I'm happiest when...

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I'm happiest when I take the time to read my scriptures, even when I think I won't get anything out of them.

I'm happiest when I say meaningful prayers and spend the time thinking about and thanking the Lord for my innumerable blessings.

I'm happiest when I'm driving to the temple, holding my husband's hand as we drive.

I'm happiest when I listen to all 8 hours of General Conference and then study each talk later when the transcripts are printed.

I'm happiest when I remember my Savior loves me and has suffered every pain and affliction so that my burdens can be lightened, my pains can be lessened, and my happiness can be deeper.


I'm a busy person and often times I think I will be happier if I just go to bed without reading my scriptures. Or that I can't possibly sit still long enough to listen to every talk from General Conference. But when I take the time to be still and let the Lord take control of my life a peace comes over me that I can never achieve by myself. I have seen the Lord's hand readily in my life recently and pray that as I continue to sacrifice MY will and obey HIS will that he will be able to mold me into a better Me. A happier me. A more peaceful me.

Photograph vs Snapshot

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In keeping with my pre-designated blog schedule.... today is Photography Friday.  I initially began this post as an insight into my photography workflow, but as I began to write it seemed to evolve into something completely different.  In an effort to learn to listen to my inner voice rather than preconceived notions, I decided to delay the workflow post for another time.

About two years ago I began to realize that my life was out of balance -- and had been for quite some time.  I enjoyed teaching and had spent nearly every waking moment devoted to that profession.  Teaching gave me a sense of purpose and it fulfilled the need to remain mentally challenged.  But living a life of all work and no play can create a rut that if left unchecked, can quickly become a prison. So I made the resolution that I would learn to balance responsibility with creativity - schedule with spontaneity - pragmatism with frivolity.

Photography has been a great hobby to help me achieve this balance in life.  It has awakened the right side of my brain and is helping me to see the ordinary world around me in an extraordinary way.  It has allowed me to feel artistically creative when I have no talent for drawing or painting.  It has enabled me to learn more about myself through visual images rather than just written words.

But photography also feeds the left side of my brain as well.  I have had to learn about the relationship between ISO - shutter speed - aperture.  I have had to learn about the Kelvin scale of light - and not all light is created equal.  I have had to learn that the way I see the world is not the way the camera sees the world - and it is essential to learn its language in order to properly communicate.

One thing I have learned this week, using Katrina's Capture 365 prompts, is that I need to give more thought to my pictures BEFORE I click the shutter.  For me, I think this is the difference between a photograph and a snapshot.  A photograph is purposeful - it goes beyond the image to tell a story or convey an emotion.  A snapshot is spontaneous with the purpose of documenting a moment in time.

I have taken snapshots my entire adult life.  I felt it was my responsibility as a mom to pull out the point-and-shoot for each birthday, holiday, or family trip in order to fulfill my duty as family historian.  I remember one trip to Disney World where the children instinctively posed the same way for each character portrait.  It made for a quick and easy picture - but the emotional thrill of the vacation was missing.

In preparing for my trip to Paris, however, I realized that I wanted to photograph something more than the iconic images:  postcards serve that purpose. I was traveling alone and I wanted to capture my emotional reaction to these familiar sights in order to share them with family when I returned home.  It sounded easy enough ... but as is most things in life, it was far more difficult than it first appeared.

I used to be naive enough to think that photography was not an art - it did not require talent.  All that was needed was decent eyesight to focus, and an index finger to press the shutter.  How grateful I am that I kept that ignorant comment to myself.

True photography, I feel, is about finding just the right angle - point of view - to tell the story.  True photography is giving thought to focus - what is tack sharp and what is blurred for effect.  True photography is as much about what is included in the picture as what is excluded.  True photography is about how the light is conveyed in the image - and how the shadows are acknowledged.

I do not pretend that this is all there is to know about true photography.  This is only what I have learned in the last few months of study and practice.  And while I had no idea that this one little hobby  would turn into a life long quest, I am delighted to have found such a worthy past time.

TSS - 1.6.13

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It has been a L-O-N-G time since I participated in a Sunday Salon - and how I have missed these comfortable connections with fellow participants.  I hope that this is the start of a new weekly routine that I can maintain throughout the year.

Goals and resolutions.  That is the focus of this first week of the year and quite honestly, I hesitate to make them; they only seem to set me up for failure.  But this particular goal has been rattling around in my brain for several months, and I thought perhaps now is the time to give it a voice.  A true goal is specific - both in focused details and designated time frame.  My goal is neither - and I am fine with that.

I have decided that I would like to write a Cozy Mystery.  The idea came to me this past summer as I was working on another novel idea.  I was having a difficult time developing the conflict:  I knew the protagonist, the antagonist, the setting, the theme, the chronology of events .... but I had no compelling conflict (still working on that, as a matter of fact...) See.... I try so very hard to live life free from any conflict whatsoever - so the thought of intentionally creating conflict for characters that I enjoy is quite difficult.

But then the thought occurred to me that a murder mystery defines the conflict, but needs an author to develop character and setting and intrigue.  I have enjoyed reading mysteries since I was eight years old and discovered Nancy Drew - but I would not say that it is my preferred literary genre.  Nevertheless, the idea of writing a cozy mystery appeals to my creative side.  Cozies are typically void of graphic violence, explicit sex, or vulgar language --- all areas that I feel poorly equipped to write.  Cozies instead focus on character relationships and (typically) small town settings - two aspects of literature to which I relate most.  So the seed of an idea was planted - and continued to sprout through the fall.

I have decided to tackle this project with an organized determination - the way I tackle most assignments in life.  I checked out several books on writing a mystery from the local library, and ultimately decided that You Can Write a Mystery by Gillian Roberts best suited my needs.  It is now a permanent resource in my personal library.

I then gave thought to the protagonist.  The adage, write what you know, seemed appropriate here.  Not that I know murder, mind you, but I do know a few "characters" in life.  I did some research online and discovered that there is a cozy protagonist of just about every age, profession, and interest.  To narrow the focus just a bit, I decided to begin with my own personal interests.  My initial list include such interests as:

• Animals (particularly dogs)
• Caterers
• English teachers
• Librarians
• Book store owners
• Writers
• Thrift shop
• Coffee/Tea/Wine shop

I used the website, Cozy-Mystery, to find suitable series for me to read as research for my writing endeavors.  The site is wonderful as it has mysteries categorized by author as well as by theme.  The titles are then arranged by order of publication  - which for me is essential.  I want to read the first book of each series to learn how an author creates the characters and setting.  For those books that I find particularly interesting, I will then read subsequent books in the series to learn how these relationships are further developed.  Yes, it is a rather long process - but I think it will work well for me.

My goal for this year is to try to read through the box of "firsts" - which I anticipate adding to as time goes on.  Ideally I would like to read one cozy a week, but I realize that once school starts that may be a bit ambitious.  The good thing about reading cozies, however, is that they read quickly.  I am not taking the time to analyze the writing style - that will come later.  I just want to develop a feel for the genre and learn what I consider a "good book"  I think once I discover what attracts me to a story - I will then know how to focus my own writing.

It is my intention to write brief reviews of these cozies on this blog.  I will begin that routine this coming week.  In the meantime .... Here's to a new year with new intentions, aspirations, and beginnings.

Library Loot: 1.7.13

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Oh it has been a long time since I have shared my loot with you .... but trust me, I have maintained a very active account at my local library for the past several months.  Thanks to Marg at The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader and Claire at The Captive Reader for sponsoring this weekly meme.

I have divided my loot into two separate categories:  those books that I plan to read for my mystery writing endeavors ... and all other books outside that description.


The Eclectic Grouping:
The Big New Yorker Book of Dogs by Malcolm Gladwell.  Anyone who knows me knows why this book is on the list.  I have only skimmed the first few pages, but I am fairly certain that this will have to be a permanent addition to my personal library.

The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes.  While I have only watched the first three episodes from season one, I know that this is a series that I would enjoy (in fact, I gave my eldest the first two seasons on Blu-Ray this past Christmas).  I thought this book might provide some interesting background information that will aid me in appreciating the time period.

Vineyard Tales:  Reflections on Wine by Gerald Asher.  Not a typical "how to appreciate wine" book, but more a collection of narratives that involve the enjoyment of wine.  I think this might be a nice book to add to my own collection so that it is available to read one or two essays as time and/or interest permits.

The $100 Start-up:  Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau.   I don't remember where I first heard of this book, but I can tell you it is quite popular.  I think I placed the book on hold over three months ago.  I have read about half of it so far (it reads fast) and while there is nothing earth-shattering new, it does provide some interesting material upon which to ponder.

The Cozies:
Murder and Sullivan by Sara Hoskinson Frommer.  I selected this mystery series because Joan Spencer, our amateur sleuth, is an orchestra manager from Indiana.  I have always had a love of music and living in the midwest myself made the setting of interest as well.  Plus...who could resist such a clever title?

Exhaustive Enquiries by Betty Rowlands.  I selected this mystery because the main character, Melissa Craig, is a mystery author herself - who lives in the Cotswolds, England - my dream location.

Trouble in the Town Hall by Jeanne M. Dams.  The basic description of this series is that the main character, Dorothy Martin, is a retired American teacher living in England.  This sounds like fiction imitating my reality!

Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker.  I know precious little about this series except that Bruno resides in St. Denis, a small town in France.  Need I say more....

Strangled Prose by Joan Hess.  Another "literary" sleuth - this time the owner of a bookstore in a small town in Arkansas.  I'm not sure if it will have too much of a romance feel for me though...

It is an ambitious list of books - and I'm not sure that I will read through all of them - but it will be enjoyable no matter what.

Thoughtful Thursday

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I still don't have a clear direction for Thoughtful Thursday posts, so for today I thought I would detail the various sources that I use on a daily basis to help me dig deeper and ask those questions that help give my life direction.

Dumping Ground:  I have used the website, 750 words, going on nearly three years now.  The inspiration for the website came from Julia Cameron's best-seller, The Artist's Way, where she advocates writing three full pages first thing each morning:  stream of consciousness writing that allows you to empty the mind of worries, stress, confusions, etc....in order to make room for creative pursuits.  While she advocates long-hand, typing on a computer in this secure format is more conducive to my lifestyle.  I'm not sure that I have made much room for creativity to take hold (yet) - but I have found that this daily activity helps me to prioritize tasks and put life in proper perspective.

Spiritual Focus:  As I mentioned last week, I am currently working my way through Rick Warren's daily devotional, Decade of Destiny for the second year.  I really enjoy his practical easy-to-understand messages that often cause me to think more clearly about my life's goals.  Today he reviews his famous Acronym of SHAPE - and how knowing your shape will help you define your calling in life.  For those of you who may not have heard of this, SHAPE stands for:

• S = Spiritual Gifts
• H = Heart 
• A = Abilities
• P = Personality
• E = Experiences

Writing Focus:  I currently use two daily tools to help me think about the writing life - although I have not yet translated those thoughts to an actual writing lifestyle (I have faith that will come later).  The first is the book, A Year of Writing Dangerously, where the author has daily messages to motivate would-be authors to face their fears and just write.  Each message is then accompanied by a quote from a published author.  
Yesterday's prompt was entitled:  Getting Permission - and the author states:  If you feel you need permission to write about yourself, or whatever you feel you need to write about, I give you permission.  She then uses the quote by William Zinsser to summarize the thought:

If you write for yourself, you will reach all the people you want to write for.

The other tool I use is Patti Digh's Daily Rock.  As some of you may recall, Patti Digh is the author of Life is a Verb, which inspired me to develop a series of writing prompts two summers ago.  She helps me to focus on the moment - to stop putting off til tomorrow because who knows how much time they have left (her father died only 37 days after learning he had cancer).  
One of her prompts this week included:  Let Your Life Be a Poem

Photography Focus:  Writing comes naturally for me - not that I do it well, but it comes easily.  Photography does not.  I have NO natural ability.  I must constantly think about the rules of composition; I must stop and analyze the light before I attempt to set the ISO - Aperture - Shutter Speed controls.  I have yet to learn how the camera sees the world and become quite frustrated when my picture is not what I saw with the naked eye.  And yet... I still love the possibilities that photography offers to help me relate to the world in which I live.  And I am determined to learn the craft.  After all....don't I teach students that writing can be learned - they just have to be willing to put in the effort?  I want to follow my own advice.
Of course improvement comes from practice - and daily practice is best.  However, I struggle finding variety in the world around me. That is where Capture Your 365 photo prompts help.  Katrina does not necessarily suggest WHAT to photograph, but rather WHAT EMOTION to capture.  And this, to me, is the essence of photography. 
Today's prompt is Real Life - which she also offers Everyday - Ordinary - Daily as possible synonyms. It is a rainy day in Kansas, so I think I will be forced to find a suitable subject indoors.  I was thinking perhaps a photo of emptying the dishwasher .... but I'm not sure.  What would you photograph to capture "real life" ?

Washington Cascades Weather- Extended

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Updated 1-23-2013
The extended forecast models through February 5 bring some troughs of low pressure moving into our region for early in the period along with some lower snow levels through this weekend (1-27-2013). Then a ridge of high pressure rebuilds early next week for some dry conditions.  Then return of some wet conditions towards the end of the month. Weather goes back and forth between wet and dry conditions. The bottom line weather message is temperatures and mountain snowfall will be close to normal for the period now through 2-5-2013.

KUOW Hike of the Week- Ceder Butt - Cedar Butte?

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Updated 1-29-2013

Cedar Butte is a great winter hike usually snowfree, maybe just patchy snow at top. Butt vs. Butte? The USGS maker at the summit has a type that says "Ceder Butt." I guess they did not have spellcheck program then.
Thanks Alan Bauer for some of the photos 

View from top of Mt. Si and Mount Tenerife  

Check out Green Trails Maps for directions. 206 S is the map for this hike. Click here for complete list of maps. 

Moss draped trees

Trail in second growth forest

On the summit Alan having his lunch

USGS marker with typo- Ceder Butt correct spelling is  Cedar Butte

Driving directions: From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 32 and go right on 436th Avenue SE and drive about 4.5 miles, passing the Rattlesnake Lake parking area, until you find the Iron Horse Trailhead parking area on the left.Trail stats: Start on Iron Horse Trail east and about 1/4 past Boxley Creek go right on trail. 1900' top of Butte and this is 5 miles roundtrip and 1000 foot gain.For custom forecast anywhere in the world or if you need an expert witness in a legal weather related matter contact usClick here For our weather services or call toll free for information 877-969-4786. 
Always bring map and compass and GPS. Directions are our best estimates.