Foto Friday - Inspirations of Spring

Ever since I can remember, probably middle school, I have loved and collected quotes! They are inspiring and thought provoking. Most of these pictures I took this week, but I do confess that I pulled in some from my stash to help fill a few quotes.

I had also intended to post some other pictures this week of something that was quite exciting for me but just ran out of time. It will be coming soon, I promise.

With the coming of spring it is going to be harder and harder to just stick to foto Friday, so I'm sure I'll be posting a lot more pictures in the weeks to come.

April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks go. 

- Christopher Morley

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! 

- Mark Twain

Spring is nature's way of saying, "let's party!" 

- Robin Williams

Spring makes it's own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments not the composer.  - Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

If you have never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. 

- Terri Guillemets

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring. 

- Bern Williams

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. 
- Rainer Maria Rilke

Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels. But then magic sparkles in nature. 

- Lynn Holland

I hope you enjoy the inspirations that Spring brings. Have a fabulous weekend!

Love, Kim

XO

Foto Friday - Houston Rodeo

You're probably wondering what a butterfly has to do with a rodeo? Well, last Sunday we went to the Houston Rodeo and as we walked around the carnival area I was wonderfully surprised to find a butterfly house!! I mean, I was giddy like a kid in a candy store. My heart fluttered with excitement as we walked in the netted enclosure and I thought maybe, just maybe I might even break out into a song. But as I turned around I found my two kids horrified at the thought of a butterfly landing on them and they were already begging me to leave. Could these really be my children?

As much as I love nature I have to say it was a bit unsettling to see some of the butterflies with such battered and torn wings. I found myself picking them up and putting them out of harms way since they couldn't get there themselves. I was very glad it was the last day and they would soon be set free. . .

Nature is inspiring and soothes my soul. Not only do I love to photograph it, but I love learning about my subjects as well. This one is a Blue Morpho Butterfly and although it looks blue it really isn't. The iridescent blue color you see here is caused by the microstructure of the scales on the wings that actually reflect blue light rather than being pigmented by melanin.

 "Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift"  - Albert Einstein

It wasn't long before they were landing right on me. I even had one riding around on my shoe the entire time I was there. This is also a Blue Morpho showing the underside of its wings which helps it hide from predators.

They just kept on coming and I kept on smiling and taking pictures. It's a bit hard to keep steady when you're shooting with one hand, especially a close-up.

And then there were some that were just too busy for mingling.

Both the above and below picture is a Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly.

I just love this one! You can see his proboscis still curled up and not tucked away yet after feeding on some nectar. Something I didn't know is that they use their feet for their sense of taste which only works on contact. They can use this to determine whether their offspring will be able to feed on a leaf before they lay eggs on it. Nature is indeed fascinating!!

And then for one of my favorite foods at the rodeo, a TEXAS sized smoked turkey leg! Mmmmm

Followed by my second favorite, Funnel Cake!

This is always a fun ride to photograph.

For this shot I really had to bump the ISO which causes graininess in the photo. I was working in very little light where I was sitting. This was the best shot I could get for the rodeo.

The following pictures aren't the greatest, but I was happy to get them considering how far away we were. This next shot gives you an idea of how far we really were from the stage and the rodeo.

We saw Miranda Lambert right after the Rodeo. It takes them about 30 minutes after the rodeo to bring in the stage and get it all set up. It was a fantastic concert! The stage rotates so everyone gets a chance to see them.

And when the stage is faced the other way, you can still view everything from the huge overhead screens.

I'm already excited to find out who will be coming next year! And I'm already missing my giant turkey legs.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!

Love, Kim

XO

Foto Friday - Spring Break

Spring break . . . and a little piece of our paradise! We live only 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and a day at the beach can feel like a vacation! It's fun, refreshing and a really good place for finding the center of your soul. 

"Paradise is seldom recognized as such until it is considered from the outside."

-Hermann Hesse 

Now, everyday at the beach is an adventure sometimes bringing with it the unexpected along with a little risk.

These blue-ish blobs are called Portuguese Man-o'-war and are completely fascinating from a safe distance that is. These are not a true jelly-fish but a siphonophore, and  instead of being a single organism are made up of a colony of many small individuals called zooids who on their own would not be able to survive.  Now that's what I call teamwork! And because they have no means of self-propulsion their (rare argon) gas filled bladders depend entirely on the winds, tides and currents to get around. Unfortunately for them and for us a whole heap of them were brought in by strong winds. I contacted the State Park and they said that this is not at all a usual occurrence to have this many at one time. I was amazed at the people who were still in the water despite seeing these everywhere. Did I mention that these have tentacles that average 30 ft and sting, injecting a neurotoxin? You do have to be careful though when walking the beach because the tentacles can still sting if stepped on for several weeks after they die. But fear not, this is not a normal find on the beach here, and we did not let it stop us from having a great time anyway.

Overcome, adapt, and improvise!!

(the Stevens' motto)

We did find an abandoned treasure . . .

And then it was time for the birds. I saved my cheddar sun chips since they liked those so much last time. Did I mention they don't like cucumbers? haha  Not sure how I managed to get this shot before the chip even hit the ground?



I tried to get them to take it out of my hands but they wanted nothing to do with it this time. They wouldn't even entertain the idea . . .  so I just threw them hoping I could be as fast with my shots as they were at grabbing them. It was fairly late in the day and I just love the lighting and shadows in the next several pictures.

Here we were on our way home and the light was beautiful and there was a haze over the sun and of course I was in the car! So I had my daughter hand me the camera and I had to get some shots off pretty quick as the light was now green and traffic was moving. Where's that red light when you need one?

In this one I just didn't have much time to get a correct exposure, but I really like it!

So this week is coming to a close and spring break is almost over, but paradise is always around the corner.

And remember, paradise is only lost to those who look but do not see.

Have a great weekend in your paradise!

Love, Kim

XO

P.S. What or where is your piece of paradise?

She has paint on her walls...

She is an artist, a painter, with paint on her walls.

She paints the most beautiful things

and ever since I've seen one of her paintings in person

I have wanted one. I'm just not sure what it is I would have her paint for me.

I met her at our church home before we moved 

from the Dallas area.

And just recently through another blogger friend

discovered that she had a blog.

I always look forward to what she has to share,

and want to share that with you.

  

A dedicated and faithful servant

who glorifies God

and blesses all those who view her art.

 Here are just a few of my favorites:

Fire Tree

Acrylic collage on canvas

By Cheryl White

12" x 12"

In this one she actually used dried up acrylic paint that she found when she cleaned up her studio.

Some of it she scraped off of her easel! (love it)

Three Trees at Night

Acrylic collage on canvas

by Cheryl White

9" x 12"

This one was inspired by the architecture of Anotnio Guadi in Barcelona Spain.

I love the boldness of the painting and the colors.

For His Glory

by Cheryl White

Acrylic on canvas 17" x 22"

First Place, Denton State Fair 2006

Division C, Acrylic Media

And this one, a painted rendition of Matthew 14:13-21

where Jesus feeds 5,000 people from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

The twelve disciples are all holding up baskets of food left over!

For me it's a reminder of how God has always provided in my family's time of need.

Loaves and Fishes on Green

by Cheryl White

Acrylic on canvas 48" x 36"

So stop by and visit Cheryl at her blog here.

Have a great day!

Love, Kim

XO