my mom dragged me to a campground last week for a nature journaling club (basically a convention of old ladies who thought they were hilarious). i’ve been there many times before, with ahg and cub scouts, and for a renaissance fair and jousting tournament.
i roamed around the campground and hiked up to an overlook while my mom was at the club. i am in love with wandering off by myself and just thinking. i think there’s a word for that: solivagant. it’s a nice word. i wish i sounded like it.
my mom is an artist. she’s kind of ok, i guess.
i found a dying bouquet by the base of the cliffs. it made me sad. that might be one of the worst kinds of sadness: seeing something that makes you ache, but not knowing why it makes you feel that way.
there’s a tiny cave in one of the cliffs. there were enormous crickets on the ceiling. gross.
people have scratched words into the rocks up at the lookout. i like searching for things other than initials.
because if you’re going to deface nature, you may as well be polite about it.
while i was hiking up to the outlook, a group of girls with a puppy passed by. it was chubby and white and basically a puffball of light and joy. it was one of the softest things i’ve ever touched.
yellow flowers are a gift. thanks, God.
it was getting pretty hot, so i made my way over to the river, planning to wade. but the river was gone?? somehow?? so i took pictures of the wildflowers growing on the bank instead.
i’ve had my converse for almost two years and they’re falling apart. i need new ones. they’re not as bad as my last pair yet (i could peel back half of the sole on those ones), but they’re getting there. i’ve managed to rip a hole in the heel because i got one shoe stuck in a door, the laces are fraying, the rubber on the sides are coming off, and they’re stained red from the mud at my camp‘s shooting range.
these tiny daises are one of my favorite flowers.
idk what this means, but i like it.
i’m still angry about my river disappearing. it’s like part of my childhood evaporated. darn you, water cycle.
i have good memories of this place: murder in the dark in the rain, muddy ultimate frisbee, guitar around the campfire, splashing around in the river, biking through enormous puddles, playing cards with my best friend in our tent. it’s rained literally every time i’ve gone camping there, but i don’t really mind.
nostalgia tints everything gold.
xo loren
all of those flowers are so gorgeous!
~julia <3
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i know!! i love flowers. <3
xo loren
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BEAUTIFUL photos loren! i can’t say it enough, your photography is the best! <3
Most crazily, ~Olive
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thank you so much!!
xo loren
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They are so beautiful and aesthetic! What camera do you use? ❤️
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thanks! i use a nikon SLR D3100.
xo loren
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I love this <3
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thanks. <3
xo loren
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love your pictures ❤️
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thanks, maddy! :)
xo loren
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That just happened to me, too! I went down to a creek expecting to cool off in the water, but it was completely dry! It was like the opposite of a mirage in my overheated state! :)
Your photos are just beautiful!
~ Megan Joy
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that’s a great way to describe it!
thanks. :)
xo loren
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Wow! What a wonderful post!
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thank you! :D
xo loren
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Your photos are always the best – love this! X
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thank you so much. <3
xo loren
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That was neat I liked it :)
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thanks, i’m glad!
xo loren
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😉🙂
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This was so fun to read, Loren! As always, lovely photography. ♥ I think your mom’s quite a good artist, actually! Aw yeah, I know what you mean with the dying flower bouquet. Old, broken down or junky houses make me feel that way.
Some of my favorite pictures were…
https://blueeyesgrayeyes.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/dsc_23911.jpg?w=439&h=600
https://blueeyesgrayeyes.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/dsc_2464.jpg?w=600&h=436
https://blueeyesgrayeyes.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/dsc_2429.jpg?w=452&h=600
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thanks so much, allison!
xo loren
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I love all the photos, but especially of the paint palette and the art, and the ones with the mountain in the background. :) I agree with you about the dying bouquet- I get the same feeling with falling leaves or wilting flowers.
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thanks, rutvi. :)
it’s nice to know i’m not alone in that sort of simple melancholy.
xo loren
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:)
I’m in a state of immense melancholy right now, if it helps. I’m failing band!
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dude, really? i’m sorry. do you have a really strict band director or something?
xo loren
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No we have this online program we do called smartmusic where it records us play, and it gives us scores
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ooh, that sounds cool.
xo loren
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ITS NOT
(Well, kind of)
BUT ITS NOT IM FALING
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(it still is kind of cool.)
I’M SORRY YOU’RE FAILING, MY FAMILY SAYS THEY HAVE LOW STANDARDS FOR ME SO IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER IF I FAIL A CLASS, IDK IF YOUR FAMILY IS LIKE THAT, THOUGH.
xo loren
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(Lol)
HAHAHA THAT MUST BE NICE. NOPE, THEYRE NOT LIKE THAT. XD
(I gave up and submitted a 57%. WOOHOO! 2 more assignments to go!)
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IT’S PRETTY RAD, THEY WEREN’T UPSET AT ALL WHEN I GOT AN F IN MATH.
(good luck with those. XD)
xo loren
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YAY. THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS AMAZING.
thanks. I’m giving up now.
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I KNOW. AS LONG AS I ACT LIKE I’M TRYING IN THE CLASS AND NOT DRAWING THE WHOLE TIME, THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT MY GRADES.
xo loren
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AAAHHH
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The highest I can get rn is a 76 and it got deleted 😭😭😭😭
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ah, sorry. :/ i’m sure you’ll be able to get a higher score, though.
xo loren
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Thanks:)
Check your email 😂
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ok. :)
xo loren
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I’m being a but dramatic, but ughhhhhh I have to redo everything
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being dramatic is pretty much the only acceptable reaction to something like this.
xo loren
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Exactly
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Well, if I never post again, you’ll know why.
BECAUSE SMARTMUSIC KILLED ME.
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I WANT TO JOIN BAND NEXT YEAR AND I REALLY HOPE MY SCHOOL DOESN’T USE SMARTMUSIC.
xo loren
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I HOPE SO TOO
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YOU PLAY CLARINET, RIGHT?
xo loren
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YEAH.
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RAD. MY BROTHER IS TEACHING ME TO PLAY HIS SNARE DRUM. MY SCHOOL’S BAND ONLY HAS FOUR KIDS IN THE DRUMLINE, SO I DON’T HAVE TO BE REALLY AMAZING AT IT TO GET IN. PROBABLY.
xo loren
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AWESOME. WE DONT HAVE TO AUDITION BUT IF WE DID I PROBABLY WOULDNT HAVE MADE IT.
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I DON’T THINK I’LL HAVE TO AUDITION, EITHER, I WAS JUST THINKING THAT THEY WOULDN’T WANT TO KICK ME OUT OF THE BAND BECAUSE THEY’D HAVE NO ONE TO REPLACE ME WITH.
xo loren
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HAHAHAHA
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THEY’LL HAVE TO KEEP ME, EVEN THOUGH I’LL SUCK.
xo loren
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SAME
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Someone please just throw me into the Atlantic Ocean
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_____________
______lol_____
______________
there you go.
_____________
______lol_____
____________^_
OH NO, IT’S A SHARK.
xo loren
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OMG lol THE LITTLE DROWNING MAN
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O
HERE’S A LIFE PRESERVER
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THANKS
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____\__lol__/~~~_____^____
the coast guard is taking you home in their boat.
xo loren
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THANKS COAST GUARD.
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NO PROBLEM, CITIZEN. BE SAFE.
xo loren
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👌🏼ILL TRY.
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There’s a girl who sits next to me and is like, “I’m failing! I only got 80%!” I’m like, “okay, be quiet, SOME OF US CANT GET PAST 50.”
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that sounds like one of my friends. XD she always acts like she’s doing horribly, but she gets 100% on everything. and then it’s a miracle for me if i get anything above a C.
xo loren
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Yeah lol that really annoys me.
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I just re read my email and WOW I SOUND LIKE SUCH A PESSIMIST
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that’s better than sounding super optimistic about failing.
xo loren
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Yessss
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I’m gonna get on my knees, will you kick me in the face please?
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IT’LL MAKE WHATEVER I SAY SOUND LIKE POETRY
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AND AS MY GUMS BEGIN TO BLEED
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THE WORDS WILL FALL LIKE TEETH
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Love the last photo!
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thanks! :)
xo loren
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“because if you’re going to deface nature, you may as well be polite about it.” 😂😂
—Madi
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