At Ease in the Philosopher’s Chair ~ Lost Maples Country Store, Vanderpool, Texas (For more about those philosophers, see my post titled “Plato’s Front Porch“)
When I first joined a website in 2005, the need to choose a user name left me feeling perplexed. I’d had a hard enough time naming my cat; choosing a name for myself was even more difficult. Finally, I settled on shoreacres: a name that joined my love of the ocean with my affection for the Texas hill country.
Today, that name endures, although I’m also known online by my given name. Some day, I may change my public name on WordPress to Linda Leinen, but for now, either will do.
For a fuller biography, contact information, some favorite quotations, and a few tidbits about my preferences in life, click here to be taken to my author’s page at The Task at Hand., where I’ll continue to do my writing.
Photography is a new venture for me, and I have much to learn. On the other hand, I’ve already learned how much enjoyment it can offer.
For those who are interested, I’m a Canon user. My Rebel T6s now has three lenses: an EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5/6 IS standard zoom lens, an EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto zoom lens, and an EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM macro lens. Some day, I hope to grow into them.
Lagniappe 
Hi Linda,
Nice to meet you here and I think it is an exciting idea to have two sites, one for writing and one for photography.I see your blogging journey started the year I returned to Health Visiting practice after a period of sickness.
I am taking a blogging break to pick up my daily journalling practice to enable me to ground myself after what seems a turbulent few months.
Take care.
Hi Linda,
I was swapping comments with Steve Gingold when your Shore Acres handle came up – triggered by a post I wrote featuring a state park also named Shore Acres. He had assumed that we were acquainted as he noticed we seem to be commenting in a lot of the same blogs. I too have noticed your moniker.
I got the feeling the universe was telling me to check out your blog(s), since we seem to have common interests. I’m going to follow this one, as I’ve always been into photography while writing is a newer challenge. Looking good so far, and I look forward to seeing more.
It’s interesting that you know of a park named Shore Acres, Dave. There’s a very small town just up the road from me that’s also named Shoreacres, and every now and then someone lands here because they’re looking up the last town council meeting, or the new recycling regulations.
I chose Shoreacres long, long ago, when I’d just started blogging on the Weather Underground site — even before coming to WordPress. If I’d known then what I know now, I would have used my name, but we all were a little paranoid fifteen years ago, and still had quaint notions about maintaining online privacy. ‘Shoreacres’ does combine my love of the water and my love of the Texas hill country, so I guess I’ll keep it.
I’m happy to have met you, at last. I’ve seen you around more, recently, and had been meaning to stop by again and see what you’ve been up to. I will say that the line between my writing and photography isn’t so clearcut any more, since I’ve begun doing more travel and nature writing at The Task at Hand. But it’s easy to spot those blog posts, since there are lots of photos.
Things are a little chaotic right now, because I’m preparing to move to a new place December 1. Between work and packing, creativity is at a premium, but eventually I’ll be back to my routines — and I’m looking forward to that, believe me.
Looks like you’ve grown into your equipment just fine.
Hi Linda, and greetings from Seattle. I am a botanist and a student of Castilleja for about 35 years. I am currently near completion of a scientific paper on stem fasciation in Castilleja. I have records of its occurrence in 13 species, but your photos are the first I’ve seen from C. indivisa. Ideally, I’d like to include one or two of your photos in the paper, though I could also reference your site in my Lit. Cited, if you’d rather I do it that way. Thanks so much for your lovely blog, especially the Castillejas, of course! Thanks, and you can reach me by the e-mail below.
Hi, Mark ~ What fun that you found my post, and that you’re doing research on these little gems. It’s an old joke, but I do think fasciation is fascinating. I’ve found perhaps eight or ten fasciated plants, and I love posting about them.
I’d be happy for you to use any photos you like. However you prefer to cite them is fine. I’ll go through my files tonight and see if I might have something better in terms of Castilleja stem photos particularly, and send anything I find via email. Happy researching! ~ Linda
Hi Linda — thanks so much! I’ll look forward to your e-mail, and I’ll be sure to send a link to the PDF when it’s published (assuming it’s accepted!). Very nice blog you have, BTW!
Oh, and if you can send me the location and date of these pics, that would be perfect!
I can do both, with great specificity!
Hi again! Hope I didn’t miss the e-mail or delete it in my spam folder! My paper is just about ready to submit, so all I need at this point is a location (GPS is not necessary) and a date. You could even just post the information here… Thanks!
I just dug out a few more photos and sent them along, together w/the coordinates and other information. Glad to help out!
OMG! Your name came up this evening and I am so glad that I searched and found you. I am Allybama. I am so glad that you are doing well. It has been a long time since we have communicated.
It’s been a long time, for sure! I’m so glad to see you. I keep in regular touch with Gué, and occasional touch with Sandi, and Redagainpatti stops by from time to time. All’s well here — I hope the same’s true for you. I’m still blogging away; the only difference is that I have two blogs now. A glutton for punishment, as my mom would say. And to think it all started with WU — now, that’s been a real long time ago.
Thanks for your note. Feel free to stop by any time. Are you involved with the crew at the Ark? I tried to keep up there, too, but it just was too much. I’m not on any of the social media sites, either — WordPress is where I’ve kept my focus. Be well!
Hi Linda,
I see Ally reached out to you already. As mentioned your name came up & so many of us remember you with fondness. It’s good to see your blog! And it’s good to know you are doing well.
BeachFoxx
It’s great to see you, too, Donna. One name leads to another, and I’ve been remembering any number of ‘the group,’ and the interesting experiences we had. Every time another tropical storm or hurricane shows up, I remember the Florida/east coast contingent raising hands to ‘ward off’ the storm, and every storm-flipped trampoline brings beell to mind.. So many memories.
I do get a weekly (?) note from Flickr that includes recent photos from those who formed a new, post-WU crew over there. It’s been interesting to see how creatively people moved on from our old ‘home’ — I’m sure you’ve been creative in your own way, too.