Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' . . .

Oh What a Beautiful Mornin',

by Rogers and Hammerstein II

Oh what a beautiful day,

{KK Warm Sun}

 There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,

and,

All the sounds of the earth are like music.

Especially the sounds at a sunrise.

I've been absent from here, and have spent a great deal of mornings in the last few weeks at the sunrise. It's that one place that gives me the reassurance of a new day. Not tomorrow's new day, just this one, the only one promised.

This coming Saturday, May 16th, I'm participating in a unique "Awareness" blog hop. Each participant has chosen a special awareness to write about. Either something that has touched them personally or something very close to their heart, and I would be so grateful if you came back . . . I will be sharing a lot more information about Juvenile Arthritis and some of our journey. It will explain why I haven't been here, and our challenges going forward.

And one last thing, today is my last regular post as a contributor at FOL...Goodbye doesn't always mean, the end.

Love, Kim xo

Texture Tuesday, Song-ography, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Roses of inspiration

Soak up the sun . . .

"I"m gonna soak up the sun

while it's still free

I'm gonna soak up the sun

before it goes out on me."

-Soak up the Sun (by Cheryl Crow)

It seems lately, all the sun does is go out under the cloud cover.

And it's certainly not been the shining star (get it) of the sunrise these days either. :)

So I had to go back a few months, to last year really, 

for a sunrise where the sun wasn't so shy, or lost.

I've heard rumors that people like to wake up to Folgers in their cups,

me, I like to wake up to sunshine in my day....everyday.

[KK 1216]

And at least, when the sun can't get around all that cloud cover, there is always the blanket flower to act as an understudy!

Hope this finds you in a sun shiny day (we have a 10 day forecast of mostly rain),

*P.S. -  I almost forgot, I am over at Focusing on Life today musing about our {Flower Theme}. We are like flowers....Music of the Earth.

Love, Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Song-ography, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Roses of Inspiration

I can see clearly now . . .

"We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did

this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for

every moment of happiness that comes our way."

- Author Unkown

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.

When you go to the sunrise without your tripod mount,

you make abstract images.

This was the Friday of the bad week I mentioned last week. My boy was home from school for the second time in a week because of an arthritis flare, which was making it difficult for him to walk.

I decided to head out to the sunrise for a little therapy, meditation, solitude . . . to one of my meeting places with God. Unlike me, He is never late. (stop laughing Michelle) ;)

When I made it to the top of the bridge I could see the sky was gorgeous. I parked and got out to get my tripod and realized I hadn't put my tripod mount on my camera. But when I went to fetch it out of my bag, it wasn't there. I could not find it anywhere . . . so instead of fight the slow shutter speed and bump my ISO into oblivion I just went with the flow...literally.... 

...until there was enough light to hand hold without (unintentional) camera blur.

This weeks song-ography is kinda perfect for my day . . . I can see clearly now, by Jimmy Cliff . . . 

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshine day.

After the sunrise, I went to the nearby Starbucks for my usual Salted Caramel Mocha, and had intended to bring my journal and a photography book . . . which I also somehow managed to leave at home on my kitchen table. 

So I sat down with my overflowing coffee at a table, the only table left in between two other occupied tables. I was having a hard time that morning . . . some days are harder when you're managing a child with a chronic illness, and no 17 year old should have trouble walking because of arthritis. No 17 year old should have to tell his mom he feels old when he gets out of a car. So yeah, with this flare he had I was feeling really sad for him.

As I was sipping my coffee, the song "Hallelujah" started playing, and that's about all it took for me to lose it. As in, I had to go outside with my coffee because I couldn't cry quietly, because I didn't want to cry quietly. I wanted to scream . . . this, this isn't fair!

I quickly finished my coffee, took the mug back inside and preceded to take a very brisk walk on the boardwalk that overlooks the bay. I came to the railing and just stood there. I was feeling angry, and I'm pretty sure I used some curse words. It was a windy morning and as I was standing there watching the waves, suddenly I notice a huge rock, a boulder being pounded by the waves. Being completely engulfed in the water and then reappearing. 

And almost instantaneously I feel calmer, and get this urgent feeling to go back to the car and get my camera. I wanted to document this conversation I was having with God.

He was trying to remind me that when I try to stand alone there is no solid foundation. But when I put all my trust in Him, he will take the brunt of all the waves that crash in. He will hold me steady when I cannot stand on my own. 

{KK love}

The rest of the lyrics go like this . . . 

Oh yes, I can make it now the pain is gone.

All of the bad feelings have disappeared.

Here is the rainbow I've been praying for,

It's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshine day.

I can see clearly now . . . . as long as I keep my eyes (and ears) wide open to what He is telling me. Life is, always will be, full of adversity. And there is hope in overcoming it when our feet are standing on a firm foundation, and when we also question all the happy moments that come our way!

. . . when we choose to see the rainbow, and not the clouds. 

Love, Kim

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I have a 'Pocketful of Sunshine' . . .

"Take me away, a secret place

A sweet escape, take me away . . . "

- Pocketful of Sunshine , Natasha Bedingfield

Yep, this space...

feels like a secret place, early upon the dawn

at the first sign of life

when the darkness turns to light,

and out of blindness comes sight.

As you are reading this,

I AM here,

with friends,

braving the cold

not just because I can

but because I have to

this place IS my stillness

my peace

my calm...

my sweet escape from the chaos of life

my center in the unevenness

in this space everything is right

everything is good, and sooo many possibilities exist

{KK 411 & 99}

THIS, is my pocketful of sunshine

that I carry around in my soul.

So thankful for this!

Love, Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Song-ography
Communal Global

True colors . . .

But I see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

- Cyndi Lauper "True Colors"

. . .yep that's why I love you, nature,

you can't help but show your true colors

Whether it's the subtle colors of the sunrise,

Or the way the sun shines through butterfly wings.

I love the way your color shines when reflected back into the water,

And that your colors attract butterflies to my garden.

{KK Oh My}

I love how . . . 

"Nature always wears the colors of this spirit" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wishing you a colorful Tuesday...

Love, Kim

Sharing with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Song-ography

September Grass...song-ography edition

"We're so small and the world's so vast"

James Taylor - 'September Grass'

[Yep, it looks different around here, thought it was time for a little change.]

So, this is one of the only three times, I think, that I made it to the sunrise ALL summer!

I know, I can hardly believe it either. I'm hoping to change that, especially before we have

to "fall back" with our clocks. Getting up early this summer seemed to be a real challenge.

"Well the sun's not so hot in the sky today

And you know I can see summertime slipping on away"

All I can say, is that apparently Mr. Sheldon who wrote these lyrics, had not been to

Texas in September because the sun IS still hot in the sky. In fact I had a few red marks on

Sunday from being at the beach to prove it (yes I forgot to apply sunscreen).

It's not slipping away quite yet, but the writing is in the sky.

{KK 1301 in overlay}

 You can sense the change in the light and the lower position of the sun in the sky.

And, that the blanket flower and black-eyed susans are now growing amongst the grass.

P.S. Keep your eyes open, Monarch migration is underway!

Happy Tuesday,

Love, Kim

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It happened . . .

. . . and I missed it!

Can you believe, that after 10 months of waiting, this fellow decided he just had to make

his debut in the hour I had to be gone at a doctors appointment? I knew that morning

when I left, that he wasn't gonna wait for me. I had even considered cancelling my appointment.

All I know is that I can't wait until this weather starts to warm

up so I can get started on my dill, and fennel.  

As the solder flows from my metals class - she is soldering on a bezel to attach

an enameled piece to later. Using a hammer, and a saw and a torch . . . all great

tools for reducing stress, especially when art is the end result.

This . . . is going to happen tomorrow! There is a 100% chance of sunshine in the morning and I'll

be there to report on it. It will however only be in the mid 30's, colder if there is a wind off the bay. 

{I got photo bombed, lol)

And then off for a coffee, a walk and the nursery. If I'm lucky, the poppies are blooming. I'll probably

stalk my "spot' and hope some people walk by for some more abstract photo making. I'm kinda liking

the ones with people in them. And my mind is wandering with some ideas that would include a cross and a crown of thorns. Now to figure out how to execute it.

As much as we didn't like the idea of having to back for the boy's infusions, we sure did love seeing

the nurses on floor 3 - it's also where the food court is. That's dangerous when you're there all day.

As soon as we got there, Roshanda says, "Sam's here, that's what I'm talkin' about. I've been waitin' all day for you to get here so we can talk football." To which you see the biggest smile on his face. And you know what's really amazing? One of the other nurses, the one that put in his IV, we hadn't see her for awhile. Turns out that she got lymphoma and went through chemo in the last couple of months . . . has lost all her hair, and is about to start radiation next week. And there she is, with a beautiful smile on her face, and telling us how she got to touch Justin Timberlake's leg at a concert and making us both laugh until our sides hurt with her stories.

On Tuesday's post I talked about the butterfly effect and how everything we do matters. Well, on that third floor of the critical care center it's not just a butterfly effect, it's a movement. An earthquake kind of movement that you can feel under your feet and in your heart and you won't just travel far forward, but to infinity to show the difference they are making in peoples lives.

Because people will remember how you make them feel!

Wishing you a weekend filled with sunshine and laughter . . . 

Love, Kim

xo

sharing with Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Random Five Friday, Friday Photo Journal

Wake up a little earlier . . .

"Life is too short," she panicked, "I want more." He nodded slowly,

"Wake up earlier." - Dr. SunWolf

I've really never been a particularly natural early riser, you know without an alarm, however I do quite enjoy setting my alarm for this. . . .I hope you aren't tired of sunrises yet!

1. At some point the sunrise time started going backwards, getting earlier. Just a few weeks ago I remember it being at 7:19, tomorrow it will be 7:09. So by the time we 'spring ahead' on March 9th, the sunrise time here at my spot will be at 6:35. But I don't think they take into account that we turn our clocks ahead so will it really be 7:35? Hmmmm. This sunrise was on Sunday and this shot was with my 50mm lens and I had a little fun with slow shutter speed and camera movement (I'll share those later).

2. I wonder . . . you know that saying what a difference a day makes? Do you think they said because they watched the sun rise two days in a row. . . because what a difference a day makes!! This was on Monday.

3. THIS, is why you never leave right away after the sun rises. Because if you're lucky, someone will show up to go wade fishing and give you a silhouette photo op.

4. Do you think seagulls can smell french fries in your pocket?

5. Why yes, yes they can. And they will bring their friends and relatives. Tip: throw the french fries in front of you not up in the air above you unless you have on hat. Not that I know this from personal experience or anything, but I have keenly observed when others have not been so lucky. ;)

Oh, and this was back at the same spot I started at in the morning. I had gone to the nursery and then to the butterfly garden, which looks terrible since our hard freezes, and then to lunch across the street for fresh shrimp (and french fries).

I hope you have a great weekend and remember, wake up a little bit earlier!

Love, Kim

sharing with Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Random Five Friday, Friday Photo Journal

Random five, or so . . .

"Why is that when you wipe up dust it's called dusting but when

you wipe up a spill it's not called spilling? Just something to think about."

- Ellen DeGeneres

Kind of like why is an orange called orange and a banana not called yellow.

We'll never know....

Yes, that was totally random, which is the point of my post today, AND I may even have more than five random things by the time I get to the end.

My milkweed is exploding . . . the seed pods that is, and I'm obsessed with taking photos of them.

I mentioned that I am participating in a Focus on a photo a day - a 365 day project. Can I just say, what the

heck was I thinking? Now, I take a lot of photos every week (I have thousands of monarch photos to prove it, because you can never have enough of those), but one a day, posted to a group...now that feels a little like a commitment. And it's not that I can't commit or anything like that, but I'm just sayin' that yesterday I was already using some curse words because not only was it cloudy but it was only one shade of grey, the yucky shade of grey. AND it was windy and it's hard to take a picture of something when it won't stay still. And because it was so overcast there was no light in my house....it made me grumpy! :) 

But in between wind gusts I did manage to get this one, for my 365 project and for a 50mm project class I'm taking. And after several light freezes and our recent hard freeze two nights in a row I can't believe this rose bush is still blooming. In case you are wondering, it's called "Belinda's Dream" and it smells like heaven.

I walk the beach a lot in the summer, and I find a lot of shells and in fact you can probably see that some of them are imperfect...my favorites. They are the ones that have stories, the vulnerable ones ready to let the world see them in their brokenness. And, that glass bottle top, it's going to be in a necklace one day, I'm just not ready to take it out of my treasure bowl just yet...I like the way it looks in there.

Yep, I blew some bubbles this week. And you know, it's really tricky to blow them yourself and then chase them down before they hit the ground. And with our temps in the twenties (yes that is very cold for us here) the bubbles have been turning these beautiful golden, magenta, blue colors. It would seem that by the time I got done blowing that last bubble out everything had blown away or popped. So I was pretty happy to get at least two in the same picture. Had to resort to bubbles because we don't get snow, at least not unless we've had a hurricane the previous summer.

This was our first sunrise of the year last weekend, and oh the colors and that lone little cloud. Can I just say that I love google sky maps app...so helpful in telling me where to point my camera. 

Can't believe it's almost time to take our girl back to her dorm...so great having her here over a long Christmas break. And yes there was a cake, a two layer cake with one cake mix for each, chocolate butter cream middle, and regular on top. It didn't last long....

Getting excited, my metals class starts next week!! I love the sound of sawing and hammering...

The last of my monarch butterflies from this batch are emerging, but had an epic fail yesterday. One just couldn't quite get out and his wings were crumpled and one of her legs were broken...sad panda face!

I am starting to see some new growth on the plants again though.

Well I think that's random wrap, ya'll have a great rest of the week,

Love, Kim

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                   Friday Finds