December Signs

Filed Under christmas | 22 comments

 

It’s the time of year when signs everywhere point to the festivities — This week  our photography prompt group’s assignment was SIGNS …

“Believe” — I sure do — I believe that everything happens for a reason and that we will make our own happiness.

But I also believe — in the heart and spirit of Christmas!!

Santa is a sure fire sign that all parents have a little bit of added arsenal to their “better be nice” requests!

 

No way could Santa get all the requests filled without his wonderful Elves… no way!!

 

 

Its that time of year when the world falls in love … every song you hear seems to say… (every sight helps bring to mind a Christmas song)

 

And dreaming of a White Christmas may only be in your home…

 

 

 

Then there is the best sign — the REASON for the season…

May you find the beauty in your life, for it is simply right in front of you.

Merry Christmas!!

Be sure and visit Beverly for Pink Saturday celebrations.

 

December 9, 2011 at 2:57 pm | christmas | 22 comments

Night lights

Filed Under Photography | 15 comments

I have become fascinated by light.  Light of all kinds, whether in the middle of the day (ugggh bad bad light for faces and shadows) or early morning, soft misty  light; or night lights.

There’s always a story to tell it seems when an image is taken in the dark. Something left untold.

Even a quiet whisper to it.

The lines and colors all seem to change in the dim light.

 

 

Moods change in the dark.

 

 

Leaves one to think…and think some more.

Find the beauty around you.

Hugs!

 

November 30, 2011 at 11:42 am | Photography | 15 comments

Love and Passion

Filed Under Photography | 20 comments

Last night I watched a short interview by Brian Williams with Annie Leibovitz  and then later with David Letterman. Both interviews were WAYYY too short for me. On my bucket “to do list” is to attend a workshop where she would be talking or TEACHING (better yet)! My guess would be that people like me would’ve really enjoyed listening about her life’s craft.

With her gruff voice and kindness to her interviewer, she resembled any ordinary woman who is passionate and loves what she does. She explained that when she reflected on particular images she realized that her photographs held power and told a story beyond what she initially felt.

 

I know it sounds cliche` to want to capture moments in time, but from the very deepest creative squiggly parts of me, that’s how I feel.  In particular the last 5 years, I have set myself on a path to thoughtfully be in the moment and really soak in the beauty of the day (or night– see above photo); examine the ordinary and realize it was extraordinary or celebrate the imperfect. Night images have an eerie feel to them don’t they?

When bad bad things have come into my life I try to asking myself what am I suppose to be learning or paying attention to?  Photographing people, animals or nature helps me review that far too fleeting moment and say “ooooh that’s what I saw.”  Revisiting an image shows something entirely new I might not have seen in the beginning.  And best of all, photography allows me to revisit special moments again and again.

 

Like most photographers, we are not comfortable in front of the camera. I joke how my children probably didn’t really know what I looked like without a camera in front of my face. Even Annie Leibovitz was uncomfortable when David Letterman wanted to take her photo.

My wonderful photography friends that I “play” with weekly (Prompt Addicts), encouraged us this past week to break out of our comfort zone and get in the photo.  I was horrified!  Really… I moaned and groaned out loud.  Then I grabbed my camera and took way too many photos of the floor, ceiling or parts of my head or hands, trying to get a “selfie”. I finally settled on one and posted it in our group.

This was a big step for me.

After reuniting with my camera 5 years ago, I realized there have been many BIG steps for me.  And while I am still on my journey pursuing the “Happy Accident– called Serendipity”. That’s joy rising!

(thanks to Jason Eiting for this photo) Yes, that is moi in that silly purple rain coat. *sigh*

During the past couple of weeks I have been on a “heavenly” photographic  adventure.  Seattle changed my life.

 2 days flew by in warp speed. I could not slow it down, no matter how hard I tried.  Our time was spent with people who have the same passion as mine.  They love searching for beauty. They love their art.  They inspired and taught me. Words fall very flat when I try to express how we connected and blessed I felt; their hearts spoke to mine. I look forward to more time with them soon! But in the mean time I am thankful for a new connection with them via a small thing called the internet

Be sure and find the beauty in your every day life.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change!”  Wayne Dyer

Hugs!

November 15, 2011 at 6:19 pm | Photography | 20 comments

Autumn Blessings

Filed Under Autumn | 8 comments

 

November is probably my most favorite month.  The weather typically is just right “sweater” weather and the colors are fabulous.

 

 

Watching Mother Nature turn her paint palette to these colors is like watching a painter in action.  The city of Ashville, North Carolina encouraged the art community to come out on that particular Sunday and paint at various locations.  There were over 100 participants.

Enjoy your week, as we embark on fabulous month of November. Where, for me it’s a month where few expectations push us and being THANKFUL is the month long theme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 4, 2011 at 12:31 pm | Autumn | 8 comments

Heart String tug

Filed Under Living Beautiful | 8 comments

Today I read the sweetest post on Facebook.

It really tugged at my heartstrings!

I just had to share.

.

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.

Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

 

 

I am in love with the person who took the time out of their busy day to make a family’s  heart feel better.

(and the cynic in me understands that this might be a made up story just for the internet– if it is– let’s have a few more like this!)

 

Find the beauty in life!

Hugs

October 27, 2011 at 10:57 am | Living Beautiful | 8 comments

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