Just take a minute on your way to work … stop, breathe, and embrace the peace
Tag Archives: Photography
Vintage in the Garden
This past February, I posted photos of glass vintage airport runway lights found atop the posts of a garden fence. The cobalt blue lights offered a stunning contrast against the bright white snow. During a recent visit, I found another of these lights, this time in teal, gracing the railing of the front porch. In the post linked above, I labeled them Insulators, but was corrected and told they were runway lights. My Facebook friends are confident that this one is indeed an insulator.
Liz and Wilson have the most beautiful spaces within their garden. In addition to a variety of flowers, vegetables, and fruits, the garden is decorated with intriguing pieces of art and vintage items.
This last piece adornes the deer fencing that surrounds the blueberry bushes.
Liz and Wilson raise the concept of “yard art” to a whole new level.
Tibetan Prayer Flags
While visiting a friend one evening last week, I admired the prayer flags that graced her already beautiful outdoor space.
“Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe that the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all”.
My friend’s husband had recently had surgery and the prayer flags were hanging to promote healing and peace during recovery.
Prayer flags come in sets of five colors. These colors, arranged from left to right in a specific order, represent the five elements. Blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth.
By hanging flags in high places, the blessings depicted on the flags are carried to all beings. As the wind passes over the surface of the flags, the air is purified and sanctified by the mantras depicted on the flags.
While I was familiar with these flags, I did not realize the meaning of them. The information in this post was gleaned from Wikipedia. I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with these flags
Basil
Two years ago, I called it a love affair … but I think it’s time to be honest … I don’t want to go a day without basil. In fact, it makes me happy just to see these plants outside my kitchen door.
The combination of basil, mozzarella, tomato, and olive oil just can not be beat and it serves as my lunch or dinner almost every day during the summer months. Of course, basil elevates almost any food, at least in my opinion.
Unlike many of the garderners whose blogs I follow, I did not raise these plants from seeds. Perhaps I’ll try that next year.
The aroma of fresh basil is heavenly! I’ve even been known to swab a leaf across my pulse points in the same way that another woman might use perfume.
Would you say that I have a problem?
Let me know if you do … you can find me near the basil plants.
A Golden Stop
At the end of a day of travel, I was prompted to pull the truck over to capture this golden scene.
Just think! Soon I’ll be pulling over on the bike because Yes! The new bike is in the driveway!
Cluck!
Morning coffee at Kate and Bob’s home offered a few moments to enjoy their chickens.
Clearly content, they clucked and coo’d quietly while I quickly took a few shots.
A peek inside the coop revealed freshly laid eggs
Check out the decorative touches and and bright colors of the chicken yard.
Kate and Bob have created a space that would make any chicken content (yes! the chickens told me so!)
And So It Shall Remain …
Every now and then, the image looks best straight out of the camera.
And so it shall remain …
Women Riders
A friend of mine was the focus of a Women Riders segment produced by one of our regional television stations. Missy and her husband own an indepedent motorcycle shop, and Missy, who has been riding for years, invited several women to come ride with her and help put the spotlight on women who ride.
It’s been 6 months since my wreck and unfortunately, I am still a rider without a bike (although not for much longer!).
Thankfully, I was able to indulge in another passion of mine.
I’ll be posting more photos soon, but meanwhile remember this:
The First of Many
It happened almost over night
The first Rhododendron bud opened
My Rhododendrum shrubs (or Rhodies, as we like to call them) are full of buds
By the end of the day, a few other buds had started to bloom.
Soon, the entire shrub will be full of gorgeous blooms such as this one from last May.
Rhodies are abundant in this part of the world. “Tall, wild varieties can reach over 35 feet high, and are found throughout the coastal mountain ranges from New York to Georgia. Designated as West Virginia’s state flower, rhododendrons are particularly abundant in the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge mountains. Species in the Pacific northwest from northern California to British Columbia vary in heights” (www.library.illinois.edu)
Wine at Night
Most of you know that I enjoy a glass of wine occasionally (just occasionally mind you – quit snickering!). A few friends and I gathered on my screened porch for a spring birthday celebration this past weekend, and of course I had to document the evening.
As the day waned and the darkness gathered in, I decided to bring out my new tripod. I’ve been resistant to using one because I like to shoot on the fly and from the motorcycle, and I feared the tripod would take the spontaneity out of my fun with the camera. (I’m sure the photographers reading this are rolling their eyes right now). I sure did like the result, though!
Liz’s home baked Orange Sponge Cake with Mangoes and Ginger Cream was so yummy!
Happy Birthday!
