The Only Kind of Drama I Want

Years ago when my son was visiting us in Tucson from Seattle, he named our sunsets “high drama.” I thought that was a perfect description.

(He came in the summer … what was he thinking? LOL)

This particular image was one I took that ranks near the top of my list of high drama sunsets. I probably have at least a hundred sunset images (I’m a bit of a fanatic). Of course you all knew that already, right? 🙂

The summer monsoon season in southern AZ creates dynamic energy and masterpieces in the sky. I feel grateful to have been a witness to so many.

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste’

 

Cactus Ranch

My throw-back Thursday image is one that I really love. It makes me a little homesick for the desert and the Catalina Mountains I saw every day. I think I took them for granted. Sorry!

When I first got my Nikon camera, I played a lot with settings and this image is one that came out pretty good, I think. The sun was starting to set on the mountains and peering through the storm clouds that were gathering for a summer rain that evening.

We called this place the cactus ranch because it was eight acres of cactus; all shapes, sizes and varieties. But even cactus has it’s own beauty.

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste’

Succulent Horse

Yes, I know it’s been a while. I’ve been really busy with too many things to mention. Ugh!

This image is one I took the liberty of playing with. And you know me … I love to play! I used an image that I took of some succulent plants, applied a cartoon effect and used a horse overlay found in the BeFunky app. BeFunky is a very cool application for special effects on images. You can make collages, cards and all kinds of wonderful things.

I have the premium version ($24.95/yr) but you can do plenty of creative things in the free version. It’s also available as an Android app.

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste’

The Calendar

Since my Mom passed away last September, I took to coloring to ease my sadness. I’ve found it to be very enjoyable and cathartic. As I sit there coloring, like I did in my youth, I think of Mom. As I mentioned in a previous post, she was the one who bought me my first box of 64 crayons, which I treasured. Sometimes she would take time to color with me. I cherish those memories.

Now I color using different media. Some are watercolor pencils, some are soft pigments, some are metallic and some are gel pens. I’m coloring a 2016 calendar now and have actually colored all the way through August. It’s actually quite addictive, but hey, I’ll take this addiction any day and I highly recommend it.

This image is of January. I call it the Koi Pond.

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste’

 

 

 

A New Year

This image is one I posted on December 31, 2012 when I was doing a photo a day for the whole year. It applies now just as it did then. A simple wish that you, my fellow bloggers and faithful readers of this blog, will have a most prosperous and wonderful New Year. May it be filled with everything you wish for. We are all kindred spirits and I am grateful to be part of your world. God bless you and keep you in His loving protection. Thank you for being here and remember to be good to yourself and each other. Focus on what makes you happy. Namaste’

 

Short Story

One day a man who had become set in his ways travels into the future.

At first he’s disoriented, to the point of becoming terrified.  He feels like he’s in a void … a seamless space, like being in a completely darkened room.

Suddenly, he hears a beautiful, loving voice. “Hello, Edward. Welcome.”

“What? Where am I? And who are YOU? I can’t see you.”

“It’s alright, Edward. Don’t be afraid. I’m not here to harm you.”

“Where is HERE?” Edward asked.

The voice responded, “Here is NOW, Edward. Confusing as it seems, humanity has had it all wrong for millennia. You all thought that time was linear. It isn’t. That is an illusion that you all made up so you could play the game.”

“What??? What game?”

“The game of life, Edward. You are really an eternal being, but humans thought it would be interesting, an adventure if you will, to separate themselves from Source and play with the ego instead. So you made up the rules of the game, one of which is linear time.”

“You see, Edward, there really is only NOW and there really is only HERE. If humans would stop playing the game long enough to realize that they are NOW HERE, life would be so much better; they would become more aware of what’s real and what’s not real. The past is gone and the future hasn’t happened yet, so what’s left?  Now … only now.”

Edward pondered what the voice had just said and remembered that on certain occasions, he had felt more “present” in his life. Like the times when he was playing with his boyhood friends, or exploring the woods behind the farm where he grew up in Missouri, or the time when he experienced his first kiss. And then there was the time when he looked at his baby daughter and saw her first smile. All moments that brought him such joy.

“I want those feelings again,” Edward said to the voice.

“It’s simple, Edward. But for you, it will take practice. Be present in all that you do. Talk less and listen more. Go within and hear the voice of your soul. It speaks to you all the time. You just need to listen. Love more. Fear less. Be at peace with your SELF.”

Be HERE NOW.  Be NOW HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

Cactus and Caddies

Going through my photo archives today, I found images of two of our “past life” cars. Both of our Cadillacs were purchased from a friend of my Mom’s who took excellent care of them.

1993 Coupe De Ville

The Old Saguaro

1997 El Dorado Coupe

I have a penchant for giving our cars names. The Coupe De Ville was GRACE. And the El Dorado was LADY PEARL. Such great memories of my life in Tucson. My Mom and the lady who sold us these cars are both gone now along with the Caddies. But life moves on and so do we.

We estimated that Saguaro to be approximately 500 years old because each arm takes 40-50 years to grow. Amazing! We dubbed it Woody’s Hotel because of the woodpeckers who raised their babies in the holes.

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste’

Coffee is My Friend

Hubby and I went to breakfast yesterday morning and I absolutely enjoyed one of the best cups of coffee I’ve had in a long time. It was robust, just the right temperature and certainly started my day off right. Coffee is my friend! Namaste’

P.S. Yes, I know I haven’t been blogging for a while. Life has kept me pretty busy and I haven’t felt the passion for it lately, but I’m back and looking forward to catching up with my fellow bloggers. So I’ll dust off my cameras and see you all in the blogosphere 🙂

 

Turning Up the Heat

I have no idea what these flowers are because (as I told you before) I am not a botanist. Ha! Isn’t that the truth! I have only one living plant in my whole house … a pothos vine (very hearty, but I do talk to it and thank it for being in my life).

With that said, I believe plants and flowers to be nature’s gifts to all of us. And I seem to be noticing their growth more than usual. Is it the hot weather? Or am I becoming more conscious of growth in general? Nature HAS turned up the heat lately, even here in the Northwest. But I’m also noticing a “newness” about human beings as well. Encounters with most people these days seem to be more patient, kind and compassionate. Maybe it’s because I’ve given myself a permission slip to embrace the interactions I have with others, even the ones that aren’t quite what I’d like them to be. It’s OK. It’s all OK. Each is on her/his own journey and yet I know we are all connected. Namaste’

Making Changes

Change is good so I decided to re-purpose my blog. I will still be posting images that I’ve taken but will also be adding some things to this blog that aren’t photography related. And I also decided to change the appearance. Let me know what you think of the new format.

Hubby and I had dinner with some dear friends in Sisters at Aspen Lakes Lodge before we moved and enjoyed this fantastic dessert. (Yes, we shared it; too calorie-laden to be consumed by one person … ha!)  Namaste’

Who can resist Creme Brulee cheesecake?

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