Color Blast

Filed Under Photography | 61 comments

After Winter’s  cold and frost, we  look forward to Spring with each little bud that raises it’s head; bringing new hope as all Springs do. I have always thought that Spring and Fall were my favorite seasons; but this year’s Summer, because of a very very rainy Spring, was particularly green and abundant with fantastic color blasts. I love living so close to the pulse of the seasons.

Mother Nature delights us with each flower that grows to it’s fullest potential. Spring metamorphosis‘ into Summer with excitement. (join others at Susan’s Metamorphosis Monday)

 

Here is a little Metamorphosis example- SOOC (straight out of camera)

 

With a little help from Picnik - Add some “Boost” and Vignette”  (little darker edges) — don’t forget to SAVE AS.

In my creative dreams, this is how I would like to water color. 

Summer time helps bring out our Funky sides — don’t you think? I’m LOVIN these pots!

As I took a drive late one over cast evening… I came upon this bounty of daisies! I often perform dangerous dashings from my car just to get a shot. One of these days someone is going to run me over; but I could not pass this  by with out capturing this lovingly tended yard. Yes, some times I am a fool for beauty.

Do you supose the owner of this tire swing would mind if I took it for a Summer evening ride?

I can imagine that perhaps an 8 year old little darling could probably kick my butt if i tried.

Susan at Southern Daydreamer is throwing her usual Out Door Wednesday party; come see who is showing up.

Waving goodbye to sweet HOT August 2009!! Even though the days are long, some how Summer is too short.

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

August 30, 2009 at 8:07 pm | Photography | 61 comments

Imperfection Celebration

Filed Under Imperfection Celebration | 40 comments

 

From The Secret Garden (the Musical)

Come to my garden,
Nestled in the hills.
There I’ll keep you safe beside me.

Come to my garden.
Rest there in my arms.
There I’ll see you
Safely grown and on your way.

Stay there in the garden,
Where love grows free and wild.
Come to my garden.
Come, sweet child

Imperfection at its best!

Gentle permission to value the scratched and dented.

Come visit Outdoor Wednesday with others… and Susan from A Southern Daydreamer. And as you have seen the transformation of Imperfect photos to ART– visit Kimba at A Soft Place to Land and check out the other DIY’s there.

Be kind to yourself and celebrate YOUR imperfections.

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

August 26, 2009 at 1:43 am | Imperfection Celebration | 40 comments

Summer Exit

Filed Under Mosaic | 14 comments

Summer was/ is the time for songs!

 Growing up I was glued to my transistor radio – I could’ve  put my parents in the poor house buying batteries I suppose. Then came purchasing my own albums,  then my own stereo, Oh! remember 8 track tapes? (my cassettes were mainly eaten up by the player– brother, the producers of those sure saw us kids coming on that one didn’t they?) Reflecting back I came up with some of my all time favorites- Just for the Summer!

Lovin Spoonfuls– Summer in the City– “Hot town, summer in the city/Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty…”

Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime — “When the weather’s fine, you got women, you got women on your mind”

The Drifters — Under the Board walk — “Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah/On a blanket with my baby is where I’ll be”

The BeachBoys – California Girls –”The West Coast has the sunshine/And the girls all get so tan”

Don Henly — Boys of Summer — “your brown skin shinning in the sun…”

Alice Cooper – Schools Out for Summer — ”We’ve got no class, and we’ve got no principals!/We can’t even think of a word that rhymes!”

I had a particular beef with the Beach boys– They spoke about the East coast girls (hip clothes)  and the Southern Girls (southern accents) and the Midwest girls (knew how to make you feel alright) … I felt slighted.

I lived in Montana – so I stole the “Northern girls” (even though I suppose I knew they were referring to Alaskans) I liked the idea of  ” the way they kiss, they keep their boy friends warm at night”) Yes, even way back when,  I was a dreamer and probably delusional.

 Summer has always been FUN… fun … fun– well– till your Daddy takes the T-bird away.

Ahhh the first swimming lessons!

Summer Lovin– I adore everyone of these fantastic people!!

Do you have a favorite song of Summer??? It’s almost the end of August and I think I will be milking this for as long as I can.

Visit Susan at Met Monday  and Mary at Little House – such fun ideas and dear ones who are all so creative.

TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥

August 24, 2009 at 12:58 am | Mosaic | 14 comments

Monastery Visit

Filed Under Living Beautiful | 28 comments

Traveling another Serendipitous road… took me with a  friend up into the North East mountains of Utah.

Tucked up into the Rocky mountains we visited a Cistercian monastery. The tree lined entrance was breath taking.  A group of Monks who grow crops of alfalfa and barley; 7 times during the day gather for prayer and chanting. The reverence I felt the moment we left our car was amazing. Such a simple life they lead. The chants were lovely and uplifting but it was meeting Father “Joseph” that made my day.

This darling man touched my heart. He eluded to his age; approximately in his 80’s and he told us that Monks don’t get buried in caskets but only in what he was wearing that day. With the biggest smile told us his “bags were already packed” and he patted his robe.  Would you just look at that lovely smile and those twinkling eyes!

My  friend who had driven us up,  recently lost her job. He softly said that he knew she would be employed shortly but that he would also say a prayer on her behalf.  Neither of us were Catholic, but this man of God, was so simple and pure. He said something that I will never forget as we were leaving. We told him to have a great afternoon and then  he replied, “I always do, I haven’t had a bad one yet.”  and you know what? I am sure he hasn’t.

I asked him if I might take a picture of his hands and  he laughed softly at me saying that about 50 years ago he could’ve understood why I wanted to photograph them, but now he didn’t understand. I thought his hands were glorious. They brought to mind an excerp  of one of my favorite lyrics by Kenneth Cope.

His Hands…

his hands would serve his whole life though
showing man what hands might do
giving, ever giving, endlessly
each day was filled with selflessness
and i’ll not rest until i make up my hands what they could be
’til these hands become like those from galilee

Perhaps this post might have been better, had it been posted on Sunday, but I could not wait to share this delightful day with all my friends and dear ones. I sincerely loved visiting the Monks – (thanks so much Miss Pam) Please stop by and see what others at Its a Beautiful life and Hooked on Fridays have in store for you all. Also, a new party on Sunday … visit Ginger at Spiritual Sundays.

TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥

August 21, 2009 at 12:52 am | Living Beautiful | 28 comments

Cottages — before and after

Filed Under cottages | 26 comments

 

It’s interesting how nature is one of the best creators of BEFORE and AFTERS.

While participating in this weeks Metamorphosis Monday with Susan and Mary at Little Red House and her Mosaic Monday, I thought I could actually participate with both showing Mother nature at her best!!

 

Many of you may recognise this sweet beauty from a previous post (click here). This was taken in wet early spring.

 

Little bit of a different angle…ok I know next time I will be more particular about my positioning… but notice how with a little bit of sunshine and a lot of summer rain, and from the looks of it a care taker who sincerely loves their home, Mother Nature at her best in the AFTER. If you will look VERRRY careful you will see a slumbering white kitty on the porch bench. “shhhh”

In a way, I have always thought myself creative… I don’t know if I would’ve every called myself an artist, but since seeking my true authentic self lately, I do think I have some artistic  flairs. HOWEVER… one thing I have always wanted to be wonderful at and am NOT, is a water color painter.

Well……… I found something to assist my water color adventures.

Take one of my favorite Pink roofed cottages….

In Elements, or yes, Photo shop (so I am told because I don’t have this costly beast you can too be a water color artist.

Just go to Filters Click — Artistic then water color ….and Voila` the Above.

Now for a much closer version to show off the water color feature … Dang I even think Susan Rios would be proud!

Enjoy your week– start on your own Dipity Road finding your true authentic self!

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

I also joined a darling new blog party –It’s Great to Be Home. Stop by and take a fresh look!

August 16, 2009 at 11:42 pm | cottages | 26 comments

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