balancing blunders

sometimes a picture is all it takes... no words are necessary...  these are like that and of course, carry on with my duck and geese theme of late.  just can't help myself when the opportunity presents itself...

happy day.....

squirrels and choosing...

there were many squirrels out playing today... they were not mindful of the weather - that it was cold, it was windy or slightly overcast.  they were only interested in running about. 

once they saw me, it became a game in how to outdo one another - jumping about, climbing the trees, doing funny little tricks to capture my attention... running up very close to my feet and then running away very fast.  squirrels are smart creatures.  watchful, alert, on guard but playful and living in the moment...  they are creative and imaginative...  they have to be in order to survive the elements.

we are a lot like them - or is that they are a lot like us?  in our everyday we need to be watchful and alert, on guard yet creative and imaginative in how we live our lives, how we choose to be.  life is full of pitfalls, challenges and struggles but i like to remain positive; empowered by the strength of my faith - knowing i can be bolstered by living in the moment - in the now - and not give anything away.  

sometimes it is the simple things, small moments, pleasures and enjoyments we need to take advantage of and choose more of in our day-to-days.  it's funny how it sometimes can take squirrels to get you to think... make you wonder... have you ponder...  what do you choose?

happy day.....

duck, duck, goose...

shot some more pictures at the pond the other day...

low flying ducks and some geese sliding in on the ice for a landing...  always entertaining...  always magical...

happy day.....

simple pleasures....

anyone who has a cat will appreciate this simple, yet very funny little clip... simple pleasures that more of us should take the time for, even if pointed out by an animated kitty...




enjoy a spontaneous moment today... on your own, with a friend, with a loved one or family member, a neighbor... have some fun.


happy day.....

winter textures

warmer temperatures mean it's easier to get out and about...  today there were a lot of runners, walkers and bikers around.  made me want to let my toes out of my shoes to enjoy the sunshine... but i didn't since snow was still on the ground.  i figured it would be a stretch.  however, i do plod around the house in full tootsie freedom....can't help myself.

with camera in hand, i took some experimental shots this afternoon.  i decided it was time to venture out of my comfort zone and try for something new... play around with landscape a little bit even though it is not my forte and i might say it scares me some.  it shouldn't but... what can i say?  there are those who have a definite skill for taking wonderful landscape pictures.  they can capture a scene, the colors, the shadows just so.  me? not so much.  i see it with the naked eye, i frame it with my camera but then once i'm processing it, something seems to happen...

but today... well, i'm more pleased with my effort.  perhaps it's the way the sun was shining - or the time of day - or god was having favor with me... whatever the case, i am encouraged enough to actually publish this one for all to see. 

and to try again another day to see what wonders nature may have in store for me to behold.

happy day.....

flying low....

i admit it.... i've been on a ducky mission these last days... but you must agree - they are amazing whether on the ground or in flight... as this one is... actually, this poor fella was trying desperately to get away from me. 

i really was approaching quietly but the other ducks around me were doing their incessant squawking and honking - so who can be quiet around that?  they all had no fear at all on this day, gathering around me as though i was a sudden best friend but all i had was my camera doing its slight beep and click. 

i was just about to capture this one when he spread his wings - i was only a foot away from him, ever so close to have those gentle wings open in front of me.... i was so startled i nearly dropped my camera.  by the time i recovered, i knew the shot would be out of focus and probably no good... in reality it turned out not so bad at all... i think the slight blurring adds to the effect, especially since there's still snow on the ground. 

the story, too, makes up for any mishap....it's how life is - how things happen when we least expect them, right?  and then we just go with it - hoping for the best... flying low, under the radar maybe because the least disruption from us or in our lives is most preferable.  we are funny creatures that way...  sometimes i like to fly low - coast along... other times i believe it's best to fly smack into life full force regardless of the disruption. how about you?

happy day.....

little one...

after the squirrel debacle of yesterday and my feelings of guilt, i went back to the pond today.  i drove up but had to park on the other side of the road because there was another car where i usually stop mine. 

no sooner had i turned off the ignition, did the ducks begin their squawking...  looking out the window of the car guess what i see?  a line of ducks waddling across the road towards me oblivious to other vehicles that are coming.  one car was honking at them and they just stood their ground.  grabbing my camera, i got out quick and herded them back across to the grass laughing and talking to them the whole way.  they must really have wanted those pictures taken...

this is the little one i chose for the day... he was standing all alone, looking around... looking a bit lost... no other ducks were standing near him... i wondered why.  he looks young... i was so close.  where were his folks?  and why weren't they fussing about me being so near to him?  even so, he doesn't appear to be particularly worried - he's standing tall in the midst of it all...head held high. 

made me think that's what i need to do and remember.  stand tall... stand firm...  stand my ground...  when the going gets tough, when the going is good... either way - stand tall.  the good news is that i have a god who helps me to stand firm during those times and actually becomes more for me during the times when i think i am alone.  a versus that speaks to me about this is from john 3:30: "he must become greater; i must become less." 

happy day.....

look at me, lady...

so check out the little creature who captivated me today... 

i was at the pond snapping pictures of the cutest ducks ever... and this rascal comes running up, fearless as can be staring me down.  he was jealous, i'm certain of it, knowing the ducks were getting all the attention and he wasn't having it. 

so he stretched himself up to simply get in my face and pose like this as though he had something very important to say...  he chattered for a minute and then ran off.

now he's gotten his 15 minutes of fame... but i feel bad i've ignored the ducks and must go back to make it up to them so they can have theirs, too.

happy day.....

flappin' about 2011

well it's here... a new year... what to do, what to do...

to me it's just another day... what about you?

i am not one to make a fuss over deciding what new thing i'm going to do, new resolution to keep or start up, a new diet to tackle, a new hobby to begin, etc., etc.... i believe it's good to review the year behind but think it should be done on an on-going basis as it's happening day-after-day, month-after-month; without waiting for the year to end.

take the good with the bad, throw out what doesn't work, rejoice in what is... hope that i'm becoming a better person, pray that i am making a difference, making an impact in some small way - make changes to make it so; step boldly in the world if i can and do the very best that god would have me to do.

and somehow, someway enjoy the simple moments that are given me to me every day and be grateful for them... then share them with others... that's what my new year will be about.

happy day.....