Month: August 2016

A little Spark for your Thursday…

From juliepowell2014.wordpress.com and yours truly.

Julz.......artist, blogger, photographer, graphic designer's avatarJulie Powell - Photographer & Graphic Artist

Last week I posted about an artistic collaboration between myself and Leslie Noyes Images and Imaginings, well we have been busy creating a few more Spark presentations; here is a new one

Meditation Song

Julie Powell_Floating on Inspiration_2000

I am the tuning fork, a shimmering frisson of vibration calling the heart to harmony

I am also the rock, though, throwing ripples concentrically across once calmed waters

Peace and chaos vie for my soul, my meditation song pulled from the place of light

Spilling haphazardly across the courtyard where I tend tightly ordered rows of flowers

Regimental form forced on blood red roses contrary to their petals’ better nature,

Never certain which will win the day, tranquility or turmoil, I toil with hope and a smidgen of fear.

Original poem by Leslie Noyes

Til Next time, happy snapping

~ Julz

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Lotus Flower

This is another one of my collaborative efforts with Julie Powell.  

“Lotus Flower” by Julie Powell
 

“Lotus Flower Muse”
by Leslie Noyes

Fully formed
In Mind, as well
As in Flesh
and Bone.
Risen in Joy
Supplicant of
None save Life
Alone.

No meekly made
Maiden from
Mortal womb
Born.
Nor yet from
Buddha has she
Sprung this
Morn.

Softness and
Strength
Entwined in
Supple Limbs.
Fruit of
Lotus claims
Rebirth as
Her gift.

Love this photo? Check out Julie Powell’s blog on WordPress: https://juliepowell2014.wordpress.com/

Life in the Slow Lane

Last Saturday afternoon Studly Doright decided we needed to drive the convertible into Tallahassee for dinner at a local sports bar. The weather was perfect with temps in the mid-80’s and a smattering of towering cumulonimbus clouds off to the west.

We drove east bound down a series of two lane back roads all the way into Tallahassee enjoying the peaceful late summer ambience at a leisurely pace. No worries, no hurries.

I’m not a big fan of the sports bar we went to, so I won’t mention it by name. The service is terrible–I’ve never gotten what I’ve ordered on the first try–but the waitresses are earnest in their cluelessness. They’re also adorable, which I suspect is Studly’s reason for being a repeat customer. 

On the way home the temps had dropped a bit and the clouds were more numerous. Studly and I both agreed it was an evening  meant for driving around with the top down.

  
Don’t you think the cloud pictured below looks like a frog? See his little leg on the left? 
We turned down Lanier Rd, a pleasant two lane that roughly parallels our neighborhood. 

 
I’d planned on snapping a photo of the canopy formed by the live oaks on either side of Lanier, but as we approached the canopied section we noticed flashing lights.

A tree limb had fallen and was blocking the road.  
  
   
Studly tried to convince the sheriff’s deputy that we had plenty of clearance to drive through. Fortunately the officer discouraged that. There was nothing to do but retrace our route and approach Doright Manor from another direction.

As we made a U-turn and drove away from the tree, Studly mentioned that we’d taken that very route to the restaurant. Thank goodness the tree waited for us to pass before dropping a limb. 

Who knew that life in the slow lane could be hazardous?

Safely stabled. 

Peace, people! 

Who Gets Sick in Paradise?

He snores beside me,
deeply, but not too loud.
Maybe after three days of
fevered restlessness he has
Found some equilibrium.

Just outside our hotel
room, people frolic in the
Warm waters of the blue green
bay, while I play Words With
Friends on my iPhone.

A morning spent on the beach
alone, pretending to be a
Minor celebrity escaping
pursuit by rabid paparazzi
Proved far too lonely.

So I drank too much rum punch
before returning to the dark
Comfort of our air conditioned
suite where I slipped beneath
Cool sheets to be with him.

Saturday Wanderings

On Saturday morning Studly Doright played in a golf tournament at Southwood Golf Club. I should have stayed home to do laundry in preparation for our trip to Clearwater Beach, instead I went in search of a gift for the faeries, and drove over to Native Nurseries on Centerville Road (nativenurseries.com).

I’d driven past Native Nurseries a number of times, but since I’m not much of a gardener, I didn’t think there was a reason for me to pull in. Boy, was I wrong! I might be in love.  

    
    
 I found some new friends while snapping photos of a staff member relocating caterpillars. Who knew caterpillars were so photogenic?

   
   
And I learned a bit about attracting butterflies to my yard:

   

The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and super helpful, and even though I didn’t spot any faeries, I suspect a great many reside there. Just look at the tiny dragonfly bench I purchased! My faeries are going to love it!

  
Peace, people!

 

Snapshot #8, I dunno

Can you say “Paradise?” Unfortunately, this one has been titled, “Studly Doright Has the Flu and I’m Sitting on the Balcony of our Hotel Room.”

  

Snapshot #8, I think

I love the names of Florida towns. I call this one, “If you can’t pronounce it, you must be in Florida.”  

Destination Clearwater Beach

Florida is a big ol’ state. Just how big?

  
Well, according to City-data.com,

“The total area of Florida is 58,664 sq mi (151,939 sq km), of which land takes up 54,153 sq mi (140,256 sq km) and inland water 4,511 sq mi (11,683 sq km). Florida extends 361 mi (581 km) E–W; its maximum N–S extension is 447 mi (719 km). The state comprises a peninsula surrounded by ocean on three sides, with a panhandle of land in the NW.”

Even though Studly Doright and I have lived in Tallahassee for the past three years, and prior to this stint we lived in Melbourne, FL, for a period of four years  from 2000 to 2004, with a stretch of Illinois in between, there are a great many places in the Sunshine State that we’ve yet to visit. 

This week we’re heading to one of those long neglected places, Clearwater Beach, for a belated 40th anniversary celebration. 

  
Clearwater Beach is on Florida’s Gulf Coast, roughly 40 miles from Tampa. Rumor has it that the beaches there are some of the finest in the world, and I plan to do some serious investigating–mostly from the comfort of a lounge chair under a broad beach umbrella while sipping a mojito.

My Studly Doright is in need of a hefty dose of downtime, so we haven’t made plans to do anything too strenuous on our vacation. We have tickets to see The Dixie Chicks in Tampa on the 19th,

  
and I want to check out the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where “Dolphin Tale” was filmed. 

  
I made Studly watch “Dolphin Tale” so he’d be familiar with Winter, the dolphin. 

Other than that, we’re going to be lazy beach bums for a week. I’ll try to keep up with my blog, and I’ve got a few pieces queued up. Maybe I’ll even find some new inspiration.

  
What??? It could happen. Until then, keep the faith.

  
Peace, people!