Thursday's little things . . .

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges

of time like dew on the tip of a leaf."

- Rabindranath Tagore

Several posts ago I talked about finding things that shimmer beneath

the surface, and well, on a foggy morning you won't need to go far.

One morning the fog was so thick you could see the droplets floating

in the air. So I grabbed my camera and headed over to the park. But the sun

had come out and it wasn't long before the fog lifted, and it didn't leave

until it left everything covered in dew.

As I entered the park there were a handful or two of deer grazing on the

grass from all the rain, and the younger ones were prancing around

playing tag.

I couldn't even get close to the taller waist high grasses because the fields were so soggy from

all the rain, and I was quickly sinking in mud. I'm adding mud boots to my wish list. And trust me,

I tried about all angles to get to that field...I could see the dew sparkling like diamonds, but it just wasn't going to happen.

{Morning}

So I did the next best thing ...I laid down on the sidewalk to get a bugs eye view.

And then I was mesmerized by this tree and its shadow.

Spanish moss anyone? The trees in this park are covered by this moss, and it's quite the sight.

Oh, and I have to share these with you . . . I have always wanted to photograph some fire ants,

but getting close enough is always a problem. If they feel the slightest vibration they are coming out of the nest to investigate and protect it, so being near one in the grass is a really bad idea.  

But we woke up one morning to find them building a nest at our back door stoop so I was able to lay down and watch them through my lens. Even though they pack a nasty sting they are fascinating to watch (yes, nerd alert!). Unfortunately, and even though I highly dislike chemicals, the bait we put on the nest is very localized. They take it back to the queen and when she dies, the mound dies. 

Notice those pinchers, which they use to hold on to you while they sting you with their back end. And I just don't know how something as small as an 1/8" can pack so much pain!

Hope you have a great day, don't forget to notice the little things

Love, Kim

Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Friday Finds
Project 52

Photo-heart connection, number 1

"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes."

- Arthur Conan Doyle

{ Pixel Dust Photo Art texture warm glow }

Choosing my photo-heart connection this month has proved to be a little difficult,  not because I wasn't connecting, but instead because I was having too many. I simply went back and forth and round and round. But I can say that they all had something in common in that they were all from the same experience.

We've had quite a few foggy mornings recently and one day after dropping off the kids at school, I went home, grabbed my camera and headed to a park with a pond, and wetlands and wide open spaces. The fog was heavy and thick and the visibility was extremely low. I got out of my car and and made the decision to walk towards the field in the dew laden and muddy grass. There was something about that field that felt curious and mysterious and when I finally came to its edge I could see it too was lit up by dewdrops . . where spiderwebs came to life, appearing like miniature strings of twinkling lights.

That foggy morning was beautiful and peaceful and also helped to isolate the things around me, but in a good way. The fog allowed only the things right in front of me to become more obvious, my senses were heightened, and I became a keen observer. But sometimes in life we can become so caught up in things that don't matter that it causes a blanket of fog that prevents us from seeing the obvious, the necessary, the really important things.

This image just reminds me to be aware, to observe, and to keep life simple.

Love, Kim

XO

Sharing with This and That Thursday, Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things,

Cool-Clicks Thursday, Photo Art Friday, Friendship Friday, Friday Photo Journal, 

Finding Serendipity {1440}  

A textured Friday . . .

"Everywhere water is a thing of beauty

gleaming in the dewdrop,

singing in the rain."

- John Ballantine Gough

Oh wow, I haven't even been out with my camera this week - I haven't felt well, which is why it's been a little quiet on my side of the pond. So, I finally went to the doctor and have a sinus infection, fluid filled ears and seasonal asthma! UGH!!  It's amazing what a couple of days of medication can do though . . . which is a good thing . . . because I'm not very good at doing nothing.

This week at Bonnie's photo art Friday the theme is liquid. So I went to my archives for a few photos with some kind of liquid and decided to have some texture fun.


This first one, dew drops on a weed stem . . . 

If you haven't noticed, I do seem to have a fetish with water drops. In fact I carry a small spray bottle in my camera bag along with an eyedropper . . . yep,  my big tip for the day!!

{Photo Art Friday and Foto Friday}

This one I textured with her new freebie, Blue Depths in overlay - just love how it complimented the stone wall but in a subtle way.

These are the same rose, different textures . . . the bottom photo has her soft sunset texture in 2 layers, both in overlay. Such a great painterly effect . . .

{Flower Art Friday}

Short and sweet this week, I'm going to go take a nap now! ; )

Have a great weekend!

Love, Kim

XO

Sharing with Photo Art Friday, Flower Art Friday, Fabulous Friday, This and That Thursday,

Finding Serendipity, Foto Friday

Thinking pink . . .

. . . my color of happiness.

It's a fun and exciting color and considered youthful.

(in that case, I'll have more please...)

And when you mix white with red you get romance and soft pinks, the blush of a woman's cheeks.

(unless your going through menopause and then it would be ...bright red!)

It's said to have a tranquilizing effect, and painted in the locker room of opposing teams and prisons.
(maybe that's why pepto bismol is pink, helps it go down better?)


Pink is a song from Aerosmith, cotton candy, and breast cancer awareness.
There is the pink panther, a pink slip, and pinking shears.

And today, it's time to get tickled pink. . . .

....highlights that is!

I've read that you should wear pink when you want to present yourself as a peaceful,
calm person who is not threatening.

Soooo, that explains all the people who ask me for directions! ; )

Have a great day...let's paint the world pink!
Love, Kim
XO

Foto Friday - A still moment in a busy life . . . and received blessings

I went to bed the night before last night thinking to myself, self how can tomorrow be Thursday already?

I was thinking, which sometimes can get me in trouble when I'm trying to sleep, that I'm having

a bit of an inspiration problem.  

Don't get me wrong, inspiration is everywhere and at every turn.

It's just that I've been too busy to be still....and still is where my soul finds its wings

and where my mind stops thinking and just is. 

So the other night I prayed that in the busyness of my now that I wouldn't miss any of God's blessings
because I wasn't being still enough to notice. Sometimes I wonder how many blessings I miss because I either didn't recognize it or because I was too busy to take notice? I have wondered that more lately . . .

So my first stop was the water, and the one place where I can always count on the busyness of life to be drowned out by the sounds of the ocean and replaced with stillness and gratitude. I felt an instant calm come in with the breeze.

John 1:16

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Although I had missed the sunrise by about 40 minutes there was a beautiful glow and I even managed to capture a little starburst in the sun. Just as I was about to get in the car to head down the road to one of my favorite birding trails I caught a glimpse of two fishermen in a boat which then led me to this guy who was reeling something in.

Of course I had to run over and check it out. And check it out indeed he got himself a flounder.

Do you see both of this eyes on this side - strange huh? I guess they start out having one eye on either side

and as they mature the eye makes its way to the top side.

It was a keeper, and time to re-load the hook . . . he showed me where to hook the shrimp right under their horn -yep they have a sharp horn on top of their head!

Not more than 5 minutes later . . . a sand trout, but he was too small and back he went.

A big thanks to John for letting me hang out and ask questions and invade his space.

Next up, the coastal birding trail. But, I didn't make it very far. In fact, I didn't make it any farther than the

butterfly garden. I did see about three butterflies and they were all camera shy. There is a garden club

that volunteers to tend to the garden and considering our drought it's looking pretty good.  

 

I have to say that I think I was more captivated by the water drops than any of the flowers and

quickly changed my lens to my 40mm macro. The way they reflect the light and cast shadows are beautiful.

(Linking this with LaLa's Home Daycare photo friday- theme is pattern and

favorite photo of the week with Through a Photographers eye)

And then . . . I spied two anoles chasing each other. When I finally found where one of them landed I quickly in a slow stalking manner made my way over and I'm so glad that I still had on my macro lens. Now if you know anything about these lizards it's that they are skittish and with any quick movement they are outta sight.

This is where patience is a virtue when it comes to nature. I finally got myself positioned so that I could slowly bend down, because with this lens you have to be ultra close (like almost nose to nose) in order to come close to filling the frame. You can see here that she is watching my every move.

At this point I'm just so thrilled to be getting some shots and can't believe with the lens a mere three inches

from her that she is still there. She was on a low plant about 18" tall and staying bent over that far is tricky and to stay steady even trickier. I decided to take my chances and move all the way around to another side which required going completely around a very large bush. Whew, she was still there but I had to start my descent again very slowly! ha ha  This time I was in a much better position and given that I was already so close, I decided to take my chances once again  . . .

Do you see that! Holy cow batman, that is my hand. I was able to slip my hand under the leaf that she was on without her getting startled. You're probably wondering why I keep calling it a her - the females have a small pattern that goes down the middle of their back. Right after I got my hand under the leaf, she turned to her right and was checking things out on that side.

I very slowly lifted my index finger towards her and she put both of her feet on my finger! At this point I'm about to pee my pants I'm so excited, and trying to keep my cool and snap pictures with a macro lens one handed all while staying steady!! The next thing I knew as I extended my hand a bit more she was completely on my hand. I started to very slowly stand up . . .

Here you can get a good look at the pattern that goes down her back.

They will turn brown when they are stressed and the whole time she stayed green.

Not a fleck of brown.

Not one!

There were even several times when she licked me! Ha ha  I'd like to think it was a kiss! ; )

 

At this point I decided to put the camera down, of course very slowly. I'm thinking that I have taken plenty of pictures and now I just want to relish in this moment. A beautiful moment when one of God's creatures trusted me enough  . . . and then the tears just flowed.  I'm not exactly sure what overcame me but the emotion was intense, and raw. Ever since I was a child I fantasized about being able to talk with the animals, just like Dr. Doolittle.  

After we parted ways and before the hubby called me to meet him for lunch I wandered down the path a bit.

And I came across Jo enjoying her moment of stillness watching the deer crossing the path. I shared with her my moment and cried again!

Doesn't she have the loveliest smile.

This last photo I took earlier in the week and thought since I started with a sunrise that

I would finish with a sunset. The neighborhood next to us has an open field where the cattle graze. The sky that evening was the most beautiful shade of pink! From the time I left my house and arrived to get this photo the sun had almost disappeared and there was no time for my tripod. So the light isn't exactly the way I wanted but I like it.

Linking this one with LEM and the theme is light or lighting.

I know there are plenty who love being busy and get bored when there is not always something going on. I however am not one of those people. I love doing things, but I need down time. I need to be still  not only so that I can recognize my blessings but so that I may also truly receive them.
Because of Gods grace we continue to receive one blessing after another even when we are not deserving.
That is not a gift I want to give up lightly.

Have a wonderful weekend and many blessings!
Love, Kim
XO

and linking up with the hollie rogue for foto friday here: