Everything connects to something else . . .

"A human being is part of the whole, called by us the universe, a part

limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as

 something separate from the rest - a kind if optical delusion of consciousness.

This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires

and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves

from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living

creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."   - Albert Einstein

This week our theme for Photo Friday is connections. And well, that pretty much doesn't leave anything out of the artistic equation, because everything connects to something else eventually . . . physically, spiritually and by nature. Even intellectually by strands of ideas and information, AND, through this connection we call technology.

We are all connected at the very least because we all share space with this thing we call Earth. Connected to each other, to the environment, as a community, a society, and as a human race. Connected to everything whether we want to be or not, and whether or not we comprehend or acknowledge it.

I love and feel deeply connected to nature . . . everything has a purpose. I believe we were both designed to take care of each other. As stewards we have been given the honor to take care of this beautiful Earth God created, and she in return would take care of us. Unfortunately, I don't think we have been doing a very good job.

{Bonnie's texture Scratched lens}

These are more images from my visit to my local nursery last weekend. I'm not sure what kind of  butterfly this will become, but in order to change it needed to find somewhere to connect while it goes through its transformation.

A butterfly finding a connection of the sweetest kind . . . 

{Bonnie's textures - Sunbeam, Flying over Ireland and vintage vellum}

And an extremely important connection . . . of the pollinating kind!  We are extremely dependent on the connection bees have with flowers and trees. You could say our lives depend on it. Did you know that of the 90 percent of the worlds food supply (that's 100 crop species), that bees pollinate more than 70 percent? And did you know that since 1950 the bee population has gone from 5.5 million colonies to 2.5 million in 2007 while our world population keeps going up. So the next time you see a bee, thank her! Yep, the females are the gatherers of pollen and nectar.

This is my photo art Friday submission, to which I cannot remember the textures I used - I was in the groove and forgot to write them down.

A monkey connected to a branch...you have no idea what you'll find at my nursery - exotics of all kinds!!

Yes, you can have your very own monkey or komodo dragon for your garden, and cracked eggs for planters. Acres of pure humor...hours of entertainment.

But I did find a few lizard friends, this one kept peeking out behind the plant at me. I do just love these guys, they are so curious.

"Tug on anything at all and you'll find it connected to everything else in the universe." - John Muir

And to that quote, I say that our actions matter. What we choose to do or not to do, affects more than just ourselves because everything is consequential.  

I appreciate your connecting with me each week! Have a wonderful weekend all!

Love, Kim

XO

sharing with Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Cool-Clicks Thursday,

Photo Art Friday, Friday Photo Journal, Finding Serendipity {1440}

Foto Friday - What's behind door number one?

I've been sitting in front of my computer for what seems like hours,

maybe it has been. I almost didn't do a foto Friday today, not because

I didn't take a gazillion photos this week,

but I'm just feeling a bit unmotivated . . .

 . . .  yesterday I met my dear friend for coffee, something we do often,

sharing feelings and thoughts without the fear of judgement. Lifting each other up when

we fall, and of course laughter - much laughter and lots of silliness.

But this time when we said good-by it was different, it was hard.

She is starting a new chapter in her life, almost 1200 miles away.

I need a tissue please . . . wait, I'll take the box.

 But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

  

After coffee, I took myself and my pocket full of quarters to the place where

on the bay they have machines with food to feed the fish, only the birds seem to quite fancy

it as well. And really, it's just dog food kibbles. The last time I was there, I noticed

that when everyone walked away the birds would go to the doors of the machines, lift them up

the let go and do this several times until they could hear a piece dislodge and viola, lunch!

 

It took a little while, but I started earning some trust with them. I would get a handful of food and

take one piece and let them see it and I would then place it behind the door and wait. There are three machines in a row and I would switch it up so that I knew they were purposely following what

I was doing. Soon enough they were lifting the door for their prize, and standing in line!

 

 

{Linking this with La-La's home daycare - theme, machines}

So then, I decided to try something a little different. How much could I get them to trust me?

Another quarter, another handful of food. I held out my hand with the camera in the other and waited.

And waited. And then finally one brave enough to take some from my hand.

At first they would do a fly by and then a take and run . . .

 . . . and then brave enough to land on my hand and just eat straight from it!

If I could grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals . . . and they could

squeak and squawk and speak and talk to us! Well, it's a good start.

And then what better place to lift the spirits . . . but a place with flowers.

And it seems no matter where I go lately, there will be a lizard that just shows up? In fact,

on our walk last weekend the hubs spotted a teeny tiny one on the ground - I bent over and put my hand down, and instead of running away, he just walked onto my hand! If things start showing up in pairs,

I might start to worry.

{Linking this with favorite photo of the week , This and That Thursday ,

Photo Art Friday, and fabulous friday}

A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth.

The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water.

Even so, life is but an endless series of little details,

actions, speeches and thoughts.

And the consequences whether good or bad

of even the least of them are far-reaching.

Sivananda

Lois, thanks for being there for part of the series.

And if you're reading this, I miss you to the moon and back already!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Love, Kim

XO

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