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Echo Challenge Illuminate

Thursday, March 11th, 2010 by Alyice

“Clever people master life; the wise illuminate it.”
– Emile Nolde

It’s echo time! This time the prompt is “Illuminate”. Just reading the word “illuminate” conjures up all kinds of thoughts: to shine light on a situation, to brighten a dark path, to enlighten the mind, to give hope to the hurting.

There were so many directions I could’ve gone with this one word. So many things I could have said and images I could’ve shown. But ultimately, I was stuck on one event—one moment in time.

The day was July 4.
The time, my childhood.
The event, fireworks.

Every 4th of July as a child, growing up in the projects, was magical—and illuminating. While we often avoided going out after dark, we always managed to fill the streets on this one special day. The lights in our neighborhood were all but non-existent as one by one boxes of fireworks were opened and shared amongst the children.

My favorite piece of firework was the Sparkler. I could hold a Sparkler in my hand until the very last second.

I could still hear my mother’s voice reminding me not to drop it on the grass as “it could catch on fire” or reminding me not to wave it in the face of another child as the sparks could “put out an eye” or “catch someone’s hair on fire”—which actually did happen once, the hair on fire thing I mean.

It’s funny how childhood memories fade over time, and yet some remain as vivid and real as the day you experienced them.

Until next time…

P.S.
Please stop by my Echo partner’s post on Illuminate.

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Echo Challenge Juicy

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 by Alyice

“The foods that promote longevity, virtue, strength, health,
happiness, and joy are juicy, smooth, substantial,
and agreeable to the stomach.”
– Bhagavad Gita

It’s echo time! This time the prompt is “Juicy”. When I first read the word, “juicy” I was taken back to a time in my childhood when we’d sit outside on the back lawn eating a big slice of watermelon. The juice would drip down my arms and onto the ground, where ants would then attempt to seek out the source. It’s the one time of year the ants couldn’t get me to budge from my spot.

Then I thought about my first attempt to grow watermelons. It was our first “official” summer in South Dakota and I just knew growing watermelons would make me happy. Unfortunately, I had no idea that they were not ripe just because they were green on the outside. Talk about a bitter experience.

Then, as I talked to my Echo partner, Brenda, I was reminded that fruits and vegetables harvested during early summer are a “juicy” treat during the cold, bland months of winter.

And together, we came up with this diptych.

So the next time you’re experiencing the joys of summer, why not preserve some of that “feeling” for the days you find yourself longing for the warmth of the sun, the vibrant colors of spring —and yes, the juicy fruits of summer.

Until next time…

P.S.
Check out my Berry Smoothie Recipe over at The Dabbling Mum. And please stop by my Echo partner’s post on Juicy.

Posted in Echo Challenge | 2 Comments »

Echo Challenge Whisper

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 by Alyice

“Whisper words of wisdom…”
– The Beattles

It’s echo time! This time the prompt is “whisper”. To be truthful, this is the hardest challenge yet. When I first heard the word, “whisper”, I thought about how much I enjoy sitting outside on a warm summer’s day, with iced tea in hand, while I listen to the wind travel through the trees. It’s as if nature is speaking to me, as if the whistling wind and the rustling trees are conversing about something very important. I just close my eyes and listen to the whispers—and in that moment, I feel at peace.

But alas it’s winter time in South Dakota and the only decent shot of trees, with leaves, are from the time we lived in Wisconsin, back in 2003.

Then one day my daughter played her favorite band, The Beattles, and I realized that there is so much more to the word, “whisper” than the literal meaning.

There’s the whisper of wisdom and truth, the whisper of the soul and morals, the whisper of romance and temptation, and the whisper of a muse that allows us to create beautiful things with our own hands…

But even more precious than that, there is the whisper of a child’s love—a love so innocent and pure that the world instantly feels like a better place.

Until next time…

Posted in Echo Challenge | 5 Comments »

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