everyday thoughts on all things. you know... why is the grass green, the sky blue? why don't people use their turn signals? did i really mean to say what i just said? what are dust bunnies? fun things... little things... everyday things... simple ponderings...
why are you right on my rear end? tailgating me? could you possibly get any closer?
now i know these are geese - but do you ever wonder this with cars? why they have to get so close to your back bumper you can't see the front end of their car?
or driving along the road, one minute nothing is behind you - the next - boom! a vehicle is suddenly there. right.there.on.your.tail. really? where did he come from? out of nowhere, a car has appeared - going very fast; not slowing down, expecting you to do the same. and when you don't... well, they believe the closer they get to you, the faster you will go.
tailgating....
it doesn't work for me. in fact, quite the opposite. the closer someone gets to me, the more i have a tendency to want to go more slowly. it accomplishes nothing. i get annoyed with the other driver. did they go through driver's education? did they learn the "following at a distance" rule? what about being able to see the back tires of the car in front of you when you stop? those kinds of tips? little things but they can work... plus it's simple courtesy - being nice - especially, when you're in a vehicle that can literally be construed as a weapon on a vast tangle of roadway.
so let's be considerate to one another, people. allow some space - a bit of breathing room, shall we? stop the tailgating.
when you look in a mirror, you see the reflection... an image of yourself...
if the lighting is right when you peer into water, you can view a likeness of yourself, too - usually, it's more a profile or an outline versus an exact image.
but then when there is a tree that overlooks a pond or lake - the sun slightly hidden behind clouds - the light refracted just so... and the reflection then of the tree on the water glistens - it is a thing of beauty to behold.
it's moments like these, i'm thankful to god that he created me to be able to relish in the wonder of nature.
spring time in the rockies... whereas yesterday was warm, windy and sunny - this morning there was snow on the ground; cold, blustery air and a reminder that winter isn't yet over.
additionally, it wasn't quite cold enough for the snow to really stick so there was a lot of dripping... this caused leaves and buds to be encased in ice forming crystal clear teardrops and the neatest bubbles ever...
i stood, looking upon this beautiful sight in wonder realizing that the rose bushes that hadn't had any buds several days ago, now did - and hoped that the ice wouldn't stunt their growth.
then i grabbed the camera and with puffs of my warm breath hitting cold air, began to snap pictures. the drips; bubbles of water turned to ice... bubbles stopped in mid-drip looking like tear drops. trying to capture reflections - knowing i wasn't really doing justice to the created beauty before me, but hoping that maybe i'd strike upon that one shot... the perfect one. it's not here, but i'm sharing anyway.
so the day began cold and overcast... the sky full of clouds...
and then... suddenly as i was outside snapping some not very impressive photos - ones i didn't think i would really want to use for my online photo journal - i felt the sun trying to break through those clouds... i happened to glance up.
between kind of dark and menacing clouds was this break... a hole beginning to form where the sun was wanting to shine through. i couldn't really see the rays of the sun - and i thought there was no way my little camera could do justice to what i was actually seeing - but i had to give it a go, right? how often do you see a hole in the clouds? or what appears to be a hole? so i snapped and looked and thought... "is that the right setting?" i glanced back up and the clouds had moved. that was my one shot - the hole was gone - just that fast! i should've clicked and clicked and clicked some more and not worried over settings... too late.
so this is what i have - a one shot deal for the day that i still think is pretty cool... because i look at it like this: god opened his heavens for me this day to see a bit of blue sky when the rest was dark and dreary... and for one precious moment i had a joy, joy experience. it doesn't get any better than that!
so be prepared at any time to seize the moment... your moment. because you don't know when it will be - when it will be presented to you - for how long... be on alert and believe it will happen. today. tomorrow. the next day and plan on god being a part of it.
apparently, the squirrels thought so too... they were climbing the tree and hanging from the uppermost branches - eating away. it took me a minute to figure out what they were doing and then i thought, "if they eat all the little buds, does that mean the tree will be bare all summer long?" well, probably not would be my guess, but still... the greedy little things...
when i was at my mom's house a couple weeks ago, she said the sure sign of spring was to see a robin...
today i saw a robin!
to be honest, i didn't think there were robins in colorado... i've not really noticed them before. and this one was only there a moment... i was standing at the bay window in the dining room staring into nothingness - you know how that is, right? but then i saw a movement... and thought, "self, that is a robin..." and then, "no it's not..." "yes, it is..." (don't ya love how i talk to myself?)
i grabbed my camera fast and got off a few quick shots i was sure were going to be nothing but a blur, especially through the window... all the while continuing to mutter to myself. by this time, gracie was meowing along with me in my excitement and disbelief at the prospect of my potential 'find' for the day.
and look what's happened after all... an honest to goodness robin. in my backyard - perched on the peach tree no less... i don't know if i'll ever see another one. doesn't matter, though. it's that proverbial sign of spring - mom's are right after all!
the little girl was running here and there - her laughter pealing forth in glorious tones as she chased geese and ducks... they were not amused with her antics.
she then jumped up on this boulder and twirled about; yelling for more "duckies" - much to her parents dismay. i admit to laughing with her for she was just too cute for words even though i knew she was startling "my" geese. i figured it would be short lived... and since i was at a distance, her parents couldn't see my reaction to her delight. let children be children and relish in simple pleasures. she was only on the boulder for a moment before jumping off again and running down the path... her mother looked positively frazzled.
do you ever wonder about social networking? is it valuable? does it take up too much time? does it really connect you to others in a significant way?
i ponder those questions on occasion however, i usually come away believing that the kinds of networking i do - and the results i reap - are much more rewarding and priceless than i can put into words. i have a whole boatload of blogs i visit on a weekly basis... i also have a facebook account to keep in touch with friends... i belong to a daily online photo journal, too... it's all very time consuming - and i've asked myself many times if it's worth it. but then...
i came to know joanne through beth moore's website one day. on january 11 of this year, joanne suffered a major stroke - at the age of 38. joanne is a christian... along with an unwavering faith, she has an incredible husband (toben) and family surrounding her. toben has been remarkable with providing updates on joanne's blog; being extremely transparent with what has been happening, day-to-day struggles and prayer requests. her sister, kristen, also posts wonderful accounts of joanne's progress. joanne is a testament to our god being a big god and one of miracles. she has come out of her coma, is now talking, writing and standing; making incredible progress.
and today is her BIRTHDAY! happy, happy - joy, joy... her friend, janna, sent the most charming message to her that included pictures of charm bracelets... because joanne loves charms - and wears a charm bracelet that includes about 63 charms on it...
pretty isn't it? i imagine it jingle, jangles all the time as she walks. according to one of joanne's own blogs, she's been collecting charms since she was 7 years old... sheesh, that's a long time. we want to hear those jangles some more, joanne...
here's wishing you a happy birthday... blessings galore and prayers that god will continue to answer big the requests we are lifting up on your behalf - for more miracles in your healing journey...
and here's to social networking - the connections that god can make possible via the web so his children can pray for each other and be a testament to others.
if you have to travel early, it's a bonus to have a splendid view... be able to capture it, then share with others.
i didn't really think it would turn out - an airplane is not the best place to take a picture after all... or should i say to take a picture out of - small windows - dirty windows... the aircraft is shaking... balance is hard to maintain... i figured it would be blurry at best.
but, boy-oh-boy... getting up at o'dark stupid paid off with a glorious surprise and blessing from god in a sunrise i haven't seen the likes of in some time.
i have made no changes to this photo except for cropping. otherwise, it is as it came from my little digital camera and how the sky appeared this morning.
then looking down on the city, i wondered how the twinkling city lights might turn out.
this picture does reflect processing to an extent to create a more abstract image... since it was still dark and the lights were but a blur far below the plane.
always fun to play - always fun to see our creator play on his playground of the earth, too!
