This week Dawn Miller of The Day After, guest hosts with the challenge theme of fences. Instead of going back through my very old archives (where I know I have some cool photos of wood fences), I decided to focus on the purpose of fences. From my perspective, the main objective of a fence is to keep creatures and objects safe, like the rails/fences on these third story condominium patios.
Under the umbrella of safety are two major intentions for constructing a fence: to keep creatures out…
…and to keep creatures in.
Sometimes fences serve a secondary purpose, as the one below which supports a lovely old wild rose,
and sometimes they wouldn’t really stop any critter from entering or exiting, though they do serve to provide guidelines!
On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾
A big thank you to Dawn for guest hosting this week. It is truly an honor to be asked to host, and quite a responsibility to respond to all of us out here joining in the fun!
Philo, of Philosophy Through Photography, guest-hosts this week’s challenge. We are invited to present photos that illustrate simplicity. Scrolling through my archives I kept repeating, *”a thing that is plain, natural or easy to understand.”
Above, one small cloud in a vast blue sky floats over the dense evergreens of Deschutes National Forest. Below, an extremely low tide at Long Beach, WA is accentuated by a series of receding tide-lines marked on the sand.
From a long distance view, to a ground level shot, the photographic structure is plain, natural and uncomplicated.
Spare yet dramatic images like the one below, invite us to imagine and create a story. What do you see?
Willow catkins along the edge of a marsh pond are a quiet statement of spring re-emerging.
A single wind turbine on the bluffs of the Columbia River is part of a large green energy complex. Below the tracks of a seagull near surf’s edge.
Thanks to Philo for this opportunity to “discover beauty in simplicity through the lens of photography.”
On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾
This week, guest host Ritva summons us to invite followers into our kitchens. Throughout my life, togetherness often started in the kitchen; warm ovens on cold days, fragrance wafting through the house, and a welcoming place to enjoy good food and conversation. On one end my kitchen opens to the dining area which flows into the living room. When we have a party or family gathering the whole space is “the kitchen”!
Joy in the kitchen starts with making the space aesthetically pleasing to me. I want loveliness when I raise my eyes from the pots and pans, and I insist on functional tools.
I also want fresh produce. Every spring I plant a small garden of tomatoes and basil. The tomatoes are shared with neighbors and some are frozen to add to winter soups. The basil is dried or processed into pesto or used to infuse olive oil for a whif of summer fragrance throughout the year.
Last week I shared the camp kitchen with my sister at our annual fishing get away in central Oregon. Diana and I make sure we have delicious dinners daily. We plan our menus in advance, decide who is responsible for what, and delight in sumptuous spreads every evening!
Ritva requested that we include our best-loved cup in this post. Below is a photo of my current favorite, a handmade pottery mug purchased at Bay Street Gallery in Ocean Park, WA. I love to fill it half with milk and half with coffee, and its big enough to last for a while. What a pleasure to sit on the deck of a cool overcast morning sipping my warm mix, as the day unfolds to hot afternoons!
On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾
Thank you to Ritva for a journey into the heart of our homes!
This week Patti Moed, invites us to tell a story with a maximum of five photos. Recently I had a leisurely road trip from Spokane to Pullman WA, driving the network of old highways now called the Palouse Scenic Byway. Lightly traveled, it was easy for me to pull over and stop whenever I wanted to take photos.
Rosalia WA, population 615. The site of a battle between US troops and Palus and Spokane Native American tribes in 1858, Rosalia was officially incorporated in 1894.
The Rosalia Railroad Bridge, built in 1915 is impressive with its concrete arches. In 1980 the bridge and right-of-way were acquired by the State of Washington. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places due to its design. Framed by the arches are yellow fields of Canola.
The McCoy grain elevator near Oakesdale, is a fine example of contemporary agricultural structures throughout the region. Grain (usually wheat) is stored in these huge containers and then transported by rail to market. Oakesdale, population 412.
Oakesdale Flour Mill built in 1890, is the last of 19 that once operated in Whitman County. In operation until 1960, the mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The old mill is being maintained and is open periodically for tours.
Old and new technology live side by side west of Oakesdale. On a forty acre site, 58 wind turbines generate 105 megawatts of energy.
On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾
Thanks to Patti for an inspiring challenge this week!
This week Tina has challenged us to show through our photography, sites that represent spirituality to us. In my life, natural environments have always provided a profound sense of connection with my inner self and the world as a whole. For this challenge I’m focusing on the spiritual lessons of water.
“Water is a representation of wisdom, peace, and purity. The spiritual meaning of water lies in its reflection of the human spirit and the interconnection of all creations.”
“As a symbol of life, water represents divine generosity. Indeed, it’s a personification of healing and suffering, protection and vulnerability, change and constancy, stillness and rage. Water in all its glory is considered a purifier of the soul.”
“To be like water, we need to be fluid; we need to change and grow from the circumstances of life. Furthermore, we need to imbibe the formless, calm, and conscious nature of the water.”
“In essence, water is the life force that centers our spirit and our body, signifying wisdom and conscious awareness. Take time to ponder the spiritual meaning of water and celebrate its gifts on earth.”
On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾
Thank you Tina, for this beautiful challenge. I’ve enjoyed the many offerings of other Lens-Artist followers. Such a treat!
Walking With Eagles is a collection of original poems and photographs by Lindy Low Le Coq. A lifelong naturalist, amateur photographer and bird enthusiast, Lindy’s verse, composition and photographs open a window into the essence of her subjects. Her poems and photography reflect the rich natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.
Bald Eagles mature over the course of five years. Walking With Eagles invites the reader to take a poetic and visual tour of this odyssey.
view ~ Walking With Eagles ~ in top menu bar for a preview, though the folio is much nicer!
Lindy Low LeCoq 