Procrastination

Greetings and welcome to my website! Although I haven't posted a blog in a while, you'll be happy to know I've been busy posting lots of important news on facebook such as how cute my cat looks when it's sitting on top of the piano or attempting to destroy the back of the sofa.

When I haven't been captivating my facebook friends, I've been working on my second book, which will be finished by the end of the summer. I've even given myself an added incentive to complete it. If I finish it as planned, I will celebrate by having dinner with President Obama. I'm sure he'll be happy to fit me into his schedule, because he loves having dinner with his supporters. Why else would he have so many drawings to get people to dine with him?

Until then I look forward to enthralling my facebook friends with news about Fluff and my attempts to finally finish a game of Words with Friends.

Many blessings for a great summer!

Ellen

A Spectacular Journey

It's February and this is my first blog for 2011. (Who knows when I'll write the next one?) I've been busy working diligently on my second book and going on adventures with my son, Casey. In my last blog, I mentioned that Casey became a finalist in the 2010 Canon Photography in the Parks contest. He ended up winning first prize, and as a result he received a new camera and photo printer. Since then he's been planning our summer vacation to Glacier National Park. As always, he's in search of exciting opportunities to expand his photo gallery.

I see now that as parents, we don't know in the beginning where our journey with our kids will take us. A friend of mine said recently that she has become a ballet aficionado after attending more than 25 children's dance performances. "I had no idea what a battement tendu was until my daughter started taking ballet lessons," she said.

Although I still have no idea what a battement tendu is, I do know what she means about parenting and the unexpected experiences it can bring. Because of my son's intense passion for exploring the great outdoors, I've become an avid hiker along with him, venturing off trail with only a topography map and a GPS to guide us. We've slid down snowy mountains in the dark of night, praying that the sky will stay clear and that our headlamps will keep working. "You have to be willing to hike at night if you want to take a picture of the sunset from the top of a mountain," Casey insists.

I've lost sleep re-living our most perilous moments and listening to my husband question my judgment (sometimes with good reason, I admit). Even so, I wouldn't trade our adventures together for anything. Captured in countless photos are the hidden waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge, panoramic scenes of the Cascade Range and the beautiful Oregon coastline illuminated by the last light of the day. Through my son's eyes I've seen unforgettable beauty.

As the year unfolds, I send love and blessings to parents everywhere. May your children bring you joy and take you to exciting places you will remember forever.

Best wishes,

Ellen

Photo by Casey Currey-Wilson

A Picture Worth Seeing

As many of you know, my son loves hiking all over the Northwest and beyond, when he can find a way to get there. He's climbed mountains in the Cascades, journeyed high above our beautiful coastline and he can name every waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge. Wherever he goes, he brings his camera and often a lot of camera equipment with him. By the time he sets out his backpack often weighs up to 30 pounds, leaving little room for lunch and other apparently less important items.

In the end it's all worth it though, because Casey comes back with some amazing photos. One of these has just made him a finalist in the nationwide Canon Photography in the Parks contest. His photo is called "River's End" and it was taken at Ecola State Park on the Oregon coast. You can see the photo and vote for it here.

Please ask your friends and family to vote for Casey's photo, too. He has a deep respect for the environment, and I think it's great for teens to have their talent and passion recognized in this way. If you would like to see more of Casey's beautiful photos, you can visit his photo gallery. I still get inspired every time I see his work.

Best wishes,

Ellen

"Take nothing but pictures.
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time."
~Motto of the Baltimore Grotto, a caving society

A Magical Request

A couple of months ago I blogged about how much I'm looking forward to going to the new Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando (see previous blog). I went on and on about how great I imagined it would be to explore Hogwarts and I included glowing reviews from my friends who have been there. Then I showed the blog to my son since he's the computer whiz in the family and the only one who knows how to post my blogs.

"Are you trying to get them to send you free tickets," he said, "because this is the most suck-up thing you've ever written!"

"Hey, that all came from my heart," I said, in an attempt to defend myself.

Fortunately my son, in spite of his own misgivings, agreed to post the blog. That was back in July and since then I've done some thinking. It's occurred to me that I not only praised the Wizarding World in my last blog, but I also wrote about the Harry Potter series in my first book. And I'm probably including a scene from the Wizarding World in my next book. So, maybe I should receive free tickets after all. Maybe I should receive a free room (double queen) at the Royal Pacific Resort, too (a garden view room, please). I mean, what is the point of product placement if not for the perks? Do you hear that, Universal Studios? I hope so, but just in case, I'm sending in my press pass request now with a link to this blog. I just hope my son won't think I'm sucking up too much.

Best wishes,

Ellen

Harry Potter Dreams

Well, the summer is more than half over, but it's been great so far. We've hung out at the coast, worked in our garden, hiked through the gorge and appreciated all the sunshine that took its time arriving in Portland.

And yet, we haven't done what I wanted to do the most this summer. We haven't been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I really want to go, especially after hearing from a friend who was just there with her two teenagers. Her kids are true Harry Potter fans, the kind who have read the books so many times they could teach a college-level course on the series. Naturally, when they told me that they think the park has brought to life the best parts of the books and movies combined, I believed them.

I remember years and years ago telling my husband and son that an entire Harry Potter amusement park could be created based on the books. I even began brainstorming possible rides. Then when I heard that someone else (big surprise) had the same idea and that plans were already underway to build the place, it was all I could do not to leave Portland and beg to be put on the Wizarding World creative team. Now I guess I'll just have to settle for visiting the place instead, and I can hardly wait!

Cheers!

Ellen

A Timely Topic

Wow, I'm finally posting another blog, and it's about television, believe it or not!

The truth is that I haven't been in the mood to write much about television lately. I've come to the conclusion that in order to make changes, we need to concentrate most on all the positive things we're doing as parents and as human beings. From a place of appreciation and acceptance of others and ourselves, we are better able to improve the world around us.

That said, I wish to offer up-to-date information about television in order to support parents in continuing to do the best they can each day. I speak primarily to new parents, because I believe that our youngest children (babies, toddlers and preschoolers) are the ones who benefit the most from not being exposed to television. An article this month in Science Daily based on a new study out of Canada reinforces previous studies on the topic and is well worth reading. I hope you'll want to pass it on.

Happy Mother's Day!

Ellen

Photo by Casey Currey-Wilson

Mother by Day, Comedian by Night

Friday night I went out with a friend for some laughs, lots of laughs in fact. We went to the Curious Comedy Theater in Portland for a show called Time Out: The Mother of All Comedy Shows. The stand-up comics who took to the stage were all moms and the theme for the night was "Honey, I Shrunk My Libido." It could not have been funnier.

I think I would have been hooked on stand-up comedy a long time ago, if I had been exposed to these fabulous women sooner. It would have made those early days of mothering a lot easier, too. Sleep deprivation and sex really don't go together, but a sense of humor about it would have been helpful (along with a Time Out! night at the Curious Comedy Theater).

I'm always recommending alternatives to television, and watching live comedy is one of the best. You never know what will happen when someone has the courage to step onto the stage, and Friday night the result proved to be amazing! Check it out.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ellen

In Praise of Pictures

Happy New Year! I've only made one New Year's resolution, which is to look for the good in every situation and know that all is well, one way or another. Someone just sent me a video that embodies this philosophy as well. It features a former photographer for National Geographic.

Although I'm not an avid photographer myself, I appreciate good photographers, particularly the one who is sitting right here beside me looking at a book about (what else?) photography. Like the National Geographic photographer, my son also loves being out in nature with his camera. On his website he's created a photo gallery. I invite you to take a look at it.

I hope 2010 is a great year for all of us. I am thankful for the love in my life and for all the beauty that is a part of this world. May the coming year bring you to places you enjoy and give you great photos to help you remember them!

Best wishes,

Ellen