TravelWriting

Who’s Your Neighbor?

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I’m on vacation in Baja California right now and am loving the desert flora and fauna. The tropical plants are so different from what we have in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. and the cohabitation of desert and tropical plants is amazing to me.

One of the plants I am enjoying is the saguaro cactus. They are everywhere here. When we drive down the road, it is as if we are driving through a forest of them. There are vines with bright pink or magenta flowers climbing the saguaro … it’s truly beautiful.

One of the saguaro near the house we are staying at is the home of an iguana. Mr. Iguana loves to sit in his doorway and watch everyone go by. It has been fun to get to know this little neighbor and the other animal neighbors near this home.

What about the neighbors near you? Are there chipmunks, or rabbits or other animal neighbors? For today’s free writing, think about your animal neighbors and include them in what you write.

Let your creativity flow and have fun! Ready … set … write!

Through the Windshield

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There are times when a view just makes you gasp and want to quickly save the sight for those times when memory fails.

That was the case as I came around a corner and was faced with the view in today’s featured photo.

We travel this road several times a year, but since it is on the west side of the Cascade Mountain Range, it is often shrouded in clouds … but not on this day.

The sight was fleeting and I could not stop to take a proper photo. So … I quickly snapped a shot through the windshield. If you look close enough, you can even see a smudge of dirt.

But it was worth it to be able to save this view of the mountain peeking through the mist. I would definitely take the shot again – though I should try to make sure I have a clean windshield at all times. 😉

What about you? Do you ever find yourself snapping pictures through the windshield because it’s just too beautiful to miss? Or do you ever wish you had?

Today’s 5 min free write is the time for you to write about views caught or missed (or whatever else strikes your fancy).

So set your timer and ready … set … write!

New Flavors

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Tonight we decided to try a restaurant we have never been to before. It serves authentic Thai food and was delicious.

For our appetizer and entrees, we had our tried and true favorites, but when it came to dessert we decided to be adventurous and try something new.

We ordered Mango Sticky Rice. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my hopes were not high. Oh boy was I surprised. It was AMAZING! The flavor was faintly sweet with a light coconut flavor from the coconut milk sauce. The fresh mango was the highlight and the sesame seeds balanced out the flavor combination and added interest to the mix.

The requirement of fresh mango means it is only available for a short time each year, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where we struggle to get good mangoes even in the best of times. So we were lucky to have the opportunity to try it and very glad we took that opportunity.

What about you? When was the last time you tried something new? A new food or flavor or something else entirely?

Want to write about it? Set your timer and ready … set … write!

Iconic Paris

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Ahhh Paris … the city of love, art and architecture.

A beautiful city to wander in, exploring cobblestone streets and centuries old buildings. A place where old and new stand side by side.

What do you think of in relation to Paris? The Eiffel Tower? The Louvre? A big crowded city?

Take 5 minutes to write about what you would like to do in Paris, or why you never want to go.

Set your timer and ready … set … write!

Magazines?

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I love going to the local grocery store and looking at all of the magazines they have for sale. There’s just something about the glossy pictures, short but relevant articles and physical page turning that you just don’t get online.

In fact, I still subscribe to a couple of physical magazines – and though I may switch up which I subscribe to, I think I will always have one or two come in the mail – for nostalgia if nothing else.

What about you? Do you enjoy the feel of a magazine in your hand? Do you like flipping through the pages? Or is an online magazine more your style?

Set your timer for 5 min and write about what you like or don’t like about magazines. Or start with that and go wherever your mind takes you.

If you’d like to share, put it in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.

Here we go. Ready … set … write!