Adventure or Not to Adventure?

Picture taken a few days ago in Port Townsend, Washington

I have an adventurers heart, my "live-in" gardener, not so much. I love it when I find a friend that likes to take adventures with me. My "live-in gardener" loves to be snuggled in his chair, reading. Now nothing wrong with that for sure, I like that too. But I do anticipate adventures from time to time.

The dictionary says an adventurer is "someone who seeks dangerous or exciting experiences: a person who looks for adventures".  Not all my adventures are dangerous for sure, but I do occasionally like a bit of a thrill.

A few years ago, as my grandson, arrived at an age that I thought he might like an adventure, I started planning one special adventure each summer. The first one was to fly to California and do a bit of swimming (even with a swimming dog). Then there was white water rafting. He was a bit terrified until he did it. Then he wanted to immediately go back and do it again. Then there was ziplining. Again "terrified" but loved it. In 2024 was a Big Foot boat excursion down the Willamette River and Columbia Rivers. This past year was a hot air balloon ride at dawn.

Those are all a bit "terrifying", but fun. This is just what my adventurers heart loves. As a young girl I would do crazy stunts on my bicycle or climb a tree and swing from the branches. This terrified our neighbors. They were sure I was going to kill myself.

There are those "terrifying" type of adventures, but some adventures are more of solitude or time spent with a friend. I consider my drives and tea times under the apple tree branches as an adventure, an adventure in friendship spent together. Or I might say "come along with me for a drive to the beach".  

Do you have an adventurers heart or would you prefer being tucked by the fireplace with a good book? A good book can be an adventure for sure. Right now, I am reading a book by Joyce Maynard, The Bird Hotel, and it has taken me to a lake by a volcano in Mexico. Oh, how even a book can whisk us away on an adventure.

Sending Love,

Marilyn

Seasons of Friendships

  In the Bleak Mid-Winter

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

    This past week I took the time just to "be", to think, and to be tidy at my desk. It was time in this "bleak mid-winter" to just sit with my thoughts. Tax season will be here before we know it, and it was time to get my papers in order. In doing so, there was time to think. I thought of people I have known and know. What hit me was the seasons of friendship. Some friends come into our lives for a short time and some for a lifetime.        

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart"   Eleanor Roosevelt
The flowers showed up in a friend's garden, and they felt like friends themselves. Hello little snowdrops, Hello hellebore!

Then on Saturday a dear friend that I have known since high school passed away. He will be missed, a lifetime friend, a dear friend.

Then this week I exchanged phone numbers and a message on my phone with a new neighbor. I wondered, would she become a confident, a close friend, or just for a season a friend that says, "how are you doing?".

Often, I burn a candle on these bleak winter mornings. I read and I ponder.

The book I am reading this week is 101 Teas to STEEP before you die. Fascinating to think like that. The book is a good primer of tea and even though I have learned a lot in the past, there is always more to learn.

So, I sit here with my tea this morning, pondering the mysteries of friendship.

A friend for a brief season made the cup. A friend I love dearly gave me the glass pitcher.

Again, for a season we find friendship in many forms.

Sending love,

Marilyn

A Week that Was

These days I love noticing "supermarket flowers".

The hellebore is in full bloom at the market by my home.

I just couldn't resist capturing one in my lens.

Watermelon Portraits by Christine Miller was found at the Portland Art Museum this week. Now for some this would not be picked as a favorite, but it touched me. The watermelon has been historically stereotyped to represent Black people and culture. The fruit was domesticated in northeast Africa more than 4,000 years ago and as a symbol of African American freedom. For the artist, the seeds symbolize Black resilience.

Another part of the exhibit. I went to the Portland Art Museum to see modern art by Rothko, but this separate exhibit of black artists drew me in. Being open to surprises is part of following a path to adventure.

From my kitchen window. Do you see the little one so close, but with the barrier of the window between us? My "live-in gardener" and I are soooo excited to see the hummers discover the feeder.

January is National Hot Tea Month

I finished reading The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O'Neal and really enjoyed it. Love reading with my morning tea.

“Do you want an adventure now…or would you like to have your tea first?” Peter Pan

I thought this quote was perfect for my year of adventure.

Next month my tea group will celebrate Chinese New Years, the year of the horse. We bring a small gift for everyone. This week I made tea brewing counters, but they could be for counting anything. What do you count?

 So that was the days that transpired last week. Looking forward into a new week with new adventures. Right now, it looks like paperwork, ugh! But I am hoping for some surprises.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Next Year's Posts, My Word!!!

Welcome to 2026.

Since I am posting mostly once a week, I decided not to have a Monday theme, but just to share "a day in the life" or pictures from an ordinary life. 

As I shared in my last post, I do have a new word for 2026. The pictures remind us of a path with twists and turns, deep waters and roadblocks; but still a path most often forward. An adventure of life goes something like that. Though my word will be adventure, I will be also focusing on the paths it takes. Sometimes the adventure is simple and straight, while other times there will be unexpected turns, detours, roadblocks.

"Adventure isn’t just about reaching a destination — it’s about the stories you collect along the way, the people you meet, and the ways you discover yourself. Whether you’re scaling mountains, getting lost in city streets, chasing sunsets, or stepping outside your comfort zone, adventure calls to the wild heart in all of us." Road Rider

 

I have always had a bit of a "wild heart". I think that is why I love photographing paths and nature. It's time for me to embrace it, travel with it this year.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

This photo was in my last post, but even a stream with roadblocks can be a path. It might rush by or be quite deep and treacherous. If we persevere, hang in there, we will make it to the other side.

I can't wait to see what the path/adventure will teach me this year. Join me on the journey!

Happy New Year!

Sending love,

Marilyn