Taking in Life Around Me.....#Sundaystills....Theme: The earth/earth day

This #sundaystills challenge is hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure. It's a great themed photography challenge that you'll enjoy. I love seeing the other participants interpretation of the theme each week...it causes me to think outside the box. I joined in hopes of it pushing me to get out and take more photos...I have to some degree, but I also like that Terri is okay with us finding photos in our archives, which is also a lot of fun. So check out my photos and then head over to Terri's page to participate or visit other's posts. There are some awesome contributors who always inspire me.

This weeks challenge is around Earth Day. Photos can be anything we interpret that has to do with earth. Sometimes I complicate things and think too literally...I put myself in a box. 

When we visited Italy in 2019, our first stop was Venice, and while I'm sure there were green spaces somewhere, we didn't really see them so when we made it to Como and I spied grass, I couldn't wait to take my shoes off and feel the grass beneath my feet. 

Have you ever heard of earthing? Or otherwise known as grounding? I hadn't until I started seeing posts. I'm not sure how it all works, but wouldn't you agree that there's nothing like going barefoot..in the grass, on the sand, in the water? Connecting our bodies with nature definitely has it's positive affects. Here's a definition from Science Direct

Earthing (also known as grounding) refers to the discovery that bodily contact with the Earth's natural electric charge stabilizes the physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves blood flow, energy, and sleep, and generates greater well-being.

This picture was taking in 2012 I think (wow that seems like forever ago)..This area is off the Eagle Creek Trail and sadly was hit by a man made forest fire back in 2017. It burned 48,000 acres, jumped the Columbia River (which is HUGE) and scorched forests in Washington too. It trapped 150 hikers who thankfully were rescued but had to hiker further than expected and had to spend the night. All caused by a teenager thinking it would be fun to throw a firework down the ravine. Every year forest fires hit and it's heartbreaking. 

I love finding rocks at the beach. I'm always on the hunt for a few pretty or unique ones. 

Ahhh greenery makes me happy...ferns growing out of trees, water drops on bright green leaves. 

Nature and wildlife depend on us to take care of the planet we've been given. These turtles are at a wildlife refuge near my home. I need to get back there soon. It's so pretty and peaceful.  Here is my post from last week for #WQ. I found a quote by Theodore Roosevelt that said "Wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so we must and we will"

I wonder who inhabits this old stump. I love walking a trail and seeing things left to their own. This was along a trail at Silver Falls State park. 

One thing we noticed in Switzerland was the many ways they use their limited spaces in the city. Community gardens and terraced yards, that made use of the space growing flowers, vegetables, trees. I loved it. I even spy some beehives. 

Flowers aren't just for their beauty and our enjoyment...they have so many other beneficial roles that we don't even think about. 

This book store in Venice is called Librairie Acqua Alta. It is a self proclaimed "Most beautiful bookstore in the world". Overstuffed rooms filled with books, magazines, etc. The name means books store of high water. They keep many of their books on higher shelves and in bathtubs and boats. But one thing they also do with books that have been damaged, instead of throwing them away they reuse them by adding them in quirky ways throughout the stores interior and exterior, like above, creating a sort of wall. That's one way to keep them out of landfills, or wherever garbage goes in Venice. 

One of our favorite companies is Naturebacks. My youngest is a rep for them. Their about page is awesome and they are all about sustainability...which is a win. They have so many cool prints, all themed around nature. Check them out and if you order, use code nbrepkristianna for a discount. 

As we walked through this forest on Orcas Island there were many downed trees. I believe they come through and cut these on purpose to thin them out. 

I felt like the above mural was a beautiful symbol of what Earth Day and caring for our local landscapes is about. Found it on a building on either Orcas Island or in Friday Harbor. I don't remember which one.

Nothing more peaceful than walking through the woods. The quiet except for your footsteps, the birds, maybe the sound of some water nearby.

How can you not want to take care of all we've been given stewardship over. I will never understand those who litter, those who feel the need to destroy or damage this beautiful land. 

Visiting Kelley's Island on Lake Erie was such a treat. The amount of beauty, sounds of nature, was just what a body and soul needs. 

Another reason to take care of our planet. This little guy wandered onto the beach when we were in Ohio. A local gently took him back to the marshy area that he wandered away from. 

Our 2017 visit to NYC was wonderful but we definitely couldn't wait to get back home. Yes cities are exciting, and many people LOVE living in a big city, but nope, not me..I enjoy living close enough to visit, but want my rural setting to live in. 

This sign was on a post in NYC. It is even sad that it has to be there, and probably even sadder that those who it was written for, more than likely don't even care. I won't even start with how I feel about all the garbage etc...that is all over the cities and in the waters. Today I walked outside of work and there was a mask lying in the parking lot. 

I'm certainly not perfect when it comes to doing everything I can, but I sure do try. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin