I am infatuated with photos that have a vintage look. Today I decided to play in Photoshop. Here are my first attempts. The photo above is Nubble Light in York, Maine. The original photo is below.
I love tulips. The original photo (shown below) was mediocre, but adding a vintage touch (as seen above) makes it so interesting.
This young man is my dear friend's son. A couple of times a year I treat him to a magical tea party.
I've noticed a wide variety of berries in my neighborhood this year. Wanting to see my teenager get a little fresh air and sunshine, I cajoled him to join me on my walk. When I explained that I wanted his help to spot berries to photograph he said, "What? You want to do berry photography?" His comment was I think his feeble attempt to talk me out of it so he could resume his gaming and social networking. He does know by now that living with a creative sort would require more cleverness than his comment. "It isn't berry photography." I told him. "It is nature photography with an emphasis on berries." He wasn't impressed and reluctantly leashed our dog and in his goofy way said how I was ruining his life. We both laughed as we made our way down the block toward the park.
Now I am not familiar with the names of the plants only that I like what I see. Why is it that in past years I didn't notice the berries? I did a quick search to see if berries had any significance and this is what I found.
Dream Interpretation Berries
If you dream of picking berries, you are looking for a lover. Eating berries denotes erotic desires. It could also mean that you are going to win something. Unripe or dried berries denote impending frustrations and conflicts, and misfortune in love.
Hmmm. There could be some truth to this as I have been feeling more passionate these days and thoughts of having a companion to share the journey would be really great. I'm not forlorn as much as feeling interested in the idea. I'll tell you though that I have more interest in hunting berries than lovers right now. If my path crosses a suitable suitor, bonus.
Let's take a look at the berries I found to see if I'm looking for a lover or if they denote impending frustrations, conflicts, and misfortune in love.
These are looking pretty plump. I love that passionate red color too.
I looked up at one tree that I have walked by for years and today it was the first time I noticed that it too has berries.
These berries were a favorite of mine as a child. I especially adored them in the winter when there was little other color found on snowy days. I would imagine that these are little bells for little fairies.
Look at the abundance and colors here.
I am particularly drawn to these berries. I think it is for their shape and color. I love how the yellow outer leaves burst open to reveal the juicy red berry. The texture and color is fabulous. I resisted trimming off branches to take home. I think all of the berries I found would make great materials for my Ikebana arrangements.
As I looked back on the interpretation of berries, I remembered that I did win something recently and in fact, it came in on Saturday.
Check out this fabulous crown that I won! It is designed by Alisa Burke and it is made out of canvas. The more I think about it, I have been very lucky. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to even find a new traveling companion.
Related Links:
Here are some recent photos that I took for my friend's Web site. Click here to see how they were used on www.loveyourskin.org. I am so happy to see that my photographs will serve her well. Maureen offers the best facials. It is so relaxing and nurturing and she uses high quality organic skin care. You can find Maureen in Manchester, NH. I highly recommend her!
I had so much fun taking the photos and I'm so delighted to see how the Web designer used them for Maureen's new Web site. Isn't the name of her business great? "Beauty Within" would make a great journal prompt.
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Can you see my reflection? This is one of my photos from participating in the online photography class, "Unravelling: Ways of Seeing My Self led by photographer & writer Susannah Conway." The second week is about seeing how our environments reflect us. Try photographing reflections. It is pretty tricky but very fun!
It doesn't look like I posted to my blog my May self portrait. Pictured below is a series of self portraits taken in my bathroom. This is my favorite mirror.
I am participating in the online photography class, "Unravelling: Ways of Seeing My Self led by photographer & writer Susannah Conway." I'm a bit behind as I have so many projects that I am juggling. I'm not worried. I plug in and read through the lessons and prompts and when I can I take my camera and capture some shots. Here is the first lesson where we look at our feet and where they take us.
I took my camera to work with me and noticed that my new orange shoes against the orange stairs was pretty cool. I'm glad that I wore pin stripe pants on this day. Look at all of the lines and patterns.
More groovy patterns were found in the bathroom.
I have the habit of kicking up my feet when people stop by to chat.
The darling vintage Easter decorations pictured above have been a family favorite for years. An Easter tree of pussy willow and forsythia branches is the perfect setting for little chicks, bunnies, and eggs. Click here to see the other sweet vintage Easter finds in a new gallery.
Happy Easter!
Ever since I picked up a study of mandalas, everywhere I look I see them - in flowers and buildings. Two weeks ago my tiny bathroom {it is the smallest bathroom, ever} here in the tree house lost its top. Quite literally the ceiling caved and it fell to the floor in a splintery mess. There was no warning or help from mother nature. It was really quite a site. I was home alone and sitting facing the door of the bathroom talking on the phone with my mother. My neighbors above me are renovating their nest. {We discovered during this fiasco that I call my place the tree house and they call their place the nest - too much!} In the process they overlooked capping a pipe which caused a leak. I came home from work to a little pond in the bathroom. So the cause of the collapse is obvious but to witness the drop was stunning. I very calmly said, "Mom, I have to go. The ceiling in my bathroom just collapsed."
Now my little bathroom has been restored with a fresh new ceiling and white paint. I made a run to Target to pick up some new hand towels and baskets when I discovered the mandala pictured above. Of course they didn't call it a mandala but it sure looks like one to me. Billed as a "charger" I knew instantly that I wanted it for my new white washed bathroom wall.
Let's take a closer look at it.
At the center is a sun, one that radiates outward...
...connecting hearts.
I love the curves and loops and shadows they cast on the door.
The day my bathroom was painted was really a unexpected treat. My dear friend who lives above me and who also owns the building came down to paint the bathroom. We chatted and visited while she painted. We remembered our adventures from when we graduated from college and moved West to Colorado. We updated each other on mutual friends. Although we live next door, we don't see one another all that often. Our lives are so busy and full with our families, jobs, and projects. It was so sweet to have my dear friend over. There is nothing like hanging out with someone who knows you so well. It was so comfortable that I felt it safe to share my big dreams. I invited her to share in the dreams too.
As I look up at this white mandala I see my friend Terri in the center. I've often thought her positive energy was like the sun or sunflowers. Her warmth has such heart and it connects the hearts of so many. Here is a little affirmation to go with the mandala, "Like the sun I am at the center radiating warmth and love that connects many hearts."
Here is a challenge for you: If you see a mandala in your environment this week, photograph and blog about it. I'd love to see it. And, if you mention the mandala soul journal prompt on your blog, I'll enter you into the contest to win the book, "Natural Mandalas."
Each morning I've been getting up before dawn to write my morning pages, an exercise from The Artist's Way. It is a great way to begin my day - I empty out my creative vessel to make room for new ideas. On this one morning, I was writing about "retreat moments" (see previous post) where I find moments throughout the day where I am very present and at peace. I'm also looking for magical moments in my every day life. While I was feeling satisfied by the effects of my morning pages, my son came in from walking our dog and at that moment, I was struck with awe by the beautiful sunrise. I immediately grabbed my camera and headed out in pjs, wet head, and no makeup to capture the view from my tree house. I was filled with that magical awe that mother nature provides.
Can you find the squirrel making his way to the bird's nest in this photo?
Here's to a good morning!
Related Links:
Sacred Life Sunday
Creative Everyday
101 Things in 1001 Days
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
Everyday magic and lots of play are two items on my wish list for 2009.
My son and I spent much of the weekend organizing the tree house and in our travails we discovered some sparklers. Tonight after supper we had a little winter sparkler fun. Next summer I'm going to stock up on some longer ones. These burned down waaaay too quickly.
What do you do to add a little play to the short days of winter?
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