Category Archives: photography

A book for you for Solstice 2020

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It’s been a long LONG time since my last post. Life took detours and several coast to coast road trips where my camera was busy but my soul needed solitude and silence. The Emotikin met up with elephants, micro, mini and even full size at many zoos across America. The micro elephants are portable, pocket-sized and are here to stay. And the Emotikin is ready to come back out to play.

In fact, I thought an elephant story would be next. And there is one coming which also includes a turtle. And then I thought finishing a fairy tale about a boy and a dragon would be next (it’s a story I started in 1998 but could only see the beginning and ending back then). The middle has been emerging since August. Stay tuned for more about that! But as it turns out, the Emotikin insisted she gets to go first. The paper-version is in the works, and so for now, I am giving you this gift of a virtual book thanks to the ease of Canva. Enjoy!

Eleven Brave Pinecones ebook cover
Click to view book on a full screen. Enjoy!

Feel free to share this link, watch it on Zoom with little kids in your life. https://bit.ly/BrvPnCnz

Happy Winter!

Follow me on Instagram @ShellyLFrancis for more frequent photos and my Fortitude blog. My current work life includes having founded Creative Courage Press, publishing books by remarkable authors with refreshing ideas. Together we’re creating courage for the complexity of being human!

Rubber ducky, you make Seattle so much fun!

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Rubber ducky reflections on a rainy Sunday in SeatleIt was a rainy Sunday in Seattle, and Emotikin needed to get out of the house!
“Let’s take a walk,” she said to rubber ducky, who had been twiddling his leash
and watching TV all day, bored bored bored, just waiting for the invitation.

California Avenue on a Sunday afternoon was busier than they expected.
Lots of folks with cabin fever were out and about since the showers had turned to drops.

Startled dog meets duck on a walk with Emotikin“Whoa!” said the dog (fresh from his grooming appointment next door).
“What the duck?!”

Can I smell that creature?“Can I smell that maple creature?”

dogduck4 (600 x 450)“Hey, don’t get too close to my duck, dog! That’s not a toy!”

Rubber ducky on a West Seattle sidewalk Lucky duck, escaped the dog!

duckumbrellalady (399 x 600)So the duck and Emotikin continued their walk in West Seattle,
and greeted other Sunday walkers on their way.
“We don’t need no stinkin’ umbrella,” whispered the duck after those folks passed by.

duckworm (600 x 407)Stopped to talk with a worm who didn’t say much.

duckwalking (399 x 600)Emotikin couldn’t help but start humming that song made
famous by Ernie. “Rubber ducky, you’re the one…”

duckwalk-reflection (502 x 600)“…you  make Seattle so much fun,
rubber ducky I’m awfully fond of you!
Boo boopy doo!”

A rainy Sunday is so much better after a walk!

My first Seattle spring of pink blossoms is like chocolate birthday cake with pink frosting

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Loving the pink of Lincoln ParkMy first Seattle Spring full of pink blossoms is
like a  Hurry Up chocolate birthday cake
covered in pink frosting spiced
with three drops of ancient almond elixir!

Pink clouds!
Blessing every blossom in bliss
even as I wonder what color blooms next.

Soundrack for such blossoms: Charmed Life by Joy Williams

My soul showed up at low tide

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My soul showed up at low tidePerhaps it’s only when you feel deserted by the ocean,
as if the water receded along with your hopes,
and even the moon seems gone…

Reflections of a soul

that your soul shows up with a story,
as upside down as it seems.
Find brimful meaning and truth
while the tidepool steeps her saltwater tears.

Her head in the clouds of low tideSoul wonders
which view you might choose.
“Girl, put your head in the clouds.”

Some days you need to summon your inner survivor.

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Stormy ferry survivorThe ferry was facing stormy seas.
Manikin overboard! Nobody heard.
Good thing we float…

Daunting stormy wavesSwam the daunting stormy sea to shore.

Splashing slippery soapsudsy wavesOver slippery soapy stones.

Stormy survivor struts on shoreStrong survivor closeup.

Storm survivor is safe on shoreSafe!

Some days just feel like that.

PS See this poem if you need another dose of courage

I dreamed of my grandmother last night. She had come for a party.

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gretchen-posterized

In my dream, she looked taller and thinner, and wore her pearls,
The way she might have chosen to look as a glamorous grandmother.
In my dream, she said “I left my car down the street, like last year”
and handed me the keys, meaning, “Please park the car for me.”
I don’t know what party I was having in my dream. I’m glad she came.

This is the Emotikin who lived with her at the nursing home
for the last six months.
She’s a Fairy Tale Fairy wearing butterfly wings,
with a spool of pink thread as a bracelet,
(because she taught me to love fairy tales and sewing)
and she’s dancing.
I wonder where it went when she died?
Perhaps it went with her.

gretchen-bella-book-posterized

Hoisting our own sunshine on a non-sun Sunday in Seattle

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hoisting-sun-hz

Some days in Seattle, especially Sundays,
it’s necessary to make your own.
Sun, that is.

hoisting-sun-mimosa-pms14-0848

We have these Pantone color-matching cards that make the perfect,
and we mean perfect, sunshine colors.
Mimosa makes sense for PMS 14-0848,
like Sunday brunch at the beach.

hoisting-mimosa-pantone14-0848The mechanics are a bit like flying a kite,
string required, of course.
A bit of wind helps, but not too much.

hoisting-sun-mimosaYou wait for just the right breeze, the right lift,
and you hoist your sunshine into the sky.
And bask in the glow.
Good for the soul.
SPF 2 is plenty.