. . . cause it's a party!
Last year Vicki from (2 Bags Full) had a wonderful Grow Your Blog Party hop, and I definitely wanted to do again as I met some great bloggers and I'm always up for meeting new friends. A big huge thank you goes out to Vicki for putting together this epic event, double last year's party.
This is me, Kim, a 51 year old mom of two (half an empty nest) with one in college and one still in high school, and a wife of 21 years.
A learner of life, a seeker of light, and a finder of all things beautiful . . . and I document it here in my little space. I've been blogging here for a little over 3 years now.
I love nature, I tend to be a deep thinker, and share my thoughts and my view of the world through my pen and my camera.
I have a love affair with the beach, and shells, and the ocean . . .
And, last March a friend gave me some cuttings of milkweed that ended up having 2 monarch caterpillars which turned into a nursery in my dining room and the nickname of 'The Monarch Farmer' from my son. Since March I've raised and released over 400 Monarch butterflies. I am still working on getting through all my photos from last summer and putting together my journey in a series from egg to butterfly. They are amazing creatures!!
I also raised queen butterflies, black swallowtail butterflies, a few pipevine butterflies, and tersa sphinx moths (aka hummingbird moths).
I love flowers, and photographing them especially in my garden, when I have visitors.
And I love sharing the beauty in the ordinary I find through my lens.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I look forward to making the rounds today, although truthfully it will probably take a week with this many blogs!
You can follow along with me here: Flickr (I'm attempting a 365 day project), instagram (kimatpickingpoppies), and you can like me on my Picking Poppies facebook page. I am also part of a collaborative blog, Focusing on Life (my recent post), with 9 other women of all ages building a community for people passionate about photography and life. You'll find me musing there every other Tuesday.
Until next time,
Love, Kim
51 comments:
Hi Kim
a wonderful Post, with gorgeous pictures!
I love your beach collage so much!
Best to you,
Brigitte
That collage... took my breath away!! Gorgeous gorgeous!
I'll have to check out this party :)
why i love Kim's blog? - her photos are just gorgeous. i love all the butterflies ... the beachy shots. the sunsets. she makes me want to run out & buy a beach front property. so perfect. ( :
Wonderful to get to know you a little bit more :)
Kim! That monarch on your finger that just emerged is fantastic. and your collage of your beach shots is nothing short of breathtaking. Enjoy the party my friend! xo
I've been reading here for a while (since I met you on Flickr with a P52 project?), but I didn't know some of these things about you. I can't wait to see the full journey from egg to butterfly.
Loved seeing a visual overview of yourself and your photographic loves. That sunset collage is fantastic - each image is extraordinary but together the impact is quite amazing. Each scene the "same" yet each so different.
Nice beach shots...I know you've had some winter temps, but your beach shots sure look inviting from here in frigid New York. Didn't know you raised monarchs...very nice! Enjoy the blog party! Aloha
Wonderful post this morning! You know I'm a fan of your wonderful photography! Your butterfly images always make me gasp!
Viewing your photos are always like taking a vacation to me. Reading about your journey I'm sure has inspired others to look at the world in a different more positive way.
Hmmm ... thinking out loud. That collage could be a poster! Also, I wish I'd known about the Grow Your Blog party, I would have loved to participate. I'll started following 2 Bags Full so I can catch it next year. xo
Hmmm ... thinking out loud. That collage could be a poster! Also, I wish I'd known about the Grow Your Blog party, I would have loved to participate. I'll started following 2 Bags Full so I can catch it next year. xo
Kim, I really enjoyed reading your post and getting to know you better.. You are a gifted woman from your talent with photography to your ease with butterflies....Amazing....
Always love visiting your blog where i am already a happy follower... Happy partying Kim! Love your monarch shots!
Your photos are just fabulous> I really enjoyed my visit and I'll be back!
I love this post! You are touching beauty and that's what I like to do too. Mwah!
Catherine
The collage of the sunsets took my breath away. I enjoyed learning a little more about you today. Enjoy the weekend!
Hi Kim,
I'm visiting from the Grow Your Blog party. It is so nice to meet you. Your blog and photography are awesome! I am a new follower. I plan to look around a bit more and then be on my way to visit the others. I do hope you will stop by for a visit and enter my giveaway. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs – Donna
Hey there! I'm one of Vicki's volunteer greeters for the Grow Your Blog party, and stopped by to say "have a great time!" Gorgeous sky pictures, but those close-up shots are lovely also. I love the one with the wings in the "downward" position...unusual! :)
Happy Blog Growing Kim. Love your (selfie?) as well as your beautiful butterflies. As always, enjoyed my visit.
Hey Kim - my blogging FOL sister. This led me to sign up for some interesting blogs. I love it when you pass the wealth on. All these people who are newbies to you have so much in store! Your writing and your photography are spectacular - and I'm glad I know you!
Hugs
Hi Kim,
I am not part of the blog party, but that is where I found you. Love your photography it is stunning.
It is always a pleasure to visit your awesome blog. I love your photography and reading about your very interesting life.
You just continue to amaze and inspire me with your photography and insights my friend :)
Your blog is filled with such beauty! Thank you for sharing with us! I'm your newest follower and would love for you to follow me right back.;) Do enter my giveaway, too! It's a fun one! Lori
Beautiful images but that collage is awesome!! Oh and butterflies love those too.
Stopping in to say hello-I am so happy I met you at last year's party-hugs Kathy
Such fabulous pics to inspire! I love the sunrise pics with all the beautiful colors! Raising butterflies obviously give you some wonderful photo opportunities ! Thanks for sharing:)
Awesome post Kim.
Gorgeous photography!!!
Jen ox
Dear Kim,
I instantly felt at home on your blog and will come visit again and again. Your photos are gorgeous! We had a lot milkweed in our garden this year and many, many monarchs. It made my heart very happy!!
Glad to meet you! xoxo Silke
Oh Kim...these images are all just so beautiful! Wonderful post as well!
Hi Kim !
So nice to meet you and see all your pretty pictures!! I look forward to seeing more! I hope you'll pop over for a visit! Hugs! deb
Your photographs are absolutely gorgeous - especially those with the butterflies.
I too love the ocean, but am on the Pacific Ocean.
I will be back for more beautiful photos.
Hi Kim
I found your blog through the GYB party. Your photography is very beautiful. I found myself visiting for a long while. I am also completely addicted to hunting for shells on the beach. It is so much fun.
Your blog is beautiful.
Beautiful images Kim. Visiting from 50mm class. Love your blog.
Beautiful pictures!
We have grown butterflies and love watching the process. We will probable do this again in the spring.
Texas looks beautiful, we are in the Pacific Northwest and it's got camera beauty too!
Thanks for sharing.
Its been fun to get to know you a bit better...the sunset collage took my breath away!
Just joined your followers. fantastic sunset shots.
So gorgeous, every sunrise, and the exquisite butterfly shots!
Amazing photos, and how surprising to find someone who raises buterflies! Your blog is really interesting to read. Enjoy the GYB party!
fatdormouse.blogspot.com
dormouse.wibsite.com
Absolutely breathtaking!! Your compostions in each photo are just exquisite. I am enjoying each of the photos and ones in older posts as well. I am a happy new follower.
beautiful photography Chrissie. Now following you via facebook
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs
Simply stunning photography, glad I stopped by from GYB:) It's going to take me a lot longer than a week to get round everyone! Vicky
KIm, stopping by from the GYB party. Absolutely loved reading thought many of your posts. My daughter and I have raised swallowtails for the past sixteen years. Never met anyone else who raised butterflies. We've tried to grow milkweed without success. One year by chance we found a luna moth caterpillar just after spinning. We brought it in still wriggling around and kept it until it hatched. I'm a new follower.
Your photographs are wonderful, the composition, lighting, colours and timing are excellent.
Waving Hello from cold snowy eastern Canada. I'm popping by on the GYB party.. still working my way through the long list... lol I am your newest Follower, I've thoroughly enjoyed scrolling back through your last 15-20 posts. Love your beach shots, sunrises, butterflies.. oh my! So much beauty! I hope you'll drop by my blog too and enter my Giveaway!
Greetings from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Very nice to meet you. Your photos are wonderful.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Kim! I'm so glad to meet you through the GYB party and to be introduced to your wonderful blog! Thank you for sharing and I do think your 'Poppy' would love your Blog name. I am your new follower and I look forward to your posts. Please visit my blog and become my follower too. I'm at: http://deborahstanleyinspirations.blogspot.com/ best to you, deborah
Oh I love your photos - such beauty - your garden shots are amazing. Thanks you for sharing. I have subscribed to your RSS feed. I will be back.
The collage is perfect, and the accompanying images are wonderful, you have a lightness of touch with a camera and the final result never disappoints.
I have throughly enjoyed looking through your posts and have bookmarked you so I can pop back again.
The collage is perfect, and the accompanying images are wonderful, you have a lightness of touch with a camera and the final result never disappoints.
I have throughly enjoyed looking through your posts and have bookmarked you so I can pop back again.
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