grizzled and gnarled,
you lichened, weathered, old man;
desert strong sagebrush
gnarled by Angie Quantrell
Cowiche Canyon, Yakima Valley, Washington State
Category Archives: The Writing LIfe
It’s Not Just Rubber Stamping
We LOVE getting together to play with our toys. Some call it making messes, but we call it fun. And you can’t create and make rubber stamped cards without the creative process, and that means messes are made. Also mistakes, but we use mistakes as opportunities to be even more creative with our oops.
It’s not just rubber stamping.
It’s crafting
chatting
applying (or ignoring) theories of art composition
using our imaginations
sipping tea (or coffee or a special dessert drink)
solving world problems
singing the oldies, sometimes badly and off-tune (me, always with the wrong lyrics)
sharing life
telling stories
listening to music
keeping cats off the table
playing games
getting older
sharing resources
enjoying fine literature (or just literature on a CD)
making goals
going for walks
building from each other’s ideas
paving the way to send snail mail messages to friends and family
making gifts to share
eating too much
recycling (saving rubber stamps from the landfills and reusing paper and craft items down to the tiniest scraps)
storing memories (and collectively attempting to recall long ago events)
visiting friends
and building love.
Completed card totals for this trip: 76
Friends involved in this weekend: 7
Cowiche Canyon Hike
It’s official. This writer/editor/crafter/Nana is a bit out of shape. At least for what my phone termed as 55 flights of stairs.
Our afternoon hike yesterday on the Cowiche Canyon hike was gorgeous. Pretty nice on the way across the uplands and down the steep hill to the canyon floor. Pretty sweaty and filled with loud gasps and burning muscles on the way back up and over.
But a good time was had by all two of us.
We started on Summitview Extension, parking in the last available spot. It is a small lot, really a parking pad. Then up, over, and through the sagebrush and blooming spring flowers we went.
Yes! There were so many desert flowers blooming-purple, yellow, white, chartreuse. Because we had lovely, sunny weather, the lighting was quite overpowering for taking photos, but try I did.
We followed the Summitview Trail. Since the trail loops and swirls all over, it’s possible to wander for hours. We decided to hook left on the Radio Flyer Trail. This really does wind through the sagebrush but leads all the way down to the Cowiche Canyon floor by way of the Lone Pine Trail. Do note, the trailhead at the bottom headed up the hill looks deceptively simple. That’s where we managed to rack up flights of stairs. I wore regular tennis shoes, but hiking boots would have given me more traction in the slippery dirt and ankle-twisting rocks. (I avoided the rocks, but did slip a few times.)
Our hike was over 3 miles and took us about an hour and 20 minutes to complete. I’ll say it’s because I stopped often to take pictures. But I also stopped often on the way up the hill to breathe.
We even had an “attempted” Sasquatch sighting! Oh, the silly things one does to have fun.
The Cowiche Canyon is a great location for exploring close to home (Yakima Valley). Once we were up over the hill of Summitview Extension, traffic noise disappeared and we could hear only ourselves and the occasional fellow hiker. NOW is a great time to visit. Mud was not an issue at all, wildflowers are blooming, rattlesnakes are sleeping, and heat and ticks are not yet an issue.
Go. Now. Just please. If you are a dog owner, clean up the poop.
Book Report: What is An American? by Matt Scott #bookbirthday
What is An American?
Written by Matt Scott
Art by Ana Sebastian
Mascot Books, 2020
What perfect timing for What is An American? by Matt Scott! After all, it is an election year and it’s bound to be spicy. To say the least. Thank you, Mascot Books, for sending a review copy of this patriotic book.
While What is An American? is not what I first expected, it is a picture book about the American dream, one of the foundations of being an American. It’s about being a dreamer, a believer, a keeper of others-potential with every breath.
Freedom, liberty, and justice for all. All.
What is An American? made me reflect on what it means to be to be an American.
Starting with young children, Matt Scott encourages readers to fuel up, dream big, and follow their dreams. A self-help book of sorts, What is An American? challenges readers to believe and reach for the stars, since Americans are free to follow their dreams.
What I Liked About This Book:
~ the exploration of the American dream
~ the reminders of our task of caring for the American dream, keeping it strong, and caring for America for ourselves and future generations
~ the nod of thanks for those who have established and preserve our freedoms
~ the patriotic theme and feel of the book
~ how the book helps readers see that they can dream; the “I can” mentality
~ the way this book will open discussions about what it is to be an American and what that means (past, present, and future)
~ colorful, patriotic illustrations
Amazon Blurb:
What is the American Dream?
It all starts with YOU… Saying and knowing and practicing discovered truths to life… no matter who you are, or where you are…
America was created to allow for these truths in Freedom and Liberty and Justice, for ALL!
It s time to teach what this means again.
Haiku Moment: river rocks
ancient, speckled orbs
water smooth, sand-polished gems
glisten, river rocks
river rocks by Angie Quantrell
Book Report: Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue by Jeanne LaSala Taylor #BookBirthday
Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue
Written by Jeanne LaSala Taylor
Illustrated by Ana Sebastian
Mascot Books; February 4, 2020
Every child has that one special lovey, you know, the one where tragedy will strike if it goes missing. No sleep, no rest, no snuggles-but plenty of tears and agony (for both child and parents).
Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue is the story of such a lovey, Just Bunny, who is accidentally left behind when Francesca, her sister, and her mother hurriedly leave a restaurant due to a kitchen fire. Disaster strikes once Francesca realizes she does not have Just Bunny. After racing back to the scene of the fire, a firefighter is quick to recognize the loss and is able to save Just Bunny from certain doom.
In honor of the Fire Department of New York, and a certain Captain Anthony Matteo who rescued Just Bunny, a portion of the proceeds from sale of this book will be donated to the NYFF Burn Center Foundation. Jeanne LaSala Taylor wrote this book based on a true story.
Thank you, Mascot Books, for sending a review copy of Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue.
What I Love About This Book:
~ Just Bunny! I love that most every child has a favorite stuffed lovely. Just Bunny is perfect.
~ Francesca and her mom and sister are out playing at the park and decide to eat dinner out, enjoying a normal day.
~ This book honors firefighters who rescue others from disaster and put their lives in danger to help.
~ Fun, colorful illustrations
~ Big city New York life is on show in this picture book
~ Based on a real story
~ A portion of the proceeds will go to help burn victims
~ Fun rhyming tells the story
Amazon Blurb:
Just Bunny is Francesca’s right-hand stuffy who has been with her through thick and thin since day one.
Nothing can tear these two apart except, maybe, a fire! Thankfully, one of New York’s Bravest is on the scene to prove that selfless acts of kindness happen every day.
The 5th Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Writing Contest!!!
CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT (214 words)
The most mysterious gift Pink received for Valentine’s Day was a shiny, heart-covered box.
But saving the best for last, Pink first snooped through the house, using her feline nose, super whiskers, and strong kitty body to locate other special day treats.
What’s in the bag? thought Pink.
Lick,
sniff,
snort.
“Meooowww, I smell kitty snacks.”
What’s under the bed? thought Pink.
Creep,
grab,
drag.
“Yow-wlll! I want that catnip mouse.”
What’s on the table? thought Pink.
Leap,
twist,
bump.
“Grrrrrr, I don’t like dog bones.”
What’s hanging over the chair? thought Pink.
Stretch,
jump,
hook!
“Roooaaarrr! Give me that yarn!”
What’s through the cat door? thought Pink.
Race,
run,
skid.
“Pffttt. Go ahead, fly away flutter-by.”
Pink sat in the lovely sunshine, pausing to groom her soft fur. Stretching, she dug her claws into the door frame, a forbidden treat. But only if she got caught.
“Pink!” growled Mama Mauve. “Stop sharpening your claws.”
Putting on her best innocent face, Pink strolled back through the cat door.
There sat the most mysterious, shiny, heart-covered box Pink had ever seen.
And it was all hers.
What’s in my beautiful box? thought Pink.
Dig,
claw,
rip.
“Mmmmm. A furry, fluffy, fantastic pink blanket for me!”
Time for a catnap thought Pink.
Scrunch,
scrabble,
curl.
Purrr-fect!
Throwback Thursday: The Year of Kevin and Angie (Happy 35th Anniversary to Us) #TBT
Look at the cute guy! He asked me to marry him back in the days of Polaroid pictures. He took this picture and had to mail it to me (snail mail). 1981! What a great year.
We graduated from high school in 1981 and I went off to college. Poor fellow. He thought he would never see me again, lost to one of those studious university boys.
Four years later, after too-many-to-count phone calls (ring twice and hang up to let the other know we were thinking about him/her), boxes of letters and cards, miles and miles traveled to visit each other (I chose a university that was over four hours away from home), and alternating weekend visiting schedule, we were married at our home church.
After a honeymoon to Disneyland (yes, we are a COOL couple), we settled in the lower Yakima Valley to raise our children and pursue our careers.
How long was our dating and engagement period? The total is about seven years. We met in high school, started dating, took a year off, then got back together for good. 35 years later, we are still best friends and more in love than ever.
And they said it would never last.
Take your time, youngsters. Be patient. Wait for the right person. Make sure you are best friends first. And then commit for the rest of your life.
LOL. Old lady Quantrell giving marriage advice. Best ever piece I can give? Base your relationship on faith in Jesus. God has kept us going through good and bad times, and we’ve had plenty of both.
Happy anniversary, my love.
Haiku Moment: morning frost
spikes of glass reflect
shimmer, glow in morning beams
frost swaps dull for bright
morning frost by Angie Quantrell
Love, Laughter, and Life 