Lens-Artists Challenge #90 – Distance
Tina looked at the “Social Distancing” and invited us to focus on DISTANCE this week as a challenge to serve as a reminder of its importance.
I grew up in a big city and now live in one. When we traveled, it amazed me to realize some people live in a great distance from each other. It made me think that these people do not have the convenience to access many things, things at our fingertips we take for granted. These people also don’t have the luxury or technology city people have. I asked myself why people choose to live in these locations and live in this lifestyle. “Are they happy?” Then the next question is, “What makes people happy?” I think people either have no choice or choose to be content wherever they are and however they live.
The first set of photos is the distance in the land.
“Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity.” – Robert Morgan
Longleat in Somerset, UK, is an English Stately home. The house is set in 1,000 acres of parkland with 4,000 acres of let farmland and 4,000 acres of woodland.
“Ocean separates lands, not souls.” – Munia Khan
Four Mile Beach is considered the premier beach of Port Douglas, Australia, beginning at the northern rocky headland and continuing for four more miles without any buildings or construction interrupting the pristine views.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
Denali in Alaska is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level. With a topographic prominence (measures the height of a mountain or hill’s summit relative to the lowest contour line) of 20,156 feet (6,144 m) and topographic isolation ( the minimum great-circle distance to a point of equal elevation) of 4,629 miles (7,450 km).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next set of photos is our family practice of social distancing.
Because of the Covid-19, I canceled my flight to be with my daughter, Mercy, for the birth of her second daughter. I planned to be there to watch Autumn while she was in the hospital. They live close to Washington sate which is on the top three states with most Coronavirus cases and death. I live in California which is one of the three states among the top three. It was for the safety that I canceled the flight. If it were not for a dangerous situation, they could have friends volunteer to watch Autumn. Under these circumstances, on Sunday, March 22, my son-in-law was able to take my daughter to the hospital but not staying with her during her labor. They did video chats during her labor. After baby Nora was born, their friends watched Autumn in the afternoon so Will went to the hospital and held Nora in his arms. They continued to do video chats in the next two days. The hospital discharged my daughter on Tuesday. Baby Nora had the first check-up appointment on Thursday.
Mercy and I did video chats and sent video messages to each other. She set up a Tinybeans.com account for her older daughter Autumn. She also posted many photos of the family and Nora on that account. That is the account I don’t miss checking every day. I can’t get enough to look at the photos and videos again and again.
“Distance means so little when someone means so much.” – Tom McNeal
Happy mother and daughters. I think Autumn read to Nora!!
“I exist in two places, here and where you are.” – Margaret Atwood
Autumn practiced care for the baby in the car seat.
“Love knows not distance; it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars.” – Gilbert Parker
Autumn had Nora on her laps. She was very gentle with Nora.
Let’s do our part and keep social distancing. Stay safe!
Lens-Artists Challenge #90 – Distance
The Showers of Blessings 
Stunning photos, Miriam! I am thrilled to see photos of your beautiful family. Autumn warms my heart and brings me happy tears.
Thought-provoking questions. I have lived in very small towns and in very large cities. Pros and cons. I could write pages on this. At this stage in life, living relatively close to my daughters and their families is a blessing. We are completely social distancing. I do get pangs of sadness since we used to watch the children at least 2 days a week. Now Zoom and video chat is our communication. Overall, counting our blessings everyone is happy and healthy.
My husband and I with the children used to live a great distance from family. We always had a saying that home is where we are as a family.
All of your photos are great and especially Four Mile Beach. Wow! You have also added wonderful quotes. Take care and yes, stay safe!
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Miriam for sharing these precious photos and moment of the new baby and the Autumn.
LikeLike
Aww I love babies 🙂 That is such a cute itty bitty baby! God bless 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, she is adorable.💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow another beautiful grandchild ❤️😇🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe happiness is a choice we each have to make every single day. People also have different views on what happiness is. I enjoyed the heartfelt quotes about distance and all the lovely photos, especially the ones with your daughter and granddaughters. My favorite quote: “Love knows not distance; it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars.” A sweet and lovely post, Miriam. ❤ xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember reading positive books and wrote down quotes and memorized them. They became the motivation, reminder, and strength that lift me up. I feel that I’m myself when I’m happy. When circumstance made me unhappy, I would keep searching to find my way out.
Yes, happiness is a choice. When were happy, we want people around us to be happy.
Thank you for liking the quotes. 😍💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
More beautiful pictures, Miriam:) Hopefully you will be able to hold your grandbaby soon.
I grew up in the Bay Area, but love the rural life now in the forest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Denise. I’m counting the days. The schools here are closed until May 1. I hope things will get better soon.
The first three years when I first came to the US, the campus was in a wooded area with sky reaching one tree. That was when I first realized I had tinnitus!!! I liked the quietness and fresh air.
LikeLike
A lovely post, Miriam! Love photos and quotes together – and so happy you can easily stay in contact with your family! Your daughter and granddaughters are all so sweet! Stay safe and well,the whole family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ann-Christine. We must do the necessary right now. The US will get worse before getting better.
I’ll wait for fine weeks and see if I can go for the Mother’s day weekend.
LikeLike
The same here. They say April will be very difficult…and we might not see the end of this before 2021. Let’s hope.
LikeLike
I always enjoy your photos, Miriam, and this week is no exception. Yur oldest grandchild is sure a cutie!
Everyone faces the decision of where to live. Some, like you, have chosen to live near a big city. That has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, just as a more rural setting does. I feel we’re kind of in-between. Our town only has 30,000 people, but we have most everything we need. San Francisco is four hours south, and Portland is six hours north. I love living in the redwoods, close to the ocean. Our city is hardly perfect, but it works for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate that, Pete.
In my singing days, I preferred big citiy with a large church, large enough to have the talented musicians for quality performances. Several years ago, our church decided not to sing traditional music. I was singing Messiah with a group that had people from about 50 churches. After the conductor retired, a conductor from another large church talk over so I continue to sing with them. I think that’s one of the reasons keeps me in the big city.
Now everything we do is workin 2 miles radius. My husband likes it.
LikeLike
I’m trying to like your comment, but WordPress isn’t cooperating lately. I’ve heard others talking about this from time to time, but I’ve never had an issue until the last week. This is now happening on about half of the sites I follow. Any suggestions on how to rectify this problem?
LikeLiked by 1 person
WordPress is very temperamental. No one single solution to the problems. You may try log out and log on from Google search to see if it works. WP even unfollow a whole bunch of the blogs I followed a while back. I emailed them. They have no solution for me.
LikeLike
I couldn’t click like sometimes last week so I shut down my internet and started again. Someone also told me he couldn’t click like to my post but wanted me to know in the comment.
LikeLike
Beautiful photos and post, Miriam! How fortunate we are to be able to socialize with our family near and far even when physical distance is a factor. Wonderful photos of Mercy, Autumn and Nora! Blessings to all—congratulations and best wishes! ❤
LikeLike
Beautiful quotes and photos. Lovely pictures of your family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate your reading and comment, Bella! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos, great quotes. Love the landscapes, love the family. Be well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind comment, John! We do our best to be safe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such precious photographs Miriam. Congratulations to all and may Nora be blessed with a long, happy, and healthy life ahead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciated your comment, John! Nora is so precious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on your beautiful grand children Miriam. May they grow up in a world where there are no crises. Your images are very refreshing and lovely this week. I laughed at your thoughts about why people would choose to live remotely. Personally, I and many others wonder why anyone would ever want to live in a big city 😊😊. Different strokes as they say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, different strokes for different folks, Tina. I was not exposed to living in a remote area. Living in a big city is the only thing I know. The closest thing living in a quiet area was when I first came to Portland as a student. The campus was in a heavily wooded area. The major stores were at least a couple miles apart. 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful landscape and family photos, Miriam. Autumn looks so much like her mom and baby Nora is gorgeous. You must be so proud.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Kim, I’m so proud of my daughter’s family. Autumn loves books. She reads by herself a lot. I just can’t believe it and I’m thrill at the same time. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beautiful photos Miriam. You must be missing your family right now. Stay safe and well. 💙🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
I missed them so much, Miriam. Yes, we must stay safe. 💖🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful mama and babies! They warm my heart. Stay well. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Gwen. They warm my heart also! ❤
LikeLike
This is a beautiful and informative blog. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and comment, Tangie! I appreciated it!
LikeLike
You are welcome; it was a great read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you it, Tangie!
LikeLike
This is so beautiful Miriam. The little ones are so amazing. That beach on Australia is just plain wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are amazing, Margaret! My daughter has a website to post photos every day. They make me happy by looking at them! I’m glad you liked the Australia beach. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
So lovely Miriam 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Brian! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We often forget to look beyond what is right in front of us. Beautiful reminders, Miriam. Your granddaughters, and their mama, are beautiful. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, Dorinda! I’m glad my daughter and I decided that we must play safe for me not to travel even though I wanted to be with them badly! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person