Let Light Into Your World

Open your mind.

Open your heart.

Let light into your world.

Let it banish the darkness that sometimes engulfs us.

Let the light guide your way.

                   ~  Author Unknown

Are you feeling it as much as I am?  I need more light, I need more sunshine.  We have one day of sunshine and 5 days of grey.  This one in every five does not fill up my light meter, leaving me wanting more.  Parallel to giving me a bite of a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie and then telling me no more.  But I want more, whatdaya mean no more?  

In the afternoons when the sun shines brightly my living room becomes flooded with sunlight.  To sit on the couch and soak up that sunshine is blissful.  My Mom spent many sunny days sitting as close to the window as space would allow, staying in that spot until the sun began to disappear behind the rooftops.  We all need sun, we need that light to brighten our thoughts and erase the gloom that descends when the skies remain grey.  

Today I will have to be satisfied with images of brightness, the skies outside remain grey, but on the inside I am seeking lightness so the darkness doesn't engulf me.  

Another of my daughter's cats....this one appropriately named Snowy.

And another....now you know why she has been dubbed "the crazy cat lady"

And the remains of the flowers, daisy's always seem to last the longest.

Linking up with Lisa at The Creative Exchange.

"It takes 17 muscles to smile, and 47 muscles to frown.  Conserve energy."  ~  Unknown

Until next time......

They Mattered

"It doesn't matter how long you live, but how well you do it."  ~  Martin Luther King, Jr.  There were three men born about the same time, each one of them making their mark on the political front and all three were gunned down, I was trying to come up with a better word than "gunned down" but unfortunately that is exactly what it was.  John F Kennedy was assassinated  in 1963, his brother Robert Kennedy in 1968, and Martin Luther King, Jr. also in 1968.  I was a young girl in 1963, had completed 2 years in college, had met the love of my life and was planning a wedding when President John F Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, came to Dallas.  It was lunchtime, and we were excited to try and catch a glimpse of the motorcade as it sped thru the city.  The streets were crowded with people like us, trying oh so hard to see the President of the United States.  As I looked around, there was a large truck with the driver sitting in the driver's seat with a perfect view....never one for shyness, I walked up to him with begging eyes and asked if we could please, please, please stand on the side-runners.  "Sure come on up" he replied, and with that we were able to climb high enough to see the President and the Mrs. First Lady in her pink suit and hat drive by waving to the crowds.  It was over in a flash, we thanked the truck driver and then went for lunch at a restaurant close-by.  As we were leaving the restaurant to return to work, a man with a portable radio walked by and said that the President had been shot.  What!!  I just saw him less than 30 minutes earlier.  The nation was shocked, I was shocked that it literally happened within 5-10 minutes after I was standing on top of a truck waving furiously, so filled with excitement to be a part of this welcoming crowd.

A few years later, married and a young mother two more would be "gunned down".  Today as we celebrate the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. I wonder what our nation would be like if these three men had lived to continue their journey.  I think it mattered how long these three lived, I think it mattered to their families, their wives and children, it mattered for all that believed in their work, it mattered that they were not able to finish their dreams.  God bless you Martin, Robert & John you mattered. 

Linking up with Lisa at Creative Exchange, Kim at Texture Tuesday and Katy at Scripture & A Snapshot.

Until next time.......

Nature Fills our Souls with Beauty

When I woke this morning and looked out the windows, what greeted me was frost, beautiful, shiny white frost.  If I squinted my eyes I could almost believe that all the white that was covering the grass, roofs, and trees was snow instead of frost.  As much snow as we accumulated last year you would wonder if I had lost my mind in "wishing/squinting" for snow.  I made myself a cup of coffee, can't really do anything without that first cup of coffee, dressed, which usually doesn't happen until at least mid-morning, grabbed my camera and headed out the door.  I was able to capture the tiny crystals that had formed on all the branches, giving them a fairy-tale look.  Even on a cold, no-snow, January morning nature fills our souls with beauty.

Happy Monday everyone.  The week is just beginning, let's make it a good one.  Linking this up to Lisa's Creative Exchange.





"The only calendar I need is just outside my window.  With eyes to see and ears to hear; nature keeps me posted.
Until next time......

Texture Tuesday & The Creative Exchange

It is heaven to see blooming flowers this time of the year.  At home the garden has been put to bed for it's long winter's rest, but here in Southern California the flowers don't realize it is almost December, they don't know that there is snow and freezing temps in other parts.  So bloom on sweet flowers, bloom on.....

I used Kim Klassen's new texture, Poetic on many of these flowers in various ways. 

Can you believe that Iris's are still blooming??

And ofcourse, limes....

Felt the need to add a couple of local cactus.  Definitely something we do NOT have growing back home in the summertime or anytime.

Stop on over at Ashley's Creative Exchange and Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday to see some realy beauties. 

Until next time....
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Gratitude on a Monday Morning

Lately after uploading a few photos to flickr I noticed some of my contacts began contributing to a 30 Day Gratitude Group.  Decided that it would be a "good" thing to join up.  Simple enough, just take a photo each day during the month of "gratitude" commonly known as November, that you are grateful for and post it on flickr, adding it to the 30 Days of Gratitude Flickr group.  Since joining and contributing to all these photography groups I have such an awareness of what encircles my life each and every day. Instances that I have seen with my eyes day in and day out, but when captured through the lens of a camera become little pieces of art, or at the very least a wake-up call to appreciate even the simple details of a Monday morning.  So today I decided to note all that I was grateful for this morning.....

1)  The big maple tree in the front yard.  I love the shade it provides in the summer, the golden yellow beauty it blesses us with in the fall, but when the leaves begin to fall, not so much.

After a super windy weekend, most all of the leaves on that big beautiful maple tree came tumbling to the ground, ready for pick-up.  Today was the perfect day for raking leaves....absolutely still with not even a breeze blowing, and cool, so no worries about over-heating. (was also thankful for this, but failed to take pictures of the no wind and coolness in the air) 

2)  Thankful for big, lightweight, plastic, blue tarps to rake many leaves on, in order to drag said leaves onto the curb for future pick-up.  I don't know how many times I filled this tarp up and dragged the leaves to the curb, decided not to count, there was no prize awarded.  My front yard has a white picket fence surrounding it, with the only exit for leaves is thru the front gate.  It just becomes more efficient to do the "tarp thing". 

3)  A handy leaf blower, enough said.

4) A sip of coffee now and again for refuel. 

 5)  County trucks that come and pick up all these leaves, whew, thank goodness.

6)  Neighbors, they usually like to hang next door because of the apple tree in the front yard.  They drop by each day for snacks and tend to drop some things of their own as they leave.  May have to re-think grateful on this one. 

7)  My sweet Toby.  He keeps me company and watches for any predators that may come along... ie:squirrels

8)  The colors, those wonderful, wonderful colors of fall.  Have you ever seen such beautiful berries, they are like poetry in blue.  I find them every Fall on the vine that grows on the front fence.  I can't remember the kind of vine, but whatever it is, it produces these blue and deep purple berries in the fall. 

Linking this to Lisa's Creative Exchange.....  Come on over and visit

A simple list, but one to be mighty grateful for. 

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy."  ~  Ralph H. Blum

Until next time.......

Double Duty

Posting one pic for two spots....cute little pumpkin for Lisa's The Creative Exchange which has it's own new site beginning this week and for Kim's Texture Tuesday.  Kim's requirement was to use her texture "and then some" this week.  I used 2 layers, the 1st one on soft light at 100% and the second one at linear burn at 75%. 

Have a terrific Tuesday....

Until next time......

Monday Morning Creative Exchange

Sun is shining, birds are singing, a slight breeze is blowing....perfect for a walk around the neighborhood with camera in hand.  Oh do I love the colors of fall, the oranges, the yellows, the soft browns, the reds all a harvest of colorful joy!!  I am posting only one of the many I captured this morning (more will come later) to share with Lisa at Creative Exchange .  She is such a sweetie to host this every week, so show her a little love and stop by to admire all the beautiful posts. 

I am participating in a class over at Big Picture Classes with Tracey Clark, "The Art of Composition".  This week's mid-week challenge is bokeh.  In my walk this morning, I was able to capture some of that bokeh thanks to the delicious light cast by the sun. 

Hope your day is filled with plenty of light!!!

Until next time.......

Monday Morning Confusion

Monday, Oct 17th 9:30 AM - Dr. appt for yearly physical.  Set the alarm so I would NOT oversleep....made coffee, checked e-mail then off to shower and dress.  Shaved (since I am on the other side of menopause the body hair growth has slowed down considerably) because it has been awhile and thought it only polite to remove what little hair growth there was before presenting my totally nude body to be poked and prodded by my (thank-goodness) female Dr.  Thought it was a little strange that I received no reminder call, but left at 9:15 to arrive on time.  Walked in, receptionist looked at me strangely, and I thought, uh oh, this does not feel good.  She proceeded to tell me I did not have an appt. and didn't even have one scheduled.  WHAT??  I remember specifically going to the Dr. office to get my perscriptions refilled and scheduling an appointment.  She remembed nothing!!!  I even blogged about my trip to the office on Sept 29th....that did nothing to convince her.  Oh well.  Back again on Thursday (new date), same routine, but probably won't have to shave this time.  (Is this too much information??)  Where did I get that date and time, if someone had not given it to me?  This is one time I am going to point the finger at them and not me, I think they just didn't write it down or put it in their computer or whatever they were supposed to do.  I know age is creeping up, but please, I don't make up Dr.'s appointments, especially that, ugh, yearly physical. 

Since I was up, shaved, and dressed and because it was a beautiful day and I had not purchased mums for my new red pots, decided that this found free-time should not be wasted.  Off to Home Depot, very disappointed, all the mums were already in full bloom, it was that 80 degree weather we had last week that did it.  Did manage to buy a pumpkin and some orange pansies (a fall fav).  Back in the car and off to my fav garden center.  And yes, they had some beautiful mums that had not all burst into bloom (yippee!!).  Feel like if you buy mums that are in full bloom, they will not last as long as those that still have blooms to open, make sense right?  Please say yes, after the Dr. office confusion I need some re-assurance that I am not totally gone.  Took my camera along and captured some beautiful colors, ain't Fall grand!! 

"I'll match my flops with anybody's but I wouldn't have missed them.  Flops are part of life's menu and I've never been one to miss out on any of the courses."  ~  Rosalind Russell

Until next time......

One for Two

Rain, rain, and more rain....great for the gardens, grass, trees & bushes, but not so great for a photography jaunt.  So I grabbed a photo from a couple of weeks ago when I took that stroll thru my fav garden center to share with Lisa at The Creative Exchange and Kim's Texture Tuesday.  Kim's theme this week is Love.  Well, I "love" the colors of fall and I used her "Love" texture so I am pretty sure that counts for fulfilling the requirements.  I could also add that I "love" that flower and I "love" that color, but then that might be a bit over-board on the "love" theme.

Here's hoping you all have a "love"ly day!!

"I have found that if you love life, life will love you right back."   ~  Arthur Rubenstein



Until next time......

The Sunflower

                                    

                                            S outh of the garden

                                            U nder the yellow orbed sun,

                                            N uggets of gold glitter

                                            F or the joy of everyone.

                                            L eaves of green are staggered

                                            O ver slender seven foot stalks,

                                            W aving at all visitors,

                                            E ncouraging nature walks.

                                            R usty browns and lemon yellows

                                            S teal our hearts away.

                                                            ~  Robin Moynihan

Linking up to Lisa's Creative Exchange......

                                                      

Until next time......

A Milk and Honey Monday

When I hear the term "milk & honey" I think of smoothness, sweet, creamy, easily flowing....and that is exactly the kind of day I had.  Sweet and flowing easily along with no bumps, just smooth like honey.  A stop at Walgreens to pick up some needed supplies for my sweetheart and off I went.  Driving on the highway I again noticed the fields turning golden yellow, many fields of corn & soy beans remain unharvested.  Not sure I understand the logic of that, but I am not a farmer and I sure do not understand farming ways.  The weather was beautiful, a gentle breeze, puffy clouds and comfortable temps, can't ask for more than that. 

After a visit with my sweetheart, and a quick trip by my daughter's home to say hello, I took the long way home to take a few photos.  I am always on the lookout for old barns.  As I drive the expressways, I see many set back from the road apiece, but stopping on the highway with trucks that never seem to know that the speed-limit is far slower than what they are driving, is not particularly safe.  So I comb the back roads and hope to find the perfect barn.

Love this barn, have photographed it several times, always in a different season.  I don't know how long it has been abandoned, but the windows are all broken, and there are gaps in the walls....perfect for a photograph.  Also thought I would try the b&w again.  I kinda like this in b&w, really brings out the texture in the wood. 

 Stopping to take photos of the barn there was a field of un-harvested corn.  I walked over and peeled back one of the husks, sorry, felt the need to take a picture of the corn drying on the stalk. 

The golden fields, the green of the trees and the blue of the sky does make for a nice shot of the countryside. 

Driving back into town I was able to stop a little easier to capture a few more images....

The pine trees are loaded with pine cones.  They are beautiful additions to fall & holiday decorating.  I need to get out and start gathering, before all the good ones are gone.  Altho looking around at all the pine trees in this area, I am positive there is plenty for all. 

I love this fall flower, the Fall Anemone.  It is soft and delicate, so unlike the brightly colored mums. I am sharing this at Lisa's Creative Exchange.  Hop on over and see all the beautiful images that are shared each week.  They are a delight!!

Arrived home just in time for a phone call from our son.  He is busy with wedding plans and sounds gloriously happy.  Makes a Mother so happy when her children are happy.    I ended this milk and honey day with having dinner with my good friend, Marti.  Her husband is usually not home on Monday evenings so we decided we would have dinner together, we went to a popular place in town known for their breakfasts & ice-cream desserts.  I had breakfast but no ice-cream.  Next time it's going to be ice-cream and no breakfast.  I LOVE ICE-CREAM!!!  Give me a Diary Queen Blizzard or a McDonald's McFlurry for breakfast, lunch or dinner and I am one happy camper.

"Because of our routines we forget that life is an on-going adventure."  ~  Maya Angelou

Until next time......