Reflections of Christmas

18 years

Celebrating 18 years of marriage to my wonderful husband!

All that shimmers

Today I came home from work cranky.  It had been a long busy day and let's face it, it's 14 degrees outside at 4:30.  As I stood in my kitchen looking out the window, I noticed the sun setting and the sheen it gave the snow.  I grabbed my camera and this is what happened.  I feel better now.  Find some beauty in every day!

snow and squirrels

First snow!

Baby its cold outside!

                               In November, we discovered that our Mamma squirrel only has 3 legs!

To Do List . . .

Autumn is like a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  ~Albert Camus 
 

Something to ponder . . . .

What makes you happy?

Photography as a Life Coach

Since I’m an amateur photographer, I decided to join a camera club.  It’s a wonderful group of people of all skill levels.  Some of the work is absolutely amazing and a true inspiration. Check out the Omaha Camera Club's galleries at http://occ.smugmug.com/.

Interestingly, I’m finding that photography is a lot like life.  Below are a few things I’ve learned thus far:

1.       Composition, impact and technique.  These are the three elements that judges look at while critiquing a photo. 

a.       Composition – an array of the parts to form a whole.  Is the scene organized and unified?

b.      Impact – the influence or effect it has on the viewer. Does it make a statement?

c.       Technique – the manner and method (technical skills) the artist uses to accomplish the task.

Are you part of the “whole”? Are you working with others for unity? What impact or statement are you making to observers?  What feelings do your actions create? How are you accomplishing your goal?  What actions are you employing to achieve the desired effect?

2.       Sometimes the picture is off balance.  Characteristics may be either exaggerated or understated. When this happens, find the golden ratio (a naturally occurring code of proportions [Fibonacci’s numbers]).  Are you spending the appropriate amounts of time on work, play, external responsibilities, family, and taking care of yourself? 

3.       Sometimes the picture is blurry. Things aren’t clear and start running together. When this happens, remember to slow down and focus. Hold steady.  Everything  looks better with a clear understanding.

The technology of PhotoShop has taken photography to a new level.  My philosophy has always been that photos should be straight out of the camera, just as they really are.  I’m having trouble embracing the concept of post-processing.   However, through many conversations with my mentor and looking at a lot of photos, I am ­­­learning that post-processing is not the evil I initially thought.  

4.       Sometimes the background is distracting. There is a lot going on and what is important gets lost in the big picture. When this happens, crop.  Take away all the distractions and zoom in on the subject at hand.

5.       Sometimes the picture is dull.  The scene isn’t interesting or it appears pale.  When this happens, make adjustments. Straighten things out.  Make the lines crisp, give it definition. Make the details stand out. Add color.

In other words, in photography AND in life, plan well, use the right methods, and enhance when needed. Make it beautiful.    

                                                                 
                                                                                               OR

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.         ~Albert Camus

 

Leaves, horses and pumpkins

How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days.

  ~John Burroughs

 The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.         ~Sharon Ralls Lemon

Platte River State Park Corral

                                                           

I never met a pumpkin I didn't like! 

 http://www.pumpkinnook.com/facts.htm#history

                  

 

On being present

Breathing in, I calm my body

Breathing out, I smile

Dwelling in the present moment

I know this is a wonderful moment.

                                       ~Thich Nhat Hanh

What a beautiful day!  Not just because of the change of seasons and cooler weather, but because of my state of mind.  We slept with the windows open last night and awoke to a chilly 40 degrees this morning.  The cool brisk weather alone is a great feeling. Needless to say, I was enjoying a "wonderful moment" snuggled under my down comforter. But I knew at some point I'd have to get out of my cozy bed and start the day.  So I donned my ultra soft bathrobe and slippers and headed to the kitchen where James was enjoying his coffee.  Typically on beautiful mornings we sit out on the deck but it was just a bit too cold for either of us this morning.  So instead, we headed downstairs to our winter-cabin room with the fireplace.  It didn't take long to warm up the room (yes, it's a gas fireplace) and soon we were ready to face the day.   James wanted to go running and I wanted to go for a long walk.  But it was cold outside. Decisions, decisions. Eventually I convinced myself to leave the comfort of my so-called-cabin knowing it would be worth it and I'd feel good about myself for going.

Once we got to Chalco the sun was up and warming the outside air nicely.  I took my camera along, which these days interupts my walking for the purpose of exercise.  However, as I've mentioned in previous posts, the camera helps me look beyond the next step of concrete.  It enables me to see things I wouldn't normally see.  

At the onset of my walk, I stopped to photograph some ducks feeding, a bit of fall foliage sandwiched between the clear blue sky and the reflective water, a plant here and there, etc.  But when I rounded the corner to the dam I saw 3 bluebirds flittering around a house. I've seen bluebirds only a few times in my life so these three definitely caught my attention. I was so excited! Immediately the photographer in me kicked in, wanting to preserve this image, this moment in time.  I stepped off the beaten path into the still wet grass and watched in amazement.  I only had a 200mm lens so I knew I'd have to get fairly close for good photos.  The birds were so engrossed in their feeding they didn't even notice me.  I kept my distance and zoomed my telephoto lens in as much as possible.  I watched as they would fly down into the grass, flutter or hover around and fly back up to perch on the posts near the birdhouse.  Then I noticed something bright green.  They were picking grasshoppers from the ground for their breakfast!  I probably spent 10 minutes photographing the birds. The world around me seemed to vanish and I was "present" in that moment. I'd never thought about the purpose of a grasshopper yet this morning, it was obvious to me that their purpose was to nourish the bluebirds.  Nature has  a harmonic way of being cruel yet beautiful at the same time.  Make time to be present in it.

Please visit the Photos 3 tab at the top of the Home page to enjoy the bluebirds yourself!   

Finding beauty

I've always been interested in photography.  When I was in elementary school, I took a snapshot of a sunset on a lake with my parents' 110 camera. It turned out pretty good and my mother suggested I enter it in the county fair photo contest.  It didn't win any awards but it was exciting to see it on display.  Unfortunately I never developed my interest into a hobby.  Until now.

It all started again last summer (2010) when I purchased a digital point-and-shoot camera to have handy for capturing moments of daily life - family events, holidays, James paddling, etc.  I played around with it, snapshot here, snapshot there - you know, annoying family members and such.  As I learned the camera's settings I became fascinated by close up shots, especially of nature. The more I photographed the more I began finding beauty in everyday little things all around me.  The details of tree leaves, the color of fall grasses, the individual petals of flowers, bumble bees, the list goes on!  Then I began to notice that  while out and about with my camera I felt calm and peaceful.  I was focused on "seeing" the world around me, "being part of" the world around me. 

I decided to go a step further in June of this year and bought myself a Canon Rebel SLR. My justification - it's an investment in me and it's cheaper than therapy!  I love it!  I've joined two camera clubs in hopes of learning how to use it and to how to produce high quality creative photos.  I plan to post the best shots on this blog in hopes that you too will see the beauty in everyday little things.

Confession:  I played hookey from work today.  I prefer to think of it as a mental health day.  It's the end of September, gorgeous outside, my flowerbeds need weeding and my soul needs feeding.

It was a bit warmer today, about 82, not hot by any means.  The neighborhood was at work or school and the cicadas have stopped chirping.  Nothing but an occasional car passing by. It was quiet and still.  I found my old, work-in-the-yard sneakers, yes I had to go searching for them, and proceeded outside to rescue the neglected flowerbed.  This isn't just any flowerbed, it is my Mother's Day peony bed.  My family and I dug and planted it shortly after moving into our new house.  When we arrived in the midwest, I was amazed all the different types of flowers growing here. I'd never seen a peony in the south and had to have one, or five.

                                                                spring 2005

Anyway, I am ashamed to say that my passion for working in the yard has dwindled over the past few years and the bed was looking pitiful.  The peonies were fine and the black eyed susans were fine, although out of control, but the bed itself was quite neglected.  So I plunked myself down began pulling.  And clipping.  And pulling . . . As I began to see the the soil and feel it on my fingers and under my fingernails all the guilt about playing hookey faded away.  I was peaceful and feeling good about myself for getting outside and actually doing something (rather than sitting on my deck saying, "I really need to work on that flowerbed"). Perhaps this weekend I'll get some mulch and complete my project.  It does look much better.

In the busyness of life, I had forgotten how satisfying it is to work in the yard. I am positive that I  accomplished more today at home, nurturing my flowerbed and my soul, than I would have at work. 

Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.

-Luther Burbank

Welcome!

I love flowers of all kinds but there is just something special about the sunflower to me. Perhaps it is their height, or their strong fibrous stem.  Maybe it is the complexity of the heads. Or just their friendly face.  Whatever it is, I think they are magical and they make me smile. 

If you're really lucky, you'll spy a yellow finch sitting atop a huge head picking seeds.  You know the little bird feels like he hit the jackpot!

 And just look at this girl - blowing you a kiss!

A few interesting sunflower facts:
1.The heads consist of 1,000-2,000 individual flowers joined together by a receptacle base
2. Sunflower oil has became a widespread cooking ingredient
3. Sunflower leaves can be used as cattle feed
4. The stems contain a fiber that can be used in paper production
5. Only immature flowerheads track the sun. Mature flowerheads typically face east and do not move
6. They can be processed into sunbutter, much like peanut butter but marketed for those with nut allergies
7. Sunflowers produce latex and are the subject of experiments for producing hypoallergenic rubber
8. There are approximately 60 species of sunflowers
9. It is the state flower of Kansas
10.  It is impossible to be sad while looking at a sunflower!

I hope you will enjoy my blog and visit often!