Progression of a morning on the bay . . .

"The sunrise never failed us yet"

- Celia Thaxter -

{KK 511 - overlay)

No, the cat doesn't have my tongue, haha! I just figured that sometimes, especially when it comes to sunrise photos, a picture IS worth a thousand words. AND, I'm musing today over at Focusing on Life about our monthly theme "Beginnings." Meet ya there (click here) . . . there is also some information about a Focus on a Photo a day - 365 day project if you are interested. Doesn't matter what you take the photo with, just take one each day and share. Plus, I'm going to need all the help I can get to do this for 365 days. You in?

Have a fabulous day!

Love, Kim

Sharing with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday

A sleepless night led me to this . . .

"As each day comes to us refreshed and anew,

so does my gratitude renew itself daily.

The breaking of the sun over the horizon

is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world."

- Terri Guillemets

Yes, I had something else planned, no I didn't get it finished. I sat at my computer last night trying to edit my pictures and I kept falling asleep, so I went to bed, thinking I would get it done in the morning. Well, it was a rather sleepless night (again), and you know those hot flashes can keep one from sleeping very well, and then the amber alert went off on my weather radio, and then another hour later the dog woke me up with a ferocious barking session at 4:30 in the morning. So, I got up to check it out, and that's when I noticed that the fog that was so thick I couldn't see my sidewalk from my front door. And although I hadn't planned on it, I knew I should set my alarm to go watch the sunrise...in only another hour. I almost missed it, slept through two snoozes, left with my camera but forgot my camera bag and had to turn around and go back to get it. And....I was on empty, but no time for gas or I would just miss the whole thing...I had 55 miles left, more than plenty to at least get me there! ; )

It is a good thing too, that I went back for my bag, as my battery died on me half way through the sunrise. And after coffee with a friend, I went home to upload and edit my photos and as I was starting to prepare this post my son tried to refresh the router on my desk and well, you guessed it, he did something that left us all with no internet service for the rest of the day until my husband was able to walk him through getting us back online via a phone call. I seriously thought I would just scrap the whole thing, but....after all of that, my not so quite unfortunate mini-series of events, I thought yep, yep I sorta went to a lot of trouble to get these and well, it was a gorgeous sunrise and not one to keep to myself. So without further delay, I present to you my morning sunrise as it unfolded before me..... (yesterday)

6:43 A.M. (Arrival time 6:39)

6:49 A.M - the actual time of the sunrise, and right on time it was ; )

6:55 A.M

6:56 A.M.

6:57 A.M.

7:08 A.M.

7:10 A.M.

7:17A.M.

7:23 A.M.

7:41 A.M.

8:21 A.M.

I walked briefly on the boardwalk after the sunrise and in the distance, I noticed it right way, I recognized his boat  . . . it's the man I watched fish (you can read about it here).

{Photo Art Friday, theme using her texture signed and sealed, and Kim Klassen's new texture Kristin}

Of course I don't need a sleepless night to lead me to the sunrise, and I think my car could drive itself there at this point and by the time I did get there the fog had lifted by the water. You can see how drastically it changed from beginning to end as the clouds rolled over, and as I do every time I watch the sun rise over the horizon I feel so thankful to live close enough to get in my car, early, to be witness to another day...just not something I am willing to take for granted. My happiness doubled too as I saw the man in the boat, hoping he might look back and recognize me too. Life has a way of nudging us to go do something, I'm glad I listened . . .

Wishing you all the most blessed Thanksgiving, filled with much gratitude and love!!

"Gratitude bestows reverance, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those

transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world." - John Milton

Love, Kim

XO

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Photo Art Friday

Thankful for a headache?

"Far and away there in the sunshine are my highest

aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look

up and see their beauty, believe in them and try

to follow them."   - Louisa May Alcott

I had not planned on going to watch the sunrise this morning, as there were things to do and

an orthodontic appointment for the choir girl. In fact I was going to sleep in this morning, but

a rotten headache and allergies kept me from going back to sleep after I made sure the kids were

in fact up and getting ready for school. And as they walked out of the door at 6:50 my daughter said

it's going to be a great sunrise this morning. She doesn't usually say much that early in the morning, and that is when I knew I should look.

I peeked out the door . . . and was completely gobsmacked (I love that word). Blown over, in a panicked kind of way as I knew the time for the sunrise was 7:23 and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the bay in the morning school traffic. There was just no way I was going to get there before it rose, to capture what I was seeing.

Of all the days, the dog picks today to not ask to go out first thing, gee thanks! ha ha

I made a split second decision to throw on some clothes and go anyway, and you know, I had even considered just going in my p.j's to save a few minutes. That was fleeting.

Today, I was thankful for red lights . . . when does that ever happen!

And for my phone camera!

This was my first shot, as I almost tripped trying to get out of the car so fast and get my tripod up.

7:29 AM

7:38 AM

7:41 AM

7:42 AM

{KK paperlove, takeheart}

7:43 AM

The Theme this week for Texture Tuesday is "look up".

8:26 AM

{KK partings, aurora, just cause}

This was the view as I was driving out of my neighborhood!! This is from my phone .  . .

And this is half way there . . .

I learned after I got to the sunrise, from another photographer, that these clouds are the outer bounds of a hurricane off the pacific coast (CA, Mexico border), reaching all the way into the Gulf of Mexico. You can tell they have a swirling movement to them.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't beside myself for not being right there to photograph this! And although

every sunrise is beautiful and magical in its own way, this kind of show doesn't happen often. But, I could

have slept through it, so I guess today I'm thankful for that headache too! : )

Have a lovely Tuesday all . . .

Love, Kim

XO

Sharing with Communal Global, Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday



As the world turns . . .

{Galveston Bay sunrise, 6:26 A.M.}

Each morning as the dawn breaks

we all start with the same amount,

and it can be a challenge to manage it well.

It is a gift,

that some use wiser than others

because we simply take it for granted,

and are seldom thankful enough for it.

And although it unfolds right before our eyes,

it can not be seen or touched.

But even though we can't hold it in our hands,

the memories gathered from it can be held in our hearts.

Some always seem pressed for it,

but it requires some patience

as it can not be rushed.

We race against it, we run out of it,

and some try to buy, borrow and even kill it.

But it is a non-renewable resource

worth its weight in gold,

meant to be used in the present,

and can not be sold.

Its only requirement

is that we be here, now.

That we celebrate and not squander it,

and that we not wish it away on the future

to spite today.

Because once we waste it

it can't be turned around.

But make no mistake, it waits for no one.

It will go on without us, guaranteed, time after time. . .

- Kim

I made it to the bay this week twice to watch God paint with his many brushes. And to think that millions

of people world-wide are sleeping, unaware of the beauty, the artistry that goes on without them. When we first moved here to the gulf I thought people just had to be crazy to want to live so close to a body of water that can cause so much destruction during a hurricane season. But I have come to understand the pull it can have on you, the addiction to want more. There is something incredible about watching the sun rise, and it's not just the beauty of it, but the reminder that time does not stand still, that it waits for no man. So I'm sharing some pictures from the sunrise just yesterday morning and how time changes, and sometimes it is so subtle that unless we take the time of day, we don't even take notice.

6:33 A.M

6:34 A.M.

6:41 A.M.

6:56 A.M.

6:56 A.M. {photograph life, looking up at the sky}

7:06 A.M.

7:18 A.M.

This was later on in the afternoon . . .

{Textured with Pixel Dust Photo Art age it, and painterly}

And lastly my Flower Art Friday submission, using Kim Klassen's Oh My, and Red.

{shoot.edit.submit}

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely

in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke,

thoroughly used up, worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow, what a ride!"

- Hunter S. Thompson

Time, it's that one thing we can't save, that must be used.

As the world turns we get 1440 minutes a day, how are you going to use yours?

Make it a great day!

Love, Kim

XO