The Sky Within

THE RECENT FULL MOON at my kitchen window was a tiny orb glowing behind some dangling trinkets. Later, the morning sun cast a different light onto my worktable. Since pictures alone do not express the compelling contrasting effects of the sun and moon, I added a few words as well:


Moon peeks in my
window
Like an eye, rounded
and full
Moving tides and
emotions
Blinded by mystic
swells

Sun creeps by my
curtain
Like an eye, rolling
and full
Beams of light in
motion
Casting a playful
spell

On Every Path, A Puddle

EVERY PATH HAS ITS PUDDLE is an English Proverb that sounds a little ominous. It suggests that life is never smooth and that difficulties wait around every corner. Life teaches us that when "puddle troubles" appear it is mostly about how we approach the situation. Splashing through a puddle, tip toeing around the edges, jumping over OR floating in the puddle are all options that depend on state of mind and depth of the problem. A puddle is subject to perception and its container.

There are useful puddles such as the one in my backyard birdbath (pictured above) as well as annoying puddles that a loveable puppy can make.

There are also hidden puddles under bridges where wildlife and lily pads grow ... like the ones I could not capture when visiting the Japanese Memorial Garden in Mayne Island, BC.

There are BIG puddles that carry big BC Ferries.

And there are tiny puddle houses where pet fish (like our now deceased Betta) contentedly blow bubbles.

There is the fictional Puddle who feels real and gives my imagination wings.

Often, the puddles we see before us are mere illusions. And sometimes water on the road ahead is a mirage mirroring blue skies on the horizon where puddle-brewing clouds (like these at Crescent Beach) seem to flee.

Visitors can find more puddles from around the globe at Watery Wednesday.

Kwomais Park Reconstructed

MY FAVORITE PLACE to visit is Kwomais Point Park in the small community of Ocean Park overlooking Semiahmoo Bay in Surrey, BC. There are a couple of places to sit after a long stroll. Last week I headed for the bench-swing I am told was donated by someone in the neighborhood.

When I got there, the serene setting I am accustomed to was a bit faded.

Although the scenery and bench were still there, I was surprised to find this ...

and this ...

and this.

I learned the park is undergoing reconstruction that should ultimately be a positive change for people and local wildlife. A planned platform will nudge outward by a few feet towards the bay so folks can more easily enjoy the view when scanning the horizon for eagles and whales.

One of several ongoing projects to the park, this facet is scheduled for completion within a month ... just in time to make the autumn sunsets of last year appear more golden to those who like to soak in such beautiful things.

Explorers can discover more sites from around the globe at My World.

If I Were A Boat ...

IF I WERE A BOAT I would love to float in Vancouver, BC, waters. This photo I took a while ago got me wondering what anchoring at the False Creek area of the city requires. If I were lucky enough to possess a vessel that I needed to dock, I would likely find it more complicated than parking my car at a meter. The rules might be somewhat similar but probably take the wind right out of my sails. The people in the high rise apartments towering over the bobbing boats must be adrift with dreamy views of the harbor. (Click on photo to enlarge image.)

Visitors can get drenched exploring more sites at Watery Wednesday.

Remnants Of An Ocean Park Summer

IN MY WORLD autumn nipped at my heels as I kicked through remnants of a hot summer in southwestern BC this weekend. Along the way I came across natural phenomena and manmade creations.

The early gathering of leaves on the forest floor was due to extreme dryness.

Tough veins on an old tree appeared unmoved by weeks of stubborn heat.

A leaf riddled with holes looked frail from weather beatings and bug bites.

This large stone had the markings of a dusty desert all over its hilly face.

An etching exposed the inner beauty and age of one fallen log.

The puffy dandelion was perfectly still with seeds intact as I breezed by.

Sparkling blue waters of Boundary Bay beckoned from Kwomais Point Park.

Berries lounged on a wall as I headed for the 1001 Steps to the shore below.

The nearby drain was largely ignored due to minimal rain flow this summer.

It was nice to see the stairs were in good repair.

The path to the shore was mysterious as ever.

The ripening berries alongside the path were too sour for picking.

A tire gripped the road and was a great deterrent against slippage.

Beneath the railway dubious art work decorated a tunnel to the beach.

Inside the tunnel there were remnants of a party I was glad to have missed.

On the other side, sun streaks bounced off the water and leaked through the lens of my camera that I hoped was not damaged.

Ahead was a shining horizon ... the grandeur of which I could not capture.

The beach had sharp edges but seemed safe to explore.

Ripples slapped stones ...

barnacles hugged rocks ...

and a rusty artifact expressed the ravages of time.

Slick ropes of seaweed were bundled together ...

while a non-edible mushroom was painted into a corner.

A shabby sign stood humbly at a distance amid natural beauty and manmade design. They all needed a wash from the anticipated rain.

Explorers can discover more sites from around the globe at My World.