The Shed Notebook: I Shall Focus on Photographs

Kellogg High School

Another favorite quote from "Daily Peace, 365 Days of Renewal".

"When words become unclear,
I shall focus on photographs.
When images become inadequate,
I shall be content with silence."
- Ansel Adams

Today I focused on photographs, revisiting older ones. It brought me peace.

Spokane River

Riverfront Park

Mission Slough Sunset

spring Columbine

favorite rose

The Shed Notebook: My Love for Fall Leaves

When I posted a album of pictures the other day of trees in my hometown friends that grew up with me commented on how beautiful it is in Kellogg now, but how it wasn't always true. We lived under a gray fog of smelter smoke growing up. It stunted the growth of many trees. That has all changed now.

When I moved to Martin Creek I wanted to have a collection of trees that provided variety in fall leaves.  I researched all types of trees and selected colors based on their fall color. As those trees grew my love for photographing fall leaves began. I was struck by the uniqueness and beauty of each tree as late September arrived and the leaves began to turn. It wasn't just the leaves at my house, but everywhere.

Now I plan driving trips just to study the leaves through the lens of my camera. I don't have to go very far to find breathtakingly beautiful fall colors.  I picked a few of my favorite images below.  Each illustrates the unique beauty of fall leaves. Take time tomorrow and look closely at some fall leaves. Take some pictures and preserve the memory of their beauty.

"Autumn that year painted the countryside in vivid shades of scarlet, saffron, and russet, and the days were clear and crisp under harvest skies." — Sharon Kay Penman

Sibling Assignment #196: Autumn Through the Lens of My Camera

Sister Carol gave the assignment this week. "Use a portion of the music from Vivaldi’s Autumn to be the
background in a slideshow of autumn images you have taken with your camera.  
They can be old or current images. " You can find sister Carol's here and brother Bill's here
Since I love autumn, especially autumn leaves, it wasn't hard to put the slide show together. Enjoy!

Sibling Assignment #195: The Gentle Hope of Autumn

I gave the sibling assignment this week. "The first day of autumn is September 22nd. Share a poem about the season that appeals to you and why." Sister Carol's post is here. Brother Bill's is here.

The Gentle Hope of Autumn

The many-hued leaves that fall
To nurture the life lying below the ground

The songs of birds trilling out
Lifting our spirits

The chill of mornings that lead
To a day of sunny warmth

The final ripening of fruit
Before the winter chill arrives

The light of dawn when I rise (sometimes)
And the early dusk that calls me
To quiet evenings of thought, prayer and words

Be still as all slows down
Be still in this time of quiet gathering
Be still and listen to Earth going to rest
Be still in peace in the hope of new life to come

For from the dying of Autumn
Comes the birthing of Spring

In the passing of the past
Comes the arrival of the future

In the changing of what has been
Comes what will be

In the moving forward of one generation
Comes the moving in of the next

In the silent listening of questions
Comes the answers for our times

Angela Coleman

I have memories of having autumn poems read to me before I went to sleep when I was a child. I also remember autumn poems that a teacher read, then had us memorize . While reading and rereading poems this week I first noticed the title of this poem. It reminded me why I love autumn. It fills me with gentle hope.

Things begin to slow down. the Earth is going to rest. Moving into autumn I experince the contrast of cold mornings and warm afternoons. We pick ripe tomatoes, then see black vines from frost. Sunflowers are the crowns of the garden, then  their heads bend as if weeping.
The poem spoke of what we do as the season is dying. We get our soil ready for winter, we build up the garden remains to produce compost in the spring, we dry the last rose pedals in a jar by the light.

As the author reminds us, autumn is "quiet evenings of thought, prayer, and words". I am ready for that after a hot summer of busyness and harvesting, tending flowers, and deadheading spent blossoms.

I will now go and listen to the birds trilling, observe the leaves turning, and embrace the gentle hope of autumn.

Sibling Assignment #194: Crossroads That Led to the Classroom

Sister Carol gave Sibling Assignment #194. While attending Cosette’s graduation recently, it got me thinking about when I graduated from college, what I did and didn’t remember from that day, and where I was at regarding my future.  Think back to when you graduated and received your bachelor’s degree.  What happened next in your life, and how do you remember feeling at this crossroads of your life? You will find her post here and brother Bill'shere

When you major in education in college you are on a strict timetable before and after graduation. When I graduated from college most teaching jobs were posted in spring/early summer and teachers were hired for the next school year by early July. Back in the day, we got a newsletter that listed all the teaching jobs that were open.

I knew I wanted a teaching job. I had student taught in Coeur d’Alene and hoped to continue teaching there. I did get an interview, but back then hundreds of new teachers applied for jobs there. I wasn’t  selected. I focused my search on the Inland Empire mostly because I thought it would make it easier to relocate.

I was most interested in fourth or fifth grade, but would have considered other grade levels. I had my bright yellow interview dress and often was driven to interviews in the early part of the summer because I didn’t have a car. Sometimes my parents let me use their car.  I interviewed in Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, Garfield WA, and Kellogg. I decided to take the job in Kellogg because it was fourth grade. The pay was better than the districts up north. It was at Pinehurst Elementary which meant I would know lots of the staff.

For me it was a fun crossroads in life summer. It was easy to find an apartment, I got my first car, and I got lots of help and support from my mom and other teachers in the district. I didn’t have much money in September so I ate dinner at my parents every night. I enjoyed that because I could troubleshoot teaching strategies with Mom. Dad’s favorite saying during that time was, “Are you two going to teach school all evening?” Yes, we pretty much did that.

It was a smart decision for me and it got my teaching career off to a strong start. I had quality people I taught with, supportive parents, students I have never forgotten, and a fun social life also. I stayed at PInehurst the first three years of my career and only left because a marriage to my first husband required relocation.

Sibling Assignment #193: Capturing Alaska

Brother Bill gave Sibling Assignment #193. “Write about a dream trip you’d like to take in the United States, even if you don’t think it’ll ever happen. Include where you’d like to go and, if it’s fitting, what time of year you’d like to make the trip. Also discuss why this is your dream. “ You will find Bill's assignment here and sister Carol's here.

I have always wanted to do a cruise to Alaska. I would like to see the lower part of the state. I would like to go in the summer when it isn’t too cold.

I want to go because I have heard so many friends that have taken the trip and just loved it. The scenery is breathtaking. People are friendly. Stops along the way are well-planned and allows the tourist to see many beautiful places in our forty-ninth state.   Alaska is a difficult state to drive to, so the cruise would allow me to see sites not able to see on a driving trip.

The Inside Passage is what really interests me. Stretching from Puget Sound, Wash., along the British Columbia coast into the Gulf of Alaska, the Inside Passage was formed by the movement of massive glaciers millions of years ago. It includes more than 1,000 islands, fiords and lush island scenery, habitat for whales, bald eagles and other wildlife — and, of course, the glaciers.

I think a cruise would also be an easier way to travel. If you want to get off the ship you can. When you are traveling in the ocean you have other activities to do. I have also heard the food is amazing on the cruise,

I also think a cruise would be a restful, relaxing vacation