky winners will be happy to know I mailed the prizes to you today. Please let me know once you receive them. To those of you who weren't so lucky, bear with me, a BIGGER and BETTER prize giveaway is in the works. I don't have all my ducks in a row, yet, but soon! I know, I know, promises.....promises.

Oh yeah, and before I forget (since it's waaaay past my bedtime), I wrote an article about TtV that was published on the blog Words:Irrational. Alright, who am I kidding.....I have been working on this piece for Mr. A Marques for sometime now.....I can't help it, I'm slow! If you're interested in the technique you may want to have a read, I worked pretty diligently on this article.....so please do let me know what you think.
Be creative with old cameras - Through the Viewfinder

~ E N I G M A ~

The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.
~Henry Miller~

Ever since my new photoshop layer obsession began a few short weeks ago,
I have gained a keener eye.
I have been on an endless hunt for textures, and have been pleasantly surprised with what I have found.


After Cody and I left the ASU library yesterday, to get some photoshop books (I know, it's bad),
I found myself looking at the seemingly unsightly concrete walls for the uneven crackles and colored splotches peppered throughout.
Heck, I was even taking photos of the rust, and drippy juice lines on the dumpster near by. Ewe, gross.....haha


On a regular basis I stop and take the time to see that which would normally go unnoticed.
But my newfangled fascination has me delving that much deeper.
I really needed this boost in creativity.
I hate to say it but I was beginning to get a little bored with what I was producing,
which might explain why my posts were getting a little sparse?!
I'm glad that I am more excited to share what I've been doing with my free time :o)

I love POSTCARDS!

Wildflowers of Colorado

This is a postcard that my friend Dave brought back for me along with a plaque that has Kokopelli etched in sandstone from his Colorado trip over a week ago. He knows how much I like postcards and the last time he went I received some too. I always have to make sure that I get a postcard from where ever I travel, it's one of the cheapest keepsakes you can buy. Maybe that's why I like them so much - because they are cheap! I have a journal/scrapbook that I put all of them in. I was thinking about how neat it would be if I could engage others in helping me with my postcard collection. I would be willing to send one to you in return.

If anyone is interested in sending me a postcard from your hometown or travel destination please send me an email & I will gladly forward my mailing address.

I plan to post some of my other postcards in the near future although most of them are already in my book but I'm sure that I can scan the page to share them with everyone.