Daycation

It's not uncommon for new words to be created using parts of old words. Take the word vacation. During the 2007 - 2010 financial crisis in the US many individuals couldn't afford the luxury of a vacation. Thus, their vacation became a staycation; a period where the family stayed at home, made day trips, and returned to sleep in their own beds at night. A new word was born. Mr. H and I rarely go on a vacation or a staycation. We only take a day now and then. We take daycations!

Vacations, staycations, daycations

Don't you just love words!

Desha County Courthouse

Arkansas City, AR

So anyway, Mr. H and I went on a daycation. I have a project that I began in July of 2011. I am attempting to take a picture of every county courthouse in Arkansas. Our first stop was in Arkansas City a small town of only 0.5 square miles and a population of 366. You can imagine my surprise when we drove into town and found this beautiful courthouse surrounded by large magnolia trees. Not only was the courthouse beautiful, but there was an old high school built in 1910, a small building that looked like it might have been a jail at one time, and an old church. Three things I love a lot very close together. I don't mean I love jails a lot, I just love old buildings a lot!

St. Clements Episcopal Church

Arkansas City, Arkansas

One of the reasons I love old buildings is their doors and windows. It doesn't matter to me if the doors are on an outhouse, a church, a historical building, or a rundown shack. They're all fascinating.

Windows can be beautiful and ornate or they can be worn and rusty. It doesn't matter, I love them all.

Sometimes I find windows or doors that I can peek into. I'm not a "Peeping Tom." I only peek in windows on public property and when the place is closed; like the old high school below which is now part of the court system.

Arkansas High School, 1910

Here's the view through looking through the front door. I love the tin ceiling tiles and all the gorgeous wood.

I was also able to peek into the window of this beautiful home which is now The Ashley County Museum.

Ashley County Museum - 1918

And when I peeked in, I fell in love with those interior doors between the parlor and the dining room. I'd love to go back and tour this gorgeous home.

It seems there's always something the intrigues me and makes me ask questions, such as this old church which is now the meeting place of the Hamburg Garden Club. I wonder why the windows of this church and the above church have been painted over. Wouldn't you want to have light flowing in, especially in this church where the club meets? It's a mystery. One that I will probably never know the answer to.

Hamburg Presbyterian Church, 1871

We had such a nice day, even if we did travel 301.7 miles and were gone nine hours. I'm making progress on my project. I have taken pictures of 56 courthouses. There are 85 county seats in Arkansas and before someone corrects me, I know there are only 75 counties. Ten of those counties have two county seats and two courthouses. That leaves me with only 29 more courthouses to go. It looks like we'll be going on a few more daycations to get this project done!

What Does The Word Mean? - Part V

The challenge goes on. The challenge to photograph "the solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words" using David Wythe's book, Consolations. We're now over halfway through the book and it seems to me that the words in the last half are harder to photograph.

* * * * *

HELP

Although I find it difficult to ask for and accept help, there are times that I need someone to hold me up and support me through the tough times.

* * * * *

HIDING

There's a part of my heart where I can keep hidden things; secret delights and bits of joy that can be brought out when their comfort is needed. I found this little heart in the center of a plant, a Lamb's Ear.

 * * * * *

HONESTY

"The ability to speak the truth is as much the ability to describe what it is like to stand in trepidation at this door, as it is to actually go through it and become that beautifully honest spiritual warrior, equal to all circumstances, we would like to become."  ~ David Whyte

I stand at the door.

Do I open it?

* * * * *

JOY

Joy is an inner feeling of rejoicing. True joy comes from above: from a God who desires that we find joy, happiness, peace, and purpose in Him.

"These things I have spoken to you,

that my joy may be in you,

and that your joy may be full."

John 15:11

* * * * *

LONELINESS

I rarely feel loneliness. When I do it is usually when I'm surrounded by others. I quietly stand alone with conversations, friendships, and good times circling around me. I am too shy and insecure to reach our and to participate. I wonder how many doors I've shut on friendships, encouragement, and inspiration because I keep to myself and lack the courage to join in with others

"Solitude is pleasant.

Loneliness is not."

~ Anna Neagle

* * * * *

Written words

Spoken words

Photographed words

Which to you prefer?

What Does The Word Mean - Part IV

I'm still working through David Wythe's book, Consolations, with a group of photographers. The challenge is to photograph "the solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words."  I'm a little behind in posting my photos and thoughts. December was quiet busy, but hopefully I'll catch up in the next couple of weeks. You can read this post for a little more information on the challenge.

* * * * *

GENIUS

Genius: the quality of a given place; air, land, water,

trees, and smells combined with it's history

Civil War Site: Bayou Meto, Arkansas

At this location Confederate forces stopped the Federal Calvary from crossing the Bayou Meto in route to capture the capital of Arkansas. As I stood on the banks of the bayou I closed my eyes, felt the slight breeze, heard the rippling water, and smelled the woodsy odor of the rich black soil and the cypress trees. I felt this place. A deep sadness filled me for those who were lost and wounded in this battle.

* * * * *

GIVING

The giving of gifts has always been hard for me. I never seem to find just the perfect gift for someone. Maybe it's because I have never spent "a long time sitting in [my] armchair in silent contemplation of those [I] want to gift looking for the imaginative doorway that says I know you and see you and this is how I give thanks for you . . ."  ~David Whyte

* * * * *

GRATEFUL

I am grateful for the delightful surprises that await when I open my eyes and really see.

"It is not joy that makes us grateful,

it's gratitude that makes us joyful.

~ Brother Davied Steindl-Rast

* * * * *

GROUNDED

It's the simple things in life that bring me pleasure and keep me focused. It's the ground I walk on, the plants, the creatures, and the clouds. These calming gifts of nature help keep me from being overwhelmed as life brings many changes.

* * * * *

HAUNTED

Often we are so disturbed and obsessed by on emotion, a memory, or even an idea that we feel haunted by it. Being haunted doesn't always have to be dark and dreary. Sometimes what is haunting us can give us courage to take the next step in our lives.

"When we make a friend of what we previously could not face, what once haunted us now becomes an invisible, parallel ally, a beckoning hand to our future."

~ David Whyte

* * * * *

HEARTBREAK

"But heartbreak may be the very essence of being human, of being on the journey from here to there, and of coming to care deeply for what we find along the way."

~ David Whyte

* * * * *

I think why I've enjoyed this challenge so much is that it makes me think of the lesser used meaning of some words like genius and haunted. Whyte has such a unique way of interpreting words that sometimes I find if very hard to even understand his definitions. I have to read the chapter several times to absorb what he's saying. This project has been challenging for me, but definitely good. 

"I like good strong words that mean something . . ."

~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women