Sniff

To test the air with one's nose. To smell something. Whats worth sniffing in your space?

Pour

To decant liquid with a flowing stream. Show me your pour!

Wave

A disturbance on a body of matter in the form of a ridge or swell. Also a hand gesture to motion a greeting or indeed a period or spell of unusually hot or cold weather. Wave is everywhere, where is yours?



This is a photo I took looking down at the Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. Not only are there waves crashing down there on the beach but the coastline from this perspective is also forming a curving wave.

Weathered

An object that is seasoned or otherwise affected by exposure to the weather. Have you got something weathered?

SOS

SPS

Self (or Someone's) Portrait Saturday.
Show us a self portrait, a portrait of a friend, a family member...anyone!! just show us a portrait today :)

Slice

To cut in thin pieces or a portion of food. Show us 'slice' in your space today.

Insect

A small arthropod animal with 6 legs and usually one or two pairs of wings. Find an insect on your space today.


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I just took these photos in our backyard a couple days ago. I was so thrilled this pretty one hung around so long as my camera's batteries had just ran out from snapping photos of my daughters. I had to run inside and grab new batteries. He actually flew away a couple of times but came back to sit on top of the point of an Eiffel Tower garden sculpture. I took photos from several directions and liked the different affects of having a grey fence in the background and then the brilliant green of the grass behind.

Succulent

Tender, juicy or tasty. A plant with thick fleshy leaves. Find something succulent in your space :





This second one with the tall spiky orange blooms is called Aloe Maculata (aka Soap Aloe)

Soaked

To get extremely wet. Find something soaked in your space today.

Contorted

To twist or bend an item from it's original shape. Find something contorted in your space today.

SOS

In a restaurant in Fort Bragg there were interesting art pieces all around. There seemed to be an altar theme. I found this one with Elvis to be incredibly comical. Here are a couple more photos of the same altar.

SPS

Show us pictures of you or your portrait subject matter.

Towel

An absorbent cloth or paper for wiping and drying something wet, as one for the hands, face, or body after washing or bathing. Show me your towels.



There are plenty of imperfections to this photo, as the lighting wasn't good and I didn't want to use the flash - therefore I ended up with some blur to the photo. Yet, I still like it. The little froggie hooded towel looks so cute on Maya and the way her tongue is partly sticking out kind of makes her look a little like a frog.

Peep

To take a little look or show a little bit. She me peep, peeps!!!



This is my daughter Maya taking a little look into a traditional home of the Urok, a Native American tribe here in California. Her dad and sister went inside but she wasn't too keen on joining them.

This house is joined by several others and a smoke house and is referred to as the Sumig Village. The Sumig Village resides in a National Park called Patrick's Point on the Northern California Coast. Modern Urok's don't live in the homes but they did build them in the traditional manner and they do visit and hold ceremonies and various activities at this location.

Here is one last little peep. My cute husband looking out from inside the Urok house.

Red

A vivacious colour to indicate love and danger.

This is the vibrant entrance to an art studio I visited when I was in Mendocino. The gorgeous painting hanging on the red door and the other one just within the doorway are both by Shiloh Sophia McCloud. All I could say upon entering was "wow." The name of the studio is Wisdom House Gallery. Below is the sign at the beginning of the walkway that leads to the studio. If you have some time visit her web site here and check out more of her artwork. Besides selling paintings she also has cards and journals, which better fit my budget.

Lastly I couldn't resist also sharing this photo I took at the Mendocino Coastal Botanical Gardens. A cypress tree fell down 4 years ago and they saved the wood and then had a group called the Friends of the Garden Woodworkers build several chairs. They then invited local artists to enhance the chairs with color and designs. There were about 7 chairs displayed and all were for sale. This chair was going for $250.00.

Row

A number of persons or things arranged in a continuous line. Also two or more people having a heated argument also known as a "row".



I took this photo while in Mendocino. At the end of a dead end street that overlooked the ocean and a beach across the way was a little business that rented out kayaks, canoes and bikes. This was just one tiny section of the kayaks they had available.

My Girl(s)

"My Girl" by the Temptations. Selection by Diana.



Here is a very recent photo of me and my girls visiting the ocean. This was their first trip.

The Greatest Love of All

"The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston from April 1986. Selection by God's Rock Angel.



I chose one of my favorite all-time photos of my twin daughters Aubrey and Maya. They are a little over 2 years old now. This photo was taken of them at about age 6 months. The Greatest Love of All can mean the love a parent feels for his or her children. In the case of my daughters I also see a great love between them already. They are certainly toddlers and will push and hit and fight. But they are just as likely to hug and give each other kisses. Quite often if one gets hurt the other runs over yelling "You okay?" They have already developed a sense of empathy. They have only been apart on a few occasions. If one is still sleeping in the morning or at nap time the other is very concerned and really wants her sister to get up with her. They certainly are developing a very special connection.

Fairytale

Fairytale by Dana from October 1976 - selection from Hannah



Gregory Maguire first wrote Wicked showing another side to the tale The Wizard of Oz. His first book was turned into the hit Broadway show by the same name. This was his second novel. A very fun read. I look forward to reading more of his alternative Fairytales in the future

Imagine

Imagine ~ John Lennon ~ October 1971



This is an interesting book from my personal library. The book starts off with a poem and every passage begins with Imagine. I'll share some the incomplete poem below.

Imagine a woman in

love with her own body.

A woman who believes her

body is enough, just as it is.

Who celebrates her body's rhythms

and cycles as an exquisite resource.

Imagine a woman who tells the truth.

A woman who trusts her experience

of the world and expresses it.

Who refuses to defer to the thoughts,

perceptions, and responses of others.

Imagine a woman who

follow her creative impulses.

A woman who produces

original creations.

Who refuses to color

inside someone else's lines.

Imagine a woman who is

interested in her own life.

A woman who embraces her life

as teacher, healer, and challenge.

Who is grateful for the ordinary

moments of beauty and grace.

Imagine a woman who

authors her own life.

A woman who trusts her inner

sense of what is right for her.

Who refused to twist her life out of shape

to meet the expectations of others.

Imagine a woman who has grown

in knowledge and love of herself.

A woman who has vowed faithfulness

to her own life and capacities.

Who remains loyal to herself. Regardless.

Imagine yourself as this woman.

Let The Sun Shine In

I was born in April 1969 and here is one of the songs that was on the top of the pop music charts in the UK that same month and year.

Artist: Fifth Dimension

Song: Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In (From the musical 'Hair')

This is what the sun has looked like in my neck of the woods since June 21st. On June 21st a thunderstorm paid a visit to Northern California. There were an unprecendented 5,000 to 6,000 lightening strikes in a 24 hour period. The result was 840 wildfires. I live in a valley surrounded by beautiful forests and mountains. In the beginning there were fires on all sides of us and the smoke was sinking right into the valley. The fires to the east of us have been brought under control, but the fires to the west and southwest are still burning. The terrain is difficult for the firefighters and the weather just recently - extremely hot at over 100 degrees and today 114 degrees - with some gusty wind has flamed a few of the fires and called for more evacuations of people living close to those areas. Today the sun was pink/red again and even the half moon tonight is pink. We are all hoping for the fires to finally be brought to an end. The firefighters are certainly heroes and doing their best. Eventually it has to come to an end and how nice it will be to finally "Let the Sun Shine in"

You Need Hands

Photo Prompt by Sue - The song: You Need Hands by Max Bygraves in 1958



This is a photo of a friends daughter.

There is nothing quite so sweet as using our hands to be kind and loving to one another and to our furry, feathered and scaly friends.

Ring

A small circular band. Find a ring in your space today.



This ring isn't exactly small. It is quite large actually. It is a decorative brooch and an odd piece of jewelry I have left over from my teen years.

Beat

To make striking movements or stir vigorously. Show us 'beat' in your space today.



When the temperature is 100+ it is crititical to find ways to play that involves water!

SOS

This house is in Mendocino, California. I spent the last weekend there on the coast. The garden is gorgeous, as is many gardens in this area. Flowers seem to flourish in the coastal weather. The house is also very interesting and eclectic. Everywhere you look there is something to see.


Here are a few more close up shots.

SPS

Rest

To stop work or movement in order to relax. Show us 'rest' in your space today.



Need a break? Go ahead, sit and rest awhile.

Upside-Down

To turn an object with the upper side where the lower side should be. Find something Upside-down in your space today.

Chain

A connected flexible series of metal links. Show us a chain in your space today.