.

I woke up this morning with images of Alaska in the Autumn flickering in my brain.  Canary yellow foliage reflected in a milky green lake.  Thatches of amber-hued leaves glowing atop tall, slender trees.  Fields set ablaze with stalks of crimson fireweed. I loved the way Alaska looked in Autumn, painted in vibrant colors that could have only come from God's palette.  Some crisp mornings, before the sun had chased away the chill, I would grab my camera, hop in the car, and drive around snapping shots of the masterpiece unfolding before me.  I always felt a strange melange of emotions: awe and elation to be witnessing such beauty and sadness in realizing it would soon end.  I would look at the world around me and feel an impending sense of gloom, as the termination dust crept further down the mountains signaling winter's approach. I don't know why I woke up this morning thinking about Alaska in the Autumn.  I did not enjoy my time in that barren wasteland (de

Chances are, if you have spent any amount of time on the Internet in the last three months, you've read the buzz about Pinterest, a new content sharing service that allows members to pin images to virtual bulletin boards.  Pinterest has said that their mission is to "connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting."   Crafters, hobbyists, and DIYers have dropped to their knees in reverence for the site, which allows them to learn more about their passions.  Want to learn how to reupholster your Grandma's chaise?  Pinterest will teach you.  Need to find a recipe for Jalapeño Corn Chowder?  Pinterest.  Trying to figure out a more humane way of simulating fireflies in a jar?  Pinterest !!! If you read my piece Confessions of a Seasonal Crafter you know that I am not the most artsy-crafty person.  So, when my friend Megan sent me an invitation to join Pinterest, I didn't immediately click "accept."  Then, one

The Hall of Mirrors by Leah Marie Brown Bonjour Mes Amies!  Yoooowhoooo? Is anyone there?   I have been such a woefully neglectful blogger, I would not be at all surprised if even my most faithful followers abandoned the hope of reading another of my posts. To that I can only say, Je suis  désolé .  Actually, I can think of one other thing to say, "Please come back!  I'll try harder, I promise." My personal life can be overwhelming at times, like an overbearing house guest it barges in and keeps me from that which I truly love (writing). Life can be like that sometimes, can't it?  Overwhelming.  Draining.  Myopia-inducing. We can get so caught up in our daily struggles that we forget to slow down, take a breath, look up . I've occasionally felt like that on my travels.  Take my first visit to Versailles, for example.  I experienced such overwhelming emotions I found it difficult to process all that I was feeling and seeing.  Late