ruffles dance graceful
beneath bower and sunshine-
spring waltz and hurrah
pink snowfall gently
whirls, flutters, pirouettes, rests
ethereal gown
spring waltz by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Haiku Moment: spring waltz
Haiku Moment: unfurl
unfurl fuzzy ears
listen, what says the forest?
breathe, exhale, relax
unfurl by Angie Quantrell
Saint Edward State Park, WA state
Happy Earth Day!
It’s Earth Day 4 22 24! Earth Day with a palindrome!
Here are some pictures of a day trip we took yesterday to see Palouse Falls. These gorgeous falls are located in southwestern Washington state. Plenty of people had the same idea, but it did not feel crowded. The remote roads were not busy, the parking lot had room, and it was easy to wander off by yourself.
It was slightly windy, but that kept it from feeling too hot. Because the sun was on full blaze. The 2-mile dirt road drive from the paved road was dusty and had sections of solid washboard, but other than that, perfect conditions.
I recommend a spring trip. We loved seeing the green hillsides (soon to be brown, dry, and filled with wildfire potential) and wildflowers as we drove.
How many marmots can you see? There is quite a colony! See below for the answer. They are quite unafraid of people, and apparently used to being given treats. If you go, watch the bottom of the fence (to keep you from falling off) to see little entrances they’ve dug to access the grass of the picnic areas and the people. We did not feed them, but a few approached to see if we reached out their way. When we didn’t, they toddled back under the fence to their edge of the cliffs.
We also enjoyed watching the swifts who flew all about the waterfall, grabbing bugs and chattering to each other.
Sadly, we were unable to take the trail down to the bottom of the waterfalls. Due to multiple tragic accidents, those trails are blocked off. That fall is a long way down!
What a beautiful way to celebrate the amazing earth our God made! I am in awe.
If you go, know that this is remote desert rattlesnake country. Several warnings are on display reminding people to be careful (and advising them that the nearest hospital is quite far). Be prepared for dry desert conditions and follow the rules to stay safe! This is a day use state park. Not too far to the east is Lyons Ferry State Park where you can access the river. There is also camping nearby.
Happy Earth Day!
Note: There are 4 marmots in the photo.
Sunday Joy
I am thankful for a fresh start each morning, yes, I am!
Take a Poem
Now here’s a fun idea I discovered on a recent walk through a beautiful neighborhood in Seattle. Just perfect for National Poetry Month!
We’ve all seen the Little Free Libraries. My dream is to have one, but it hasn’t worked out yet. And the Free Sticks collections for dogs.
How about a treasure swap? I walked past this cutie on different days.
Adorable.
So, not only poems, books, treasures, and sticks, but what else would littles and their people enjoy swapping?
Rocks, plants, art (OH, I’ve seen pictures of that, but not in person) . . . what would you like to trade?
Haiku Moment: secret roads
tiny lives scramble
tunnel secret roads beneath
mystery bark world
secret roads by Angie Quantrell
Cowiche Canyon Trail, Central Washington
Now what?
I have these great ideas, inspirations, kernels of dreams. If possible, I jump on them right then, or at least scribble down a note to remind me of the idea so I can (hopefully) look back later and recapture what I was thinking.
Like the beginning of this card idea I started on my carefully rinsed and dried teabag. The sepia tone is perfect for making a card. The leaves pop off the teabag. I love how it looks. But now what? What should I do next? How can I amplify the idea into something beautiful? I am currently stumped on this project, so it sits on the table, waiting.
It’s like that in the picture book world too. I have (what I think is) a great idea, an inspiration, a kernel of a story. A brilliant idea. I jot it down. My mind plays with it, seeking a path to follow, wandering from this to that. My ideas often come to me as a title, a play on words, an interesting character, or a wishful suggestion of a setting or event. And then what? What should I do next? I have file folders and notebooks full of ideas. Waiting.
The creative struggle is real. It’s time consuming. It’s messy. Just ask my honey. But should I let the challenges stop me? When I hit that block-that wall-should I stop? No. Maybe I need to see the wall as the opportunity to take a deep breath, let my mind wander, do something else. Perhaps the wall is just a good resting spot to dream, pray, and let the “now what?” follow its course.
Haiku Moment: mine
this lap is mine, mine,
mine, mine, mine. I will not share.
go away. my lap
mine by Angie Quantrell
Monet claims her favorite lap. And her beloved human. (Not me).
Love, Laughter, and Life 