This is my collection of opinions, stories, and the occasional rise to, or fall from, challenge.

Tales, Trails and Connections to Almost Anything. LOST PORTRAIT OF MY FATHER. ACRYLIC ON CANVAS BY CHERYL LYLES SMITH. Today times have changed and few people burn prickly pear. The pear burner was invented in 1914 by John Bunyan Blackwell. A photo of one can be seen at the Bullock Museum website. Here is a close-up of prickly pear cactus so you can see the sharp thorns. Here is a cluster of them together with the red fruit or tuna. SNOW ON THE COAST! December 8, 2017.

Musings and observations from the Far North of New Zealand. Posted by thinkingshift under New Zealand. When I was working a full-time job, it was up at 5. Posted by thinkingshift under House build.

Wildlife photography along the urban edge. Before tackling Cotopaxi, rigorous preparation entailed climbi.

A Pair of Waved Albatross. April 13, 2018 by Pat Bean. I now belong to a higher cult of mortals for I have seen the albatross. Waved albatross on Espanola Island in the Galapagos. A Poem Come to Life. Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Simply that if you killed an albatross, you would be cursed forever.

Fighting the FEAR, depression and BDP on a daily basis AND making my own bread. I sometimes think I should come off social media completely as everyone seems to be getting on my fricking nerves nowadays.

Is Anybody Out There? July 31, 2015. A dear writer friend of mine has been kind enough to feature. She says some very nice things about it, too. More soon, I swear.

Eye spy, love speak, Volkswagen, or this is how we take word power back. In Rome fountains are dripping icicles. I know what I said yesterda.