Happy Earth Day 2009!

From For Ellipsis

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."

-Chief Seattle, 1835



Happy Earth Day! For this week's EMPS I asked you to show me what you most appreciate about the earth. When I tried to take on my own assignment, I found it wasn't easy to narrow it down, but when I really thought about it, I just had to photograph some flowers today. There is so much I appreciate about nature, but flowers are something I would miss very much if for some reason they were no longer a part of things. On the other hand, life wouldn't be worth living without organic fruits and vegetables! Oh my... delicious!

:)


Extra Credit: Here are my reusable bags, from Old Navy and the Virgin Megastore. I use them everywhere! It's nice to not have all those plastic bags everywhere, and save a few pennies on my grocery bill as well!


So tell me, how did you celebrate Earth Day? Better yet, there is still time to post an entry for the Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot! Come on... take the challenge!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot: #34: Earth Day!

"There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet."

-Brook Medicine





Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22nd, so, let's celebrate it together!

:)

EMPS #34: EARTH DAY! NOW CLOSED!
Next Wednesday, the whole world will reflect on ways we can help the environment. Here is what I would like to see from all you EARTH Warriors... show me something in the natural world that you appreciate in particular. Get your cameras out and find something THIS WEEK! Ordinarily I allow archived photos, but for this week I want to see something new, so, let's be mindful of this year's EARTH DAY, by getting out with the camera and focusing on the EARTH'S natural beauty and it's gifts to we humans. A gorgeous landscape. Flowers bursting forth from an organic garden. Fresh organic fruit and vegetables. A beautiful pristine shoreline, a grove of beautiful trees, or anything that shows EARTH DAY in all it's glory. :)

Extra Credit: Show me what you are doing to help out the EARTH. Show me your recycle bins, or the reusable bags you take on shopping trips. Anything you can photograph that you do personally to help the EARTH!

Note: I will be doing this assignment right along with you. Look for my entry on Wednesday!

**Please Read**
You have until next Sunday, at 9:00 pm ET to get your photo, post it to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with your link. Please remember, it must be the full link specific to this Monday Photo Shoot assignment. NO HYPERLINKS are accepted. I need your full link to be able to add you to the Linking List next Monday. Also, please link back here so folks can find the Monday Photo Shoot and play along!

Linking List for EMPS #33: Up Close. 04/13/09

1. Suzanne

2. Greg

3. Liz

4. Jama

5. Terri

6. Karen

7. Your EG Tour Guide

8. Mike

9. Carly (me)

10. Wammy

11. Connie

Question of the Week: Is there something you have always wanted to photograph, but just haven't had the chance? If so, tell us about it!

Ok, go enjoy the natural beauty of the earth. I am looking forward to seeing what you show me! I will see you in one week with a new assignment.

-Carly

Happy Earth Day

"Conservation means the wise use of the earth and it's resources for the lasting good of men."

-Gifford Pinchot

Happy Earth Day! There is so much natural beauty all around us, and yet, we continue to see more and more of it slip away. Yesterday, I visited the website of the World Wildlife Fund, to read about which species are still on the endangered list. The Monarch is on the list, as are several other butterflies, some native to California such as the Mission Blue, and the Bay Checkerspot. Sigh. I can't imagine never seeing a Monarch again, their beauty absolutely captivates me. The Bay Checkerspot butterfly was given some special attention recently, when a new natural habitat for them was created at the Edgewood County Park and Nature Preserve, in San Mateo, California. I am hoping to take a trip there soon, to see the beautiful butterfly for myself. :) I wish something similar was being done for the Mission Blue.

It's been a tough week all around. My energy is low, but there are some things I plan to do today to celebrate Earth Day. I am going to get my canvas bags in order, I am quite cross with myself for not doing that sooner. All this plastic bag nonsense has to stop. I saw an interesting story on the news last night, about other common sense things that can be done to help the earth heal a bit. Such as deciding to go Low-carb.

No, not low carbohydrate, but rather low carbon emissions. Little things like buying locally grown organic fruit, vegetables, and cheeses made along the northern California coast, such as Point Reyes Blue cheese. I hear it is fantastic, and I have always wanted to try it, isn't now a good time to do so? Restaurants, such as the DeYoung cafe, inside the DeYoung Museum, features ingredients in their menu items, that were either raised or grown within a 150 mile radius of San Francisco. The breads they serve, are purchased from a bakery right here in Berkeley. I imagine a lot more of our local restaurants will be going to this type of system. It's just a good idea for everyone. :)

After a week like this one, I am planning to stay home today, enjoy my yard, and my cat, and a nice healthy dinner of Mixed Green Salad, and Potato Leek Soup. It's going to rain this morning, but by the afternoon, the sun should be out. It's a good day to take the time to reflect and be happy. Who knows, maybe I will hop back over to the WWF website and adopt a Monarch. :) That would make my kitty Elvis proud of me. Now, here are a few of my favorite moments on earth, and what gifts those moments were...

"Let there be no disguising the perilous state of the earth, or pretending conservation is too expensive when we know that the cost of failure to act is far greater."

-Kofi Annan

-OndineMonet
"Monarch"
Conservatory of Flowers
San Francisco, California
August 9th, 2006
Afternoon