You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2012.
“We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
She has the most beautiful eyes, and dark curly hair. She doesn’t easily smile for my camera, but she laughs out loud with a belly laugh that would make any Santa proud!
She loves to snuggle, and plays her little 2 year old heart out. She constantly will ask “Mommie (or Ya Ya for me), what doing?” When you tell her what you are doing – she repeats it verbatem . . . ie: I’m driving to the store. What are you doing? “I driving to the store.” Three minutes later – same question – same answer – same response!
She takes great joy in just about everything. When she doesn’t, she gets a sour look on her face and says “I no like it!” She will cross her arms on her chest and turn away from you to emphasize her point! I take great joy in everything she does! (yes – even the messes . . . everything can be “fixed”!)
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“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle startdust over the lives of little children.” Alex Haley
My beautiful little almost-2-year-old Grand Daughter has come to visit with her Mommie for a week. If you’ve read previous posts, we had her here for three weeks last winter while her Daddy had open heart surgery. I am so excited that Mommie has decided to spend her vacation time here in Canada with Papa G and Ya Ya. She absolutely loves her baths . . . in fact she is a water baby – loves anything that involves water – even the rain! She is an absolute delight. I love the sound of her laughter ringing through the house. It’s going to be a fun week ahead!
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“Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.” Joan Lunden
Why do we hang on to anger so easily, and find it so difficult to let go and forgive?? I know so many people who are just driven by their anger over so many different issues . . . many times just perceived wrongs that have been given flight by anger and resentment. In fact, the anger and resentment is usually driven by past hurts and experiences that are buried and hidden, and we can’t name them because they’re invisible. It’s so tough to live life in a state of awareness . . . trying to understand where this anger comes from and working towards putting out the hot burning fire. Once awareness is achieved, its so much easier to forgive and move on. I know that in my life, I’ve had to work and work at this . . . and it continues to be a daily challenge. I can tell you though – the benefits are so worth it.
Today’s photo is just a composite I put together because I woke up with a gnarly headache this morning. It doesn’t happen very often . . . but when it does I have a tough time shaking it off. I processed this in Photoshop with a few different presets, added my own textured background, and added a cracked texture to my hands.
Oh . . . and I’m feeling better now!
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“We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.” Oscar Wilde
Today’s 365 photo is quite a switch for me. I don’t usually go to the “dark side” . . . but I couldn’t resist this when I was fiddling around with different presets and editing in both Photoshop and Lightroom. One of the guys in my 365 group does some pretty far out and amazing things so I’m just channeling my inner “DigiMax” on this one.
I liked today’s quote when I read it because I really do believe that to be true. I make choices every day that create my experience of life. That experience can be pretty darned wonderful, pretty darned awful, or somewhere in between those two extremes. Bad things happen in life . . .they just do. However, I have choice in every moment in how I am going to act or react in any given situation. That choice impacts everyone within my sphere of influence – be it intimate or casual. I strive to wake up every morning thinking with a positive mind, looking for the good things in my life and the lives of others . . . I am so very grateful for every moment of my life leading up to today because each of those moments add up to the person I am now. Some of those moments aren’t so great – I’m not proud of every decision or action I’ve taken . . . but I strive to move forward and learn from each and every one . . . to be better and to be a positive example and influence for those whose lives I do touch. I’m no saint and I’m far from perfect, but I am happy and ever so grateful for all the love and abundance I have in my life.
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“I told you. You don’t love someone because of their looks or their clothes or their car. You love them because they sing a song only your heart can understand.” L.J. Smith
I pass by this framed poem that is hanging on the wall in the hallway by my bedroom – several times a day. I absolutely love the message here . . . and try to be like this in my relationship with my husband – who is my best friend – every moment of every day. Of course I’m far from perfect, and so is he. But . . . we love each other unconditionally and know we are safe in each other’s hearts no matter what.
I guess I never really understood what “best friend” meant until I met him.
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“Some days I think I look kind of cute, but other days I try to avoid the mirror.” David Alan Grier
This is one of my favorite spots in my house. My Bathroom. Yup – maybe a bit strange you say? Well, we renovated it a couple of years ago. It was a very small bathroom with a tiny shower and a tub. We expanded in to some closet space to almost double the space, added a large shower at one end, and a soaker tub under this window. It’s a nice bright space during the day, and a wonderfully quiet and serene place to soak away the day, at night. I caught this reflection in my makeup mirror.
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“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.” George Bernard Shaw
I’m spending so much time in the water these days . . . I thought another “wet” shot would be appropriate!
I’m doing Aqua Aerobics up to five days a week (45 minutes of Deep Water & 1 hour of Shallow Water on M, W, F / 45 minutes of Aqua Bootcamp & 45 minutes of Water Walking on T,Th). I miss a day here and there. On those days I hop on the treadmill and do 3+ miles. I reserve one or two days a week for recovery depending on how I’m feeling.
In the meantime . . . I think I’m growing webs between my fingers and toes!
I processed this using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and then a bit of tweaking in PS CS6.
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“The rain began again. It fell heavily, easily, with no meaning or intention but the fulfillment of it’s own nature, which was to fall and fall.” Helen Garner
And the rain continues . . . I had this vision for a photograph in my mind when I woke up this morning. I had my camera on the tripod and covered in plastic – it was a bit of a challenge to get the shot.
I didn’t like it in color because of the color cast from the red umbrella on my face. So I converted to B&W and tweaked a bit in LR4, then took it in to Photoshop CS6 where I ran a High Pass Filter to bring out a bit more detail. I’m learning so much about how to process my photographs without going overboard. (It’s so easy to do!) I think I’ll run a couple of different filters on this just to see what happens . . . so much fun!
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“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
It started raining today. We’ve not had any moisture worth mentioning since June 14th, so this is very welcome indeed. The trees are losing their leaves very quickly now with the stormy, windy weather. Leaves are everywhere . . . I thought this was rather pretty with the rain drops leaving a pattern on the wet blacktop. I used my D800E & 105 mm VR to capture this shot, and just tweaked it a smidge in LR4.
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“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” William Cullen Bryant
This is actually the calm before the storm. The weather forecast is for record rainfall over the next few days. We need it, as it’s been a very dry summer. So I’m out enjoying the beauty that is autumn in my yard. As you may have noticed from previous posts, I am fascinated by my Katsura trees. I find them stunningly beautiful. This photo is taken under the biggest one in my yard. I love the carpet of leaves and the feeling of solitude and tranquility.
I am very lucky to live where I live, to have experienced all I have in my 60 years of living on this earth. The good and the bad. It’s all brought me to this moment, this hour, this day . . . to be all I am.
Life is good! I’m enjoying these moments while I can . . .
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Nurture Self 365 