Inspiring Quotes Paired With Images

You can make tons of quotes that inspire. They are a good way to remind that your life is special, or that you are luckier than others. Sometimes they aren't quotes, but a bunch of sentences that have a profound meaning. Example:

You can make your own quotes. Here is one that I made:

Quotes remind you of many things, like how to act and to remember how the world is for others. Give quote writing a shot. Try making your own. I guess you could say the first image I showed was more of a poem. But really, that doesn't matter. The point is that you make sure someone realizes things they might not have thought of, and maybe it helps them not be so hard on themselves.

One Prompt and Two Ways to Write a Story

I saw this photo online, and I thought it would make a pretty good story. Here's the photo:

Here's one way you could write the story:

Music is special to me. Every day, I sneak away with my violin, and sit on some rocks in the stream and play a piece I composed myself. Often times, the wildlife comes and sits by me, and I sit in the peace and just soak it in. Sometimes I played music for nature, other times it's the other way around. Gradually, the wildlife left, and I began to play my favorite piece for the last time before I went home. I heard something in the bush, and I let my bow stay on the violin, and trained my eyes on the spot where I had heard the noise. I heard a peculiar noise, and with horror, I realized it was the sound of a camera shutter closing. After taking a photo. In my secret place. "No!" I cried, jumping up. My violin and bow clattered as they hit the ground. I splashed into the creek and toward the bushes, my now soaked dress dragging behind me. As I reached the banks of the creek, I heard bushes being shoved aside and twigs snapping. An innocent man never runs. I creeped quietly, and soon enough, the sound of the bushes and twigs faded away. As I quietly neared where I thought this person was, and as I got closer, I heard labored breathing. I quietly crouched in the bushes, and observed the man fiddle with his camera. Making up my mind, I jumped out behind him and cried, "You!" The man whirled to face me and gulped. "Me?" He squeaked. "Yes you!" In response, he lifted his camera and TOOK ANOTHER PHOTO! Then he ran, so I ran. When he was close enough, I let out an "AARGH!" and tackled the man. He hit the forest floor with a thump. I grabbed his collar and brought him to his feet. "Do not take pictures of me, and do NOT put them for the world to see, " I said quietly. With me, quiet is dangerous. "But you look so pretty! See for yourself." The man had me look through a little hole in his camera, and there I saw a beautiful girl in my dress and my violin. Wait... was that me? I was... yes, I was quite beautiful. Suddenly, the photo of me disappeared, along with the man as he ran away again. I chased the man again, and caught the back of his shirt this time. I spun him to face me. "I can play this game all day. I suggest you make it easier on yourself and remain quiet. And here." He nodded. "I am from somewhere not of this world. Get rid of that photo, before I smash your precious little camera against that rock." My icy cold blue eyes were trained on the man, but I knew the rock was behind me. "But... but I can't do that!" "Why?" I asked in a whisper. "Need someone to do it for you?" I reached for the camera. "No! But please, I beg of you, take this copy of your photo." He handed me the photo I saw in the camera. I took it. "Look, I'm sorry I tackled you. But please, just don't speak of me to any one else. I'm not from this world. Some people know this, and are desperate to get their hands on me. Please, just don't speak of this." I hated to beg, and I knew there was true desperation in my eyes. I also knew he saw it. "Okay. Take this photo. I won't speak of this to anyone, I promise." I continued looking at him for a moment, before I turned away. An eagle landed on my shoulder. I could see the mans' expression. Awe. "Go get fish," I whispered. The eagle sprang off my shoulder and flew away. I turned once more to the man. " Wait here. The grab the fish, leave, and never breathe a word." I turned, and a wolf pack emerged from the woods and surrounded me. I walked away, and behind me, I hear the thud of two fish hitting the forest floor.

Or, you could write it like this:

Music was a cover. I hated it. Every day, I snuck away and played my violin horribly by myself. But I never knew one shutter click would change my life. But right then, I didn't know it. Until, click. I could practically hear my life shattering. The shrapnel hit the water with a splash, and were carried downstream with my violin and bow when I dropped it and ran. Away. But running away, as I learned, never solves anything.

Happy writing!

Wolves

I love wolves.

They are probably one of the most misunderstood creatures in the world. They live in conditions we can't stand. They kill. They destroy.

If there is a sick animal in the herd the pack is pursuing, it may mate and have offspring that will have the same condition, weakening the herd. If the wolves pick of the sick ones, it will make the herd stronger. Basically, survival of the fittest.

Wolf packs aren't just some wolves thrown together that manage to bring down kills. There are ranks. The lead pair is called the Alpha pair. The lowest member of the pack is called the Omega. They have to hang back and after the rest of the pack is done eating, they get the scraps. Omegas that get too close are prone to lose an ear... seriously.

Some wolves hunt, and some babysit. Only the Alpha pair mates. The pups are born completely blind and deaf, but they can smell extremely well. In 10-13 days, their eyes open. And at 12 weeks, they start to hunt with the pack. In between, they are weaned and their teeth grow. Other wolf pack members come back with some meat in their stomachs and the pups will lick their lips as an indicator to regurgitate food, around the 4-5 week old mark.

The wild is the wild, and it has rough conditions. Some wolf pups die from malnutrition or starvation, and diseases.

Wolves are social, and have sometimes been known to bury their dead pups, and mourn. It goes to show you, they kill for survival, just like we kill cows for us, and they mourn. Just like we do. They are a lot like us, in ways. Sure, we don't howl, but we laugh. We bring each other food when we are sick, just like they do. They lick and show affection, just like we kiss and hug and show affection.

Wolves are extraordinary animals and help the wild by picking off the sick of the herd, and making it stronger. Yes, they sometimes pick off the young, but everyone has to live.

Here is an article about wolves:

• Wolf Country

I just wanted to let you know, I am a big time wolf lover. A wolf is also my spirit animal.Here are some photos that inspire me:

                                           

Hiking with your four-legged freinds

Hello again! I just went hiking with my dog, and he was SUPER excited. He starts whining like MAD when he senses we're close.

Hiking is a great opportunity to get some fresh air, and exercise your dog too. As well as tiring them physically, all the new smells and sights tires them mentally, so you can be sure that they will sleep when they get home, if not in the car.

Please remember, if you have a little dog, one step for you is a bunch for them. They have little legs, and if you walk at a brisk pace, they may have trouble keeping up.

For crazy, energetic dogs like Husky and German Shepard mixes, hiking works magic, and you can actually blog without a dog pacing and making you seasick! It's absolutely wonderful!

If you decide to start hiking, don't say, "I'm going to hike!" and then hike three miles one way and then turn around and walk another three miles.You'll start out with a bunch of energy, but by the time you come back, you'll be panting like your dog and dragging yourself home.

Ease into hiking, because it will be easier on you, your body, and your dog. (If you choose to take them along.)

But please, be respectful of parks that don't allow dogs, and follow their rules. Also, it's a good idea to pack some water for you and your dog.

Hiking with your furry friend can be really fun and entertaining... and full of wet deer. Want to hear this story? Keep reading.

I was taking my dog for a hike by the canal, with my sister and father and mother. It was beautiful fall day, and with every gust of wind, more beautiful colored leaves showered down on us. I had let Buddy off leash, and he would dart in front of me, up a hill, be gone, and then the pounding of paws would accompany his happy face. He came to check on me and make sure I was sticking to the path (German shepherds are herders) when suddenly he was off again. I didn't think much of it, but then I realized he had been gone more than usual. "Buddy!" I called. Suddenly, I hear the pounding of paws. But what came over the hill was not a crazy Husky mix. It was a deer. With a crazy Husky mix at it's TAIL. As the poor doe thundered past me, Buddy ran behind her, looking delighted, but I could tell he was not going as fast as he could and was a bit unsure of what to do. They zoomed past me, back down the trail Buddy and I had come on. I could see them ahead, and the canal. Uh-oh. This deer was in trouble. I turned to watch and see what would happen, and I tensed my muscles in case I needed to intervene. I watched closer to the water.. closer... and then, SPLASH! The deer had jumped into the canal.

A blond runner is purple running gear on the other side of the canal stopped and stared. My jaw LITERALLY fell open.

The deer swam to safety on the other side of the canal, and Buddy did not pursue the chase. He is part Husky, and is scared of the "Liquid Death." (Water.) Doesn't mind the rain or drinking it, but not baths or swims. No siree.

Once I took him to the pool swim for dogs that my pool has a few days after it closes, and Buddy jumped in without any knowledge. Never got back in the rest of the day, just ran around the grassy area.

And the bathroom we washed him in as a pup? He will not set one paw in that room. When he goes down the hall, he runs past the bathroom. The dog is four years old, and will run from the bathroom that we washed him in when he was four MONTHS old. He has a head. And a mind. (I hope.)

I seriously wonder what goes on in there. (His head.)

Anyway, in conclusion, you got a story about a wet deer, and a post (mainly) about hiking and tips. (Like packing water.)

Here are some photos:

Pope Francis and Kindness

Pope Francis has arrived in D.C., and created quite a hubbub, and I just wanted to show this picture:

This is a picture of Pope Francis hugging a man with a skin condition. 

Pope Francis is kind, and please remember that you can be too.

Squirrels and Chestnuts

As fall descends upon us, the squirrels are going, well, nuts. I'm just sending out this entry to please remind you to slow down while driving, especially in neighborhoods, because many squirrels are rushing across streets to get some nuts for the winter. Please don't squash them.

Some people call them rats with fluffy tails, but rats depend on humans, and they don't help the environment by sometimes forgetting to dig up a nut and then it grows into a tree.

Squirrels also go nuts for the chestnuts! I have a tree in my backyard, and the squirrels have beat me to the chestnuts! (They are quite delicious, mind you.) I have found a few on the ground, which I then roasted and ate, and the taste left me wanting more. So crazy me climbed up the tree and shook the branches. Nothing came out, unfortunately, because the squirrels had climbed up their earlier and taken all the ones that hadn't fallen. Whatever chestnuts fall on the ground, though, are goners to ME. My dog is in the backyard, and he's always looking for squirrels, especially by the chestnut tree. (It's a wonder how he doesn't get those needles in his paws!) The squirrels can reach the tree by the fence and other trees, which they do, but they never EVER go into the yard, because my dog is there.

However, there is this park called Green Springs, which has two huge chestnut trees. I went there the other day, and got a good amount of chestnuts. Here's what you need and how I did it.

What you need:

1. A bag to collect the chestnuts
2. Sneakers
3. A tennis ball

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE! DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE LOOKS PEOPLE GIVE YOU!!! (Also, sneakers are good climbing shoes... read the procedure and you'll get it.) Here is the procedure:

1. Scour the ground for any fallen chestnuts.
2. Look up into the tree to look for chestnuts that are ready to fall. (If they are not ready to fall, skip this step and the next.)
3. Toss the tennis ball up, toward the chestnuts that are ready to fall.
4. Climb the tree, and give one of the branches a good shake. If chestnuts fall, go and collect them. 
5. Toss the tennis ball up again.
6. Shake the tree again.
7. Repeat.

So, to sum it up, you have a way to collect chestnuts, and PLEASE DON'T RUN OVER SQUIRRELS. 

Thank you!

The Art of Dog-Walking

The art of Dog Walking. Okay, I'll admit it, I'm making it sound more glamorous than it can be, but it can also be really fun at times!

I myself am a dog walker, in Falls Church. I walk dogs in my neighborhood, and in other neighborhoods too. (If you are interested, please email me at sophieracine03@gmail.com. I am also available for dog sitting.) It can be fun, but once I was taking care of a dog, and the owners asked me to leave him outside during the day. The weather was nice, so it wasn't a big deal. But this dog had never had human food. On the morning of my birthday, we went to let out the dog, because we locked him up inside during the night. However, the dog had suffered side affects from the neighbors, because they had given him a lot of spicy food, as we later found out. That can be the downside.

What is also a downside, is coming across a hurt robin on your walk, and having to throw your shirt over it so you can take it to the rehabilitators. (Luckily I still had my bathing suit on; we had just come back from the pool and I threw on some shorts and a shirt to walk the client's dog.)

But, it can be fun. You bond with the dogs, and each one has their own personality. You get to now them, and you laugh a lot, because hey, dogs walking into tress because they're focused on a squirrel IS pretty funny.

You have to be responsible, though. You must always pick up the dog feces, and if the owner has left specific instructions such as where to walk the dog, you must follow those instructions. If you're walking dogs during the summer, make sure they have water when you come back, and during the winter, remember to put on their sweater/jacket IF the owner has left you instructions to do so, because often little dogs get cold. (Booties too, it might be cold, icy, or snowy, but remember, only with instructions left by the owner.)

For dog sitting, the rules are somewhere along that line. Follow all instructions left by the owner, and stay with the dog at all times, to make sure they don't dig or get into places where they are not supposed to be.

One final note: it might be a good idea to ask the owner if the dogs knows any tricks, to exercise them a bit mentally. Ask if there are any places that are off limits to the dog, and how to get them away from there if they happens to wander into a "No Dog Zone."

When you're dog walking or dog sitting, be responsible, but have fun with the dog!