Saturday, January 25, 2014

Get your blog on . . .


. . . 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 sunrises . . . definitely one of my favorite things. I am fortunate enough to live on the gulf coast of Texas near Galveston Bay, and 25 miles north of the island. You'll see a lot of sunrises here because I live 30 minutes away from an hour vacation . . . gosh I love that!


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




2 Bags Full


51 comments:

Sterndal said...

Hi Kim
a wonderful Post, with gorgeous pictures!
I love your beach collage so much!
Best to you,
Brigitte

Mona's Picturesque said...

That collage... took my breath away!! Gorgeous gorgeous!
I'll have to check out this party :)

Elizabeth Edwards said...

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. ( :

Sarah Huizenga said...

Wonderful to get to know you a little bit more :)

Unknown said...

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

Southern Gal said...

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.

Brenda said...

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.

hula-la said...

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

Cathy H. said...

Wonderful post this morning! You know I'm a fan of your wonderful photography! Your butterfly images always make me gasp!

Honey from the Bee said...

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.

Dotti said...

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

Dotti said...

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

Nancy said...

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....

Jeanne said...

Always love visiting your blog where i am already a happy follower... Happy partying Kim! Love your monarch shots!

Sparklyjools said...

Your photos are just fabulous> I really enjoyed my visit and I'll be back!

HappyDayArt! said...

I love this post! You are touching beauty and that's what I like to do too. Mwah!
Catherine

Gail Dixon said...

The collage of the sunsets took my breath away. I enjoyed learning a little more about you today. Enjoy the weekend!

Donna Heber said...

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

Quinn said...

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! :)

Nicki said...

Happy Blog Growing Kim. Love your (selfie?) as well as your beautiful butterflies. As always, enjoyed my visit.

Focusing on Life said...

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

Think Bowtique said...

Hi Kim,
I am not part of the blog party, but that is where I found you. Love your photography it is stunning.

Ida said...

It is always a pleasure to visit your awesome blog. I love your photography and reading about your very interesting life.

Kmcblackburn said...

You just continue to amaze and inspire me with your photography and insights my friend :)

mysteryhistorymom said...

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

SKCPhotos said...

Beautiful images but that collage is awesome!! Oh and butterflies love those too.

kathyinozarks said...

Stopping in to say hello-I am so happy I met you at last year's party-hugs Kathy

Davi said...

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:)

A Garden of Threads said...

Awesome post Kim.

Gorgeous photography!!!

Jen ox

Silke Powers said...

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

Anonymous said...

Oh Kim...these images are all just so beautiful! Wonderful post as well!

jinxxxygirl said...

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

Art and Sand said...

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.

Chantal said...

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.

Diana said...

Beautiful images Kim. Visiting from 50mm class. Love your blog.

WhoMom said...

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.

Anita Johnson said...

Its been fun to get to know you a bit better...the sunset collage took my breath away!

Barbara Lilian in France said...

Just joined your followers. fantastic sunset shots.

Connie Smiley said...

So gorgeous, every sunrise, and the exquisite butterfly shots!

Fat Dormouse said...

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

CatieAn said...

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.

Cath said...

beautiful photography Chrissie. Now following you via facebook
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

vicky myers said...

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

Anonymous said...

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.

Mokki said...

Your photographs are wonderful, the composition, lighting, colours and timing are excellent.

Linda H said...

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!

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

Greetings from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Very nice to meet you. Your photos are wonderful.
Thanks for sharing.

deborah lyn said...

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

macmillanmarie said...

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.

shooter said...

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.

shooter said...

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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