Link Ups, Reflection

Fallen

Retirement Reflections

[ faw-luhn ]
(1)Verb, past participle of fall.
(2)Adjective
• Succumb; Propelled into a new place, state or position.

Fallen Asleep
Milner Gardens, Parksville, BC
Fallen Prey To…
Outside our Living Room Window, Vancouver Island, BC.
Fallen for their Tricks (as they tried to steal bites of our sandwiches)
Strathcona Park, BC
Fallen Apart at the Seams
Mt. Washington Alpiine Village, BC
Fallen Off of the Wagon
Hornby Island, BC
Fallen into Oblivion
Protection Island, BC
Fallen on Stony Ground
Communty Park, Parksville, BC.
Fallen Over the Edge (or fear thereof)
Qualicum Beach, BC
Fallen for You
Riviera de Maya
(I know, awwwww)

I leave you with Jennie Collins and Lauren Wood jamming to Lauren’s stunning song, Fallen. If you haven’t heard it for awhile you’re in for a real treat.

There are a million ways to fall. Which ways have you fallen lately?

#SundayStills
#Fallen

Feature Photo: Heritage Forest, Qualicum Beach.
All photos, except for the last, are my own and feature my home, Vancouver Island.

You can read other #Fallen posts here:
Terri’s
Sue’s
Jacquie’s
Graham’s
Kristin’s
If you’ve also published a post for this week’s #SundayStills, please leave your link in the comments. I would love to see your interpretation!


Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

85 thoughts on “Fallen”

  2. I’ve fallen in love with your posts. You bring me to different places, and different perspectives. I’ve fallen in love with the view from my home office window, which shows tiny baby snowflakes just beginning to emerge from a pewter sky. I’ve fallen in love with my guy (over and over again) who delivered my Earl Grey Tea Latte (skim milk no water) this morning at 7:30 as i worked on my upcoming book. I’ve fallen in love with words (over and over again) and how they reach past my brimming brain to those across the universe who have fallen in love with story and the merging of our souls through the sharing of them.

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    1. You are such a gifted writer! Even your comments are poetic. ‘Emerging from a pewter sky’, ‘reach past my brimming brain to those across the universe’ — beautiful! I can never get enough of your writing and learn so much from you. I’m forever grateful that we have connected.

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  3. I don’t recognize the song at all. I loved the movie Pretty Woman but apparently missed the music. As for fallen, over the last year I’ve fallen in love with doing less but doing what I do more intentionally. It’s a small shift in perspective but seems like a better way for me to live my life. I don’t know if the pandemic pushed me into this fall, but I can go with it and be happy.

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    1. Hi, Ally – There was so much great music in Pretty Woman that it was easy to miss less familiar pieces. To me, Lauren Wood’s voice is so unique and stunning, I’ve always been surprised that she has not reached greater fame. I absolutely love the mindful routine that you have fallen into. Doing less but doing that more intentionally is very inspirational!

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  4. An exceptionally, beautiful post, Donna. Thought-provoking and creative titles for each of your stunning photos. The “Fallen prey to…” made me smile. And egad! The “Fallen off of the wagon” one also a huge grin. I especially love how you and Richard look at each other….awww.❤️

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    1. HI, Erica – I thought I would get that “awwww” in before someone else did. 😀 That photo from Hornby always reminds me of great friends. Awesome memories that are wonderful to keep in mind during our current lockdown. Fingers crossed that this coming summer will bring more get together like that! Sending warm hugs right back to you. ❤

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      1. Photos evoke wonderful memories, Donna. Deb (WB) and I briefly discussing meeting at Kinsol Trestle for a hike in the future. A basic, easy trail to get there. Then many trails along the river on the other end. My girlfriend and I went along the river one year…gorgeous…and eventually turned around since we did not now where we would end up.xx

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      2. Re: adding onto last message……wondering about the 3 of us meeting up, Kinsol……can discuss further in future…..Spring is on the way…..and walking outside with a friend is acceptable. Turning it into more of a day hike/picnic.

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  5. OMG. I first thought when I read the title that you had actually fallen…and perhaps injured yourself! Thankfully there was this beautiful post waiting for me instead 😁. Just lovely. Wonderful interpretations of the word. Thank you, Donna!

    Deb

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    1. Thanks, Darlene! There are so many different ways to fall in love — our partner, our children, our grandchildren, our parents, our family, our friends, our furbabies, nature…. I hope that I keep falling and never stop!

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    1. Thanks, Ingrid – ‘Fallen off the wagon’ was fun! That shot was from a wonderful low-COVID stretch this past summer when we were able to get together safely with friends and family. A group of bloggers were able to meet up at various places on Vancouver Isalnd. I am long for those days again!

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  10. Donna, my LOL got louder as I scrolled to each image. Your photos capture the theme perfectly: falling over snowman, fallen off the wagon, and the trash pile! You’re so clever! The other images are wonderful. You and Richard are such lovebirds. One question, is that a live owl sleeping or a sculpture? So realistic looking nonetheless! Great song too! Thanks for your continued support and contributions to Sunday Stills!

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  11. I also thought perhaps you’d actually fallen and hurt yourself! Love the theme – and the photos. Not sure I’ve fallen for anything much lately – but your post has certainly got me thinking!

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    1. Hi, Janet – It is so wonderful to hear from you. I’ve been thinking of you. I totally understand what you mean when you say that you haven’t fallen for much lately. When I first heard this week’s theme for #SundayStills, all that I could think of was ‘fallen into isolation’ and ‘fallen into COVID-despair.’The great thing about challenges like this is that they encourage us to think outside the box. I began by brainstorming a list of expressions that have fallen in them, ‘fallen between the cracks’, ‘fallen into line’, ‘fallen off the radar’, ‘fallen on deaf ear’…..(there truly were numerous expressions of this nature). Then I went through my photographs for images that matched a phrase. And just like that, my mood was lifted! 😀

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    1. Hi, Kathy – Thank you for your kind words. I love both of those photos too!
      BTW – THere seems to be something strange going on with both of al comment boxes. Yesterday I was immediately banished to your Spam (thank you for rescuing me from there). Today, your comment was sent to my moderation folder (which is reserved for first time commenters). Weird! 😀

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    1. Hi, Sue – I had been wondering why you haven’t been dropping by my posts lately. Then I realized — I never ever check my Spam folder, I just blindly delete all. Lesson learned — when I checked this morning I found this comment in there. My apologies for missing any other comments from you. From now on, I promise to check before deleting.
      And thank you for your ongoing encouragement. I appreciate it greatly. See you tonight!

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  14. Such a great post, Donna! Loved the picture of you and Richard. I don’t remember the song from Pretty Woman either. Maybe I need to watch it again. It’s been a while. Happy Sunday to you.

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  15. I love your take on this prompt Donna! All week I’ve been coming up with ideas for Fallen similar to yours, which shows we think alike and isn’t that a good thing? But I’ve not been able to get around to producing a post yet (and may not) but know that I was on the same wavelength as you :). I just love that photo of you and Richard as in Fallen for you! So beautiful 🙂 That song was fabulous too, thanks for sharing it. Great to wake up to your post today 🙂

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    1. Hi, Debbie – I’m honoured to hear that we were on the same wavelength for this post (I think we share the same wavelength quite often). I completely understand your greater priorities right now. If you do find that you have time for even a quick Wordless Wednesday/SundayStills post, I’d love to see an image or two that you had in mind for this post. No pressure, of course! See you tomorrow!

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    1. Hi, Gwen – I just found this comment in my Spam Folder. I never understand how that folder truly works. Thank you for re-commending. I greatly appreciate it. (And from now on I resolve to check my Spam Folder more carefully! 😀

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  17. Your photos are beautiful, Donna, but with the captions they are extraordinary. Thank you for sharing them. And, I love that you ended the post with Fallen. 💗

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  18. What a fun post – and terrific photos too! I love each of your examples of Fallen… so clever. Of course I said “awwww” to the picture of you and Richard, but that owl was so darn cute too. Thanks for the musical interlude too. I didn’t remember the song from the film.

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    1. Hi, Janis – I agree that the owl was a great find. The sighting of this one was thanks to the sharp eye of Deb (WBA). I’ve seen (and more often heard) owls nearby before, but this guy was in great viewing range and did an awesome job of at least pretending that he was asleep! Thank you for your kind words!

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  19. What a great post. My latest fall was off a bicycle. No damage, no witnesses, so it didn’t happen😉

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  21. Hi Donna – I love all your fallen/falling photos (especially the last one <3) and also find it really interesting to see how each blogger interprets the challenge that Terri sets. You certainly took this one to a new level!

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    1. Hi, Leanne – I also love how everyone interprets this challenge differently. So often I kick myself and say ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ I also love waking up on Sunday mornings to comments on this series (especially from Australia). 😀 But last night, I accidentally set this post to self publish at 12:01 p.m. instead of 12:01 a.m. Oops!
      Thank you for your kind words. I greatly appreciate them.

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  22. I love your take on Fallen and your photos. I think that owl is peeking. The photo of you and Richard is awww, and the songs that you and Jill included are both beautiful.

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    1. Hi, Natalie – I also believe that the owl was peeking. I almost included “Fallen Apeek”, but finally decided that was going too far! 😀 Thank you for your kind words, and for listening to both Jil’s and my songs. You are a very careful and observant reader and viewer!

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  23. The photos are superb (I can’t believe the clarity of the birds’ photos), but your captions make this a home run with your “fallen” theme. Brilliant examples, Donna! Back to work—I’m “fallen” down on the job.

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  25. So, are you a fallen woman Donna? Great post and pics and I love the song. Just up my street! I can’t think of how to use the word – brain has fallen into freeze this bright Monday morning. Well, we’ve fallen into a new week, a busy one on my side. I’ve fallen into my desire to take up pottery. Fallen is one of those words that sound stranger and stranger the more I think about it – have a great week 🤗

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    1. Hi, Susan – I love how words really seem to fall apart the more that we think of them (pun intended)! I definitely hope that I’m not a fallen woman — and that’s not what people say. 😀 I am delighted that you have fallen into pottery. I can wait to read more about this — with photos!
      Thanks so much for stopping by — I greatly appreciate it.

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  27. Oh Donna these pictures are great and the way you’ve described them is perfect – you’re so clever. I wish I could spot an owl. I know they are around here, but I’ve never seen one. That snowman is falling but he looks determined to stay up!

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    1. Hi, Barb – Although I have seen numerous owls out this way, each sighting always seems like the first one. They are so magnificent!
      About that snowman. Sadly, I went out to the very same spot, the very next day, and all was left was his red hat! 😦

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    1. Thanks, Marty – Despite having two much larger and more powerful cameras, I have become lazy and only shoot with my camera phone (Samsung). Because of this, I avoided joining Terri’s #SundayStills for years. Now I am having such a blast participating, I kick myself for not joining in before. I greatly appreciate you dropping by. I hope that all is well for you and Gorgeous!

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  29. What a gorgeous and diverse collection. That owl photo is incredible. He looks massive! I’m less keen on the giant spider. Yikes. A special photo in the Maya Riviera. Dave and I renewed our vows there at our 25th anniversary with our adult kids as guests. I guess I fell for him all over again. 🙂

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    1. Hi, Sue- That’s so cool that you and Dave renewed your wedding vows in Maya Riviera. Richard and I were there in January 2020 to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Thank you for your feedback on my photos. I personally love that spider shot. Still, I was quite pleased that I was photographing him on the other side of secure glass! 😀

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  30. Donna,
    Your pictures are so cool, and illustrate very well the beauty of where you live. I love the framing of the photographs – would love to know what tool you used to do that. Have a great
    week. Joe

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  31. I think you did a great job with this theme! I hadn’t even noticed the framing around the photos until it was mentioned in the previous comment. I like 🙂

    In my icy winter wonderland I would have added one more ‘fallen’ … as in slipping on ice, falling on the ground … which I’d managed to do several times in the past couple of months. Either I have remarkably strong bones, or I’m incredibly lucky.

    But now I have new ice grippers and I’m an unstoppable force on the trail 😉 Hopefully no more ‘fallen’.

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  32. So many ways to fall…and you put them all to pictures wonderfully, Donna. I’ve most recently fallen in love with our new dog, Buddy. I have not fallen for my husband’s tricks to get me to say he can buy the new convertible Corvette! 🙂

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    1. Hi, Christie – I am so glad that you have fallen head over heels in love with Buddy. I am sure that he has done the exact same thing. New dog for you, new Corvette for your husband….I agree that that does not sound like an equal deal. 😀

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  33. Pingback: Sunday Stills Color Challenge: A #Rosy Outlook – Second Wind Leisure Perspectives

  34. Hi Donna – such a clever post – especially as I’m reading it on Valentine’s Day – appropriate for you … fine for me in my solitary confinement – I’m ok with it … delightful photos too – fun to read on our pewter skies … at least it’s warming up. Stay safe – while the Kinsol Trail sounds a fun meet up … all the best – Hilary

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    1. Hi, Hilary – Thank you for dropping by this post. I agree that ‘fallen’ is also a great Valentine’s Day theme. I haven’t yet been to the Kinsol Trail — hopefully very soon. I’ll include photos from that adventure as soon as it happens! Stay safe!!

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  35. The middle section of our retaining wall has fallen away — but now we have a new wall! I have had a great winter ski season, although I confess I have fallen once or twice. And, an ongoing concern is that our elderly cat has fallen into poor health.

    Jude

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