Posted in Favorite Hikes, Nature, Travel, Uncategorized, Weekly Photo Challenge, tagged Arches National Park, balance rock, John Muir, nature, pat bean, postaday, rocks, weeklyphotochallenge on April 1, 2012| 2 Comments »
“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir
Balanced Rock, Arches National Park, Utah
Mother Nature's arrangement of rocks was used in the opening scenes of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." -- Photo by Pat Bean
Bean’s Pat: Ummm, really? http://tinyurl.com/6t3vgps Start your day with a song.
Posted in Books, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged fantasy books, pat bean, postaday, rain wild chronicles, reading, Robin Hobb on March 31, 2012| 4 Comments »
“The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.” – Albert Einstein
I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.” – Dr. Seuss
Don’t Do That To Me Robin
Look what you did to me Robin. My hair might not last until the fourth Rain Wilds book is published. -- Art by Pat Bean
I’m a big fan of fantasy books, but particular about which ones I read. Actually I’m that way about all the books I read, which includes just about all genres except horror, or books where the dark side dominates the pages.
Along with wanting a good plot that keeps me turning the page, a book’s characters must have both strengths and failings and grow in depth as the story progresses.
Without a character with whom I can connect, a book gets tossed aside at my self-imposed 50-page benchmark — or at the end of the first free chapter that Amazon provides Kindle users.
Poor writing, naturally, will turn me off much sooner.
I have many mystery authors that I follow but far fewer fantasy authors. That’s because an abundance of them seem not to measure up to my 50-page limit. This means when I find an author I enjoy, I usually read everything they write, and eagerly await their new offerings.
I took this photo today at the Sonora Desert Museum in an area that talked about prehistoric Arizona. It's only connection to this blog is that it reminded me of the kind of creatures on finds in fantasy books. -- Photo by Pat Bean
George Martin, whose series, “Game of Thrones,” I started reading when it first came out, taught me a lesson, however. His lengthy sabbatical between books convinced me to wait until a series was completed before beginning it.
With this in mind, it was with great delight that a few years ago I came across the work of Robin Hobb. I read her first book, “Assassin’s Apprentice,” in the Farseer Trilogy and was deeply hooked. In rapid succession, I absorbed the other two books in the trilogy and then continued n with her Liveship, Tawny Man and Soldier Son trilogies.
Soldier Son was weird, but even that I couldn’t put down. Of the other three trilogies, I would be hard-pressed to name a favorite as I loved each and every one of them.
At the time I discovered her, Hobb was still writing her Rain Wilds Chronicles. I patiently waited until the trilogy was finished before I began reading them. Last night, I finished the third in the series, only to be left hanging.
Unbeknownst to me, this series has a fourth book, which isn’t out yet.
AAAAccccchhhhh!!!!
Posted in Favorite Places, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged cardiff hill, hannibal, mark twaid, Missouri, pat bean, postaday, tom sawyer on March 14, 2012| 6 Comments »
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ” — Mark Twain
Tom and Huck’s Cardiff Hill
Mark Twain put Hannibal on the map, and the city is now using the places where Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn played and roamed to entice people to the tourist town. You can take a ride on a paddle boat, tour the dark corners of the cave Tom and Becky got lost in, visit his home and walk up 253 steps to get to the top of Cardiff Hill. I did them all, simply because. -- Photo by Pat Bean
I climbed the steps and then discovered the road that most others took to the top. I think I would have taken those steps even if I knew the road existed, however. That’s just who I am.
Bean’s Pat: Camping With a Canine in Cornwall http://tinyurl.com/726he22 This reminded me of many of my own adventuress when I was a tent camper. .
Posted in Journeys, Uncategorized, tagged beagles, dogs, Houston Beagle rescue, pat bean, postaday, rescue animals on March 12, 2012| 31 Comments »
At night she will sleep quietly (but reluctantly) in a dog crate at her foster home, ever hopeful of earning a spot on the “big” bed. During the day she is allowed to be loose in the house, as she does not chew things and she gets along with the other dogs. She WILL sometimes bark at noises outside, and makes quite a racket when the humans are either leaving or coming home — for such a little thing, she does have a very loud bark! Therefore she might not be a great fit for an apartment unless the neighbors can be informed that the occasional squeals are from a protesting dog and not a banshee! (grin)
She knows how to use a doggie door, but little princess that she is, she really prefers not to go outside unless accompanied by a human friend. The ideal home for Meghan will be a quiet one where there is not a lot of activity. She would not be comfortable with young children or super active dogs. There might have been some traumatic incidents in her past that led her to worry about her safety, so she worries about being picked up quickly or being bumped by rowdy dogs. She will be a loyal and loving companion to anyone who can give her lots of love and attention. To adopt Meghan or one of our other rescued beagles, please follow the instructions on our website and complete an application to adopt.
She's got melt-your-heart-chocolate-brown eyes and a regalness about her that prompted me to call her Princess Meghan. -- Photo by Pat Bean
I discovered the above notice on the Internet — and immediately knew I had found a perfect new companion for my RV travels.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged ants, cats, contrast, pat bean, postaday on March 12, 2012| 1 Comment »
“In order to keep a true perspective of one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.” — Dereke Bruce
Pippin atop my daughter-in-law's Escape -- Photo by Pat Bean
This week’s photo challenge to demonstrate contrast naturally had me thinking of color. So this morning when I saw golden-haired Pippin sitting on top of my daughter-in-law’s black Escape, my mind went “AHA!”
I grabbed my camera and went out to take his picture, knowing that this was a cat who would pose for me. He’s that kind of cat.
Rocky sizing up what's under the Christmas tree. -- Photo by Pat Bean
I got his picture, but in the process I stepped on a bed of ants and they retaliated. Thankfully, they weren’t fire ants, but the leg that they crawled up and the hand that brushed them away stung for about half an hour.
And the pain was all for naught. When I looked at the photos, I realized they really didn’t show the contrast I wanted. .
Then I thought of Rocky, a fat, black and white, cat that belongs to my youngest daughter, and the contrasts between the two felines. .
Pippin is an outdoor cat that gets pleasure out of tormenting the neighborhood raccoons. He simply showed up one day at my son’s place and decided it was home.
He got neutered, is fed daily, and has a warm garage in which to sleep at night. But he remains an outdoor cat. Of all the cats in my large family’s menagerie, Pippin is my favorite. While very independent, he’s always ready for human contact and loving from any human who enters his territory.
He considers himself an animal guard cat, however, and any trespassing dogs should beware..
Rocky, on the other hand, was rescued during a Guam typhoon by my daughter and is not allowed outside. He’s picky about whom he cozies up to, preferring my son-in-law’s lap to any other.
His primary playmate is a great Dane, whom he bosses around.
So, for contrast, I offer up Pippin and Rocky.
Bean’s Pat: where’s my toothbrush: Camel Riding in Jaisalmer http://tinyurl.com/7phjrsn A delightful travel blog about a camel adventure in India.
Posted in Favorite Hikes, Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged carman miranda, leonardo da vinci, pat bean, postaday, rivers, virgin river, Winnie the Pooh, Zion National Park on February 15, 2012| 5 Comments »
“In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.” Leonardo da Vinci
All cares drop away when I hike Zion National Park's Gateway to the Narrows trail, an easy 2-mile out -and-back roundtrip that parallels the Virgin River. -- Photo by Pat Bean
“Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” Winnie the Pooh.
Bean’s Pat: Philosopher of the Mouse Hedge: http://tinyurl.com/6mfskt4 Belly laughs and smiles. Especially if you click on the Carman Miranda link at the end. Remember her – and her energy. I smiled all the way through the clip.
Posted in Art, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged Dr. Seuss, frida kahlo, pat bean, postaday, strange on February 15, 2012| 13 Comments »
“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.” Frida Kahol
Roots, a strange painting by Frida Kahlo
Frida’s quote explains everything perfectly — at least to all of us who grew up thinking we were strange.
And if the women I know best are examples, Frida’s feeling about being strange is pretty much a universal thing. It’s too bad that too many of us let decades go by before we appreciate our own special strangeness.
Dr. Seuss' world at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. -- Photo by Pat Bean
We’re too caught up in what others expect, or what other people will think if we do something strange, like hugging a tree or riding roller coasters when we’re 70. Yes, I do both.
I also think men have problems accepting their strangeness. After all “only sissies cry” and “real men don’t eat quiche.”
Why in the dookie have we allowed others to have so much power over us?
Frida used her strangeness to produce mind-bending art. .
Dr. Seuss, whose characters you must admit are a bit strange, embraced it with his unconventional stories and verse. He also understood how difficult it was for the rest of us to accept being different. Why else would he have wrote:
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind … Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
I say we follow Dr. Seuss’ advice.
Bean’s Pat: http://morezennow.wordpress.com This is the blog on which I found Frida’s quote. It’s a blog that makes me think, and I love it when someone does that to me.
Posted in Birds, Favorite Places, Travel, Uncategorized, Weekly Photo Challenge, tagged Canada goose, design by Martina, farragust state park, Idaho, mother teresa, pat bean, postaday, readiness on February 13, 2012| 8 Comments »
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it.” – Mother Teresa
A Canada goose READY for take off at Farragut State Park in Northern Idaho. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Bean’s Pat: Martina’s Design Studio: Gone Too Far To Turn Back. http://photosbymartina.wordpress.com/ Words to live by.
Posted in Journeys, Travel, Uncategorized, Weekly Photo Challenge, tagged henry david thoreau, launch, pat bean, postaday2012, scary, skydiving, weeklyphotochallenge on January 7, 2012| 9 Comments »
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau
Launching myself out of an airplane was a scary moment -- but I smiled all the way down. -- Photo by NikNak
I’ve always thought the advice to do something that scares you at least once a year was good advice. Besides the jolt of adrenalin it gives your brain, it helps in gaining a true appreciation for life.
Following that advice wasn’t hard to do when white-water rafting was my passion. But with age, that activity drifted away with the currents. I found that canoeing was more in tune with my body.
When I turned 70, I got my annual jolt of adrenalin by jumping out of an airplane, which I thought perfectly fit this week’s photo challenge.
But I now I face another challenge. What can this wandering/wondering old broad do this year to scare herself. I’m open to suggestions.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged Birds, birdwatching, great egret, Lake Jackson, pat bean, postaday2011, Sea Center, Texas on December 28, 2011| 2 Comments »
There's gotta be a tasty morsel down there somewhere -- Photo by Pat Bean
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters.” — Ursula K. Le Guin
Pat Bean is a writer, avid birder, hiker and passionate nature observer with wanderlust in her soul. She spent nine years living and traveling in a small RV. She now lives in Tucson with Scamp, a rescue who was supposed to be a Schnauzer mix but turned out to be a Siberian Husky-Shih Tzu mix who is as stubborn as his owner, her granddaughter says. She was also a journalist for 37 years, and can be reached at patbean@msn.com
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