In pursuit of happiness...

In between the much needed rain yesterday, I went outside to check on the turtles to make sure they weren't in a flooding area.  Having found out this past spring that my turtles of 6-8 years were not both females, it has in fact made for an interesting time.  I will say they seemed happy of just doing their own thing before maturity set in .   But, the days when they each ignored the other have disappeared.  Separate food spots, swimming holes or sleeping quarters are now a thing of the past.  They play, chase and anything else you can think of to occupy their time.  :)  As their pursuit of happiness comes to play, I can't help but take pictures while smiling at their journey. :)

Good and Sticky :)

As everything in life, there are those certain things that just makes me smile.  One being, caramel apples!  Gone are the days when giving apples at Halloween were the thing to do.  Now, it's only those certain few that can enjoy this luxury. So with sticky faces, these apples were devoured while more were requested.  Oh, to feel needed because of my caramel apples.  lol   :)

Void

And then there was an afterthought.  Vividly.  As though it mattered in only that split second.  Pouring out to compensate the void.  Only coming to light when shaken.  Vividly.  Clearness that shows self.   Sharing to save face.  Engaging to keep peace.  Vividly.  Lost in the wake.

Did someone say strawberries? :)

  



How I love the sweet smell of strawberries!  In fact my first job at 14 was picking strawberries at a farm called Portmans.  I think it went 1 for them 2 for me!  :) 




 

What is it about this fruit with the zillion seeds attached to it that makes me smile when I see them amongst other fruit?  Could it be the green top hat setting upon it that makes the red stand out as appetizing pleasure?  lol  I will say that I still love eating them.  And for that matter, canning them!  Last week I put up18 jars of jam. Yum and yum again.  :)

Heidelberg

Tucked in the northern mountains of Georgia off the Appalachian Trail, there is a little German town called Helen.  I arrived at this town a couple weeks ago by foot after hiking four miles down the mountain from camp.  To my surprise there was a pub called Old Heidelberg.

Having been raised in a little borough called Heidelberg, I found myself heading towards this place. That very sign brought back thoughts of how I made hard choices long ago to get myself out of that little old Heidelberg town.  I wanted change and challenges and I had definitely found both, sometimes willingly sometimes not.

But as I walked through the door with a smile on my face, I knew some things don't change when a mere name takes you back to the good ole days.  Days and people that I could never forget that left an imprint on my life.

After ordering some red wine and raising my glass to the place, I found my way back to the path and up the mountain.  Of course that smile was still there.  :)

Transmute

lend me your eyes

I will change what you see

What we notice

The perfect egg. Or not?  It looks nice in color, shape, and is photogenic.  It acquired it's color outside amongst the birds chirping in the trees while surrounded by the warmth of spring air.  But looking at the egg at that moment as I grabbed my camera, a chuckle went through my head.  What I saw was the caption on the mug.  It was dug out of the cupboard to be used for this project and hasn't held liquid in quite awhile.  Little does the picture show that those eggs were forgotten on the stove and boiled beyond done.  The egg white showed itself as brown instead of bright white.  Yes, they burned.  Who does that?  Didn't even know you COULD do that! Sure we can still dye them, who would know?!  As the wire rack sat on the table with eggs, spoons and willing participants, I heard the tea pot whistle.  "Waters ready" I exclaimed.  Gingerly going inside, I rummaged through my pantry for vinegar.  No vinegar?!  Ugh  Then I spotted the white wine cooking vinegar.  Could it work I thought?  Who would know!  

It was at that moment the chuckle began rising inside of me as I heard "what's that smell?".  :)

Morning sunshine :)

Popping out yesterday from hibernation, one of my turtles blinked as the sunlight danced on her face. How excited I was to see them, knowing they were submerged under ice this winter longer than expected.  I smiled at the simplicity of this event but wondered how life looked at that moment through the eyes of a turtle after 4 1/2 months of sleeping.  I didn't see any excitement there nor smile, but I assume they were ready to start anew and look for that first taste of spring bugs.  Good morning sunshine, welcome back.   :)

Fundraising

http://www.firstgiving.com/carolmcnavish

Dolphin surprise

Is it just me or my boat logo that seem to attract dolphins, and alligators if your asking. :) Last year I almost capsized as a dolphin caught me by surprise and jumped in the water two inches from the bow of my boat. On this particular day, those mighty creatures once again showed up in all their glory. At first, I saw out of the corner of my eye something large jumping into the water. My thought was, is there someone else out here traipsing through the mango trees on the Great Calusa Blueway in the Gulf like us? But then we saw it. That dark fin sticking out of the water. Shark? For a second,I thought just that. Then to our surprise 2 dolphins circled around us. Now my boat's name is pronounced Flipper, but spelled "Flip-Her" on the decal. Always seemed funny, but not so much at that moment. Hesitant at first, my reluctance vanished as I heard the echo of my voice saying to Dan, "Let's follow them"! Say What?? lol But follow we did until Dan said he had enough. Those dolphins took us out of the mango trees and way out into the gulf. Needless to say, riding the waves while following those dolphins was a highlight of that particular day. :)

Reality

Love cannot be an elusive dream.  We touch it, embrace it, savor it.  It is an obtainable reality when one lets it be.  Love sits there waiting to be caught.  It embraces the soul while lifting the heart to a lightness of freedom.  It shows no boundaries.  Love exemplifies kindness... illuminates strength.

Fresh and Bright

  Sometimes we wait for the best possible time for decisive moments to arrive, and sometimes we just wait for the snow. :)  How I loved this day when all seemed fresh and bright.

I had sat here in the south a couple weeks ago as excitement and pictures flew my way from those back home of more snow than one could ask for.  Thoughts of cross country skiing dangled in a bubble above my head while reality and pure jealousy brought it crashing down. But, as the pictures continued, I sensed a change in the air.  Could it be...snow...here in Georgia?  At the first sight of snow I was out the door catching them on my tongue.  By evening and 4 inches later, I was fully garbed in my snow gear feeling exhilarated and throwing snowballs.   While sled riding down the back hill and loving the cool blast on my cheeks, I screamed....like a girl.   :)  Over and over I went down that hill and convinced myself that with patience, some things which seem impossible, actually do happen.  It might not be the record snow fall of the north, but snow in Georgia?  Of Course! 

Moments

The moments that change us are the moments that define our love. Love that stays deeply rooted and unreachable by others . It is weightless time in a confined space.

Impressed in a place that is yours.....

Red Top State Park

I wasn't sure what I would be getting myself into at Red Top State Park the day after Monday's flooding. To my surprise I was still able to hike the one trail that I like. There were two other hikers checking things out just like I was, but other than that it was desolate. The water glistened as it submerged the green grass. Trees had fallen and mud was everywhere on the trail. It wasn't until after I got off the trail did the sun begin to peek out. It felt good. :)

Sun please :)

I'm sitting here with the urge to run. After being in the house for 3 days because of the torrential rain, I've had enough. With flooding all around and the sun being bashful, it's taken all of my strength to not scream and say "enough already"! Can it be that my vitamin D is so depleted that I've resorted to screaming? Me?
.......Well, after looking at the text I've just written, I think it's about time to venture out. I will take my camera, change out of my fun pink boots and head out to the state park and see what I find. :)

Loving Georgia Rivers ---Paddle Georgia 2009

Another year of Paddle Georgia has come and gone since that first little blurb of an add in the Sunday paper 5 years ago. It was Dave who found the article, pushed me to go and sent me on my way. I had paddled since the young age of 17 when I bought my canoe and tent with those first summer paychecks, but it was a trip like Paddle Georgia that I wanted to explore. With canoe in tow, this mother/son team set off. Five years later we are still enjoying these excursions. Exploring different rivers in a state that is new to me, I have come to love the rivers of Georgia. Needless to say, we embarked on a journey that has left us thirsting for more.

We have paddled over 500 miles on the Chattahoochee, Etowah, Ocmulgee, Flint, Coosawattee and Oostanaula Rivers with this group. We have witnessed many challenges that the Riverkeepers face and that the public should be aware of. Along the way, friends kept coming back every year with their same gusto, same sense of humor, and that same lack of sunblock. But, they all left more aware of the issues that are put in front of them on the Georgia rivers.
Now, if I can only find a way to do this full time. :)

Georgia Network Blog on Paddle Georgia 09

Phoenix Botanical Gardens

Grand Canyon

Here are a some pictures from the past few days at the Grand Canyon. :)

Take it all in

Looking through the lens of life and past the obvious, I see the beauty. How peculiar that we each visualize differently while looking out. We close our eyes and imagine everything in it's place, but open to a different focus. Searching, for what we feel is needed, can take from what is to be. I looked through the lens on this particular day and saw beyond what is expected.