Round Robin Challenge: Tiny Things

"Sometimes you can tell a large story, with a tiny subject."

-Eliot Porter

My Round Robin teammate Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin, chose one of her own ideas for this round, "Tiny Things." I looked through my archived photos for this challenge, because I know I have a habit of seeing wee things here and there when I am out with the camera. It must be because of my height, 4' 11, I guess I just see the tiny things more readily or something... who knows? Anyway, here is my contribution to the theme, Tiny Things...

A Tiny Clown With Her Mother

Tiny Flowers With A Large Bumble Bee

A Tiny Skipper Butterfly

Tiny Red Sugar Sprinkles On A Homemade Sugar Cookie

Tiny Autumn Leaves

Tiny Gas Prices, And In San Francisco Yet! ;)

My Favorite One... A Tiny After Lunch Reading! I am Kicking The Butt Of Diabetes... And Taking No Prisoners!! :)

I had a bowl of Creamy Tomato soup, a turkey sandwich w/ extra mayonnaise and cranberries, a slice of Fruits of the Forest pie, and a 100 calorie Coke Classic! Can you believe my reading? Slowly, my diabetes has been getting better, especially since Elvis has been sick. I think the extra time spent with him has actually enhanced my own health. He is such a fun cat. We love each other a lot, and when we spend time together, it makes us happier and healthier, and if Alan can join us, it's just that much better. It just proves that it's the little things... maybe even the TINY things that make life good. Tiny is good! :)

If you have an idea for an upcoming Round Robin challenge, feel free to send us an email. You can find all our contact information on the sidebar of the RRC blog. You can also find a complete list of past challenge topics, going all the way back to our first challenge three years ago! So sing out, we can't do the challenges without you! Now go see what this week's participating Robins have come up with, just follow the links below...

Linking List

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

Momma... Sandcastle Momma
POSTED!

Vicki... Maraca
POSTED!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

Peter... Holties House
POSTED!

Robinella... Not A Stepford Wife
POSTED!

Janet... Fond Of Snape
POSTED!

Martha... Perception


Jill... Letting Crazy Take A Spin
POSTED!

Lisa... Lisa's Chaos


Jama Hameed... A Moment In Time
POSTED!

Jennifer Robin... Robin's Woods
POSTED!

Suzanne R... Living... Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!

Jan... The Prytz Family
POSTED!

Olive... Ur Olive**Welcome New Member**
POSTED!

Maryt... Answers To The Questions**Welcome New Member**
POSTED!

Gina... Gina's Space
POSTED!

Steven... sometimes photoblog
POSTED!

Monica & Sonny... Family Affair Photography
POSTED!

Kiva... Eclectic Granny
POSTED!

Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
POSTED!

Ronda... 4 Family Fun**Welcome New Member**
POSTED!

-OndineMonet

Alan Will Do Anything To Avoid Seeing Sex And The City!

"Man blames fate for other accidents but feels personally responsible when he makes a hole in one."

-Unknown

As the title of this entry says, Alan will do anything to avoid seeing the new movie, Sex And The City. I have been asking, pleading, and subtly hinting at him for weeks, that I wanted him to take me to see the movie on it's opening day, which was yesterday. When I would ask however, he would change the subject. He would kiss me, pet the cat, make himself tomato soup, turn the channel on the TV to CNN, clean the grill, make Jalapeno Poppers, go out for sushi, all of these things and more, rather than commit to seeing the ultimate chick flick that is Sex And The City. Funny thing, I seem to remember that when I watched the show, when it aired originally on HBO, Alan would sit and laugh, and gaze at Kim Cattralls BOOBs and sometimes join me in a little outrage as one, or more of the men, especially Mr. Big, did something... well... jerky! I mean even Alan knew Aiden was a creep for breaking up with Carrie on a Post-It note! LOL.

I think I knew that going to the movie was a long shot, but even yesterday I held out a little hope until Alan pulled out all the stops to avoid going. He dropped a crescent wrench on his head! LOL. Ok, well, that isn't really accurate, it wasn't really self inflicted, it fell on the top of his head in a freak accident in the garage, but man, the timing couldn't have been better. Alan had called me earlier in the day, and relayed that he wasn't having the best of days, so I told him to just come home after work, and we would have a quiet evening. No biggie. On his way in, he stopped in the garage to see if there was room to hang a bike holder, and that is when it happened. He thought he had put the wrench on the shelf, but he had missed it by that much!

"Carly, don't make a big deal out of it... I think I hurt my head a little bit," he says. "Alan, you need to go get that looked at." "No, nope... it's not that bad." "Yes, yes it is Alan." After a few minutes of heated debate, I grabbed my camera and photographed the top of his head. " Well crap! Ok Carly, call the doctor." LOL. And within 20 minutes we were on our way. He was right, it looked a whole lot worse then it was. No stitches needed, not tetanus shot needed, and we were home in a few hours with a Chinese food and root beer feast. :) I missed the movie opening, but Alan is well, and that makes me happy. Besides I can see the movie anytime this summer, and in 6 months or so it will premiere on HBO. I'll ask him to watch it with me then... except I will hide all the wrenches! LOL.

-OndineMonet
"Alan At The Hospital"
Kaiser Hospital
Oakland, California
May 29, 2008
Late Afternoon

Suspension Folk Provides Shock Absorbing Comfort

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race."

-H.G. Wells

In an effort to save money, and do our share to help out the planet, Alan and I have decided to get bicycles. After a good bit of research, we think we have found the ones for us. The Roadmaster SX Mountain Sport, in 24 inch for me, and 26 inch for Alan, and in his and hers models of pink and blue! LOL. I haven't actually ridden a bike in oh... say... 25 years or so, so this whole experiment is going to surely have some moments of hilarity to be sure. But I have heard my whole life that once you learn how to ride a bike, you never forget! LOL. Soon, I will be testing that theory... and I will be sure to report back to you! LOL.

At the moment, I am not doing much moving, as I hurt my lower right side the other day. I am hurting a little worse today, then I did yesterday, so I am thinking a call to the doctor might be in order. Sheesh. I am not even sure how this happened, but it reminds me of the time I did some damage to my rotator cuff, while unpacking Christmas decorations a couple years ago. We have been having some unseasonably cool weather, which the cat is enjoying, but which makes his mommy a lump of slow moving pain. LOL. Oh well, what's a girl to do?

Well, here's the thing. I need to get more exercise then I do. I love to walk, but when it is this cold, I ache, which makes walking nearly impossible. I am hoping that as the weather will be certainly warming up as we get closer to summer, I will take advantage of the bike, and give my legs the workout they have been needing. I loved riding a bike as a young woman. Before I learned to drive, I rode my bike all over the place, and was told once by a former love that I looked damn good on a it. Of course that was, like I said, 25 years ago or so. Things simply aren't in the same place they used to be. I am now a middle aged woman, use your imagination... or rather don't... oh heck... just take my word for it. ;)

Whether or not I still look good on a bike is really beside the point, the point is that I want to do good by me. I want to live healthier, and be able to say that I am doing my part in this crazy mess we have all found ourselves in. I am not as dependant on my car as I used to be. It disappoints me that we can't afford to take the long rides we used to. I like seeing new places, but it just isn't realistic anymore, and I really doubt things will get much better. Sigh. So, I am going to take a closer look at what's around me. Treasures I would have missed, had I not gotten a bike. Let's see what's right in front of me.

I am even thinking about getting a sidecar, which actually follows behind the bike, not to the side, for Elvis to ride in. He is a strange cat, he loves riding on things, and he even enjoys being turned around and around in a swivel chair. He would have enjoyed it if we had bought him a swing set, but who knew? Go figure! I am just considering it at this point. The following pictures are of what we have definitely decided on. I am not sure if we will make the purchase this week or next, but it's kind of fun to know we are taking these steps for our future. There is a lot to look forward to in life, and that makes all the bad news a little easier to take somehow. For the most part... I'm a happy girl.

"Suspension Folks Provides Shock Absorbing Comfort." LOL. My bum is eternally grateful for that! ;)

-OndineMonet
"Bike Shopping At Wal-Mart"
Wal-Mart
Livermore, California
May 27th, 2008
Afternoon

Things I Think About While I Think About David Duchovny

Mulder: Yes we do, don't we muffin?
Scully: Sure do, poopyhead

-Fox Mulder & Dana Scully, posing as Rob & Laura Petrie, The X-Files

Things I Think About While Thinking About David Duchovny...

1. Earl Hagen, who did the whistling on the Andy Griffith Show, passed away yesterday... that makes me sad.

2. Cat food is a lot cheaper at Wal-Mart.

3. Whatever happened to the guy who said, "Western Airlines... The Only Way to Fly?"

4. My Taco Bell, mild sauce packet, had the following words printed on it... "Help! It's dark in here, and I can hear laughing!"

5. Alan and I have been shopping for bicycles, I want a pink one, 21 speed, with a basket with daisies on it.

6. I found a dollar bill in the pocket of my summer shorts the other day, it was worth a lot more last year.

7. I used to have a white blouse, just like the one Rachel is wearing in the opening credits of Friends. I miss that blouse.

8. " You say goodbye, and I say, hello, hello, hello, I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello..." Hello/Goodbye - The Beatles

9. I wonder when gas prices will hit $7.00 per gallon?

10. I wonder who invented bubble wrap?

11. Camels have three eyelids.

12. Tommy Smothers once said, "Red meat isn't bad for you, now greenish blue meat, that's bad for you!"

13. The San Francisco Cable Cars are the only mobile national monument!

14. If you put a goldfish in a dark room, it eventually turns white.

15. Regis Philbin is very cute!

16. John McCain should spank George W. Bush, and put him to bed!

17. I think I want Beans & Franks for dinner.

18. Elvis has a cinnamon color to his coat, when he sits in the sun.

19. I wonder when David Duchovny will finally find me?

20. Elvis sees Dr. B tomorrow. Sigh.

21. Cows produce methane.

Do you ever make lists?

-OndineMonet
"Take Me To David Duchovny"
May, 27th, 2008
Berkeley, California
Afternoon

Memorial Day 2008

"Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave."

-Muhammad

The War Memorial, in Lafayette, California, is adding additional crosses to the hillside today, not just for the men and woman killed in action in the two wars we are fighting in the Middle East, but to also reflect those who have taken their own life, since returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's about time we did more for our brave then simply putting a yellow ribbon of support on our cars and windows that says, "Support The Troops." Today, let's remember the total cost of war.

-OndineMonet
"Memorial Day"
Lafayette War Memorial
Lafayette, California

He Made Me Laugh...

"Honestly, it's the kids that made us successful. They had a good outlook, and we made it fun."

-Dick Martin, referring to the show "Laugh-In."



It made me sad today to find out the comedian, Dick Martin, had passed away last night. It always makes me sad to hear that someone with so much talent for easing the stress and sadness of the world, has passed on. As you know, humor has saved me more then once, in fact, humor mine and others, continues to heal me in all sorts of ways. Part of what is keeping me going, when it comes to Elvis's illness, is the fact that he is a natural comic. He does something unusual or funny every single day.

Most recently he made us laugh by belching. See, he has to take a certain anti-biotic by mouth twice a day. He hates the taste, but he takes his medicine with very little complaining, however, he does get a little nervous about it, and usually swallows a lot of air, as he swallows the medicine, resulting in... well... belching. And not just little kitty belching... lion sized belching! LOL. It might sound mean, but I can't help but snicker. It's so cute, and yes, funny.

Elvis likes the sound of laughter, so after he is done with the excess air, he usually gets a little grin on his face, similar to a baby who has just passed gas, and then comes over for giggle time which included playing with his favorite mouse and a ball of yarn. There are more funny little routines he has, but I have gotten way off topic, the death of Dick Martin.

I loved watching him on Laugh-In when I was a child. Martin was the comedy to Dan Rowan's straight man. I loved his humor. I loved his facial expressions, and I loved how he interacted with the cast members and the guest stars. I especially loved the clip above, which I found in YouTube a few months back. In my opinion, it is one of the best moments out of the series. Watch it... it will make you laugh out loud. It's a classic. It is a performance of Tiny Tim, singing his uber hit rendition of, "Tiptoe Through The Tulips."

Thanks Dick Martin for making me laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

-Bill Cosby

-OndineMonet

Question Mark Butterfly

"There are four questions of value in life... What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love."

-Johnny Depp, as Dob Juan DeMarco

Being able to visit the butterfly exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers, has been so good for my frazzled nerves. Elvis has regained some strength, and the wheezing coming from his nose is a lot better, and overall things are a lot less turbulent then they have been in months, but I am still a little on edge, and a lot tired. With the rising gas prices, I don't know if we will be able to go across the bay to see the exhibit all summer. It costs $4 to cross the bridge, on top of the cost in gas.

I have to put Elvis's medical bills, and our own basic living costs, first, then if there is anything reasonable left over we can think about recreation. Sigh. These are sad times in our country, but I will save my frustrations over that for another entry. Right now, I am focusing on how happy these little spirits make me. How when I visit the exhibit, I am actually stepping into another world... a world of sanctuary and peace. Aren't they lovely? Little question marks floating on the wind. I could watch them all day. Some questions are easy to answer... Are these butterflies beautiful? The answer is... Yes!

-OndineMonet
"Question Mark Butterfly"
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
April, 2008
Afternoon

Steven's Feline And Furball Friday: Elvis's New Hat

Kathleen Kelly: Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today I saw one. It got on at 42nd, and off at 59th, where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake, as almost all hats are."

-Meg Ryan, as Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail

Elvis has a new hat! I was in Target the other day, looking for a flea comb, and there it was. There were elephant hats, and monkey hats, and even bunny hats, but of all the hats there were to choose from, I thought the giraffe hat suited my boy best of all! Elvis looks good in hats, and he loves wearing them. I, however, do not look particularly well in hats. Well, except for newsboy hats and berets. I look good in those types, but as Kathleen Kelly said in the quote most other hats are a mistake... at least for me.

I would love to find a fedora for Elvis. Kind of like the one worn by Indiana Jones. LOL. Couldn't you just see my Elvis dressed like the handsome archaeologists? Elvis could be known as "Berkeley" Jones, action-adventurer. LOL. He would travel the world looking for rare feline artifacts, you know, like the Holy Salmon, or maybe the Temple of the Golden Mouse. LOL. As my good friend H.P. says, "Elvis is an awesome little dude!" :)

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_2

Have you played Steven's meme, Feline and Furball Friday? You should... it's fun. Friday is the day for celebrating our pets. You can find all the info you need to play, by visiting the link below.

Steven's Feline And Furball Friday

-OndineMonet
"His New Hat"
Berkeley, California
May 22nd, 2008
Afternoon

My Adventures With Purchasing A Pushy-Sucky

"Our house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy."

-Unknown

Vacuums are a fact of life, especially if you own a pet. I love my kitty, but another fact of life is that cats shed, and lately Elvis has had some problems with agitation, due to some mean aggressive fleas, and that has equaled enough excess cat hair that I am thinking of either knitting a new cat, or making a toupee for Elvis to cover his bald spots. LOL. Poor kitty. Poor Mommy. LOL. Poor Alan! LOL.

I have a small, sweeper type vacuum that I had used for years. It works well, since we don't have a lot of carpet space, but the problem with the small sweepers is that they don't last forever, and they can't handle the bigger jobs that come up with much efficiency, so, it was time to get a newer model with a little more lift power.

That's how I spent my Wednesday, shopping for a new vacuum. Alan and I went to both Wal-Mart and Target to do a little research. Lot's of models to choose from, even those cute little robots. I liked the idea of one of those, but Alan thought that it might scare Elvis. He has never been able to tolerate loud noises too well, so, we decided against the cutting edge in home maintenance, and instead we concentrated on the more traditional vacuums.

After looking through about 100, at least it felt like 100, we narrowed it down to the ones you see below. There was a really pretty one, which cost several hundred dollars. Sigh. Alan quickly said "no." LOL. How come vacuum manufacturers can't make a pink model in a more reasonable price? I mean, I am the one who is going to see if most often. You know? Yes, I know, the color isn't the most important feature to consider when purchasing an appliance, but heck, do they have to look so guy-friendly?

Anyway, we finally decided on the Dirt Devil Purpose for Pets upright vacuum, in a lovely shade of slate blue! :) It is especially rated for dealing with pet hair, and actually has a pet brush attachment. I love the super long cord, and as I used it this morning, I was pleased with it's suction power. It seems we found the right one for us. The only thing I am not crazy about... there is a picture of a puppy on the canister of the machine. I think this is discrimination against felines. I think I might need to add a photo of Elvis to the vacuum, after all, he is why we bought it in the first place! LOL.

Oooh... a Robot!

Yummy, good price, and it reminds me of limes. But... nah.

Nope, I love the cranberry color, but it's not quite right.

Yep, that's the one!

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_5

My Dirt Devil's Baby Picture

So tell me, what kind of vacuum do you own? When did you buy your last one? What was most important to you when you made your purchase? Price, Color, Dirt Elimination Ratings, Upright vs. Tank. What is the next home maintenance appliance you are considering buying? Do you do some research before purchasing? Tell me all about it!

-OndineMonet
"PushySuckys"
Emeryville, California
May 21st, 2008
Late Afternoon

I Want A Monkee And A Monkey

"Without music life would be a mistake."

-Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

I have researched all kinds of music quotes to go with my entries about my great love of music, but somehow I keep coming back to this one. It sums up how I feel about music completely. It is also how I still feel about Micky Dolenz. If you have been reading me for long, you know I have been hopelessly in love with Micky Dolenz for about... oh... 43 years or so. LOL. Some of you probably remember my great excitement a few years ago, when I got to go to one of his concerts on the beach in Santa Cruz in 2005. It made my year, and fulfilled my lifelong fantasy of finally getting to see him preform in person. He came into town, broke my curse with Santa Cruz, and hasn't been back since. And I just checked, and he is not on the list of scheduled performers for the summer concert series. So, is there a new curse? Will he ever comeback? Or is it actually that the curse wasn't broken, and that is why he hasn't been back since? LOL. Micky... I miss you!

Give me your opinion. Will Micky ever comeback to Santa Cruz? Do you have a favorite Monkee? And what type of animal monkey is your favorite. Personally, I love chimpanzees. I would own one if I could. How about you? Would you prefer a monkee or a monkey?

The Monkees

-OndineMonet

Dude... Where's My Fur?

"It is foolish to tear out one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness."

-Cicero

LOL. I mentioned in an entry last week, that Elvis has been pulling his hair out. Needless to say, it was a long weekend. We had no clue why he was doing this. I looked on the Internet for possible reasons, among them was that he was perhaps sensitive to the chemotherapy drug, Doxorubicin, the first does of which he got just last Tuesday. In humans, it causes body hair to fall out, and it causes skin irritation, and can be some pretty nasty stuff. In felines, it has a lot less side effects, but it can also cause the skin to become itchy and hot. The thought of my kitty possibly having to live with this side effect hurt my feelings like you wouldn't believe. Just when I think I love this guy to the limit of human love, I find myself ever deeper. I love him more then anything. So, I have been more then a little stressed over the possibilities. Fortunately, Elvis had an appointment with Dr. B today, and instead of hearing the worst, I got some really good news. Happy news.

Elvis isn't pulling his fur our because of the chemo, he is pulling his hair out because of an aggressive case of fleas. A few weeks ago, when Elvis had visited the doctor for his first dose of steroids, Dr. B's nurse, Mary, gave Elvis a dose of Advantage, along with his medication. We thought we were good to go, but unfortunately, the oil glands in his back, which help distribute the Advantage, are not working properly, probably due to the cancer. As a result, Elvis didn't get anywhere near the full effect of Advantage, and he had a nice collection of fleas eating at his lower back. He has never had a flea problem before, so for the first time in his 11 years, he was being irritated to a monumental degree. Of course he started pulling his hair out! It would be like someone suddenly threw itching powder all over me! I totally understood! Eureka... problem solved!

Elvis got a nice dose of Advantage, and a shot of antihistamine, and now we have a happy, content kitty once again. I need to make a stop later today to pick up a flea comb, to add to our grooming sessions, but we have fun with grooming, so I know he will appreciate a little added time and effort. Elvis has always been so good about such things, tilting his ears so I can clean them out with a Q-tip, sitting very still for toenail maintenance, and keeping his mouth wide open for toothbrush time. I should probably do an entry about our sessions with physical appearance. LOL. He's is such a cool cat, I hold the brush, and tell him to "brush your face," and he rubs both sides of his nose against the brush. He is so suave. LOL. What a looker! And guess what the best news of all was today... look at his nose. No blood. The chemotherapy is working! :)

That's my boy! :)

Elvis is happily playing with his new catnip mouse! I think I will take a nap now!

:)

-OndineMonet
Elvis
May 20th, 2008
Afternoon

Weekend Assignment #216: Fire!

"Remember in elementary school you were told that in case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file, from smallest to tallest? What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?"

-Warren Hutcherson

Weekend Assignment# 216: Tell us a story or anecdote that involves fire in some way. It can be a forest fire, a house fire, a campfire, logs in the fireplace, or even a lit match, a tale of comfort or destruction. Whatever comes to mind, if it's interesting and fire plays a role, we want to read about it!

Extra Credit: Is the area where you live subject to dangerous wildfires?

Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

In September of 2007, two fires were burning here in the Bay Area, that kept the skies lit up for days. The Lick fire and the Acre Coe Park fire. The smoke was heavy, turning the sky an eerie shade of orange, as in the above photo, and there was that smell... I hate the smell of smoke. It brings back the terror I felt as a child, watching my father run in and out of a neighbor's house, which had become fully engulfed in flames.

It happened a little while after midnight, on hot night in the summer of 1965. I was only 3 at the time, but you never forget seeing the only father you have, run into a scene so scary. As a result of what I saw that night, nearly 43 years ago, I have experienced a life long paralysing fear of fire. I have never even lit a match. If I want to put some romantic candles out... Alan lights them for us. Maybe someday I will conquer my fear, then again, maybe not. The Berkeley firestorm of 1991 was another experience with fire I would rather not speak about. It served as reminder in my adulthood that fire commands a respect like no other fear can. Enough said.

Extra Credit: Yes, California is prone to forest fires, and this year we are at a higher alert then in most years, due to the lack of runoff from the Sierra. :(

Note: The photo in this entry hasn't been retouched. That's how it looked outside at 6:10 PM on September 6th, 2007. Click the photo to view it in a larger size.

-OndineMonet
"The Glow"
September 6th, 2007
Early Evening

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge: E Is For "Eclipse" And Egrets"

"It's only during an eclipse that the man in the moon has a place in the sun."

-Unknown

Time for the letter "E" to have it's moment! I usually only post one reference to the letter we are currently playing, but I couldn't resist showing off my two favorite "E" words. Eclipse and Egret. The egret is my favorite bird, and I love photographing the moon during an eclipse, so how was I to choose? This eclipse is from last August. It was so much fun to cuddle up with Elvis, and the opossums and my trusty tripod, to watch the show in the sky. It was a clear, hot night, and my imagination was running completely wild with memories and notions. I can't wait for the next one!

As for the egret photos, well, that was a delightful afternoon in autumn of 2006. I found a lovely little pond with leaves of every imaginable color floating in it, and among them was this beautiful snowy egret. These birds are amazing to photograph. At first they seem a little awkward and silly, with those bright yellow feet of theirs, and then all of a sudden, you see one take flight, and you know in an instant, you have just seen an angel. Grace and beauty describe them best I think. Yes, grace and beauty.

First the ECLIPSE of the August moon...

And now the Snowy EGRET...

"Gracefulness has been defined to be the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul."

-William Hazlitt

Why don't you join me for Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge? You can find all the links for the letter "D" by visiting here.

-OndineMonet
"Dancing with the Moon"
Berkeley, California
August 28th, 2007
Early Morning

Round Robin Challenge: Norwegian Wood

"People love chopping wood. In this activity, one immediately sees results."

-Albert Einstein

Wood. Trees are made of wood, books are made of wood. Toilet paper is sometimes made of wood, and if you have ever gotten a splinter in an inconvenient place, you will know that to be true! Yep. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep! Thank goodness along with the many uses wood has, comes a deep appreciation for those things. I like trees in autumn most of all, but I also love taking photos along fence lines. I like toilet paper, but I would rather photograph a wooden Indian like the one at Alice's Restaurant. I saw a lizard once, sitting on the remains of a tree trunk, and a couple weeks later, I saw a woman with an artists box made of wood, painting a lovely picture of trees. Sometimes inspiration is everywhere! :)

Have a look...

One of my favorite autumn trees.

The Lone Cypress, Monterey, California.

Trees in a winter mist.

A wooden art set.

The cypress grove in Berkeley, which has become home to some tree sitters, who are trying to save the beautiful old trees from removal, since December 2006.

One of my favorite wooden bridges.

Wooden Indian, which sits in front of Alice's Restaurant.

A fence down the hill from the old school house in Bodega Bay, California.

The view of the Pacific, from down the hill from the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero, California.

Cute little lizard. :)

The new sign I put in my garden "Welcome Friends."

This challenge topic was suggested recently by Kiva. You know her from her blog, Eclectic Granny. Kiva, You're a gem, and so was this challenge! Thank you so much for your awesome idea! The moment I saw it, I loved it! And I went about the rest of the day humming Norwegian Wood! LOL. Great idea girl! Be sure to follow the list below to all the Robins who participated this time around. I can't wait to see what you have come up with! :)

Linking List

Kiva... Eclectic Granny
POSTED!

Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

Lisa... Lisa's Chaos
POSTED!

Momma... Sandcastle Momma
POSTED!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

Martha... Perception
POSTED!

TJ... TJ's Photo Expressions
POSTED!

Jill... Letting Crazy Take A Spin
POSTED!

Janet... Fond Of Snape
POSTED!

Jan... The Prytz Family
POSTED!

Monica... Family Affair Photography
POSTED!

Vicki... Maraca
POSTED!

Jennifer Robin... Robin's Woods
POSTED!

Angela... Chocolate Syrup of the Soul
POSTED!

Robinella... Not A Stepford Wife
POSTED!

Marie... Photographs & Memories
POSTED!

Kim... Nekked Lizard Adventures
POSTED!

Gina... Gina's Space
POSTED!

Meg... In Quest Of
POSTED!

Steven... (sometimes)photoblog
POSTED!

Jama Hameed... Sweet Memories
POSTED!

Teena... It's all about me!
POSTED!

Pamela... The Dust Will Wait
POSTED!

Sarah... Charish
POSTED!

Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
POSTED!

Peter... Holties House
POSTED!

-OndineMonet