Inspired

Handmade/Homemade

Last week’s theme at Lens Us Together was “Homemade” and I struggled a bit with this topic.  If you’ve been visiting here for awhile then you’ll know that much of my “life” has been packed away in boxes since the end of April…including the contents of my studio.  It’s been a challenge for me but also very freeing, as I was forced to focus soley on photography and digital media and that has opened up new projects and new ways of approaching this media. 

The other challenge has been the difficulty I’ve had in concentrating on anything creative when my mind has been on construction decisions and living with extended family.  We’ve all had a lot of fun together and enjoyed the experience so much, but it’s definitely time to get back to “normal’ life…whatever that might be!

In the last few months I’ve been working on a series of digital work which start with my own black and white photographs.  I then add a solid block of colour and continue to add on collage layers (digitally).  I find the contrast of black and white with a bright solid colour, interesting and fun to work with.  The top picture was originally of a pumpkin patch…hence the orange, and the pink one above was of a field of gladiola’s.

 

And this one, which I’ve posted here previously, is of the ever present sea that nourishes and surrounds me! 

This is about as “home made” as it' gets around here these days!

I’m so glad you stopped by for a visit,

Play well and be kind to one another.

Everyday Peace –Peace Everyday

Forget where you were. That story is no longer true.
Level your gaze to the trail you’re on, and even the dark won’t stop you.

Maya Stein

 

“Forget where you were.  That story is no long true”. 

What beautiful, freeing words these are. 

It’s time to let go of old stories. 

You’re no longer your past. You’re no longer a victim. 

You’re no longer the insecure and self doubting one you used to be (or thought you were).

Those days are over. 

Gone.

There’s no time now for pretending and playing small.

You’re not even fooling yourself anymore.

Stand up.  Turn around.  Look ahead.

Your beautiful, brilliant self

Shines.

"Everyday Peace and Peace Everyday" is a series of posts that focus on finding and keeping a peaceful space within, each and every day,  It's not always easy but it's always worth it!  I believe that peace will come to the world as each of us finds peace within ourselves. 

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Peaceful blessings to all of you.

Hanging

This week’s Shared Focus topic is “Hanging Out”.  Hop over here and see what both Martie and I came up with.  It’s funny how it never goes in quite the direction I think it’s going to, but it’s always fun!

I'm so glad you stopped by,

Play well and be kind to one another.

Morning Light

 

Mornings come very early for me.

Not that I get up early but unfortunately, I wake up early.  Waaay too early.

So what’s a girl to do when she’s wide awake and the darkness still lingers outside her window?  Well this girl get’s a cup of chai tea and brings it back to bed, turns on her computer and checks in briefly with the rest of the world. 

"Hello world!"

And then, meditation…or at least my version of it…grounding, connecting and breathing in a continuous, circular breathing motion.

The light outside begins to glimmer and there’s movement downstairs…the coffee is on and a four year old is up.

My day has begun.

This post is a contribution to the weekly Lens-Us-Together photo project which now has over 50 creative souls participating.  This weeks theme is "Morning" and was suggested by Eileen at Simon Says

I'm so glad you stopped by,

Play well and be kind to one another.

Simple Things

Her registered name is Earthrise Shining Angel (Earthrise being the breeding kennel's name)…but to those who love her, she’s known simply as Miss Molly.

Miss Molly is a Shetland Sheepdog…a Sheltie…and she has shared her shining angel light with us for four years now.  She likes the simple things in life…a cuddle, a treat and a walk.  If chasing a ball is thrown in there, so much the better.  These things all make Molly deliriously happy.  She’s a simple girl with simple needs and like most dogs, she innately knows that life isn’t complicated.

She knows how to love…pure and simple.  She doesn’t beat around the bush.  There’s no game playing.  She doesn’t hint at what she wants, hoping we’ll get the message.  She doesn’t wait for us to reach out to her before she leans in and presses herself close.

Her eyes say it all.  Love, pure and simple.

We love you too Miss Molly!

I'm focusing on "Simple Things" today with Christina at Soul Aperture.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Play well and be kind to one another,

Looking Up

As I look up at what surrounds me, I’m inspired by the perfection of the world.  The few remaining leaves with their golden sheen,the plump raindrops that steadily nourish the earth and the winter wind that sweeps clean the fallen debris making way for renewal. 

I am reminded of stories of the Hindu God Shiva, also known as the destroyer. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva is the dissolving force in life, which is necessary in order to create.  The energy of Shiva is at work at this time of year…destroying in order to create new life next spring.

I found this beautiful “manifesto” of life at Renee’s Circling My Head, via Something. 

To live content with small means,
To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion,
To be worthy, not respectable,
And wealthy, not rich,
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly,
To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart,
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,
Await occasions, hurry never,
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
Grow up through the common; this is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing: My Symphony

 

The theme this week at Lens.us.together is “Looking Up” and was suggested by Elk at Red or Gray.  Thanks Elk!

Thank you so much for stopping by today,

Play well and be kind to one another.

Cameraless and Catching Up

photograph taken in the gardens of the Buddhist Temple in Richmond, BC (near Vancouver).

I’ve had to take my Nikon in for some cleaning and fine tuning, so although I’ll be missing it for awhile, I’ll still have my small point and shoot.  The Nikon almost had to be pried forcibly from my fingers and I’m hoping it’ll be back in my loving arms very soon.  (It’s sad…very, very sad, to be this attached to a “thing”.  Don’t even get me started on my computer!)

My life seems to have become busy…very busy.  There are a million last minute things to coordinate and lots of unexpected hold ups…the latest being that we can’t pour the driveway and patio concrete until it stops raining for 48 hours and we can’t move in until we have a driveway or at least some “clean” areas around the garage and doorways. November is the the rainiest month of the year on the west coast of Canada and it’s been raining on and off for almost two weeks…with no sign of stopping! 

I’ve recently begun an online energy/meditation course which is a year long, commitment.  I really love it and it works amazingly well in the “webinar” format.  The group is world wide and we meet online every two weeks.  In the spring we will gather at a central spot in the US.  I’m learning some amazing techniques to “manage” energy and focus the thought process.  It requires a huge commitment and I thought long and hard about it before signing up, but I know I’m very ready for this next step.

We also have a friend staying with us right now (yes, up here in the attic!), and not only are we having lots of fun, but she’s a massage therapist and I’m being soooo spoiled!  I think I’m in heaven!

Nancy left a comment on my last post asking what textures I use with my photographs so I thought I’d pass that info along to everyone.  I use a lot of freebies from the Flickr texture pool as well as some purchased ones from Flora Bella and Flypaper.  There are others out there as well… Rita at Coffee Shop has free textures, actions (for Elements as well as Photoshop) and more. Lawrence at ToFurious photography has 10 free actions and more for sale.  

In the photograph above of the Temple gardens, I used Flypaper’s Caramel Soft (overlay @70%), Apple Blush (soft light @63% ) and Raw Linen (Vivid Light @ 100%).  If you have photo editing software and like to play with textures or think you might like to try it out, I would recommend any of these. Happy texturing! 

Thanks so much for visiting,

Play well and be kind to one another,

A Door To My New Life

This is the door to my future.

The door to my new home…the door to a new chapter in my life.

When I step through this door I’m stepping into “yes”.

With this house I’ve embraced more…bright colours, new ideas, new materials and openness.

With this house I’ve embraced less…less space, less gardening, less to care for.

This house is the outer reflection of the inner changes in me.

Bright, bold, free, and open.

(this door is so new that the stickers are still on it…but soon, very soon we’ll be moving in!)

This post is this weeks contribution to the Lens Us Together project.  The theme is Windows and Doors: Portals of Transition and was suggested by Donna at A Life in Focus.

Everyday Peace – Peace Everyday: Compassion

 

Last week during a very quick and hectic trip to the mainland, I stopped at a serene and beautiful Buddhist Temple for an hour of peace and reflection.  I was intrigued with a very large carved statue of the Avalokitesvara Bodisattiva …the Bodisattiva (enlightened being) of compassion. 

The “aura” surrounding this figure had ten thousand hands and ten thousand eyes and the tiniest of the hands appeared like feathers from a distance.  In each small hand, an eye was placed in the middle of the palm. In each of the larger hands the Bodisattiva holds an object such as a lotus blossom or a weapon.  The eyes, the hands and the objects he holds are symbolic of watching over humanity and protecting us from harm.  

I love the idea of a “thousand eyes and and a thousand hands” watching over and caring for me with loving compassion!

" Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human “brain” with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human “heart” with compassion.  This is the real role of religion." 

Dalai Lama

It’s easy to be compassionate with the loveable of the world but it’s the unloveable who truly need our compassion…those who are acting out of emotional pain…the prickly ones who seem to want to push us away or even worse, push our buttons!   It’s not always easy but always worth the effort.

I was once given (by a very wise friend) a quick and easy  phrase that has helped me to deal with people who bring up feelings of hurt or anger.  When I find myself reacting internally in a negative way, I say to myself:

Thank  you (name) for showing me a part of myself that needs healing.

When I say this, I find myself feeling sincerely grateful for the experience rather than hurt or angry.  I see it as a gift and an opportunity to look within and disengage my own issues that want to react. It dissolves the emotions of victimization and puts the situation in a new and more compassionate perspective.

Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves.

Mason Cooley

May compassion be with you, holding you close when you are hurt or alone -- when there is rain in your heart. And may you be the warm hands and the warm eyes of compassion for your friends when they reach out to you in need.

Thanks so much for visiting,

Play well and be kind to one another.

Orange You Happy?

Have you had your fill of fall colour yet?  As I type this I’m listening to Louis Armstrong sing “It’s a Wonderful World” and yes, it truly is a wonderful world of orange this year in my part of the world.  This photograph was taken at a local roadside farm market laden with bins of colourful squash, gourds and apples.

Martie and I have an juicy orange offering this week at Shared Focus.  Did you know that orange is the new black this fall?

Thanks for visiting!

Play well and be kind to one another.