Rain....

Woke this AM to a beautiful sunrise and rays of light beaming through the house.  Oh so hopeful for a beautiful Easter day.   The sunshine was short lived.   The clouds quickly moved in by the time I was done with my coffee, and soon it was raining - AGAIN.    When I was young, I loved to walk and play in the rain.  It didn't stop me from being outside.  And today, I decided it was better to return to the days of my youth, than to sit inside and be grumpy about yet another grey, wet day.    So I packed up the dogs and my camera.  And I'm so glad that I did.  I forget sometimes how much I love the smell of rain.  And the gentle tap, tap, tapping of water on my jacket. My bright yellow/green rain jacket is actually one of my favorite pieces of clothing.  And today when I zipped myself inside, I felt like Spring.  The brilliant colors of everything right now - blades of grass, trees that are about to POP with leaves and blossoms, early Spring flowers - breathtaking!  And today I heard my first red-winged blackbirds.  One of my favorite sounds.  Reminders of growing up in the country and spending hours in the woods and open fields.  Things are coming back to life.  Soon we will be enveloped in days filled with sunshine, colors and textures and all the things that we ache for during the dark, long, hard days of winter.

More Signs of Spring

We have had days in a row of grey skies and lots and lots of rain.  I know April showers bring May flowers, but I was beginning to wonder if we might lose all of Spring to the rain.  Lo and behold, it stopped long enough for me to get out and capture some of the trees FINALLY starting to show some color.  A gentle reminder that we need rain in order to make things grow.  And things do grow, Spring does come and before too long we will be bathing in sunshine and color everywhere!

Signs of Spring

It's been some time since I've posted.  Been very busy with other projects - pottery, lots and lots of pottery. And some jewelry pieces with my photography.  I can't wait to get them finished and posted.  They will be for sale as soon as I have enough inventory.  Keep your eyes peeled!   And working on a whole new look to my blog!!  I've been hibernating in between snow and rain clouds, but creative juices have been flowing indoors.

 I'm just getting back to shooting pics and was out for a long walk and found some very beautiful signs of Spring.  The Skunk Cabbage plants caught my eye immediately along the water.  They look like little beautifully colored sculptures, which I will try to replicate in clay, and some even more miniature versions in my jewelry pieces.   And I almost passed by the flowers that stood only about 3" high and were buried in the leaf piles.  At first glance they looked like weeds, until I stepped closer only to see that there were beautiful blooms opening with beautiful color, both in the flower and the leaves!

It is so refreshing to be out smelling the fresh air and breathing in the colors, the smells, and the beautiful, natural forms and textures of nature!

SNOWSCAPES

 While walking the dogs through the plantations the other day, I noticed a row of trees that caught my eye.  The brilliant bunches of red berries hanging from the branches, each one covered in snow caps.  With my macro lens, I snapped several pics.  Each frame reminded me of miniature snowscapes.  A landscape of contrasting colors and textures, each bunch looked different and created a different mood.  I look forward to the changing seasons, at which time I will re-visit these trees to preview the new landscapes that have been formed.

pondering life

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of George.  Makes me wonder what it is he thinks about every time he plops himself in front of the window and stares for hours.

Today has been a very thoughtful day, one in which I am asking a lot of big questions - "pondering life".     I am welcoming being pushed out of my comfort zone and into new territory.  It means big changes are happening.   I like that.  Out with the old, in with the new.   

Winter Flowers

I've been thinking a lot about where I want to focus my energies with my photography in 2011.   I have so many different projects that I am excited to work on, many already in the works.    And when I am not busy with photo shoots, which seem to be taking more of my time these days, I always have my inspiration book to dig into for more ideas.   

I have been thinking a lot in "themes" recently.  My prompt for this week was the use of my new macro lens.  I've been taking close-up floral pictures for as long as I can remember. I am awe struck at the impeccable details in nature.  And so, with the excitement of a child with a new toy, I ventured out today to explore with my new lens.   I think I am in love.  

I found little floral bouquets everywhere as I walked and listened to the sound of falling snow.  Yes, our first REAL snowfall of the year.  I got to play a little with lighting which is always different in the winter months and I am so happy with the results.  

I hope you enjoy my winter flowers as much as I do.  From me to you.....

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I have a love/hate relationship with time.  I dislike how quickly it goes. So to sit and write about the passing of another year and the onset of one more, makes me  a little unsettled.  I don't do New Year's resolutions.  What I do instead is to think in themes, about things I'd like to work on.  But I do this in November, on my birthday.    Truth is, every year will bring me many blessings and an equal amount of challenges.  And even in the challenges, there will be blessings.  And what I do know to be true is that every year seems to get better.  This last year was no exception.

Honestly, turning 50 this year did take on a little more meaning for me, so maybe I took a bit more time in thinking about my "themes" and goals for myself.  And it seems to be on-going, as never before.  I wake up each day with gratitude for another chance to experience a day of blessing and beauty, and wish to embrace every minute.

This year, in addition to the many other things I will work on,   I would like to take more creative risks and trust myself more in that arena. The words that visit me on a regular basis these days are -  "unabashed, whole-hearted, and authentic expression of self."    I will take more risks in sharing my authentic, creative expression of self through my work with others.   Trusting my instinct and believing in myself are the challenges, but don't feel insurmountable.  Just challenging.

I wish to reflect what I see in the ordinary, simplicity, the complexity, and the natural beauty around me through my photography and my art.  In sharing my interpretation and expression of these things, I hope to inspire others to find creative ways to express one's authentic self. 

Starting my blog is my first attempt at all of this.  It's like my practice run.  Sharing some of my pics.  Writing a little about the experience.  It provides me with a little accountability to keep forging ahead. 

One of the areas of focus for my photography will be pet photography.  My love of dogs is obvious.  Wow, it's a bit more challenging than I thought.  Dogs love the camera or they hate it.  Izze always hears my zoom focusing so she tends to move away from it.  George is a ham.  He can strike a pose like no other.  And then there are the dogs that never slow down long enough to get anything more than a blue across my viewfinder. 

 Here are a few random shots taken over Christmas break that will eventually be posted on my website.  We had 5 dogs together for a week  - two yellow labs George & Izze, two golden retrievers - Doc & Grady, and little Auggie, the black Cocker Spaniel in a sea of blondes.   What a gang!