Soul Food

Spending time on the water is like soul food to me.  Sure, as a writer I tend to spend way too much time indoors, so anything that takes me out into the sun is a bonus, but this is something deeper.  Perhaps its the Pisces in me, yearning to be where the air tastes like salt and the wind and waves turn into a symphony.  No matter the reason, being on the water renews me, as if the water washes away the dark places and the clutter from my brain, simplifying the world into a sea of tranquility.

When you combine this lure with my love of photography, it is pretty easy to see what many of my photos consist of.  This morning was no exception.  While my husband and son passed their time fishing, I captured some of the inspiration around me, hoping to immortalize it and to share it with you.

These photos were all taken today, out on the Indian River Lagoon.  If you’re not familiar with it, you should check it out- it really is paradise.  You can, of course, check my Flickr page to get a better view- and to see the thousands of other images I’ve uploaded.

Out and About

I went to the beach today, taking along my camera and my new journal.  Its pages are getting filled with rather messy lines of black writing, and I’m proud to say I’ve collected all those random thoughts and vague ideas that tend to get lost when we’re in the throws of life.

I snapped a picture to share with you…

I’ve been writing a lot lately.  In the past week I finished one 8,000 word piece and am already 10,000 words into another.  I’m not sure if its just a phase, or if I will be able to keep it up- and I’m certainly not sure of the quality. We’ll see…

Anyway, here’s a poem to make your Sunday better.

Somewhere

by Linda Harnett

Oh, to be lying,
On a beach,
Somewhere,
With sand in my toes,
And the wind,
In my hair.

And only the sound,
Of the seagulls,
On high,
On a beach,
Somewhere,
Under sunny blue sky.

The gentle caress,
Of the waves,
On the shore,
And you close,
Beside me,
Could I ask for more?

A soft sandy beach,
That goes on,
Forever,
You, me,
And a beach,
So happy together.

Work, work, work

Finished the piece I’ve been working on today; entering the editing phase next. Also looking at various publishers to submit to and considering their guidelines, trying to find which one will be the best fit.

Worked on Saponifier this afternoon, then headed out on the Lagoon with Jim this evening.

Thought it would be fun to post a writing exercise/challenge today:

If you could live IN the internet, which website would really be your home page?  Why?

Looking forward to tomorrow’s Talkabout Thursday and I hope you are too!

Long Day

It was a long day. Fun, but long.  Got some writing in; not nearly what I wanted, but enough to keep the creativity going.

We had some errands to run today. Before we left, I went out to check the mail and was pleasantly surprised to see a group of White Ibis snacking on the lawn.

I didn’t bother checking the mail; I didn’t have the heart to disturb them.

One of our errands took us to the bookstore.  I continued my trend as a notebook addict and purchased a new one.  It has a hard back and spiral binding.  The inside is lined, and has already been christened with both writing and a picture.  Here’s what it looks like:

My husband also found a pretty interesting looking book which has been added to my ‘To Read’ list:

I have a pretty full work day tomorrow, so I’m off to bed. I thought I’d leave off with a poem tonight.

Last Boat

By Betsy Sholl

We were waiting for the ferry,
lolling on the lowest ramp, on floats,
shifty with wave slush, dip and sway.

We were sun-seared, sapped, soaking in
the latticework, wooden scaffolding,
stacks of lobster traps, pilings stained black

from creosote and tar, green with seaweed
combed out on receding waves, swirled back
by water’s slap and curl: levels and lengths

of working docks, creaky planks, crossbars
of tacked asbestos for stopping the slip
on slick days–the whole wet rush,

the gleaming run-down fertile place.
We were sitting on a dock of the bay,
watching how matter melts into

quivery silks of light, a brilliant seethe,
a glittery tease of there
and not there, such dazzling manna.

We were squinting through shadows
at little flamelike fish flickering
among weeds–a whole world it seemed

flaring under the ramshackle,
barnacled, rock-bottom dock, all flow
and flown, and we were resting in

the brevity, the breve, breviary,
the never-ending not-me: waiting
for the ferry, wishing it wouldn’t come.