Seedplanter’s Porch

©Bonnie Bruno 2009

So I returned home from five days camping on the coast, to find that my Day Trippin’ lens about Smith Rock State Park had been awarded a purple star. I like the color purple, but I really like that purple star. Thanks to whoever submitted the lens. I appreciate the Attagirl, because it was fun sharing one of my favorite spots with all of you.

This Day Trippin’ series has just begun. If you like traveling by proxy, stay tuned. I have two WIP lenses waiting in the wings…one on Crater Lake, and the other on the coastal region.  I took this sunset photo at Heceta Head around 8:20 p.m.

Glad to be back, and I’m eager to catch up on Squidlog and also check out new lenses that launched while I was away.

New to Squidoo? Make your own lens today!

Unless you’re caught in a time warp, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a rise in the cost of utilities, grocery prices, fuel, and more.  A vacation may be out of the question, but a day trip – a staycation – may be just what you need to clear your head. My husband and I have been taking day trips for years, partly because they’re economical, but mostly because they’re fun.

Amazing, how a few hours in any given direction can feel like an adventure. Just pack a picnic and go, or plan to grab lunch along the way. If you’re into photography as I am, take your camera and prepare to record the day in detail.

My latest lens, Day Trippin’, is the first in a series I am planning at Squidoo. This one features Smith Rock State Park, one of central Oregon’s most beautiful destinations. I’m not a travel writer, but I do love sharing photos and describing these day trips as I saw them. Hopefully they’ll spur you to plan a day trip of your own!

New to Squidoo? Make your own lens today!

Honesty isn’t something we slip into when the right mood strikes. It’s a character trait that’s developed early in life. Over time, like a butterfly squeezing from its cocoon, an honest mindset becomes a part of who we are–how we view our world, and how we react to difficult situations.

So begins my new lens, The Gift of Honesty, which sprang from a lesson I learned the hard way at the tender age of three.  It would have been easy for my dad to overlook that teachable moment, but instead, he saw the bigger picture and offered me a gift that has followed me all my life–a gift that truly keeps on giving.

As we shop and plan for the upcoming holidays and beyond, why not also consider ways to pass on priceless gifts that don’t require wrapping paper and ribbon. Gifts of the heart have the power to permanently bless their recipients long after the festivities end.

I’m living proof.

Later,

New to Squidoo? Make your own lens today!

Tom tweeted me early this morning to say that 140 words is NOT enough to express his excitement over receiving the honor of LOTD. Turkey’s Last Stand was an attempt to get the word out about the plight of this poor stressed-out bird. It now stands at #4 for humor & #270 overall–truly a surprise among his feathered friends.

Squidoo served that purpose, and he is happily serving his country in Minnesota. If you haven’t read his entire saga, Tom has updated the Intro at Turkey’s Last Stand to include all four lens links. Learn about his rich family heritage (don’t miss Vinny’s portrait), his struggles to escape Farmer’s axe before Thanksgiving, and his session with Dr. Helpa Byrd, the Turkiatrist who worked with Seedplanter and assorted members of Congress to find a solution to his dilemma. Oh, and don’t miss Cloud9’s excellent interview with Tom, on a day when he was hyperventilating and wondering what lay ahead in the…errr, axe department.

Squidoo’s influence has changed Tom’s world, and the turkeys of the world thank you.

(Now go out and have yourself a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!)

By nature, I’m a people watcher. I don’t mind waiting in lines or sitting in airports, where droves of people come and go. I’ve been known to shed a tear or two while watching families say hello or goodbye. Total strangers to me, but hey–it’s a sweet moment. I spent almost ten years freelancing for Hallmark International writing card concepts (art suggestion and text tie-in), so I suppose it helped that I liked observing people.

Maybe that’s why I also like bumper stickers. Each one is different, and reflects something about the driver. Bumper sticker books like this one are hilarious! Someone out there is collecting the best sightings of the year, apparently.

Whenever I’m stopped at an intersection, I automatically scan the bumper ahead of me for messages. Last week, this one stared back at me:

You know it’s going to be a bad day when you jump out of bed and miss the floor.

When I got home, I pulled out my file of bumpers sticker sightings and began reading through them. I started tossing them in a folder almost two decades ago. They’re as fun to read now as they were then.

Visit my new Squidoo lens, Bumper Sticker Central, to learn about the history of this practice. Putting messages on our vehicles started longer ago than I thought. Do you know what the first bumper stickers were made of? I didn’t, either. While you’re there, take a moment and leave your favorite bumper sticker sighting, in the Plexo list. (Don’t forget to vote!)

Take care, and remember…Reality is a figment of your imagination. <===bumper sticker sighting, 1992.

*Airport image by work the angles via Flickr