skip to main |
skip to sidebar
"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains."
-Diane Ackerman
Weekend Assignment #305: You're going about your day and then you sense something - a sight, a sound, a smell, perhaps even a texture or a taste. Whatever it is, it evokes a treasured memory of the past. What did you see, hear, touch, smell, or taste, and what did it remind you of?
Extra Credit: Are there any sounds, sights, or smells you actually seek out because of the pleasant associations?
-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin
Scent...
Hmmm... nothing sets my mind at ease, and reminds me of fond memories quite like the scent of Cloves. I LOVE the spicy scent, and how it reminds me of autumn and the holidays. Alan and I have a lot of fun cooking together, and we seem to do most of it during autumn and winter. My cat, Elvis, loved the smell of cinnamon and cloves so much, that he would always insist on sniffing the cloves and cinnamon when I baked around the holidays. Just the other day, I was using an Cinnamon/Clove scented fabric spray, and I had to smile as I thought about how Elvis would snuggle into the pillows, curl up, and go off to sleep, whenever I used it. He loved flowers, and perfumes. I planted some Stock, because of it's spicy cinnamon scent, in the garden, and that is where he could be found most summer afternoons, sound asleep between the Jasmine and the Stock. He was quite a cat! :) Whenever I smell something deliciously spicy, I think of him.
Extra Credit: How many do I seek out?
1. Jasmine
2. Clove
3. Cinnamon
4. Popcorn
5. Lavender (I have a lavender sleep mask. It's great for relaxation)
6. Oranges
7. Paint... I LOVE the smell of paint! LOL.
8. I used to love the smell of a fresh roll of film, gosh I miss those days.
9. I love the sound of wind chimes
10. Almost any kind of music makes me think of fond times. I love music.
-Carly
**See you all on Thursday, a little past midnight, with assignment #306!
"The man who doesn't relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse a little later on."
-Elbert Hubbard
Weekend Assignment #304: How do you de-stress when feeling frazzled?
Extra Credit: The Weekend Assignment may soon have a co-host. That okay with everyone?
-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin
De-stressing...
How do I de-stress? Well, Valium works pretty well! LOL. Nah, I can't even take a whole one, I have to cut mine in quarters. I am a little bit allergic you see, and not only do I become the mouthiest person on the planet, but I also become the most honest, which lets face it, only leads to additional stress when the pill wears off. LOL. Now I ask you... who needs that?
My favorite way to de-stress is pretty simple actually, I like to take pictures!
But then I also have to give some de-stressing credits to my kitties, Dylan and Hendrix. They keep me laughing. Pets are so healthy to have around. I know I am as sane as I am because I have these little people to help keep me happy.
But, when all else fails, I have my love of cooking. I cook every day. I like making my own meals. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love a night out once in a while, and I am a junk food junkie, but I love getting in the kitchen with the goal of creating something amazing to eat. What you are seeing in the picture below is a simple dish, Vadalia Onion Chicken. Macaroni & Cheese, and Carrots in Orange/Ginger sauce. So easy, so delicious!
Photography
Cats
Cooking
The best ways I know how to shake the stress! :)
-Carly
"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want... oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
-Mark Twain
It's raining. I love the rain, but I am so ready for winter to be over. Sigh. Oh well, I can sit around feeling blue, or I can focus on the yellow moments in life. If spring has an official color, I am pretty sure it's yellow.
-Carly
"You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent their making a nest in your hair."
-Chinese Proverb
Lately, these pretty little birds have been visiting our yard. I haven't seen this particular type before, and after doing a little reading, I see that they are usually a shoreline bird, although during the winter they will take up residence in city parks and chaparrals. My cottage is on a nice piece of acreage, and I have often described it as a small park, so I guess the birds agree! Isn't it a pretty bird?
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
-Carly
"Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as well pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint their own hue each shows us only what lies in it's own focus."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am in a purple mood. A little blue, but with just enough red to make me not completely hopeless. LOL.
How about you, if you could assign a color to your mood, what color are you right now? Share if you feel like doing so. I am curious to see what your response might be!
-Carly
"Be the change you want to see in the world."
-Mahatma Gandhi
The Good News...
There are a couple new things to tell you about. Let's start with what I think is the good news. Beginning next Thursday, February 11th, I will be sharing co-hosting duties of the Weekend Assignment with Karen. We will be alternating weeks for at least the next few months, in order to bring Karen some much needed rest. She has hosted the project since John Scalzi handed her the reins of the Weekend Assignment in January 2007. I can't blame her for wanting a little respite, from time to time, and for wanting to be able to participate. I know how much she enjoyed the Weekend Assignment when John was hosting. Hopefully, this will give her the break she needs, and perhaps we can gain a some new participants. It would mean a lot to me to do well with this project, so, it goes without saying that I would really appreciate your participation. Please consider joining us for the fun!
:)
Now for the not so good news...
:(
I have decided to activate the Comment Moderation option on my blog. I know, I know... it's a pain wondering if your comment has gotten through. I am not especially happy with having to do it, but there have been a lot of SPAM and unwanted comments getting through lately. Sigh. I hope you understand. I watch my email pretty closely, so unless I am out, your comment should appear pretty soon after you leave it. In any case, it will appear by the end of the day you post it. Hopefully the unwanted emails and comment SPAM will stop soon.
Okay, that's just about it. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts about my doing the Weekend Assignment with Karen. Feel free to leave your thoughts about that, or anything you see or read on my blog. :)
-Carly
"If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a human being, we can do it."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
EMPS #75: PEACEFUL PLACES NOW CLOSED!
Let's enjoy a photography assignment this week that celebrates the PEACEFUL PLACES in our lives. Parks, libraries, any place you would be able to experience some peace and quite will do nicely for the assignment. Archived photos are fine for the assignment.
Extra Credit: Show me your favorite way to experience PEACE AND QUIET.
**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. You have until then to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, your link must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment, a general link to your entry will not work. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link back to this assignment so your readers will be able to find the assignment and play along with us.
Linking List for EMPS #74: Houses Of Worship. 01/25/10
NOW CLOSED.
1. Spiderdama
2. Jama
3. Sherrie
4. Sandy **Welcome To The Monday Photo Shoot!
5. Greg
6. Maria Berg
7. Suzanne
8. Nesa
9. Nancy
10. Carolyn
11. Gena
12. Carly Yep, I played Too!
13. Duane
14. Mike
15. Karen
Well done! You guys continue to amaze me with your talent. I saw some really beautiful examples of this week's assignment! You guys ROCK! See you next Monday, with an all new assignment! :)
-Carly
