Summer is almost here. I'm so glad. I couldn't fit time in for photography lately even if I wanted to. It's been a few years since I have felt this behind, this much weight. Each day runs into the next with the same to do list running over. I'm thankful from the depths of me to the Lord for providing strength and health this year to get us through so much. Truly, truly thankful. Yet, I feel so ready for a change of pace. There's been no time for exercise, no time for fellowship or friendship, really. Things are busy...so that's nice in a way, but isolated. I don't like to be stuck in my own head too long.:) Hubby has had extra work related responsibilities and extra fatigue so either he is gone, asleep, or too tired to talk much by the end of the day. Poor guy.
Anyway, I am hopefully photographing Susan's girls next week..and after this week school will mostly be over for all of them..and baseball.  I'm hoping for time to get caught up. Time to read with the kids and play. Time to exercise! (My middle son and I are going to start "training" in the early mornings by jogging together. I'm looking forward to this one on one time with him.) AND, looking forward to a little time to devote to photography, learning, and creativity.

85mm

I got an 85mm lens! So excited! This should make portrait work so much better! I played for a few minutes yesterday while we were out.  I grabbed this shot of poppies.  I love poppies.  SOOC, this one looked pretty good-- like a painting, kind of muted.

I got the "kindness" picture printed 10x10 onto bamboo. It's hanging in the kitchen. And, I took advantage of a sale with a professional lab I have been wanting to try and got my old barbed wire photo printed on canvas for the living room. 20x20. It feels a little conceited :) but I really love them!! The kindness one is everything I hoped it would be for its visual reminder of the concept. The barbed wire -- ohhh it's so great.. The blades of grasses are just illuminated with warm sunlight and the field looks endless. Looking at it brings such stillness and..I don't know! I remember taking that photo and how I felt at the time- so excited about photography and having fun being adventurous and courageous with it..add to that a quiet, country sunset with a soft breeze.  I also just love the symbolism in that one...the barbed wire always reminds me of pain and yet it is just blanketed in golden goodness. Like the pain is a little piece..just a piece of a glorious whole. Anyway, I'm so glad I finally got the nerve or the motivation to spend the money on printing these.

Kindness

Last week when I was shooting in the rain, I had a couple others beside the calla lily.  As previously mentioned, I have been looking for a photo I can print to hang in my kitchen with the word "Kindness"-- to remind me of God's kindness toward me and remind me to extend kindness to others.

I worked on editing today and am finally happy with an image to meet this goal.

I love the water droplets---showing God's kindness in providing what we need for growth.  I love the beautiful detail on the flower petals an stamen..even the texture on the edges of the leaves.  I love the blossom and the leaves together- showing God's kindness in bringing some seasons to an end and new seasons to begin-- His purposes prevail, His plan stands and is not thwarted, life will continue to move on as He upholds it all and breathes life into the next season.

Instagram Challenges

Here's some pics I have taken recently for Instagram daily challenges.  It's been nice to work on.

Kindness

I am going on a hike today. I hope. If I can find somewhere that I feel safe- I hope to pour out all that has been building and clutch onto His peace and His presence as I walk further down this road.  I want to be ready to receive what He brings this Wed.

Aside from that...for about a month, I have been thinking a lot about growing in grace.  That thought is still there but more specifically-  I want to grow in kindness.  Love is kind.  I want to extend kindness in all my relationships.  I get the most practice in my home-- oh, how I need to grow.  I want a visual reminder of this convicting goal.  I am on the lookout for a picture I can take that will visually mesh with the word 'Kindness'-- then, I plan to print it and hang it in my kitchen.  I don't want to forget. I want to grow in this.  I pray the Lord will use His mighty power to make it so.

bi-polar hobbyist

This was for an instagram daily challenge.

I guess I am a bi-polar photography hobbyist.  One day I think I will just be done with the whole thing.  It seems pointless, a waste of time, frustrating, heart breaking,and mostly void from who I am these days.  The next day I will feel drawn to an image or idea and think I can't give it up.  I think it's about 80/20.. 80% of the time just done with it.
The blog- I'm not sure what's to be done here.  There seems to be no appeal to this crazy woman's blog.  And, whereas I used to find this a safe place to learn and share what I am learning, the lack of enthusiasm added to other stuff has changed my desire to blog or write at all.  There's not much poetry inside these days.  That's ok.  I still enjoy seeing it in others.  For now, I'm just going to leave the blog hanging here in cyberspace, I guess. From time to time, a picture might be sparked as above.  Pretty amazing-- I was teaching math and managed to get that shot and edit and post in between practice problems. I don't expect I will get many of those unique opportunities though. :)