Pretty Pagoda

This is the Tran Quac Pagoda located in Hanoi.

Where I Am

Greetings and salutations from Vietnam! I have been busy traveling about this amazing country, and I will definitely be posting pictures and share my adventures once I return.

This morning I went snorkeling off the coast of Nha Trang, where beautiful sea life abounds. The picture above is the view from the boat off of one of the moorings.

Hope you are enjoying your travels, wherever they may take you. I'll be back soon.

Vision & Venture

"Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the step; we must step up the stairs."

-Vaclav Havel

Tuesday Tulip

The tulips that I planted way too late this winter have come up, albeit in dwarf versions of themselves, perhaps due to the late planting. I'm not quite sure. But either way, I'm just happy nothing dug up the bulbs.

Happy Tuesday! Treat yourself today.

Looking Back

A good friend of mine is headed to New York City with her mom in a few months, so I asked my Sis for a few recommendations for them since she lives there. And in doing so, I was reminded of my visit five years ago to see Sis after her move.

I had been to NYC before (for my 10th birthday, actually, and then for a brief weekend trip in 2001), but this was the first time I really explored the city at any length with someone who lived there. It was a whole new experience.

Currently, I take photographs with my SLR camera. But five years ago, I didn't have that camera, so I just shot pictures with my little 3.2 megapixel point-and-shoot.

Until today, I hadn't looked at these pictures in a long time. I'd like to think that I have matured a bit as a "photographer" since then. It's hard for me to think of identifying myself with being an actual photographer; I think I prefer the much less formal "taker of pictures."

At any rate, these photos took me back to a time when I had a lot to learn about photography (I still do, as I don't think you can ever stop learning)...and even more about life.

Upon reflection, I can see that they represent a process, a process that is ever-evolving, where I grow and learn, and then come back to myself a ways down the road and forgive myself for the errors I made and celebrate the achievements.

For example, I love the color in this picture, but as a straight-out-of-camera shot, it leaves a lot to be desired. And such first efforts are not limited just to photography; often such as it is with life. But we make mistakes, take risks, learn from experience and move forward.

I can appreciate the simplicity from which I viewed things, and I try to never forget that, either in my photography or in my life, as it seems that things just get increasingly complex as the years go by. And I think it's important to keep that childlike wonder alive.

I loved these pictures dearly when I took them, and while I still like a few of them, I can see their relative points of merit and demerit, as the case may be, with the experience I have gained over the past few years. I have grown since I took these pictures, and that process of growth reminds me of this poem:

"Comes the Dawn"

After awhile you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
And learn to build all your roads
On today because tomorrow's ground
Is too uncertain for plans, and futures have
A way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate
Your own soul, instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
that you really are strong
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn...
With every goodbye you learn.

-Veronica Shoffstall

Remember to be gentle with yourself...and others.

Love,
Little Miss This and That

Hello There

Just wanted to say hi. That's all. Just hi.

What I Learned from Pigs

So I got a nice thank you from Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture for posting pictures of lambs on their Facebook page (click here to become a fan), which I blogged about last year.

These pigs lead a pretty glorious life, and their simple existence taught me a thing or two. Like always be sure to make time for some relaxation...

...and exploration out in the fresh air.

And that there is nothing quite like the comfort of having friends and family around.

And ahhhh, there is nothing like a little mud bath on a spring afternoon. Life is sweet.

Bees in Flowers

Just for the record, I do love all insects. It never ceases to amaze me how all creatures play such an important role in maintaining our ecosystem.

But I prefer they stay outside and help pollinate the flowers that have sprung up the past few weeks, like this bee is getting ready to do.

I hoping some of these guys make it over to the apricot tree, and the to-be-determined flowering tree. I'm crossing my fingers for a plum tree. Because plum jam is so good on homemade waffles. With whipped cream.

All this talk about food is making me hungry. I think it's time for a snack. Maybe some toast with some honey?

Apricot Blooms

Okay, in case I scarred any of you with that picture of that very gross insect, I present some pretty flowers for your weekend viewing pleasure.

I really, really hope that there will be a spectacular apricot harvest. Because I really, really want to make jam.

Only time will tell.

Because I'm kinda getting weary of all these bugs in my personal space.

Have a lovely weekend!

Le Ranas

It seems that we have gone from winter to summer in just a few short days. I do hope that spring will find it's way back to us, at least for more than a few days. Because it's HOT now. And I'm just not ready for hot yet, Mother Nature!

At any rate, the plethora of rain that we have received over the past few months has brought many of these visitors (le ranas) to the garden. At night, it's a veritable symphony of frogs, just croaking away.

You wouldn't think that something this small (we're talking matchbox size) could make so much noise. But they can, and there are a lot of them so it gets loud; like so loud I can barely think. And so I have to yell at them, "Can you please keep the party down out there?"

And then they are quiet. And I feel sort of bad for being all that girl, you know, the never-has-any-fun-and-just-rains-on-everyone's-parade girl.

And then the frogs start up again, and I'm all, so it's like that, huh? And I pick up the phone to call the cops, because that's what that girl would do in that situation, and then I realize the cops might think I'm crazy if I called them about some frogs and either arrest me or haul me off to a nuthouse because I hear all these frogs, but yet when the cops are there it's totally silent. Because it always works out like that, at least in the movies.

So I leave the frogs be, except for my occasional pleading to keep it down. But really, deep down, I love the sound they make, and I even love their slimy skin.

And The Day Came

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
–Anais Nin

Great Ocean Road; Melbourne, Australia

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,

we must carry it with us or we find it not."

-Emerson

My sister recently snapped these photos on her trip to Australia. I'm not jealous at all. Not. One. Bit.

It's summertime down under. Oh, how I miss warmth and sunshine.

Though according to Sis, the sun is pretty brutal and can thwart any efforts you put forth trying to keep from getting burned.

But I don't think anything could deter me from this drive along the Great Ocean Road.

Did I mention that I wasn't jealous? 'Cause that was pretty much a lie.

This last shot is of Southern Beach, which according to Sis, is "P.S. COLD."

*Note: All pictures in this post were taken by cath, who like the lovely that she is, posts comments on a regular basis.

A Sunset Says What?

"Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk."
-Jack Handy

Okay, so this is a little bit of a different take from the quotes I usually post, but I needed a laugh today, and this was one of the first quotes I came across. And I realize that this blog needs a little dose of humor sometimes.

I don't have a flamingo in all his glory (you know, with the rose and the painting) flying across the sky of this photo, and I thought about putting one in, and then I realized I don't have a picture of a flamingo, let alone one holding all that stuff, so I'm just going to leave the picture as is. So if you do see a flamingo with a rose and a painting, then you might just be drunk. I'm just sayin'.

Is It Spring Yet?

Seeing this daffodil makes me want to believe so, even if Punxsutawney Phil predicted otherwise on Groundhog Day.

Happy almost Friday!

Going, Going...and Going, Gone

Last night I drove to the top of the hill near my house to capture these images as the sun slipped away behind the horizon, or more specifically, behind San Clemente Island (or SCI) off the coast of California.

A little bit of trivia about SCI: It is the southernmost of Channel Islands of California, and it is owned and operated by the U.S. Navy.

The last sliver of sun before the onset of twilight...

Good night, sun. See you in the morning.

Adorableness, Thy Name is Ripley

Recently, I went out-of-town to visit a friend. And I met her oh-so-sweet French Bulldog for the first time. So without further adieu, let me introduce Ripley.

Check out that nose, those ears and her buttercream coat. And that expression. She says so much with that look. I can just hear her now.

What's that? I think I hear the distant rumblings of someone preparing food in the kitchen.

I was right! There is food...And here it comes now.

Can someone help a girl out here? Can't. Quite. Reach.

Just a leeeee-tle bit closer, and this 7-layer dip could be mine.

(Little Miss This and That in: If you'd like to make a 7-layer dip for Super Bowl Sunday, check out an AllRecipes.com version here. No cooking required! Though if you don't like your refried beans cold, you could certainly make a hot version too. Just add the cheddar cheese on top of the refried beans for added melted goodness.)

Fine, I guess I'll just have to settle for watching the football game with you humans if you're not going to share any of your food. But I'm totally going to take up a spot on the couch.

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday!