The Long Route Home


There’s not much to look at out the window today. The sky has decided to be gloomy. It looks like it’s going to rain but when? I have absolutely no idea.

There are also not much to look at beneath my feet either. Most times, it’s just concrete or asphalt. The prettiest ground I’ve seen around here is the Gateway Mall in Downtown Salt Lake but I haven’t been there for about two years and the last time, I didn’t bring my camera with me. Oh well.

Therefore I am going to just share some pictures from my walk yesterday.

wpid-dscf0254.jpg

Before I left, I went into the backyard to see how the garden is doing. The last time I checked was a few weeks ago. Anyway, I’ve been so busy taking pictures of the garden that I have completely forgotten the mint bushes in the corner. The smell was so pungent as I leaned in for a picture not to mention there are bees everywhere. Well, they don’t call it “The Beehive State” for nothing.

wpid-dscf0245.jpg

This is a watermelon flower. Mom’s been nagging me to take a picture and send it to my aunt in China.

It is hard to believe that this pretty little flower will very soon become a watermelon. I took this yesterday morning and last night, when mom went out to water the plants, she shrieked, “so many watermelon flowers! We’re going to have so many melon this year!” I was genuinely amazed since I only spotted this single flower just hours earlier.

wpid-dscf0257.jpg

Of course, my photo walk have to include a picture of the sky. I thought this cloud looked like a funnel.

wpid-dscf0266_20150807094635740.jpg

I walked two laps (1 mile) and half of the third lap before I exited the park through the alley next to my aunt’s house and took another route home. It is the long route, about half mile out of the way but it was well worth it.

wpid-dscf0267_20150807095815034.jpg

This picture has been altered just a tiny bit because the truck’s license plate was showing too clearly but not by much. I just picked the effect that blurred the background just a little.

Overall, I think I made the right choice to take the long route. I think I will take this route again and take more pictures next time.

Daily Prompt – Through the Window

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge – Beneath Your Feet

Clouds


I took pictures of clouds and as I was playing with them in the photo-editing app on my tablet, I was inspired to do something else with them. I hope you enjoy these pictures.

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge – Inspiration

Daily Prompt – Clouds

Two Miles Walk


My mom has this horrible habit that really pick on my nerve. She picks the worst time to do anything, which it’s whenever I’m busy doing my stuff (studying, blogging, writing etc). I tell her “not right now.” She would reply, “Yes, right now.”

This past week, she had been picking my TV time to make me go for a walk with her. Hello, I’m in the middle of something! Besides, I hate going out right before nightfall. That’s when all the bugs come out and I always end up getting bit by something. I asked why we can’t go earlier, her answer was “because it’s too hot.”

There is nothing hot about this summer. The temperatures of most days have been in the 80’s which is cool for the summer.

Another thing I don’t like about these walks is that she walks fast. Her pace is always too fast for walking yet too slow for jogging. She also likes to talk while walking. I can barely catch my breath with that pace. If I walked just a tad slower, she’d immediately assume I can’t keep up. She wouldn’t slow down but instead she would begin blaring me with mean words.

  • If you don’t start exercising, you’d be dead at 33. I don’t care. I’ll just get the insurance money and you can go join your dad and step-dad.
  • If you don’t start exercising, how do you expect to face your relatives when you go back to China?
  • If you don’t start exercising, your legs will be thick like an elephant leg.
  • Look at your legs, they are paler than that of a pig.

Why would anyone say such terrible, offensive, and hurtful things?

Tonight, I really want to watch TV, my favorite show’s on and I’ve been waiting an entire week to watch it. So to satisfy her, I went for a two mile walk this morning and because my mom doesn’t really trust anyone these days, I took some pictures for proof but I know it won’t matter. She will just say, “I don’t care. Your death is your problem.” Ouch! 😦

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge – Close Up

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge – Inspiration

Summer Harvest


So here are some pictures from the recent harvest of blackberries. I have a suspicion there is a lot to come.

wpid-dscf0174_20150715101601601.jpg

My mom picked these. I told her to only pick the ones that are black as coal but she didn’t believe me. After all, what do I know? I’ve only been the sole harvester of blackberries for last three years or so.

“Whatever,” she said and popped a red one into her mouth.

“I told you,” I sighed as I watched her squeeze her eyes shut like she had just drunk a spoonful of apple cider vinegar. “The red ones are extremely sour.” I told her afterwards.

That’s why it’s called blackberries and not red berries because they are only sweet when it’s black. I think she had learned her lesson though, just like I learned mine back in 2012. I guess there’s always a first time for everything.

wpid-dscf0156.jpg

Here is a close-up on the blackberries bushes. It’s just a matter of time before these ripen and are ready to be picked.

wpid-dscf0145.jpg

There is! One ripened blackberry. They are sweet as sugar.

wpid-dscf0164.jpg

Just to give you a perspective of the amount of berries in the backyard. This is just a fraction. I thought after my aunt botched the pruning last fall, we would have less berries or none at all this year but instead, we have more. It is incredible.

wpid-dscf0154.jpg

Here are the watermelons my mom planted about two weeks back. Look at how much they’ve grown. Apparently, watermelons like heat and water. That’s probably why people love it so much in the summer. I am so looking forward to this harvest.

wpid-dscf0146.jpg

Finally, while the roses are taking a break, the dahlias are blooming in the front yard. Not a lot though, after all, we have just planted them last Summer. It’ll take a little time to grow. This flower has been around for about a week or two and that is already longer than the roses.

Photo101: Landscape


I take a lot of landscape shots but I rarely take panoramic picture. It’s just too time-consuming and having shaking hands do not help. However, when I can’t resist, I would spend however long to take a perfect panorama.

wpid-20141222_122854.jpg

For some of you, you may remember this picture from last Christmas. This picture is about as perfect as I can make a panorama turn out. It took me five tries and about 30 minutes to take this single shot. It’s worth it though because I’m pretty sure they only decorate this area at Christmas. It is the scene when everyone gather to witness the birth of Jesus Christ.

I did not and am not going to crop this picture because then, it would destroy the purpose of a panoramic picture.

I have also prepare the following pictures to show but I don’t have anything to say about them. They are just some picture I took during one of my walks in the park.

wpid-dscf9723.jpg

wpid-dscf9724.jpg

Photo101: Architecture and Monochrome


I was actually dreading this assignment because there are really not much architecture around here that’s worth showing in color let alone in black and white. Now that the project at my other job complete, I just have to go to work once a week to update the inventory and I never bring my camera for that. Then this morning, as I was digging around in search of some landscape pictures, I came across these. They aren’t much but I’m sure they belong in the category of some sort of architecture. Continue reading “Photo101: Architecture and Monochrome” →

My Muse


I am definitely obsessed with taking pictures of flowers, plants, and landscapes. What can I say? Those are the only things here.

At the moment, though, I don’t really have any landscapes pictures worthy of showing. So I will just stick with flowers. I took these just three days ago and since then, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Before I go, can someone please tell me the name of those pink flowers? I honestly don’t know. Thank you. 🙂

Response to Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Muse

Photo101: Play with Light


I wish I had shown this picture for yesterday’s prompt because it was taken a little more than a hour after the sun had risen. At the time (April), the sun didn’t rise until a little after seven. Continue reading “Photo101: Play with Light” →

Rainbow and More…


Last night, I sat in my new basement bedroom and looked around. I see a variety of things that fit the criteria of Roy G. Biv. But under this bright florescent lighting, the photos do not turn out so good. Therefore, I have decided to again, go to my archive and dig. I’ll show more later, if I have time. Enjoy. Continue reading “Rainbow and More…” →

Photo101: Warmth


It’s quite hard to capture something using the sun as the source of light, I think. I’ve tried in the past as you can see in the picture below. It is a picture of the sun on a cloudy day. I was pulling the camera to its maximum zoom (3-times). That’s why everything else look like it’s taken with a cheap phone camera. Continue reading “Photo101: Warmth” →

Random Photos of a Rainy Day


I hope everyone’s Thursday is going well. Continue reading “Random Photos of a Rainy Day” →

The Impact of a Mountain Range


I took Utah Geography a few years ago, it was filled with hard work (typically university level classes). Continue reading “The Impact of a Mountain Range” →

Forces of Nature


For this week’s photo challenge: Forces of Nature. Continue reading “Forces of Nature” →

All the Intricacy I’ve seen


I almost forgot about my trip to the Hearst Castle a few years ago. It’s a beautiful private landmark in Central California. It’s worth a visit. Each room in the castle is decorated with its own unique touch and from what I was told, most are hand-made. Continue reading “All the Intricacy I’ve seen” →

#AtoZChallenge – Y For Yellow


An obvious choice, isn’t it?

I went out into the garden yesterday. The storm from two weeks ago and last week had managed to kill all the blossoms. Though the trees grew tremendously, there was nothing but leaves. I doubt there’ll be fruit this year. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – Y For Yellow” →

Rainbow


This photograph was taken right outside my home on May 15, 2013 at approximately 8 pm.

Double Rainbow!

I know, it’s a bit weird that it’s still quite bright outside but that’s what time on the photo said.

A storm had just ended that day and a rainbow appeared. Where I live, a rainbow isn’t a rare event. I’ve seen a rainbow maybe five or six times in the eight years since I’ve moved here. I think I saw a little bit of the rainbow  after a summer storm last year but it was too small for me to capture it on camera.

I didn’t exactly want to go outside with the humidity and all but my mom insisted I go and snap a picture of the rainbow.  It was one of the few times the rainbow was right outside my home. Some of the rainbows I’ve seen was when we were driving home and I didn’t have a camera with me. I have to say I’m glad I did manage to capture this one. Otherwise, I would have nothing to write for today’s prompt.

Tranquil to Rage


Daily Prompt: Tell us about a time when you flew into a rage. What is it that made you so incredibly angry?

First of all, though mad and angry mean the same thing in American English, it does not in British English. Thus, “Mad” Hatter does not mean “Angry” Hatter. Secondly, I don’t fly into rage, I don’t think anyone does until you’re a very good actor. Thirdly, I don’t get angry in a second, it’s usually built, first annoyance, then irritation, and finally full on rage.

DSCF9850 1
You can even see the mountains in the distance That was taken 12 minutes after 3

Today of all days should be the day to be angry, at least for me. Why? Nothing is cooperating – the traffic, weather, and of all people, my mother! However, I am not.

What began as a cool light breeze this morning had turned into raging wind by the time I got out of class. As I settled myself in the computer lab, I could hear the wind howling and banging on the windows. I had expected this. After all, the radio did warn us yesterday about the wind warning and the storm that would bring rain and snow.

Late this morning, as I walked to the car, I could feel the wind pulling me back, not allowing me to go forward as garbage, tumbleweed, and debris flew across the way. I felt like I was pelted with garbage like some infamous person. So lucky nothing nailed me in the eyes.

At last, I made it to my car. I quickly threw my backpack into the trunk and climbed into the car, slamming the door shut. At that moment, I became nervous about the drive home with the strong wind and light car but I have to get over it.

Two blocks later, traffic began building. As I sat in the car with my head leaning against the head rest while listening to the radio and the howling of the wind, I became irritated. Can’t anything go right?

I thought back to this morning when my wonderful slumber was rudely interrupted for the second time this week by my mother’s early-bird phone calls. Yesterday, she called at 6:58 am and today at 6:40 am, more than half-hour before I was set to wake up. The reason for her call? To ask me to set up an order to buy stocks. “Do you think it’s a good idea to buy?” She had asked.

I yawned, still half-asleep. “That’s up to you.” I said, almost gagging from my retainers.

“What do you think?” I just sighed and awkward silence ensued, still pissed that she had woken me up so early. Then just as I halfheartedly wanted to hang up and go back to bed, she said, “Just set up the order.” So I did, hung up, and finally climbing back to my bed across the hall only to be woken up again less than 30 minutes later by my alarm.

Anyway, after a nerve-wrecking 40 minutes drive, I finally stepped through the door. My hair was full-blown messy but I was okay. I successfully made it down the canyon gripping tight to my swaying car’s steering wheel.

The sky is brownish, near red now. It will be a powerful storm, I can feel it just by the sound of the wind. “I am coming,” it howls. 🙂

DSCF9852 1
27 minutes later…
DSCF9853 1
6 minutes after that, you can’t really see it but the sky had changed a lot during those 33 minutes

Bald Eagle Sighting


I was browsing through my pictures when I came across these photographs. They were taken early February two years ago during my aunt’s second visit to the U.S. She had spent that Chinese New Year with us and together, we went to the Farmington Bay to watch the Bald Eagles. Apparently, bald eagles fly to Utah for the winter and the spot they settle every year is Farmington Bay which is the fresh water part of the Great Salt Lake.

It was quite a rough drive that day what with unpaved roads and ice but it was well worth it because we got to see America’s treasure up close. In keeping up with this week’s photo challenge theme Afloat, I have decided to show those pictures.

I hope you enjoy these pictures. 🙂

#AtoZChallenge – K For…


I’ve been searching the dictionary last night, trying to find a good word for “K” and there are none that inspire me whatsoever. So instead, I’m going to show you pictures of things that I know of that begin with “K”. Continue reading “#AtoZChallenge – K For…” →

My Walk to My Job


Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that after so many days, I still fail to mention this… Continue reading “My Walk to My Job” →

Asian Pear Blossoms


As promised, I am presenting the shots for the pear blossoms which I seized the opportunity to capture it yesterday morning. I think they might only be around for another week or so. Continue reading “Asian Pear Blossoms” →

Backyard Apple Blossoms


Remember last week, I posted shots of blossoming plum flowers in my front yard? Well, this morning, while I was letting the turtles roam free for a few minutes, I walked over and check, the flowers were like little wrinkly balls. I guess the blossom season for plums is over. Continue reading “Backyard Apple Blossoms” →

Ephemeral Flower and Sunrise


For this week’s photo challenge, I actually had to look up the word, ephemeral, in the dictionary. I’m still developing my vocabulary, you see. According to dictionary, ephemeral means… Continue reading “Ephemeral Flower and Sunrise” →