...he has risen - he's alive
the angel said to the women, "do not be afraid, for i know that you are looking for jesus, who was crucified. he is not here; he has risen, just as he said. come and see the place where he lay. then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'he has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into galilee. there you will see him.' now i have told you."
so the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. suddenly jesus met them. "greetings," he said. they came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. then jesus said to them, "do not be afraid. go and tell my brothers to go to galilee; there they will see me." matthew 28:5-10
easter is a time for rejoicing - celebrating - being grateful - for all he has done for us - the heavy price paid on a cross... for the sins of the world - not to be taken lightly - an eternal choice to be made to accept this act on our behalf - what he did for us - a decision to live by the blood of the lamb - covered by his righteousness - being made whole through love alone, because he so loved the world... what decision will you make - have you made, this day - for eternity - to have eternal life...
happy day.....
...at my little lake today
was it expected? - no
was i excited? - you bet!
in fact, i believe i let out a medium-sized squeal - in addition to a mini-version of the happy skippy dance - i was in public after all...
common talk 'round the lake has always held to the truth - the resident beaver only comes out at night or dusk hours - maybe also very early morning time before the sun has fully risen. i was out in full daylight - so was quite surprised to see him. in fact, thought he was a log at first until i spotted his cute little ears - and swore there was a blinking eye... then all bets were off regarding the log. i began trying to sweet talk mr. beaver to come closer so we could chat a while. well, he wasn't having much of that - kept slithering to and fro in the water - very gracefully i might add considering how big he was... i had no idea beavers grew to be so long! plus in the water - they appear to be ink spots if you're not looking closely - paying attention. although he didn't indulge me to come close, i knew he was listening to me - those brown eyes were blinking away - i felt privileged to be around him...
in spite of him moving so rapidly through the water, i was able to get a pretty decent shot. although i admit when an animal is moving quickly - in the water no less - it's a challenge to capture them in focus - facing you... at least i was able to get him making eye contact with me -
proves my point he was he was listening to my chatter - or maybe he was simply making sure i wasn't going to jump in after him!
happy day.....
...daffodils
the time changed today - i wasn't necessarily prepared for it, however am prepared for the changing of seasons - the beginning of new life that springtime brings with it... buds that will be bursting forth soon on trees, bushes and flowers - grasses turning from ugly brown to lush greens - butterflies fluttering about - and, of course, wildlife showing off their newborns...
to hasten spring just a bit - stores are flooded with early buds of a variety of flowers... among them daffodils. not being able to contain myself - i indulged and have been rewarded with beautiful golden color - reminding me of this...
daffodils (also known as: i wandered lonely as a cloud)
i wandered lonely as a cloud
that floats on high o'er vales and hills,
when all at once i saw a crowd,
a host, of golden daffodils;
beside the lake, beneath the trees,
fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the milky way,
they stretched in never-ending line
along the margin of a bay:
ten thousand saw i at a glance,
tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
the waves beside them danced; but they
out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
a poet could not but be gay,
in such a jocund company:
i gazed--and gazed--but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:
for oft, when on my couch i lie
in vacant or in pensive mood,
they flash upon that inward eye
which is the bliss of solitude;
and then my heart with pleasure fills,
and dances with the daffodils.
by william wordsworth
there's something about those words - wordsworth and his magical ability to manipulate the english language - along with poems in general - that leaves me feeling rather artsy. add in daffodils, mixing with natural sunshine - making them golden... and one must simply go with where the mood takes you -
hope others will then come along for the ride - and on that ride will find a
happy day.....
the thrill of victory... success with making the final turn in the air - approaching an imaginary landing strip - spreading wings... skimming over the water to a beautiful stop - plopping gracefully into the little lake...
all done very quickly - after much practice, i'm sure - yet to my eye - appears technically perfect for a duck... sometimes that "plopping" really is a plop as they forget to put the brakes on fast enough - almost going head over webbed feet into the water! those times are fairly rare, though...
usually what i'm privy to - is a gorgeous dance of fluid motion which is stunning, because it's nature at its best - putting on a show for me to enjoy - free to watch and observe - to marvel and wonder at how they do it - to clap my hands at their success; encourage their moments in the sun...
and when they lighting is working with me - exceptional in its brilliance - i can capture those moments of gracefulness on film - playing with pastel loveliness as if i were an artist with a brush painting on canvas... it fills me with unending joy...
happy day.....
...or using what's at hand -
to create illusions - artistic impressions... to have fun - play - experiment... in order to achieve the end result you want in a photograph. it's about having a plan - a goal - then choosing the path to help you get there...
i don't have any fancy-dancy equipment to help me enhance my photographs - make them appear to have more depth, better lighting or whatever... sometimes you don't need to have anything either - other than what's at hand - natural resources - available to us every day. lately, i've been learning to take advantage of those resources - following the example of my princess diva gracie, who has regularly found the wonderful properties of sunbeams - using them on a consistent basis herself... she is one smart kitty!
so i've borrowed her sunbeams - using them to compliment some tulips i recently purchased. i think tulips are the epitome of springtime - so to play with them in various ways - with natural light - and adding in other resources, has been a lot of fun right now...
happy day.....
