Saturday, February 06, 2010

Weekend Assignment #304: Frazzled! How Do You De-Stress?

From For Ellipsis


"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!

From For Ellipsis


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.

From For Ellipsis


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!

From For Ellipsis


Photography

Cats

Cooking

The best ways I know how to shake the stress! :)


-Carly

Friday, February 05, 2010

Now My Mood Is Yellow

From For Ellipsis


"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

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Black Phoebe

From For Ellipsis



"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

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

I'm In A Purple Mood

From For Ellipsis


"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

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

The Good News And The Not So Good News...

From For Ellipsis


"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

Monday, February 01, 2010

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #75: Peaceful Places







"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

Sunday, January 31, 2010

EMPS: Houses Of Worship

From For Ellipsis


"All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of spacethat contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space."

-Phillip Johnson

Isn't it beautiful? That is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Oakland Temple, in Oakland hills. I have been looking at that church since I was a very little girl. :) When I was a child, I imagined it was a castle, and inside was a beautiful princess waiting for her prince. You can probably imagine how big I smiled yesterday, when I went to the temple to photograph it, and saw a bride and groom posing for their photos. If you look really close, you can see them right in front of the temple. :) Perfect timing.

This gives you a nice look facing back towards San Francisco, and Oakland which is in the forefront.

From For Ellipsis
And from the archives I bring you...

From For Ellipsis


First Presbyterian Church of Virginia City. In Virginia City, Nevada.

Virginia City is such a wonderful town to photograph. It is so full of history, and as you can see, beautiful churches! :)

-Carly