Mastering the Words

A personal blog about writing, storytelling, traveling, reading and—let's be honest here, the most important "ing"—a healthy dose of procrastinating.

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Only those items which I notice shape my mind... without selective interest, experience is an utter chaos.. a gray chaotic indiscriminateness.

William James

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"I like bars just after they open for the evening. When the air inside is still cool and clean... The first quiet drink of the evening in a quiet bar--that's wonderful." [Raymond Chandler] 🍸 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #mcmenamins #pnw #canon #70d #bar #distillery #oregonexplored #blackandwhite (at McMenamins Edgefield)

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Portland after dark no.3: The Hawthorne bridge is by far my favorite in the city. To stroll along, to brave driving the left lane over, or merely to admire from a distance, it's the first bridge I really encountered when I moved here. Years later, I look at it and am reminded that I love living here. 🌃 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #portland #pdx #iphone #nofilter #noedits #hawthorne #bridge #pwn (at Southeast Portland, Portland)

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Dreaming of salt water and endless coastal miles. . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #lincolncity #coast #pnw #winter #canon #70d #beach #oregonexplored (at Lincoln City, Oregon)

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“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift.” [Albert Einstein] 🍃 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #portland #pdx #hoytarboretum #pnw #leaf #winter #canon #70d #macro (at Hoyt Arboretum)

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Inspirational quote? Check. Hazy beach background shot? Check. Enlightening caption? Eh, work in progress. 🤓 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #lincolncity #coast #pnw #iphone #photoshopexpress (at Roads End State Recreation Site)

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Series | Cats of Southeast : Salmon St. . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #portland #sepdx #cat #canon #70d #catsofinstagram

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#tbt to summer evenings, live music, the liquid magic from the vines running wild in our veins. Perfect recipe for moments like this. . 📷 : Eric Corriveau . . . #oregon #mcminnville @youngberg_hill #wine #winery #oregonwinecountry #canon #70d (at Youngberg Hill)

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Now that the chaos of the holiday season is behind me, I want to get back to this: the cold air lingering around a bend in the trail, the sunlight filtering through the trees. The stillness of the forest, and the ability to take deep, restorative breaths. The longer I live here, the more I’m convinced that 🌲= 🔋 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #portland #hoytaboretum #hike #oregonexplored (at Hoyt Arboretum)

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#tbt to our summertime visit to Bend. We were trying beer at Cascade Lakes Brewing Company, because 1️⃣ we never pass up an opportunity to drink in the afternoon and 2️⃣ it's tradition that we enjoy a couple of brews after completing a hike. Except, we failed a hike this day ⛰ Why? Well, let's just say the mosquitos brought steel bats to a pillow fight 🤕 I also adore this photo because I think it really captured Eric's intense apathy to selfies and my enthusiasm for trying to irritate him as much as possible 😉 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #bend #gopro #beer #cascadelakesbrewing (at Cascade Lakes Brewing Company)

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Frosted ❄️ Coming across this hillside in the Hoyt Arboretum reminded me of delicate candied flowers, atop a beautifully decorated cake. Mmmm, cake. And now I’m hungry 🎂 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #canon #70d #winter #nature #hoytarboretum #hike (at Hoyt Arboretum)

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It’s a white Christmas for us here in PDX ☃️❄️ it’s only going to last for another day but while it’s here, let’s appreciate the beauty in the small details: the sound of the melt dripping onto sheets of crystal clear ice, the hummingbird we glimpsed this morning drinking from the exposed winter blooms, and the fact that the city appears to have learned a lesson from last year & laid down anti-icier. Happy holidays! 🎅🏼 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #iphone #photoshopexpress #flowers #winter (at McMenamins Kennedy School)

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The world outside is chilled and damp, so let's drink wine by a fire in the middle of the day and plan the adventures to come. . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #willamettevalley #iphone #photoshopexpress #winery #dayoff (at David Hill Vineyards & Winery)

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Murderish. . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #canon #70d #portlandaudubon #birds (at Audubon Society of Portland)

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Fall time at Silver Falls State Park, with roaring waterfalls and falling leaves, means falling in love with this gorgeous fall color. 🍂 (Ok, so alliteration isn't my strongest writing skill 🤷🏻‍♀️, but you get the idea, right?) . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #oregon #silverfalls #statepark #fall #canon #70d #exploreoregon (at Silver Falls State Park)

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Storms and succulents. • Summer is officially over in the PNW. Those little white dots on the soil? Hail! And the first sign of the chill to come. 🌨 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #portland #hawthorne #oregon #canon #70d #succulents #photoshopexpress (at Portland, Oregon)

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This is not our cat. But doesn't she look so good in our apartment? 😸🤔 . 📷 : Leslie Kawakami . . . #portland #hawthorne #cat #meow #canon #70d (at Portland, Oregon)