Took my inner artist to the beach today on this rare dry Seattle Saturday. The sun was already behind clouds, but I didn’t care. I met two most wonderful seashells, rare to find whole, hard to find small, fun to zoom in on in wonder. Enjoy meeting them, too.
[Please enjoy our second video story and photos!]
I walked down to the meadow on Saint Patrick’s Day to visit my friend, Mr. Gnome. The daffodil sisters were shouting with their hyacinth smell for me to come over. They had something to say.
I stood on a log to get closer. The eldest leaned down. I peered into her face, and inhaled as big as I could.
“Oh my gosh, you smell divine!”
“Why, thank you,” she said, on behalf of the whole clump of girls. And they giggled and waved with delight.
“The slugs have been bugging us,” the eldest told me. “Their breath is so bad. Can you help?”
“I’m not at all sure,” I replied. “What can I do? They live here, too.”
“Just look at these holes in our petals!” she cried.
“You may look bedraggled,” I said, “But that’s what comes from a full season of growth. You’re living your life. You’re feeding the slugs. You’re perfuming the air with your heavenly notes. You’re lovely narcissus!”
Then I added, “You’ve made this meadow a sight to behold. I’m beholden to you and your crew.
“And I know for a fact, you’ve blessed and impressed more than me, the slugs and the bees. We’re so lucky you live here. I don’t know what to do, but let’s ask Mr. Gnome.”
I knew with his spidey-sense ears that he’d heard the whole conversation.
Mr. Gnome simply whispered, “I’ll have a talk with the slugs.”
This morning’s glorious blossoms called for a song.
And a serenade.
So we invited Izzy’s spirit to our backyard
and invited him to play for us
and his namesake plum tree.
Apologies for the birds, the bees and the Cessna
for their fly-by’s in hopes of being seen.
Every blossom on the tree cheered when Izzy was done.
It really is a wonderful world!
A curious equine
leans down to sniff
Hey, horsey
Come see me
What’s your name?
A second later, this one bit my hand!
I’m done.
I’m gonna explore
Hi little mushrooms
Can you see spot a four-leaf clover?
Rooster wants to play lookout
He’s comin’ to get me
Tough little bugger
Pretty preener
(Kristie, this one’s for you!)
Out back of the barn there’s this
old worn down lean-to
I have to go see
Magical blossoms
A moth a’lit there a moment ago
Balance beam angles
I love these blue beams
Wobbley balance beam to the barn
Emerald green pastures
sploch splish splooooch
Can I balance around the bend?
No.
Guess it’s time to go home.
Bella Luna was the first Emotikin
born in April 2003.
She came alive on the
banks of the Colorado River.
Now she lives near
the shores of Puget Sound,
original Emoti-queen.
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for a decade of
kindling my creativity!!
Greetings, viewers (said in a whisper). Thanks for tuning in to our show.
Today we’re going to take you on an adventure into the driftwood caves
of West Seattle in search of the elusive sand crab.
I’m in costume so that when we find one, it won’t be startled.
And my producer and I thought it was really just more fun.
Follow me and my camera crew as we enter this old log.
Do you see that mist? Legend has it that the older driftwood caves
exhale a vapor rich in iodine, which these sand-crabs need for breeding.
It’s getting colder as we go deeper. Do you hear the crab’s melodic whistle?
It’s very faint, but those of us with trained hearing know what to listen for.
We have to squeeze sideways through this cave to get into the next room.
We’re getting closer. I can feel it.
Quiet now. We’re almost there.
Dave, are you getting this on camera?
Here, shine your light over here!
We found one!
There you have it, folks! We have to cut to commercial now,
but I’m going to sit and chat with our new friend awhile.
We hope you enjoyed today’s show.
See you next week as we explore the…
It 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.
“Whoa!” said the dog (fresh from his grooming appointment next door).
“What the duck?!”
“Can I smell that maple creature?”
“Hey, don’t get too close to my duck, dog! That’s not a toy!”
Lucky duck, escaped the dog!
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.
Stopped to talk with a worm who didn’t say much.
Emotikin couldn’t help but start humming that song made
famous by Ernie. “Rubber ducky, you’re the one…”
“…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!
Do I dive?
Do I dare?
Decisions, decisions.
Decided. It’s a good day to jump!
One who walked the logs
before me
left a sign
saying
move inward
inward
and in
deeper
still
within
then
outward
again.
P.S. I marvel that today’s high tide is so calm and wonder at the metaphor.
P.P.S. This one who walks on logs throws logs for labradors who love them:
happy water dog!
My 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!
Blessing every blossom in bliss
even as I wonder what color blooms next.
Soundrack for such blossoms: Charmed Life by Joy Williams
Emotikin World 
