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.
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.
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,
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.
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,
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.
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.
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.
We still have yellow daisies bravely greeting us every day in a pot on the steps. I’ve always loved the daisy for it’s cheerful simplicity.
Everyday Peace.
This phrase has been rolling around in my head for awhile now.
Everyday peace…peace every day…every day…peace.
It’s like a mantra that repeats over and over, gently reminding me to choose peace. Every moment of every day…choose peace. I’ve been insanely busy for the past month or so, with the final running around for the house and having Shingles on top of not one, but two sore throats has all taken a toll. It’s been important for me to stay balanced and in a place of peace and I’ve been breathing, deep breathing, a lot. It brings everything back to center so quickly. I’m currently doing an online energy course and deep breathing is a huge part of it.
Did you know that:
…It’s impossible to be stressed while breathing deeply.
…It’s impossible to worry when breathing deeply.
…It’s impossible to stay angry when breathing deeply.
…It’s impossible to be anxious when breathing deeply.
It feels wonderful…so calming and peaceful. It also reduces blood pressure, insomnia and pain. It makes me wonder why I’ve resisted it for so long.
As part of my commitment to a peaceful life…everyday peace and peace every day…as often as possible (hopefully every week but you know how it goes!) I plan to focus a post on peace. It may just be a photograph and a quote but knowing me I usually have too much to say to leave it at a picture.
So you’ll be seeing my peace posts popping up on a fairly regular basis.
Play well and be kind to one another...and thank you so much for visiting.
A bird does not sing because it has an answer.
It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb
At night, I open the window and ask the moon to come and press its face against mine. Breathe into me.
Close the language-door, and open the love-window. The moon won't use the door, only the window.
Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.
Victor Hugo
I’ve been busy playing with the birds! The branches are my own photographs, digitally collaged with textures. The little bird in all three pieces was a nuthatch that flew into Trudi’s studio one day and wanted to stay. She has kindly shared an extraction of the nuthatch for download. Thanks Trudy, this little sweetie was just what I needed!
Thanks for visiting…I’m so glad you came.
Play well and be kind to one another.
