This week’s photo challenge is ephemeral. Ephemeral means, to last for a short period of time.
PC: Ephemeral
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Tag Archives: snow
WPC: Fresh
For this week’s photo challenge, share a photo of something fresh.
My daughter and I spent the first day of Spring, visiting the alligator farm in Hot Springs. We followed that with a short stack of pancakes at IHOP, her request, then came home just in time for it to start raining.
I love Spring. To me, it represents a fresh start in life; everything blooming and waking up. The vibrant colors popping out, adding color to the grey bleakness that represented Winter. Birds chirping, squirrels chattering and their newborns cry out for food. It’s a fresh, new life in another Spring season.
One Word Photo Challenge: Beaver
This week’s one word photo challenge is beaver, which is a shade of brown, similar to mocha, yet just a shade darker.
Last week it had snowed…again…but this time, it was a good snowfall, well, for us here in the centralized part of Arkansas it was. Sad thing about this round of white powder is that it was just that, powder, which isn’t snowman building type of snow. After several minutes of effortless trying to build one, she finally understood, yet still found a way to enjoy playing in it.
I admire my daughter’s infinite love for snow. I’m sure the movie Frozen gave her a bit of a nudge in that direction, especially after hearing Anna’s famous line, ‘Do You Want To Build A Snowman’. And there’s also a song she sings about it too. After watching the movie a few dozen times, then hearing it play in the background of your home…on repeat…then tolerating the CD in the car, also on repeat, you would have a slight understanding as to why snow and the movie Frozen can start to really bug you.
Not to mention, the numerous pictures of Elsa circulating on Facebook, issuing a warrant out for arrest, blaming her for causing our lovely winter snowstorms, kind of a bit overdone.
The only time I like snow is when I get to play in it. I used to snowboard regularly when I lived in Colorado. I actually kept my board and gear, just in case I get the chance to snowboard again. Yet, when my daughter repeats Anna’s famous line, of course I’m all into building a snowman, I’m just not going to burst into song or anything like that. I’ll also refrain from mentioning anything to do with the movie.
Though the sky was kind of bleak and everything surrounding me was white, I did snap a few photos here and there. I kind of find my neighbors broken fence somewhat interesting. I call it his fence since he’s the one who put it up, he just fails to maintain it. Of course the wheelchair ramp tends to end up in my pictures. Plus, I had to take a picture of the tall pines that surround us in their version of a tiny forrest. I feel like an ant standing next to these massive giants. They were here before the house was built back in the 50’s, so that should give you a rough estimate on how old they are.
This Week’s Photo Challenge: Orange
This week’s photo challenge is, orange; anything to do with the color orange. Orange just happens to be my favorite color. It’s bright, colorful, and is cheerful.
Below are a few pictures from my 2001 Navy Deployment, as well as a few pictures from the past few months around here in Arkansas.
Enjoy!
Tiny Bird
Recently, I had left the garage door opened, so that I can clear the driveway and the wheelchair ramp from all the snow and ice that we received within the past few days. While I was busy outside, a couple of birds flew into the garage without me knowing it. When I was finished, I walked back into the garage, placed the shovels back into their spots, stomped my feet to clear them from sludge – mud and snow – and proceeded to close the door.
Something caught my eye and I heard a few chirps. A pair of wrens found themselves in the garage and were now trying to escape.
I pushed the garage door open wider and saw one bird fly out, yet the other bird flew to the far back of the garage and seemed trapped. My guess is, she was terrified and didn’t want to chance flying towards me. I started in her direction and she flew to the right, towards the only window in the garage. No exit there. I walked in her direction again, yet she just sat there, shivering.
I wasn’t going to hurt her, yet she didn’t know that, poor girl.
I started talking to her calmly and quietly. She had her eyes shut and seemed paralyzed with fear. I noticed a small bag of bird seed sitting not too far away and got a small handful, placed it in front of her, then left…after I quickly snapped a picture.
Her mate was just outside the door, calling for her, so I knew that if I left the door open, she would find her way out. I had left the garage and went back inside the house to let my grandmother know about the bird. Thirty minutes later, grandma went to check to see if the bird was still there…she had left.
More Snow and Another Snowman
My daughter and I have only been to school one day within these past two weeks. It continues to snow, or we receive more freezing rain, or it melts then freezes, making the roads slick, to which all school close for the day. Either way, I’m getting further behind in my classes due to there not being any…classes. Plus, it’s hard to get any homework done with my daughter at home. I mostly get it finished when I’m at school, sitting in the library, where I can sit in a quiet spot and work.
It isn’t easy being a single mom and a college student at the same time, especially during the winter. There’s only so much whining to go outside and play in the snow that a mom can take before she gives in. I’m trying to be the model college student and work on my research papers and other homework assignments, yet my inner child is screaming at me to listen to my daughter and go build a snowman.
Of course I couldn’t say no to that! My inner child jumps for joy and my daughter does the same. She rushes around the house looking for her hat, gloves, and shoes with all the excitement of a five year old. I proceed to change out of my pj’s and into some jeans.
Of course it was still snowing when we walked outside. It was also mushy and melting, though relatively slowly. Guess it was too warm for it to actually snow, yet it was still coming down.
I was surprised to find that this round of snowfall was easy to work with and it didn’t take much effort for us to build a snowman. I showed her how to roll a small snowball around in the snow, allowing it to grow bigger and bigger until we had the size we needed for the bottom half of the snowman. After we had the middle portion and then the head placed into it’s proper spots, she found a stick that was then used for arms and a mouth. I found a rotten pecan that I busted open, placing the two halves as eyes, and the pecan as a nose.
We stood back and looked at it. It was almost as tall as she was.
Winter Fever, Cabin Blues…
Or is it ‘Cabin Fever, Winter Blues’?
Either way, it’s another fine winter day, stuck indoors. I’m actually being a bit sardonic, but who wouldn’t be unless you could be outside enjoying the weather. Though there aren’t any slopes here for me to grab my snowboard and head out to. Nor is the ground covered in snow, for mini me to go sledding. Instead, the ground is covered in ice that has been melted and frozen, again, and again, over the past few days. Today, our forecast called for a snow and rain mix, which didn’t began falling until late morning. It just made everything that much more slippery. I decided to stay home with my daughter, since I have to drive North where the roads would be much slicker.
Though I have driven in wintry conditions, it is very different here in Arkansas, especially when you’re surrounded by drivers who cannot drive on ice and/or snow. Some cannot even drive when it’s raining, so I find it best to stay clear by staying home. My daughter finds serenity in watching the snow fall. We have a large picture window in the living room with a wide window sill for her to lean on and to also give her plenty of space to play with her toys.
On days like this, I find myself in the office, on the computer, trying to finish up homework, or work on the next research paper for a class or two, or do a bit of writing. I think if I redecorated this office, it would have more of a calm, soothing atmosphere where I can be more creative. I think it’s the only room that still has the fake wood paneling from the 1960’s, covering it’s walls. Plus, the photos that cover the wall space above grandpa’s desk are decades old and could be upgraded.
I think I may have found my next summer project…to redecorate and rearrange the office.
I mostly find my creative energy in a mixture of places, such as, bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, front porch. Sometimes, the recliner in the living room, next to our picture window is a perfect spot for writing, especially on days like today. Anywhere my mind can roam freely.
Lately, I’ve been spending most of that free time between classes, in my college library. Just yesterday, I had my headphones on, music going, and I was able to finally finish editing chapter one of my young adult novel. This is the same novel I had tried querying agents last summer for, but without success. It’s a tough job, being an author. Tough market, actually. Some of them were very close in saying yes, adding tidbits of helpful info that would make the next round of querying a bit more successful.
So, I began working on it….again.
There was originally a prologue, but I had cut it out entirely. Now, I added it back into the novel, but instead of it being a prologue, I made it the beginning of chapter one’s story line. I then moved some of chapter three into chapter one, so the next on my to-do-list is to edit chapter three.
I’m coming up on 60K words total…on the manuscript that is. I’m going to make that a goal that I must achieve. Once that’s done, I am finished…I hope, cross my fingers and knock on wood. I’m looking forward to seeing it finalized once more and also hope that I can send it off to the publisher very soon. I think I’ll try querying agents again, if not, I know a few small publishers that wouldn’t mind publishing it for me.
Finally, she built a snowman
This week, the weather has been rather crappy. We rarely get a good snow fall here in the southern part of Arkansas, so when it does snow I get as excited as my daughter does and we head outside to play. What we usually get almost every winter, is sleet and freezing rain, which leads to icy covered roads. Which also leads to people driving around like crazy trying to buy up all the bread and milk in every store. Twice, I almost got ran into from people driving erratically and the storm had not even arrived yet.
I had prepared for being kept indoors by stocking up our cabinets and freezers. So, if we don’t leave the house for several weeks, we’re good. If the electric goes out, that’s fine too, as I have a small charcoal grill and plenty of batteries, flashlights, and lanterns.
A few years ago, or was it last year, a horrible snow storm hit us, knocking out our power. Then our giant Magnolia tree in our front yard was weighed down from all the ice and snow that it split in two; one giant limb covered the drive way, thankfully missing my car, and the other giant limb fell onto the wheelchair ramp, which blocked any method of getting the cars out. Our wonderful neighbors showed up with chainsaws and a few friends brought their trucks over and we all took care of our poor tree.
Tuesday, it had snowed a few inches, that Wednesday morning my daughter and I went outside to play. I helped her build a snowman, as she’s been aching to do. I watched her run around the backyard, then watch her as she tossed a few handfuls of snow at me. Then after thirty minutes had elapsed we went back inside and proceeded to watch everything melt from our picture window in the living room. It was a great day and most of the snow and ice has melted away. Just in time too, as we’re to get another round of freezing rain tonight and tomorrow. Fun!
For now, it’s catch up time on homework, research papers, and novel edits.
Stay warm all!
One Word Photo Challenge: Green
Starting to see some flowers coming up in my flowerbeds. I’m trying not to brag since some of you are still getting snow or won’t be able to see grass for a few more months yet, when all the snow melts.
A Little Snow To Play In
The other day it had snowed a few inches. Just enough to go out and play in it. It wasn’t soft as snow should be. It was crunchy, as if it was an ice mixture. My daughter enjoyed it though. She mostly walked around the backyard, then the front, taking a few minutes to bend over and scoop some up in her glove covered hands. She looked at it with curiosity as children do. This is the second time she’s been out to play in the snow. The first time I think she was not even a year old yet; she’s now four. I took a few minutes to teach her how to throw a snowball, to which she enjoyed finding me as her target. It didn’t take long for the snow to all melt away; it was already gone the next day.
We were supposed to have gotten several inches of snow today. The weatherman on each news station had been warning us for days on the upcoming snow storms arrival, how many inches we’ll get, when it’ll be here, etc. Would you know, I woke up with my alarm clock, looked out side, and no snow! I was in a way, disappointed. I was looking forward to another snow day. Another opportunity to go out and play with my girl. Although, I am looking forward to some warmer weather and enjoyed the sun shining bright in the sky this morning. The temperature is still too cold, but I’ll enjoy the day nonetheless.
Author Jennifer N. Adams 