It takes all kinds of kinds . . .

Today my husband and I went to Galveston . . . to the Greek Festival held at a Greek Orthodox Church.

And I'm not really sure what came over me either. Maybe it's because I've been sick all week, or I'm having another typhoon menopausal episode, but none the less I broke into tears when I watched a young boy join an older man dancing a traditional Greek dance. I suppose part of it could be that after doing some research on my ancestors I feel such a pull to want to know more about the customs and traditions of my own heritage.

This month I've been sharing through Facebook, my 30 days of gratitude, and today it had everything to do with this festival. Today, day 9 went like this  . . .  "Not just today, but everyday really, I'm thankful to live in a country that holds the kind of diversity in people and cultures and customs carried from generation to generation. I think it's one of the single most unique things about this country. Going way back in our family's history and immigration makes me so much more aware of this . . . different is good and should be celebrated!"

It was simply refreshing to see people celebrating their uniqueness in our society, and inviting the community to be part of it. Because it's this, the all kinds of kinds, that makes this world we live in a more interesting place to be.

We were meant to be different. All kinds of kinds different since the beginning of time.

"Now some point a finger and let ignorance linger

If they'd look in the mirror they'd find.

That ever since the beginning to keep the world spinning

It takes all kinds of kinds." - Lyrics from Miranda Lambert's song - All kinds of kinds

Finally sharing in the fun for Song-ography!

Love, Kim

Photo-heart connection, October

(KK day)

My connection this month is so much more than a connection of the heart kind to the photo itself

and rather to an experience. This male Black Swallowtail debuted last week. Yes this has happened before,

but . . . this was different.

In fact it was nothing short of miraculous. You see, it was a chrysalis that looked much like this one

only it was on the frame of the butterfly enclosure and it had pupated there. . . 5. . . months ago!

And have I mentioned that the typical time frame for a swallowtail to emerge after pupation is more

like 2 weeks.

And honestly I think the only reason I noticed it was because I had put the Tersa Sphinx Moth caterpillars in the tent on a stalk of Pentas I cut from the plant, because they were eating faster than I could pick the leaves.

I had to wait a bit before releasing him outside as it was raining cats and dogs and after being asleep for 5 months I sure wanted to give him as much of a fighting chance as possible. It was last Thursday . . . and as soon as the monsoon rains stopped the skies parted and the sun came out. Heading out for a football game and knowing that we wouldn't be back until dark, I took him outside where he could rest until he was ready to take flight.

And much to my surprise, again, there he still was . . . completely covered in beautiful, sparkly, dew drops.

Right where I had left him. After a little photo shoot, he let me pick him up and I took him to a sunny spot on the trailing purple lantana to sun and dry himself. It wasn't long before he flew off.

Can you imagine if I had given up hope that he would ever emerge and removed it from the enclosure?

Yep, these photos, this happening, just remind me to not give up hope during those times when hope feels

lost. Not the hopeful "wishing" kind of hope, but the confident expectation . . . the trusting God for

the results kind of hope.  

Because hope is still moving forward even when you feel weary and uncertain and gives life to things that

are so questionable, an outline of sorts to things we cannot see . . . 

. . . and waiting for them with patience.

Love, Kim

linking with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Tuesday Around the World

Photo-heart Connection, I Heart Macro

Photo Art Friday . . . Embrace

"Our task, must be to free ourselves . . . 

by widening our circle of compassion to embrace

all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."

-Albert Einstein 

Bonnie gave us the word embrace as our challenge this month and oh the many

ways I could interpret this word . . . but I limited it to two photos.

When I hear the word embrace, my first thought . . . is life.

Wrapping your arms around it, taking it all in with your eyes, your whole being.

Life happens everyday all around us. This we know, yet we still miss so much of it.

  

And the older I get, well,  the more I want to know,

the more I want to see . . .  the more I want to find.

I want to notice everything . . . and embrace it all!

That's why I love my camera. Not just because it helps me to "see", 

but because it allows me to record these embraced moments.

One of my Queen butterflies embracing its new life.

This next photo I chose is one from a recent varsity football game. Before every game our players make

their way to the end of the field and they all take a knee and bow their heads. No matter how many times

I photograph a scene like this I'm drawn to it over and over again. This never gets old.

He was the last one to get up . . . he was completely embracing the moment.

And, so was I.

Take a moment to embrace all the other art work hung in Bonnie's art gallery here.

Embrace your day,

Love, Kim

Join me -----> here for my Friday Random Five

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" . . .

. . . he's going to ask you for a glass of milk.

And well, if you take a girl to the sunrise,

she's probably going to want to spend some time at the beach.

We couldn't have ordered a more beautiful sunrise . . .

 But, while this was happening . . .

So was this . . . right behind and to the side of us!

It started to gradually creep around this way.

And then the wind picked up, all the while the sun is still putting on a show.

We quickly made our way up the stairs, I took one shot, and put my camera inside my shirt.

The sand was blowing everywhere, I even had it in my ears!

Yep, it was time for plan "B".

So if you take a girl to the sunrise, and she can't spend time on the beach,

she would love for you to take her to breakfast to ride out the storm . . . even though the storm won. 

1. My daughter had to contact a specialist for a paper she has to write . . . she called me!

Yes, she interviewed me on how to raise Monarchs, I felt important!

2. A lot of rain this week, it's cramping my photo taking. And while I have been known to go out with

my umbrella and my camera, the umbrella would not have helped in the sideways rain this week.

3.. I started a Facebook page last week - Clear Springs Chargers Football by Kim - for all the photos I take

at the football games, both my son's and the varsity. They just sit on my hard drive anyway, why not liberate and share them. Of course there are only two games left, and my son's game is looking really sketchy with

100% chance of rain and thunderstorms for today.

4. If our game does get cancelled, there will be some disappointed kids, because I will have to do some

tricks since I did not buy any treats! Please don't egg my house....

5. If you buy a new hard drive for your computer (much like if you give a mouse a cookie) because it sounds like it going to blow up or take off , your 10 year old printer will then decide it no longer wants to play nice. It now prints blue as pink . . . it's not pretty . . . Houston we have a problem! 

6. Well, I was already to publish this post this morning when I had to come back and add one more thing.

Ever have one of those Ah Ha moments that turned into a Carrie Underwood, "Oh No What Have You Done" moments. And I don't mean the drinking too much and getting married kind, but the realization

at midnight that you left the enclosure that you put the 4 1/2 inch Tersa Sphinx moth caterpillar in, open. Yep, I have a huge caterpillar roaming my house looking for leaf litter to pupate in...and although he may find

some dust bunnies, he is not going to find leaf litter or a pile of dirt to bury himself in. I was on my hands and knees until well after 1 am this morning looking for it with a flashlight trying to channel my inner caterpillar. Dang, I'm so sorry buddy!

*UPDATE: You'll never guess who I found crawling on my kitchen floor this morning,

heading towards the back door! My heart is happy, and I'm sure he is too!

Anyone have printer suggestions, reasonably priced is key here, that they really like?

* I also took the plunge and started a Facebook page for Picking Poppies which you can find here:

https://facebook.com/pickingpoppies, I would love to see you there!

Have a great weekend, and try to stay dry!

Love, Kim

My Photo Art Friday post is ----> here

Linking with Little Things Thursday, Random Five, Friday Photo Journal