The Good Things...

I've learned that life is full of surprises and challenges.  No matter what road you travel there will always be something to slow you down, make you work hard and reflect on what is truly important.  Everyone's burdens are different, unique to each situation and stage of life.  Sometimes I think of the burdens I know others carry and I realize that my burdens are not so bad.  It doesn't make me feel better, it just puts everything into perspective.

I have also learned that as we go through our lives we must grab the opportunities that come our way that will bring us some level of happiness.  Some days that might mean just sitting and relaxing with a good book.  It could mean spending an afternoon with a friend or walking a deserted beach.  Often for me it is time spent behind the lens, on my deck or with my children, husband and friends.

This week I took the time to go and visit with my friend C at her house.  We were planning on seeing each other but plans needed to be flexible.  Rather than walking together,  I threw on my bathing suit and headed over to her house.  For the first time this summer my suit saw water in her pool!  It was glorious!  We chatted.  I floated.  Her family came home and we bantered back and forth.  I floated.  It was pure bliss!  Talking and floating....what is better than that.  I was in the water for almost two hours.  When I stepped out I was so relaxed.  Honestly I have not felt that relaxed in a very long time.  We've made a tentative date to float together next week.  It is these moments that I cherish.

Peace!

Our Word View - Grandeur

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations of our word of the week are very similar.

This week Liz chose the word grandeur.  Immediately I knew I would use an image from my trip last summer to Washington DC.  Our country's capital is full of buildings that just ooze grandeur.  One of my favorites was the National Cathedral.  The exterior is larger than life as you can see in my image.  The interior is beautiful and haunting.  I'll post more images of this building tomorrow.

I hope that you will take a minute to pop over to Our Word View to see Liz's interpretation of this weeks word.  You can also see photos at our Flickr page.  We'd love for you to join us in this fun photo/blog challenge.

Peace!

Our Word View - Relax

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations of our word of the week are very similar.

This week I chose the word RELAX.  It is a perfect word for me this week because I have not been as relaxed as I am in a long time.  There are many ways I like to relax but my favorite by far is going to the ocean.  Often times the chore of packing up and getting there seems daunting, but every time I get myself to the sea all my stress falls aside as I sit by the water's edge.  It truly is a restorative place.

The following picture is one that I took on a beach walk with my cousin T to Ellisville State Park beach.  Hop over to Our Word View to see how my friend Liz pictures 'relax'.

Peace!

Our Word View - Delight

This week Liz chose the word DELIGHT.  So many ways to go with this word.  In the end I chose a picture from this time last year.

I had no idea how much delight she would bring into my life!  I knew she'd be a lot of work and that the kids would love her but I didn't know I would fall head over heals for her too.  She is a joy!  Every morning when I open up her crate and she greets me she is full of unconditional love.  She is such a good dog.  She has provided my family with countless hours of delight.  How blessed we are to have her in our lives.

Please go over to Our Word View to see Liz's interpretation and check out next week's word. 

Peace!

Our Word View - Imagine

This week I chose the word imagine for Our Word View.  As I looked through my images on my computer I found a group of images of my paternal ancestors from the turn of the century.  I wonder if you have ever imagined what it would be like to live in a time when owning a horse and buggy was a sign of wealth.

Head over to Our Word View to see Liz's interpretation of this week's word.

Peace!

Our Word View - Summer

This week over at Our Word View we are sharing our interpretation of the word summer.  What epitomizes summer more than the ferris wheel at the local fair?  This picture dates back a couple of years but it is still one of my all time favorites.  

Happy Summer!  

Please be sure to hop on over to Our Word View to see my friend Liz's interpretation.

Peace!

Our Word View - Unexpected

This week over at Our Word View we are sharing photos that are somehow unexpected.  When I chose this word I had a particular image in mind but unfortunately could not locate that image in my ever growing collection of digital pics!  As I searched I came across this image.

It seemed fitting to share this image as I have been thinking about how quickly my children are growing up!  It is hard to believe that I have an 11 and 13 year old!  They are great kids but I feel like my time with them is limited.  They continue to enjoy hanging out with the family and for this I am so grateful.  When I came to this image it took me back to the days when I was a stay at home Mom and we spent hours outside playing.  Sometimes with our favorite stuffed friends!  Can you tell what phase we were in when I shot this picture?

Peace!

Our Word View - Growing

The next picture is one of my all time favorite shots and I think that it completely epitomizes the word growing.

Peace!

Our Word View - Inspire

This week we are sharing images that lend themselves to inspiration.  The dragonfly represents inspiration in so many ways.  I find them beautiful and mystical.  My daughter is a dragonfly whisperer.  When they return to our gardens in the warm weather all she has to do is stand in their path and they will light on her finger.

Visit us at Our Word View to see Liz's interpretation of the word spring and check out our Flickr page if you are interested in seeing more.

Peace!

Our Word View

This week Liz chose the word 'flare' for our interpretation pleasure.  When I hear the word flare I think of two things.  The first image that comes to mind is one of fire.  My second thought is of someone or something fancy.  I have not had an opportunity to photograph 'fancy' so I went with fire for this weeks post.

This is a picture of a roaring fire that we had in our indoor fireplace last year.  I love sitting by the fire on a cool night.  

Peace!

Our Word View - Soft

I'm not sure there is anything else softer than a puppy's nose except maybe her toes!  I can't believe that Flicka is one year old.  On June 19 it will be one year since she joined our family.  I can not imagine our life; no my life without her.  Who knew I would fall head over heals in love with a soft, silly, sassy dog!  

Please visit Our Word View to see Liz's photographic interpretation of the word soft.

Peace!

Our Word View - Spring

First the forsythia and creeping phlox then the daffodils and tulips..... ah the signs of spring.  I love the beauty that unfolds at this time of year.  It seems to come more slowly in my yard perhaps due to my close proximity to the ocean.  I love driving by beautiful gardens and admiring the colors they offer.  Spring is the time of new growth and beginnings.  What could be better than that?

Visit us at Our Word View to see Liz's interpretation of the word spring and check out our Flickr page if you are interested in seeing more.

Peace!

Our Word View - Mellow

The most mellow pet I have every had the pleasure of sharing my home with was Fluffy.  He chose our family to be his own many years ago when he was evicted from a neighbors home... put out because the family's daughter preferred their second cat and the two cats just didn't get along.  Fluffy was not only beautiful but also gentle and sweet.  He was more like a dog than a cat.  He came when called, sat by your feet and adored attention.  He spent most of his time outside.  Whenever we would go outside, in no time at all Fluffy would be running to be with us in the yard.  He would follow us and rub around our legs, winding his way inside and out as if her were training for a cat show.  As soon as he would see us he would start purring.  He was such a love.  Last year his health declined.  In retrospect I'm certain that he had lyme disease.  He went out one evening during April vacation and never returned.  I love this picture of him. It exemplifies his personality perfectly, as does our word of the week.... mellow.  He was a mellow, yellow love of a cat.  I will always miss him.

Please visit Our Word View to see how Liz interprets the word mellow through photography.  

Peace!

Our Word View - Sun

When I learned of our new word over at Our Word View for the week this image popped into my minds eye!  I remember taking this  last summer.  n and I were at the beach with Flicka in the early in the morning and the beach was all ours.  It was so peaceful.  I can close my eyes and hear the surf lapping on the shore, feel the warmth of the sun on my cheeks and smell the salt air in the breeze.  Soon the sun will bring us days like this again.  Oh how I long for the relaxed days of summer vacation.  

Peace! 

Our Word View - Shadow

I love capturing shadows.  For some time I participated in shadow shot Sunday.  I find something intriguing, even mysterious about the beauty of the shadow, perhaps the beauty emanates from the light needed to create the shadow.  I notice shadows everywhere!  This is my all time favorite shadow shot.

Peace!

Our Word View - Glow

Last week I came across a few photos that I thought would work for white, but when I peeked at this weeks work GLOW I knew what I had to do!

Honestly I can't think of another subject that better depicts the word GLOW:

This is a picture of Dad and me during the father/daughter dance at my wedding.  That was truly the most incredible day of my life.  I remember us all being so happy!  What a day.  It does not feel like 19 years ago.  So much has happened since then.  If we could only bottle the glow of a newly married bride.....

For my dear friend Liz's take on our word please visit our blog, Our Word View.  For more photographs inspired by our words you can visit our flickr page.

Our Word View - White

Originally when I chose the word white I thought it would be an easy week.  I was wrong!  I had a very difficult time deciding what way to go with this prompt.  In the end I decided to think spring and Easter and go with an image of a beautiful white lily that was a part of a flower arrangement sent to my family after my dad passed away.  I can almost smell the aroma as I look at this image.  I love how the shadow of the stamen is captured in this image.  In the background is a gorgeous white hydrangea.  In this photo white represents grace and peace.  

Visit Liz to see her interpretation.

Peace!

Our Word View - Serendipitous

World English Dictionary

serendipity  (ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtɪ)
— n
	the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident Liz picked a challenging word for this weeks photo challenge!  At first I was stumped, but then I remembered the following photo:

The connection is not obvious.  It wouldn't be unless you knew the story.  This beautiful piece of glass came from the bottom of a cement pit!  Last year as we renovated 40 M one of the demo jobs was to deconstruct the cement block front porch and remove the 40 year old oil tank so that we could move a new tank into the utility room of the home.  It was a huge physically laborious job that included using a heavy sledgehammer  to destroy the cement blocks and poured deck.  Much of the cement ended up filling the 4' by 8' pit covering the oil tank and anything else that happened to be under the tank.  As R removed all the rubble he came across the above glass in a very different state.  I did not recognize it from my childhood and had no idea how it ended up in the oil tank pit.  I do know that it must have belonged to my parents as the stairs were constructed by my Dad after he raised the house.  How excited I was to have a piece of art glass from the past.  Serendipity at it's best!

Please visit Our Word View to see Liz's interpretation of this word.  You can also check out our Flickr group.  

Peace!

Our Word View - Opportunity

This week's word is opportunity.  It was a bit tricky and I had several images and possibilities in mind but my final choice is the following photo for two reasons.  First this photo was staged and taken with a series of many other photos for a photoshop texture class I took last year with Kim Klassen.  It was an opportunity to begin learning a new art form.  Truly this class opened a whole new dynamic world for me in terms of photography.  What a wonderful opportunity.  Second this photo gives me the opportunity to reflect on all the beauty my Mum shared with me as a young girl, beauty that I relish and enjoy sharing now with my own daughter.  You see these pieces were part of a small tea set given to my Mum by her brother who was a navy chaplain and Jesuit priest stationed in Okinawa for a time.  I look at this image and  the warmth of fond memories washes over me and brings a smile to my face.

For another interpretation of the word Opportunity please visit our collaborative blog Our Word View.  We also have been joined on Flickr by two new friends who you can see here.


Peace!

Our Word View - Strength

This week at Our Word View we are interpreting the word strength in our single photograph.  As soon as I read the word I knew the image I would share this week.

When I hear the word strength I think of my Dad.  It's kind of funny actually because it is the little girl in me that makes that connection.  As an adult I know that there were many, many situations in which he was less than strong.   This image was taken years ago.  When I think of my dad this is the image that comes to mind.  I miss him every day.

Please visit us over at Our Word View so that you can see my friend Liz's interpretation of the word strength.  

Peace!