We had a minor ice-storm, read the lights stayed on we are safe and warm, come through late yesterday evening. I tried to capture its eerie beauty last night with my Olympus SP-350. Armed with an LED flashlight and sans a tri-pod to steady my shivering hands the results were less than stellar but I had a great time trying! So I got up and headed out before the ice started to melt this morning and took a few quick shots. Since the sun is smarter than me and stayed in bed the lighting is not great but I hope you enjoy Winter’s version of Embraced.
This first photo I took this Summer past and I was trying to capture the essence of the water drops as I perceived them. After many attempts I realized just be there in the moment was more important than the actually capture.
The second one I took this evening as the ice-storm was moving through. As The Bride and I arrived home safe and sound I brought the salt substitute for the steps out of the garage. As I was de-icing the steps I noticed the ice-water droplets on the tree out front. Of course once again was unable to capture the raw beauty but was thankful for the chance. Be safe and I hope you all enjoy these two flavors of water droplets!
I was out and about a lot this past summer taking pictures on our place. Most were not keepers as I have experimented more with all the manual settings on my equipment and different techniques. Though there were times I thought the end product was more important than the journey I usually landed back ta ground zero: contentment. It was an oasis in the desert that has been my life this past year or so. I found new green and blooming things as well as fighting off a lot of the old bugs and flying pests! Good times. Quite times. Times of discovery. Did I mention good times? Well I found this yet-to-be-named-by-me-because-I-have-no-idea-what-it-is little blue flower on one walkabout. I took a few captures of this flower and my wedding band as comparison so you can see how small it is. Small in size but large with wonderment and awesomeness…I know that is not a real word but this flower is! So here is a little blue thing amongst the green things.
I am trying to stretch myself and learning to shot outside passion of natures wonderment. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did shooting them!
I was trying to capture the street behind me and the light in the door in front of me. Not great but I like it.Fire good.I took this with my anon Powershot S3is. Notice that all the light on the stop lights are lit?
Here are a few of the Pride, both here and gone, with The boy and my Pop’s Girls.
Butterfly laying low…now what is she really up to?
This is one of my life’s little surprises. Cute when they are asleep, no?Freckles The Cat
Picture of our cat, Mommy Cat, taken in our front yard. Yes a cat named Mommy Cat, because she brought us many kittens! And one beautiful cat I might add.My cat showing me how it is done. He has this bed rest thing done pat!
Miss Grace, or Grace for short, was rescued by The Bride and I. She was wandering around a very busy intersection that saw a lot of off and incoming Interstate traffic. That is another story in it’s self but we gave her to Pops. She landed in a very good place. Cute, Yes?Little Bit is a rescue dog my mom adopted.Cute, no?
As I was perusing my-way-back files for a worthy capture for the day I came across this one. I took it with my Olympus SP-350 in early Autumn. You remember back when the sun was making daily appearances, quite unlike this late Fall fun known as the gray days of Fall around here. And the pollinators were drinking in the last of natures harvest before it beds down till Spring. So I share with you an early Autumn find!
From the onset I want all to know I did NOT venture into the fray known as Black Friday. I also must state here I am somewhat baffled how Black Friday has taking over the last half of Thanksgiving. Now for those visiting my place for the first time, I do not usually get into such matters here but what I saw last night and almost yearly on the news has compelled me to step onto my soap box. Hard to do for one who has short legs but here we go!
I will start with last night’s revelation: I will never be able to enjoy the ride through my town feeling like a traveler returning to his peaceful town after a long journey.The Bride and I used to enjoy the trip down the main drag of our town on are way home after the family Thanksgiving gathering. There was just a few gas stations open and the traffic was minimal and moving at a leisurely pace. That change last night and I felt like we were driving home on a normal business evening in our town. It felt just like another day. I do not like it one bit but at least I can learn from it.
What lesson have I learned? The first is really a re-learning of an old lesson and that is that good things come to those who wait. I was reminded of that this morning when our new-to-the-outside cat Butterfly was hunting in the side yard. As I watched her I remembered the five moles and three mice she has presented to us this Autumn. If she did not exercise patience she, and we, would not have benefited from natures wonderment. I am sure the moles and the mice would disagree with that last statement.
Butterfly waiting and watching.
The second lesson I learned also came from that encounter: What really matters can be found in the ordinary. It is remarkably in the unremarkable. It is right before us and we can miss it looking past the now. People have died on Black Friday’s past and people have done ugly things to one another over things that have no real value! Stop looking for the next great thing because it is right here, right now.
I saw the Angel below in the Thrift shop I work at I thought it was crying. I felt it was a great metaphor for the uselessness to our community, family and friendships that this thing Black Friday has become. I now step off my soap box and join The Bride in enjoying the warmth of our home and the company of The Boy and our cats.
I got up this morning and grabbed me a cup of Pomegranate and White tea with some local honey and took a moment to reflect. I thought about how much I have to Thankful for and set about to start my day. I hope your day got off to great start and everyone had a great Day of Thanksgiving!
Daffodil Hill Photography 