Texture Tuesday . . .

kk - kristen

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."

                                              - Mother Teresa

Popping in to say hi and hoping all is well with you!

I'm over at Focusing on Life today discussing the agreeability of my garden.

I know, you'll just have to pop on over to check it out.

Love, Kim

xo

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday

Texture Tuesday . . .

"It is the color closest to light. In its utmost purity it always implies

the nature of brightness and has a cheerful, serene, gently

stimulating character. Hence, experience teaches us that yellow makes

a thoroughly warm and comforting impression."

- Johann Wolfgang Geothe

{KK jamal, violet}

Oh, I had planned on something else yellow, with black and white stripes.

Yes, a monarch caterpillar.

But, this month is proving to be, as always, one of the busiest months. Especially

since at the end of last week I went to pick up our daughter from her first year of college.

That. went. by. fast! #wheredidthetimego

The rain held off while we carried all her stuff down the stairs and to the parking lot. For three hours. And oh, it was 96 degrees (without the humidity index). Amen! (for no rain, not the 96 degrees) :) #badhairday

The next morning we got up and did a whirlwind visit to the San Jose Mission, and then the

rain came. It was torrential . . . we had to pull off the side of the highway on the way home it was

so bad. There was zero visibility and for several hours we all drove with the flashers on. It was nearly

double the time it normally takes to get home. #whiteknuckleride

Today, I lost a caterpillar in the house. Ironically I brought it in to keep it safe. Don't let those things

fool ya, they are fast! I just hope it found a safe place to pupate and that if it makes it I find it after

it emerges to let it go outside. #Igotdistracted #oops

Had to take my son to the doctor today, always listen to your intuition. Now that he has spring football, with full pads, he got a staff infection in the acne caused by the steroids from his sinus infection. #thekiddeservesabreak

I'm now due for an upgrade on my phone after two years . . . thank goodness! #phoneprobs

My daughters entire dorm room is all over my formal living room floor . . .  #itsamess

And, my daughter and I are going to Chicago next week for a week to visit with my mom and family.

#somuchtodo #ifeelsobehind

I may not make it back before we go, so if not I'll see ya in two weeks! ;)

And. . . I am over at Focusing On Life today with some thoughts from my front porch.

Love, Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday

A cuppa . . .

"In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want

a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if

you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing.

Except the pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says

then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble.

Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't

mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you

a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over

again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no,

and then you don't get any damned tea.

I like the Irish way better."

- C. E. Murphy

Short and sweet today . . . after answering my four questions yesterday for the 

"virtual blog tour" I guess I ran out of words for today, gasp! ;)

Our prompt today is "a cuppa" and I used my grandmother's antique cups and saucers,

with some of the fallen rose petals from my Belinda's dream roses. The petals still smell good!

{KK Start and Chamomile}

{KK 411 and paperlove}

I actually took this one in January and don't remember the textures I used on this one. Since

there was nothing to photograph in January really, I started playing with some still life's and

have had a little love affair with stacking cups and saucers.

{KK 511}

"Tea for Two?"

I may be the only one who photographs my caterpillars as props! haha

But in my defense, I didn't have my enclosure set back up yet and they were

looking for a spot to make their silk pad to hang from.

This was a good way to keep an eye on them.... :)

Two birds with one stone kinda thing, ya know?

Have a great day,

Love, Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday,  Sweet Shot Tuesday

A little surpirse . . .

"Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love,

joy and celebration. Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world

and inspire us to open our hearts to loves ones and friends. Like a hummingbird,

we aspire to hover and to savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has 

to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds

us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that

laughter is life's sweetest creation."

-PAPYRUS

{Kim Klassen warm sun}

Sometimes life throws in those little surprises . . . ya know? 

I've been trying to capture the hummingbirds at my feeder and haven't been having much luck...at all!

But then one morning as I was sitting and waiting to capture a butterfly in flight coming to the milkweed,

I had an unexpected visitor. I was able to get off two shots before he was spooked by the shutter sound of the camera.

Friends, today I'm posting over at Focusing on Life and would be thrilled for you to join me over there. Have you ever felt your gear/equipment was less than adequate to do what you want it to do? Well, come on over because I'm comparing two of my lenses that range from $150-$450 with that of two lenses I was able to borrow that range from $2,400-$6,000 . . . you just might be surprised at what you can do with what you have.

You can find that post by clicking here.

Enjoy your day!

Love, Kim

linking with Texture Tuesday, Tuesdays Around the World, Tuesday Muse

 

Photo-heart connection, number III

I took a walk last week . . .

. . . and on this walk I came across these, growing along the side of the road, by the small bridge

I often cross to get to the bay. There was just a handful all by themselves, and as insignificant

as they looked as I started to pass by,  I without hesitation knelt to the ground and it was love at first site!

This image reminds me of simplicity. The simple things in life that are not complicated, which are not pretentious, and that bring an incredible feeling of happiness for me in the form of joy. That moment when I was looking through my lens, the beautiful golden light that washed over the flowers and the way that they gently danced in the breeze. . . .it was a moment of absolute contentment, and of simple joy.

{Sigh} . . .

This image and that moment remind me that joy is not found in the waiting, and certainly not in perfection. In fact I think most of my joy comes from those imperfect moments, the ones I don't plan . . . the ones I find in the now. It reminds me that no matter who or what tries to beat me down, that amidst the chaos of life and its difficulties, that I can still choose to be joyful in the simple things around me.

Because if I don't choose joy now . . . then when?

Love, Kim

XO

What does a whisper look like?

"When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.

Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?"

- Khalil Gibran

It's Monday, of course you know that, but that means another lesson from Kim in

my beyond layers class. Today she gave us a prompt, the word Whisper and sent us forth

to create some whisper 'art'.

But I feel like I'm cheating a bit, because in my frustration (with my knee injury) I bought some tulips so over the weekend I would have something to keep my mind off the fact that I couldn't go to the beach or

for a walk to the butterfly garden. And the minute the sun decided to make an appearance, because

we haven't seen much of that lately, I took them outside . . . .

And . . . . they did whisper to me . . . ever so softly!

I may have even heard some music. My lack of normal mobility has made me realize

that I have an addiction to capturing things with my camera.

And what a strange coincidence that I had already planned to use this image today

and then I checked my e-mail....

But, now the 'whisper' prompt has me thinking about how I can intentionally create it!

I'm off to grab my camera....

 

Happy (sunny) Monday everyone!!

Love, Kim

XO

 

Ten Truths . . .

In my "Beyond Layers" class with Kim Klassen

she shared ten truths about herself and invited us to join in and get to know each other better.



1. I've been having a torrid love affair...with the beach. It's the place that knows my secrets and holds my heart.
2. I love Cheeto balls, and diet coke. (oh and the seagulls love Cheetos too)
3. The color Pink . . . I love it! Over 2 years ago, on a whim I got pink highlights for breast cancer awareness and haven't looked back.
4. I could probably write a book on the stories that complete strangers have shared with me. And it's why I believe that truth is stranger than fiction.
5. I wish I could either sing or play an instrument - well both would be nice. 
6. I'm allergic to spiders. . .  I love to garden. . . Houston we have a problem? LOL
7. Hi my name is Kim. . . .I am addicted to exploring life with my camera! I have always been a nature  lover, but I'm now obsessed with capturing anything and everything I may have missed.
8. Once upon a time I had eight birds and a snake, and when my daughter was in the fourth grade I took 3 of my birds and the snake to all eight fourth grade classes. I had . .  the time of my life!!
9. To expand on #8, a dream of mine has always been to have a mini zoo of reptiles and such to help educate children on the wonders of nature. P.S. And snakes aren't slimy! ; )
10. I have held a tarantula (remember #6). It was at a birthday party my son went to when he was younger and I was the only adult at the table of critters elbowing waiting for my turn, ha! It was very cool!
11. I hope I never grow up!!

Ummm, yes I'm a bit of a nature geek! 

I would love to know more about you so if you feel inspired to share a truth I would love to hear it! 

Happy Tuesday!

Love, Kim

XO