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...
yesterday, i practically walked upon new little goslings... yes, they've finally hatched. after much honking, fussing and fluttering about the last several weeks, the baby canada geese have burst from their eggs. as i approached, oblivious to the fact that they were there, mama and papa, began to honk and do this flicking thing with their necks... it was then i noticed the little fluff balls on the ground - got off a couple shots before the whole family went plop, plop into the water.
then today, the same. they are very shy and skeptical about me being around them on dry ground. but cute as can be once in the water; posing as a family and alone...
trees are in bloom and it would seem no matter where i look, bees are flying about collecting pollen from them... fighting in fact for a position on blossoms and they flit about. is there a pecking order with bees?
i had the best treat yesterday... i was out at my little lake - yes, i am now claiming it as my own lake, even though i believe it's more of a man made kind of pond-ish type thing versus lake... but whatever. the point is that i was there wandering around wanting to snap some pictures.
it was warm, my tootsies were open and free in flip flops - whoo-hoo! but all was sooooo quiet: no squirrels, the geese were laying on their nests, ducks were lazy in the sun... even the wind had calmed after being so fierce the past several days. i figured i was done for and began to head out. i rounded a corner and did a double take... there was what i thought was a great blue heron. what? really? in these parts? it couldn't be, could it? i stared at it... it stared back at me... i crept closer... it didn't move. such beauty. such grace in a bird that god was allowing to stand before me. internally, i was doing the happy dance... and then i remembered i had my camera. gentle stalking began. here is what i captured...
finally saw signs of spring today... in the form of flowers bursting forth from the ground. hyacinth and daffodils... and some i didn't know. like a crazy person, i swerved the car to the edge of the road to snap away some shots of color.
as the wind caught my hair, i heard a buzzing sound - glanced up - low and behold... a bee was there; too quick for me though as i tried to capture him. it's okay. i will relish in my victory of these flowers for the day - it's no april fool that blossoms are here to stay.
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!
i've always been fascinated by yoga... the concept - the ability of others to manipulate their bodies into those ridiculous positions... stating how yoga gives them a sense of peace and oneness with themselves, not to mention the overall benefit of fitness.
i struggle with getting my body to contort itself into the various required positions...slipping and sliding, shaking - feeling my muscles quivering - am i not balanced enough? bendable? flexible? one with myself?
today i happened upon a duck...
downward dog
reverse back bridge
standing one-leg
modified warrior
and breathe
i suppose if a duck can manage, i should be able to right? but this didn't really motivate me... it only made me laugh - actually it was more like snorting; fortunately the little duck carried on... paying me no never mind which made it even more funny. i so enjoy not having to pay for entertainment.
it's been warm enough the last several days to melt the ice on the lake... so the geese and ducks have been having a time of it... floating, taking nose dives, feet first landings, water baths... i even saw a couple of duck water fights... such fun.
but i hear it won't last... ahhh - such is the case with weather forecasters, right? they're not going to let you bask in the luxury of springtime temptations too long... it is, after all, still february in the mountains and that means snow can come at its leisure.
until then, i'm enjoying this short spurt of sweater weather and freedom for my tootsies.
don't you wish you were flexible? could bend just a little bit more... stretch to the left - stretch to the right - all the way down to your toes? me, too!
there are some days i'm grateful i can simply roll out of bed... and that's all that's required, rolling... no bending at all.
i caught a glimpse of this ditty and laughed out loud. mind you, it's only hands... but if my hands could do what these hands are doing... and then i thought, if my body could do a fraction of what these hands are doing... whoo-hoo, hot-diggity...
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...
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?
