When I saw Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge topic today of “Sticks and Stones”, I knew I should have an image or two from our recent trip to enter. I remembered snapping quite a few “tree art” photos.
As we hiked to a waterfall on our trip, we passed by a burn area and I snapped another “tree art” photo that I thought would work well for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness photo challenge.
And lastly, here is my son having a stone skipping contest while we were visiting Grand Teton National Park. I’m pretty sure this is Jackson Lake. So, obviously, this image is for Cee’s “Sticks and Stones” challenge also.
Have a great day! I hope you do or learn something NEW!
Today I’m updating my National Parks bucket list since we visited Lassen Volcanic National Park on our trip last week.
First, we stopped at Manzanita Lake and walked all the way around it, then hiked the Kings Creek Falls Trail, and lastly, we hiked down to Bumpass Hell (see photos…that’s where all the hot steam comes out). There were warning signs to stay on the path, so we wouldn’t end up like Mr. Bumpass who had to get his leg amputated because of burns he’d received from falling through. We were, of course, very careful to do so!
We’re up to 19 out of 63. Many more to go!
LIST OF US NATIONAL PARKS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (63 total)
Acadia National Park {done}
Arches National Park {done}
Badlands National Park
Big Bend National Park
Biscayne National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park {done}
Bryce Canyon National Park {done}
Canyonlands National Park {done}
Capitol Reef National Park {done}
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Channel Islands National Park
Congaree National Park
Crater Lake National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park
Denali National Park and Preserve
Dry Tortugas National Park
Everglades National Park
Gates of the Arctic National Park
Gateway Arch National Park
Glacier National Park
Glacier Bay National Park
Grand Canyon National Park {done}
Grand Teton National Park {done}
Great Basin National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Great Smoky Mountains National Park {done}
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Haleakala National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park {done}
Hot Springs National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park
Isle Royale National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kings Canyon National Park {done}
Kobuk Valley National Park
Lake Clark National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park {done}
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mesa Verde National Park {done}
Mount Rainier National Park
National Park of American Samoa
New River Gorge National Park
North Cascades National Park
Olympic National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Redwood National Park {done}
Rocky Mountain National Park {done}
Saguaro National Park
Sequoia National Park {done}
Shenandoah National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Virgin Islands National Park
Voyageurs National Park
White Sands National Park
Wind Cave National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Yellowstone National Park {done}
Yosemite National Park {done}
Zion National Park {done}
Have a great day! I hope you do or learn something NEW!
I love the idea of having experiences that are so great people can’t put them into words. I wondered what some of those experiences might be, so after I created this image (with AI), I had AI come up with some ideas for such experiences. Here’s what it came up with:
*****
Experiencing nature in all its glory. Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, hiking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, or swimming with dolphins are all experiences that can leave you speechless.
Witnessing a powerful work of art. Visiting the Louvre Museum, seeing the Mona Lisa in person, or attending a concert by your favorite band are all experiences that can move you on a deep emotional level.
Connecting with a loved one on a profound level. Falling in love, having a child, or sharing a moment of deep grief with a close friend are all experiences that can create an unbreakable bond between two people.
Achieving a personal goal that you have worked hard for. Graduating from college, getting your dream job, or winning a marathon are all experiences that can bring a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that is hard to describe.
Making a difference in the world. Volunteering your time to help others, starting a charity, or making a scientific breakthrough are all experiences that can give you a sense of purpose and meaning in life.
Here are some more specific examples:
Seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky
Witnessing a birth or a death
Experiencing a deep religious or spiritual awakening
Coming close to death and then surviving
Helping to save someone’s life
Overcoming a major challenge or obstacle
Falling in love at first sight
Having a mystical or paranormal experience
Witnessing a natural disaster or other awe-inspiring event
Traveling to a new and exotic country
Learning a new language or culture
Meeting someone who changes your life
Ultimately, the experiences that are so great that people can’t put them into words are the ones that touch us on a deep level and leave us feeling changed forever. They are the experiences that make us feel alive, connected to the world around us, and grateful for all that we have.
*****
What do you think? Pretty accurate?
What NEW experience would you like to have that you might not be able to put into words? Something NEW to think about huh?
We returned home from a fun trip where we chased a bunch of waterfalls, rode e-bikes, and hiked and hiked and hiked! So, I need to update my Waterfalls Bucket List. I believe I’ve found my NEW favorite waterfall. Burney Falls in Shasta County, California was amazing! Here are some more views from the trees as we walked down to it, and then hiked up the other side of the creek.
And here’s a longer shot of the area.
We hiked to 7 different waterfalls on our trip. I’ll try to show the other photos in upcoming posts. I debated counting more than 7 because a few had lower falls, then we hiked to the middle falls and then to upper falls, but I guess I’ll just count one falls per creek. I’m at 56 out of my bucket list of 100! Many more to go!
Have a great day. I hope you do or learn something NEW today!
Happy Saturday. Here’s my bubble for peace (see Tom’s post HERE).
My bubble was created via AI MidJourney. (It’s so fun, but my son thinks I must be really bored to spend my time using AI to make pretty things haha!) But it’s NEW to me, so that’s a good thing.
Have a great day and I hope you do or learn something NEW too!
The NEW image above, taken recently in Amsterdam is my entry for Dan’s Thursday Doors challenge. The image below is for Cee’s CWWC challenge. As I was trying to capture the storm on the mountain this week, I was a bit perturbed with the ski lift right smack in my way, but I guess it works for this challenge. There’s always a bright side to everything eh?!
Have a great day! I hope you do or learn something NEW!
I finally went out for a short photo walk this week. My favorite capture from that walk is of all these white pumpkins. I like the lighting, I like the fall theme, and I like that I got a photo I like. Cuz that doesn’t always happen. haha! I wish I had more time to go on photo walks more often. I’ll just have to make that time, right?!
Well, that’s my NEWness for today. I hope you do or learn something NEW today too!
Isn’t this a gorgeous sunset?! I’m in debt to my sister-in-law for snapping this photo because I was too busy playing pickleball to stop and grab my phone to capture this beauty!
That’s me…right there (above). I really was playing, not just standing there, haha!
And, that’s NOT me (below). I tried something NEW this week. I tried Float Therapy. It was an interesting experience.
This Tedx Talks explains the benefits of Float Therapy; but in case you don’t want to watch the TEdx Talk, I’ll list a few benefits too.
Here is a list of the benefits of float therapy, based on scientific evidence:
Reduces stress and anxiety: Float therapy can help to reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body, while also increasing the levels of the mood-boosting hormone endorphins. This can lead to a reduction in stress levels, anxiety, and depression.
Improves sleep quality: Float therapy can help to improve sleep quality by reducing stress and anxiety, and by promoting deep relaxation.
Relieves pain and muscle tension: The weightless environment of a float tank can help to relieve pain and muscle tension by reducing the pressure on the joints and spine.
Boosts mood and creativity: The deep relaxation and sensory deprivation experienced during float therapy can help to boost mood, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
Accelerates muscle recovery: The Epsom salt solution used in float tanks can help to accelerate muscle recovery after exercise or injury.
Improves skin health: The Epsom salt solution can also help to improve skin health by reducing inflammation and promoting cell regeneration.
Reduces inflammation: Float therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body. This can be beneficial for people with chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Crohn’s disease.
Boosts the immune system: The reduction in stress and inflammation caused by float therapy can also help to boost the immune system.
Improves cardiovascular health: Float therapy has been shown to improve cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and improving heart rate variability.
Reduces migraine headaches: Float therapy can help to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.
Improves cognitive function: Float therapy has been shown to improve cognitive function, including memory, attention, and processing speed.
Reduces chronic pain: Float therapy can help to reduce chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis, back pain, and fibromyalgia.
Improves mental health: Float therapy can help to improve mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Lastly, I’m making NEW plans to do a “30 Days of Culture” challenge – similar to Gretchen Rubin. The trick is to figure out the best month (or just 30 days) to do such a challenge! I want to do this because I love culture and want more of it in my life! Here’s a quote from Gretchen:
One reason that I love it is that it gives me a nudge to do things that I wouldn’t ordinarily do, exposes me to culture that I might miss, and takes me places that I love.
That sounds like a wonderful way to Explore NEWness, yes?! I’ll keep you updated on the when, and the what (you already know the why!). :o)
Explore Newness 