Ring Out the Old and Ring in the New!

For some of you reading this, you've already rung in the New Year and for others like myself, it is about to happen in a few hours. May it be a safe and happy celebration and here's to a new year! As an optimist, I always hope that it will be better than this year-not that this year was bad, I just hope for better!

Small pleasures in life-I bought myself a new rake so that I could more efficiently rake all the doggone (yes, it's come to that as it is a prolific tree that produces every day) macadamia nuts. However, since I bought it, it has been rainy every day-which interferes with my progress on this project! As of 2 hours ago, we've already had more than 4" of rain today and it has rained non-stop since the wee hours of the morning. It's not a storm per se, just a LOT of wet. It's a La Nina kind of weather pattern right now. But, I think better the rain than an epic snow storm, that's for sure!

Join us as a group of us (yes-there are many of us!) from around the world post our shadow shots over at Shadow Shot Sunday 2. Entertain your muse and be amused by stopping by to see what others have posted!

Holiday Greetings and Glad Tidings!

Is it here already? It's here. Oh, my. Where did the time go and why so fast?

I wanted to take the time to say thank you so much to our SSS2 hosts who have been so steadfast for all of us. I know our numbers have dwindled and I think it's because it has become difficult for some reason to post comments on other's blogs. I know I have not been able to post on other Blogger platforms like I used to. It seems that the ones that do go through are the ones that have some level of moderation (automated or publisher moderation).

In spite of that, I DO hope that this shadow shot tradition lives on into 2017 and years beyond. I love seeing what others see by way of their shadow shots. The variety is endless!

Thank you Magical Mystery Teacher and Gemma (am I missing anyone now?) for being such gracious hosts that allows us this weekly indulgence!

For all of you out there-have a Happy Christmas and a Merry Holiday!

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Shadow Puppets

These do remind me of shadow puppets-much like something you'd see in Balinese theater. But, in reality, they are heliconia leaves that have been whipped around by the wind. Like soldiers marching after a long fought battle.

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Deck the Halls!

Even holiday shadows seem festive, don't they? It was hard to imagine 6 months ago what it would be like to be back in the home I grew up in (and be the adult in charge) and getting the house decorated for Christmas. But, lo and behold! The time has zipped by all too quickly and I am in disbelief that the end of the year is looming before us. How is it that the older we get, the faster the time goes? I'd like to hear Einstein's explanation for that one, please!

Well, no matter. It is what it is and I'll embrace it wholeheartedly!

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Pull Up A Chair

Afternoon sun spilling into the dining room calling attention to the back of the chair and it's silhouette. A sweet moment in time and definitely a reason to celebrate the mundane. Don't let it pass you by!

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Something To Be Glad About

Hopefully, those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a great gathering whether it be with family and/or friends or even if it was a party of one. After we got home from our event last night and everyone else went to bed, I ended up watching a remake of the movie, "Pollyanna" on Public Television. I remember watching the Disney version in black and white with Haley Mills when I was young. I'd say that I think I like this version better. You notice more details about the story. Pollyanna ended up living with her spinster Aunt after being orphaned and she managed to enchant the entire village with her cheerful perspective in life by making everyone play her 'glad game'. It was a game where you had to think of something to be glad about because she felt that there was always something that you could be glad about. I think I sometimes do a similar thing but instead, I think about all the things that could be worse which makes me glad about whatever it is that I am dealing with.

So, what is it that you are glad about?

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Imagination Rules With Vincent Bal

This series of images are just too much fun to not share them with you all. So imaginative! (From Colossal website): Belgian filmmaker and illustrator Vincent Bal works within the confines of long shadows of everyday objects resting in the sunlight to create a wide range of whimsical doodles.

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Wood Nymphs Live Here

Well, it would seem as though wood nymphs live here at the bottom of this tree amongst all that moss. That's what I'd like to think.

Maybe I should've knocked at their door to see if anyone was home.

Out for a morning walk...

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A Secret Garden

Molokai is a small island no matter which way you look at it. I don't even think that there are even 8,000 people that reside here-which means that everyone knows everybody's business. There are no secrets. Or, are there? Most everyone on the island drives by this garden if not once a day, then at least once a week. And yet, I'd venture that most do not know or have seen this secret garden. It's not a plant nursery even though it looks like one. It's just someone's hobby! Either way, I won't spill the beans and continue to keep this a secret garden.

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Nailed

Art by Rick Mills: "Once Empty, Twice Full" at the State of Hawaii Public Art Museum (where the state's public art collection is exhibited). Cast glass and bronze.

Rick's inspiration for this piece stems from his observation of plants and animals that are forever embedded and fossilized in amber.

A fascinating concept and work-right down to the rail road tie!

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Ho'okupu: Offerings of Gratitude

Ho'okupu is a Hawaiian tradition and is in practice today just as much as it had been in days gone by. In a nutshell, they are offerings given freely as an expression of gratitude, respect, and aloha. These offerings can be manifested in many ways. Food wrapped in a ti-leaf bundle is very common. It isn't that the expectation is that one would eat what is in the offering-it is often a symbolic gesture-one will find these offerings in many locations. I often see them in the park that I take walks in-up at a sacred rock called the Phallic Rock. It is an ancient Hawaiian fertility rock. These kinds of offerings are very personal and one could not begin to second guess why that particular offering was made.

The Hawaiian culture is a very sharing and generous culture. Even though I am not of Hawaiian ancestry, this is my culture. For example-you never show up at someone's house empty handed-you bring along some food or gift to share or leave with your host.

The word, "ho'okupu" means, to generate growth-fostering a reciprocal relationship.

Pretty nice, huh?

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Chevrons

It was the Chevron pattern of this shadow that caught my eye from afar. Two things that I really like-shadows and patterns! 

Even though we don't have distinct seasons here in Hawaii, it definitely is fall as the temperatures drop a bit. Not much, but enough to put warmer bedding on the bed. Nice part is, the cat gets more snuggly when it's cooler!

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The Big Picture

If you look carefully at the second image, you can see where the detail of the top image is. The early morning light has just as magical (but different) a quality as the late afternoon light does. Colors are more saturated and the contrast is higher-things that photographers find to be the magic of light that makes capturing it so curiously satisfying.

Walking in the beauty around me and celebrating the mundane.

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Grace and Light

Graceful shapes and lines paired with the right light makes for a beautiful shadow recipe. No matter what the subject matter is.

Need I say more?

Although, I can't believe that it really is October already.

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Patterns

I don't know about you, but I found these patterns and shadows to be quite hypnotic!

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Finding Aloha

Wow-is it just me or is the time really whizzing by faster than you can keep up with? When you think about it, September is more than halfway over which means October looms then November and December and then there goes the year. How is this possible?

The image pictured here is the road that cuts through the park near my home that I go for walks in about 2-3 times a week. This week, someone did some 'graffiti' on the road with this 'Aloha'  sign. I'm sure the state park workers will be obligated to remove it, but I'll bet anything they'll be reluctant to do so. But, it's nice to find 'Aloha' in unexpected places!

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Kitchen Angel

Doesn't matter to me if you believe in angels or not-I certainly do! We are lucky to have hurricane Lester stay to the north of us last weekend. Too close for comfort! I'd like to think that the angels heard our prayers and answered them.

I like to collect what I would call 'funky' angels-particularly if they are made from bits and pieces of recycled stuff. I like to keep them in my kitchen and this is one of them. I love how someone else can see the possibility with with a few pieces of things. I don't particularly care for angels made from sea shells though. Don't know why. I guess I have my particulars in regards to this.

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Shower Tree Shadows

Trees make for great shadows-often reminding me of something. This one looks like they are waving as the parade goes by.

It's been hurricane season here in Hawaii and we've got them for sure, as we are witnessing two back to back hurricanes this week. Hurricane Madeline veered off to the south-storm surges from the waves caused enough damage on the Big Island, but still, was too close for comfort. Lester, which was right behind Madeline, seemed even more formidable as it has the potential to cause lots of damage to most of the islands. As I write this, it has weakened and seems to be taking a more northerly path. I'm hoping that by this time tomorrow, we will really be heaving a big sigh of relief.

Here on Molokai, we depend on the barge to come in twice a week to deliver our goods-everything, really. While shopping on Tuesday, I learned that there will be no barge until Thursday of next week (barge comes in on Mondays and Thursdays) due to the storms. That meant stocking up on what you normally go to the store for twice a week. We also have to make sure our vehicles have full tanks of gas since fuel comes in once a month by barge (and I've yet to learn what that schedule is). Someone once told me that life here on Molokai is simpler but harder. The dependency on the barge delivering goods can make it harder. When the store runs out, they are out until the barge comes in. Having said this, I hope this shifts your perspective when you are out grocery shopping-we always have much to be thankful for, right?

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If These Rocks Could Talk

Living back home on Molokai now, I get to go for walks in this really magical forest that is part of a state park only 2 miles from my door. I usually go alone but I am never alone when on these walks. This forest talks a lot. The wind going through the trees-almost always a constant. The birds warbling throughout the day, a branch falling in the distance. 

And the light. Oh, the light! I never get tired of seeing how the light changes each time I am there. It is a very meditative place to be, this forest.

And then, there are the rocks. Or, boulders, I might say. They are full of stories from the past. Stories I will never know, but things they have been there for. I keep asking them to reveal these stories, but they remain silent-waiting for that moment that is right.

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Guessing Game

Can you guess what this is a shadow of? Leave your guesses in the comment section below first before checking what the answer is. Good luck!

You can find the answer to what it is here on this page.

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