Understated | Jonathan Swift

“May you live every day of your life.”
― Jonathan Swift

Black & Whites | Summer, Kayaking, & Kitten

Black and white is classic, but vibrant hues of blue have been my obsession this year.

A Bench On A Path In The Trees

Callaway Gardens, Lagrange, Georgia

Callaway | Butterfly Center

Callaway Gardens was underwhelming as far as the “gardens” were concerned, but there were some architecturally charming points.

Glittering Black Rocks

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
― Oscar Wilde

Childhood, The Bliss Of Ignorance

Though I did not have a dreamy childhood, there is something inherent about childhood that is so wonderful. I wish for another childhood, but obviously the fulfillment of such a wish is an impossibility.

This young girl was dancing and climbing around the fountain, completely happy and unbothered. It was a strange thing to see from the perspective of me, a twenty year old whose found all of the things she thought of her childhood to be untrue and all the once good memories to be irrevocably tarnished. But I was happy for her, because for a little while ignorance is bliss.

Callaway Gardens | Day One

This shot is one I almost didn’t take, but I am glad I did because it vies for the top spot for my favorite shot of the day. Something about it just turned out right.

Pretty Pink Flowers | Going Away For The Weekend

I am going to a place called Calloway Gardens in the Atlanta area for the weekend, so I should have a plethora of photographic opportunities. We’ll see!

Hiking | A Passion Worth Pursuing

I don’t want to get really deep here, because that is not what the purpose of this post is, but I do want to state rather simply that life experience has consequently made me a person who has a lot of wishes and dreams that go unexpressed and unexplored, merely because I fear failure and fear the vulnerability of personal expression.  But as an introspective and self-aware person who writes her feelings a lot, I’ve really made some good strides in my mental and emotional health within the last few years.  Resultantly, I’ve really pursued some of the things I love–photography, writing, piano, and most recently, hiking.

I really feel the best, the most happy, the most true to myself, when I am outdoors.  I’ve been very inspired by the writings of Emerson and Thoreau and remain absolutely convinced that nature is fundamental to my health in every way.

So I am pursuing this as part of who I am, and part of who I will always be.  This passion is two-fold since it also provides great opportunities for me with my photography.

Anyway, I am researching hiking and good trails in my area, and there are some decent options around here.  But I have my eyes set on Zion (Utah), Denali (Alaska), Olympic (Washington), and Redwood (Cali).  I am probably most enthusiastic about Zion, but I really cannot wait to visit these four.  I mean, I want to visit more than just the those, but they’re the most imminently pressing on my mind.

I know that there are smart, responsible, and financially wise ways to go about this.  You don’t have to blow your budget, and honestly, part of what draws me so much about nature is the bare simplicity and autonomy of nature.  So, I feel that it would be ironic if I went out into nature to enjoy it for those reasons, then kicked back in a fancy hotel back in civilization.  I want to find a comfortable way to still maintain a connected, natural presence, without emptying my account.

It can be done, but it will take some healthy researching–and I do have the time for that.  

Not only do I need to start saving up for these adventures, but I’m going to need to get some good gear.  Also, quite importantly, I need to get more experience hiking before I take on these more arduous and experienced trails.  I’ve done some hiking in natures reserves locally, but the trails I’ve hiked are nothing like what I’m aspiring to undertake by this November.  As much as I’ve loved my experiences in my local nature reserves, I am getting restless and really aching to be challenged and to be pressed further then I necessarily feel comfortable.  I want steeper, longer, more arduous, more exhausting, more.

But this is something I’ve learned to respect about myself.  When I decide that I want something, I really put my all of myself into it.  I am pretty determined and excited about all of this, and I am sure to write about it as I go about these great adventures.

Kayaking In A Creek Of Rocks

I saw this couple at the creek the other day, and I was bemused by their stubborn determination to carry their kayaks over a long stretch of rocks just so they could get in their kayaks for a few yards before once again, having to carry their kayaks over rocks.

They seemed unbothered, and they merely laughed it off while chatting with each other.

Personally, I think they should’ve just made the twenty minute drive to a nice location for kayaking that we do have around here, but they seemed happy so I guess that is good for them. I don’t know. Even though I kind of think it was stupid to not just go to a better creek, I at least admire their ability to be happy to just be together and joke about a kind of annoying circumstance.

Side note: I really want to go kayaking soon.