snowfall!

I wake up +
the world is transformed–
tiny flakes zip by me,
pleased with themselves.
even a single little twig is
covered in layers of sugar,
not a single one has been overlooked.

how sad,
the leaves missed out on the experience–
how good,
they were spared its destruction.

the flurry of white origami,
crafted by the Maker Himself,
cares not for me–
but He obviously does.

Taken outside Sanderson one of those snowy mornings God blessed us with 🙂

Where Am I Going From Here?

A year ago today, I posted this picture on my blog. ^^  under the title “Where Do I Go From Here?”

The subjects are the directional keys on my previous laptop, the one that I had built with my dad years and years ago.  I was rather proud of how my quick pic turned out, and the post got a good deal of attention from my lovely followers. 🙂  Little did I know, but this antique trusty old Dell would be replaced at the turn of the school year, which was only about a month later.

Here I am, a year later, and I’m still using its replacement, a cheap but generally reliable ASUS.  It’s served me well, but the memories I have with its predecessor can never be replaced. 🙂

However, by the time this actually posts (I’m writing this ahead of time on Thursday night), I’ll be leaving Floridia and heading to Gah-jah as a halfway point between home and Ohaih.  So, the title actually fits rather well. except for the fact that you know where I’m going.

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I also started Algebra II this Tuesday and I’m super pumped!!  I got a used TI-84 calculator and it is my new favorite thing!

Shoutout to new adventures with an old(ish) laptop and new-to-me calculator!

-Sydney

On Solar eclipses…

Although Floridians only get a partial viewing of this solar eclipse, I’m still really excited!!  

As I write this, my dad and sister are in the pool (the true Floridian way to wait), and I’m monitoring the camera equipment. 

Focusing on the sun is fun… *not*

I found a great blog post on the incredible design God put into our world as evidenced by perfect solar eclipses.  It’s amazing!  

Enjoy the eclipse, where ever you are!

-Sydney

Naples Trip Pics

Hey, guys!

Our family recently took a mini vacation for the weekend at a beachfront condo in a town not too far from here but far enough away to feel like far away. 🙂  

While we were there, it rained.  But, it didn’t just rain, it deluged the entire area for a short period of time.  

This made for awesome cloud cover!! Naturally, I took pictures. 

These are the lower-quality versions, so, if you want to see the high-res originals, head over to my Flickr page (link on the side widget with the pics!) and check them out!  

Squid

The Dilemma

Watching a bird;

Too far to photograph,

But it is standing still

For 

Now

 

Should I creep up

In hopes of a better shot

But risk losing it

For-

Ever?

 

Sqyd

What I’ve Been…

Consuming:

• I eat salads for the croutons and cucumbers.  So, I asked my mom to buy me some croutons for the express purpose of snacking.  SHE DID!  They are amazingful and perfectuous to the extent that I have to make up words to describe them.  *absent-mindedly eats entire bag and regrets nothing*
• Ginger soda (NOT ginger ale) with a motherload of ginger and sugar.  Super epic flavor and kick!
• Minty stuff:
  • Wintergreen Altoids are my favorite breath mints and they don’t have any horrible artificial sweeteners in them, just art. colors and flavors.  Hmmm.
  • Spry gum is the healthiest gum that I know of — sugar-free because it’s only sweetened with xylitol.

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Reading:

I’ve been reading a lot of great books lately, including (but not limited to):

• Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

If Christianity was something we were making up, of course we could make it easier. But it is not. We cannot compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. How could we? We are dealing with Fact. Of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about. (Mere Christianity, p. 165)

• The Enchanted Forest Chronicles [series] by Patricia C. Wrede
• The Ninja Librarians [series] by Jen Swann Downey
• The Adventures of Sherlock Homles by A. Conan Doyle (which I bought at the library bookstore for $1… it is an unabridged facsimile collection (published in 1975) of the original stories that were published in London, 1892). *squeals of booklover joy*
• Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (REALLY good book!!)

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Listening to:

• Lots of NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) and Monstercat artists (their Spotify playlists are my go-to)
• Peaceful acoustic guitar music
• Michael W. Smith – Sky Spills Over
• Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar (Not something I would often choose, but I had to learn it for worship.   Now it’s one of my favorites!)
• Alan Walker
• Rich Mullins – Creed
• And so much more you don’t even have time to read about.  Find me on Spotify under squidtea if you’re curious! 🙂

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Doing:
An eclectic history of the past 4-5 months (?).

• I learned how to knit!  My lovely friend Emily taught me and she’s an amazingly patient teacher. 🙂 A WHOLE NEW WOOOOORLLLLLD! #mylifeisamusical
• I grew a lot closer to my mom (through not-so-pleasant circumstances, but that’s life sometimes…) and it’s been a huge blessing to have her as not only my parent but also now as my friend and mentor.  I love you, Mommy! 🙂
• I got my driver’s license!  It’s been awesome to be able to chauffeur my siblings around, and I know it helps my parents out, so that’s cool too. 🙂
• I became First Aid and CPR certified last week during Camp Gilead’s staff training week!
• I survived CG’s staff training week! (as mentioned above)  It was probably the rainiest week I’ve ever experienced, and I didn’t bring any jackets, but my tiny umbrella and I did just fine. 🙂
  I won’t be actually working as a Junior Counselor until the first week of July, due to my school schedule, but that’s OK because, once I get there, it will be a well-oiled machine, right?  😉
• I worked at Mr. D‘s booth at the FPEA Homeschool Convention!  It went super well; we beat our sales record, and I met some crazy cool new friends/Mr. D students. 😀 (Plus, I got paid, so that’s a plus! 🙂 )
• Saw a lot of rare migratory birds around our area during the spring migration.  Check out my eBird profile for the lists!
• Took the DISC profiling test. I found that I am a C/I, but very balanced.

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Shooting: 

 

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Now, What I’m Currently Doing:

• Trying to finish school by the last Friday in June
• Trying to remember to pack a jacket during this *rainy* season
• Remembering to turn on my lights whenever I turn on my wipers (FL law)
• Growing my hair out for ponytail purposes.
• Contemplating getting a nape undercut for pretty practical ponytail purposes. (boom)
• Praying for the campers and counselors at Camp Gilead.
• Practicing my instruments (I’m on the worship team at CG).
• Saving my money from all these summer jobs (yay!!).
• Enjoying God’s peace.
• Editing a friend’s book(s).
• Procrastinating going through/editing my recent photography.
• Volunteering at my local library
• Wavering between finishing this post and —

Squid 😉

Where Do I Go From Here?

© Squid’s Cup of Tea 2016