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Friday Gratitude and Joy in Being Human

Quote of the day: “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” —Buddha As humans, we often strive to reach a certain state—enlightenment, balance, presence, peace—and then try to stay in that state. I have found that it is not my fate to reach some state and stay there forever. Life is not static; it’s a rhythm and flow of ups and downs, joys and sorrows. Just when I think that I’ve achieved a new understanding or a new level of being, old thoughts, doubts, Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Ordinary miracles in the back yard

Quote of the day: “All things by immortal power. Near of far, to each other linked are, that thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star.” —Francis Thompson Yesterday was one of those overcast days with sprinkles of rain off and on. I love photographing flowers and nature on days like that because the colors are so dramatic and vivid. In between rain showers I went out side to photograph my clematis and peonies. Ahhhh…so lovely, so soft, so vivid! We have a goose family in the pond behind our house. I was able to capture a few Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Let there be Light

Quote of the day:  “So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.” — T. S. Eliot How do you depict light? I love black and white photos where the highlights and directional light is so beautiful. The sepia-toned lily above started out as a black and white, but I love the warmth of the sepia tone better to show the subtle light and shadow and the grace and stillness of it. I also like capturing nature scenes in early morning light or bright mid-morning light. During the hours just after sunrise and again a just before sunset Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

A Hunger for Making Photographs

Quote of the day: “Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger. There is really nothing to be said about it. It is like the perfume of a rose: you can smell it and that is all.” — W. Somerset Maugham Last week I did very little photography. This morning I can taste the hunger to make photographs. I need to make photos like I need to breathe air and eat food. It’s as simple as that. Is there something in your life that you need to do as much as you need to breathe or eat? Make time Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Accepting what is

Quote of the day: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” — Melody Beattie I live with chronic illness. Sometimes it interferes greatly with my life. Sometimes not so much. After several weeks of doing really great and making great progress increasing my fitness activities and being able to do more that I want to do, this past week has been one of physical Read more…

By Marilyn, ago