Friday, June 14, 2013

Focus on life: Week 24 ~ Green

Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime is hosting a year long challenge which is... sublime... as you'd expect with such a studio name. The challenge is named 'Focusing on Life' and every week Sally is sending a prompt on what should we focus the following week.

Being away for 2 weeks I missed the last 2 prompts, but I will come back during the week and complete it.

Can you believe we are at week #24?! That's almost half of the year gone! gone with the wind :)

I shouldn't complain, as I spent the past 2 weeks in a bliss of relaxation (more or less) - I did some admin work (apparently there is no getting away from that) and put up some fires (apparently there is no getting away from that either), but otherwise I did no work, I trained hard, I competed with joy and focus and I relaxed.

The range we've been at is in the middle of the Appalachians, in the heart of Pennsylvania - the hills are beautiful this time of the year (and most likely every time of the year!). The said range is located on a farm - a pheasant farm. What do birds eat? Real birds eat grains, and these were real birds :)

Somehow I missed the fields last year - or it just didn't click or maybe I was just more aware of the green around me because of Sally's prompt! All I know is that on our first day driving to the farm I was invaded by them - and hit with memories of childhood too.

Focus on life: Green: Wheat Fields at Mertz Farms, Keystone Shooting Park, Dalmatia, Pennsylvania :: All Pretty Things

You see - I haven't seen wheat fields in more years than I care to count (most likely more than the number of weeks that passed by this year). I've forgotten about their deep stern green: it's not the happy-singing green of the trees, it's not the froggy green: it's serious green. And the sound it makes in the wind - it's so pleasant and relaxing!

Focus on life: Green: Wheat Fields at Mertz Farms, Keystone Shooting Park, Dalmatia, Pennsylvania :: All Pretty Things

 You can almost see how it's going to look in a few months - all golden!

Focus on life: Green: Wheat Fields at Mertz Farms, Keystone Shooting Park, Dalmatia, Pennsylvania :: All Pretty Things

I love the drive to- and from- Pennsylvania: wherever we're coming from (Ohio, New York, Washington DC, South Carolina) we have to get through the mountains (there is a funny story about the mountains, remind me to tell you someday).

Weather really liked us this time - it barely rained while we trained or were in competitions. It did rain on Monday after competition, allowing us to do simply nothing! Then it was nice and sunny again - until the time came to leave to get home:

This is an incredible combination of rain with fog with a hidden sun. Somewhere through the hills of New York, on a detour :)

Focus on life: Green ~ Through the hills of New York through fog and rain :: All Pretty Things

As we got closer to Canada the rain cleared out and it all became calm and nice again - and yes, that's the flag that sits in the front with me, in the air radiator (a small paper flag :) ). It helps us feel at home wherever we are!

Focus on life: Green ~ Always at home with the Canadian flag :: All Pretty Things

This is my take on green for this week - for more refreshing views or cars and frogs (you must check Marlene's post for this prompt!) and whatnot - please come and chat with us.

We gather as Miss Sally's and we welcome you!

19 comments:

  1. I will never forget the marvelous Pennsylvania Dutch country we visited many times in years gone by. Thanks for the memories. LOL, and guess you enjoyed my little visitor to our spa. Hugs

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  2. Stunning photos! Looks like Little House on the Prairie country :)
    Have a wonderful week :)

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  3. We have the most wonderful views out of our windows over a nature reserve. Every day is different and sometimes it changes by the hour

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  4. What beautiful landscapes you drove through, and what lovely shades of green.

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  5. It is been a long time since I have driven through the hills of Pennsylvania. Your photo of the fields makes me want to get in the car and go for a drive.

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  6. what beautiful, expansive views Alicia ... it really does just relax you looking at it!

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  7. Beautiful travelogue - it's been a bit since I've been through that area.

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  8. What a 'serious' (and lovely!) shade of green that wheat field is! All the green in your surroundings this week are awesome. My only question is, w/all that rain,...how was the humidity?! I'm sure it would have killed this desert rat in an instant! LOL!! I love your shades of green this week!

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  9. Beautiful green landscape Alicia. I'm glad you got a vacation.

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  10. Wonderful green interpretation and very fitting and useable prompt for your travels. Like the reflection of the flag too!

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  11. I love road trips and the beautiful green scenery this time of year. I like the idea of your flag to feel at home!

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  12. This took me back to my childhood. We'd take the drive from VA to NY several times a year to visit my Grandparents in upstate. Beautiful drive - pretty photos you got!

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  13. A wonderful trip and beautiful photos. I'm glad the weather cooporated for the most part.

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  14. I can do without the fog.. We get that alot.. But what gorgeous photos.

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  15. What a gorgeous landscape for your journey! Our regular drive to visit family in Kentucky I don't recall as so green. More than once we would celebrate Canada Day here and make it down for the 4th to celebrate... and we would always have our own paper flags along since they were freshly acquired!

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  16. We've been getting a lot of fog and rain this year.. but this weekend is sunny . Green is really a lovely colour for landscape!

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  17. Lovely green fields you found! Sounds like you enjoyed your trip!

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate and love to read your comments!