One Nation Under...

The National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, CO. has alerted the media that the sea ice at the North Pole may be melted by the end of the summer (September) of this year.

While there are a myriad of effects (mostly negative) of this phenomenon, there is one in particular that strikes me as an incomparable loss.

The loss of an entire nation. Maldives is a nation made up of 1192 small islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, just southwest of Sri Lanka. It is the flattest country in the world, and at present, sits about 7 feet above sea level.

On April 22, 2008, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom appealed to the Business for the Environment conference, pleading for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on a global level. His country is in danger of being lost at sea... if sea levels continue to rise. He has written and circulated a book about it, titled "Paradise Drowning".

Never mind that this is unquestionably one of the most beautiful places on our planet, but for the 350,000 people who live there, it is home. It has been since before 3rd century BC.

Maldives produces less than .01% of the greenhouse gases that may be their undoing.

We must do our part. We must all cut back in every way we can, every time we can.
It is imperative.

Mark Serreze, the senior research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center made a painfully ironic point when he stated, "There's also, of course, oil at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. Now, the irony of that is kind of clear, but the fact that we are opening up the Arctic Ocean does make it more accessible."

More accessible to exploitation... the effects of which destroy our planet, a bit at a time, until it is uninhabitable.

All photos are from TrekEarth.com

Slipping Away

Let's slip away to Mexico for the weekend... shall we?

Viaggiatore's Milestone, and a Farewell to Brothers in Arms

One year ago today, Seamus of Shameless Words and The Shameless Lions Writing Circle gifted me with one of my favorite delights, when he allowed me to adopt Viaggiatore, and join the writing circle.

Since that day, many things have happened. Viaggiatore and I have gone everywhere together and made many new friends. He has been my muse, my inspiration, and my constant joy every time I come here. His stories are exciting, adventurous, and there seems to be no end to them. I am still learning so much about him.







How bittersweet and ironic that almost at the milestone of our first year together, Seamus has retired from blogging. He has made a decision to move on to other things.

It is the opportune time to thank him, not only for the fantastic words he writes,
photographs that he makes, and music that he creates and plays so beautifully, but also for bringing so many wonderful people together in such an imaginative way. Such good friends have been found, for the sake of his brilliant mind and hard work. I sincerely hope that The Shameless Lions Writing Circle stays together as long as possible.



Thank you, Seamus, we wish you the very best. Perhaps someday in the future, if we are lucky, we will hear from you again. You could never know how much good you have done in such enormous ways, by the small efforts that you have made. May you be blessed a thousand times over for them.

Viaggiatore and I have thoroughly enjoyed this year, and we look forward with anticipation to all the years to come, together.


Best to you all,

Au Revoir Seamus

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Wandering Through Gardens

It would seem that the more technologically advanced we become, the busier we get. Faster is better, getting more activity crammed into each day is an accomplishment, and it feels like a downward spiral out of control.

When my head starts to spin from it all, I step away to a retreat. A place where I can breathe, where there is peace, where time is not measured by anything more than the passing of the sun and certainly not broken down beyond that.

I simplify.

There are many places I go, depending on how much light and air and space I need. I love to go to mountain lakes... go on long walks... wander through parks around town... go on long drives. One of my favorite destinations is the Denver Botanic Gardens.

I would live there, if they would let me.

It is open year round, which is nice, because the gradual seasons are like a waltz that changes tempo as we move through them, and this is a wondrous place to see Mother Nature reveal her raimant for the next movement.

Viaggiatore and I visited the gardens recently and it was absolutely glorious, as it always is.


Come along and wander with us...

Flickr Windows

Sognatrice has found a new game to play! Thank you!

This one involves Flickr.

Here's the idea:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

After finding myself... ahem... this is what happened:
I rather like it!

Play along and let me know what yours is, I would love to see it!



1. CaíDo..., 2. Hot Chocolate, 3. blue moon over river, 4. burgundy-rose-gold-stripes4, 5. Gregory Peck, 6. hot tea, 7. Amalfi coast. Campania. Italy., 8. Chocolate Covered Strawberry, 9. photographing wildlife with a telephoto lens in bali, 10. hold your hand, 11. Moments, 12. Not all who wander are lost