I Am Dragonfly...

This summer, I've been more aware of Dragonflies than ever. I have dragonfly rubber stamps, a sweet friend just sent me a beautiful dragonfly bookmark, every time I step outside with the camera, they're everywhere! This peaked my curiosity about these iridescent bugs, and what I found out is very enlightening!!

And Dragonflies are easy subjects. They don't flit away like butterflies, etc. They sit perfectly still. They have a 360 degree eyeball angle, so... all those times I thought I was tip-toeing to sneak a picture, they were looking at me the whole time. DUH!

I'm surprised I never realized how many colors they 'come in.' Quite beautifully detailed, really. Now, here is where they truly impressed me:

The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

How completely cool is that?

But this is the best part:

The adult dragonfly does it all in its few short months of life, and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. By living in the moment you are aware of who you are, where you are, what you are doing, what you want, what you don’t and make informed choices on a moment-to-moment basis.

This ability lets you live your life without regrets like the great dragonfly.

My mouth fell open when I read that! Aren't those qualities that us humans strive for? I know I do! I now have a whole new respect for Madame Dragon Fly and now when I see her, I'll think 'wow... she's, beautiful, intelligent & she's living her life to the fullest this very moment.' :-)

Pictures by: me

River

It must be the way that it:

• flows
• runs
• crests
• swirls
• pulls you under
• holds you up
• drowns you
  
• contains jagged, hurtful things
• cleanses
• heals
  
• washes
  
• soothes
  
• calms
  
• scares
  
• relaxes
• delights, and
  
• mesmerizes

... that make me believe that Love Is Like A River.

Pictures by: me :o)
Carry On Tuesday prompt: "Love Is Like A River."

Time flies

While I was driving today, it hit me all of a sudden that ..... BAM!!:

I started this blog last year
one year
two months
and
twenty-six days ago

How's that for delayed memory :-)


So, I want to thank all you folks who follow me, and/or who stop by to see what I have to say, or to see my pictures, or whatever brings you here. Thank you for your comments & I hope you will always come back.

When I started this, I was nervous about not sounding like 'the good blogs.' But there are no good or bad blogs. They're an expression of each person. I like to write & I love taking pictures. My gifts to you are my attempts at both.

Blogging is a fine line; I don't want to be the 'whinny, complaining, woe-is-me, waaahhh, I hate my life' blog. But I also don't want to be the 'everything is beautiful/I blow bubbles w/kittens in 'em' blog either. So I thought I'd just go w/the positive, try to be real, & a nice picture never hurt anyone.

So, here's to me and another year of quietly doing my thing in my tiny corner of the planet.

Thanking you, again ~ me :-)

Pictures by: forgetful me

Monday's thoughts

Good Monday morning.

What a great weekend it was. In spite of Hurricane Irene making it bad for the Eastern seaboard, the weather here was dee-vine! The skies were blue w/fluffy clouds, temps in the high 70's-low 80's & a constant breeze. I know it was the effects of Irene because the clouds came in from the East, which they usually never do.

Friday I took the day off & spent time with brother Alfonzo. I'm so glad we got to have quality time before he heads back to L.A. & his busy life tomorrow. The funny thing is with he & I is that we NEVER finish talking, ever. We don't see each other for months at a time, yet we pick up where we left off like time never passed. We did a photo walk downtown, then lunched at Chipoltle (my new addiction), then Sippo Lake for more pictures. The day was priceless.

Saturday I took Son to watch his teammates win their softball game which will take them to nationals. Even though Son chose track over softball this year, he's perfect at supporting his guys. Again, the weather was great, the guys won, and all were happy.

Sunday, we worked in the yard in the morning. I'm usually out there long after all the cutting, weeding, edging, sweeping etc., is done. That's the time for my flowers & garden. Everything always looks so inviting & pretty, if I must say so myself. "D" always says, "you have the best porch, yard & patio on the whole street." :-)

Later in the evening, I went back downtown to shoot some things I didn't have time to get when I was with brother. That's how I am: if I see something & don't shoot it - it will bug me until I finally get it done. I still envision a shot I didn't take YEARS ago when on vacation in L.A. of the Manhattan Beach pier. Can you say obsession? :-)

Anyway, I ended up taking 2 hours! So relaxing to be alone, taking my time, walking in circles, retracing my steps. Again - perfect weather & breeze, downtown was deserted and I really soaked it all in. I was surprised when I turned a corner & saw a woman with her camera, too! We spoke of how we both like to shoot when there no folks around, wished each other a good day & got back to shooting in our own private worlds.

Finally - I wanted to include these shots of the park near my house. When I was young & my brother was supervisor at this very park, I used to play on what looks like this same slide. I remember being there all day long, playing with different kids that came & left. The park is beautiful & I'm blessed to live so near to it. But every time I get near the children's area, I'm drawn back to this slide and back to the good ole days. When the order of the day was to play with all your might :-)


Pictures by: me :-)

Thankful Thursday

Today, I actually remembered... :-)

Things I am thankful for on this Thankful Thursday are randomly as follows:

- the beautiful blue skies that followed last night's wicked storms

- my sweet faraway friend that keeps me supplied with delicious Numi tea, especially the Toasted Rice flavor. Yum

- again, my Son and the gentleness of his sweet soul

- little girls in sundresses & sunglasses

- my brother that is here visiting from L.A. (the 1 pointing in the picture, however, all of those guys are my brothers: alfonzo, eugene, jerry & john. teddy bears!)

- each and every member of my family

- being able to recognize beauty in the smallest of things

- jazz music of all kinds. so soothing to my soul

- the inspiration I get from reading my favorite blogs

- the relaxation & peace I feel when I make cards to randomly send out, knowing they will bring someone cheer just when they're needing it

- having morning coffee outside before everyone wakes & appreciating being given another day

- the sounds of the crickets at night. they sing their songs so loud, that it seems like a lullaby

...and that's all I have for now until next Thursday. Thanks for coming by. Blessings to you.



Pictures by: me :-)

Forgetful Friday: Thankful Thursday :-)

Maybe one day, I'll actually remember to post on Thursday! :-)

I am filled with thanks (yesterday & today) for:

• the beautiful sunrises I catch as I drive in to work
• the beauty & mystery of a spider web. spiders are the master architects
• my flowers that greet me when i come home each day
• the hundreds of bumble bees that love my morning glories
• the awesome 'color wheel' of my peppers from the garden. God truly created nature's Crayola Crayons!
• my Gabriel's Trumpets that bloom year after year.
• uplifting a friend who is down
• being a part of my extended Special Olympic family
• the love I feel from friends & family

Until next week, friends! :-)


Pictures by: me :o) (click on spider web to see better shot. I took this in bright light @ 12 noon. learning so many things with my camera)

Forgetful Friday: Thankful Thursday :-)

After my sweet friend, Sharon @ Chaos invited me to give thanks every Thursday with her, I didn't remember until today - DUH! Having my home computer die on me put a crunch on my routine. Sorry Sharon - here are my thanks a day late, yet still thankful :-)

1. big, loud, belly-laughs w/a friend over the phone
2. how close I feel to this friend, even though we've never met in person
   
3. perfect blue skies w/puffs of white, fluffy clouds
4. my mother & our closeness
5. my son enjoying his work & the simpleness of his life
6. streams, lakes, creeks, brooks, & all things 'water'
   
7. good, sweet, friends who always seem to have just what I need without my asking
8. all that dwayne does around the house (i.e., laundry, cooking, yard work) so that everything is nice when i get home from work
9. my flowers, plants & garden that thrive in the summer
10. plants that come back each spring
11. my dogs that are always so glad to see me
12. the peace i feel when God & I follow a path thru the woods

Pictures by: me :o)

Love Thursday: Blended Love

Recipe:

one bush of variegated grass
the seeds of 30-year old morning glory bushes
plant very close together (on purpose or on accident)
one hot, summer sun
very little rain
let simmer from May through September
admire often
allow maturing before photographing

And now you have blended love :-)

Happy Love Thursday, all

Picture by: me :-)
this is the first year in the 16 years in my house that this has ever happened. I'm so glad it did.

Just long enough

I remember mentioning a book I read called "God's Guest List" that made you aware of folks that pass in and out of your everyday life, and what their purposes were at that time. Some stayed for just moments, others for years, others for life.

Earlier, I also mentioned a friend I knew who was a victim of domestic violence. I never knew what happened to her, assumed she was forever in an unknown nursing home, and found out she had been living around the corner from me for three years.

After we spoke that day, we never reached out to each other again. I saw her just in passing at times, but nothing more.

Well, she moved this past weekend to another part of the city where we more than likely will not run into each other. It made me think of God's Guest List; she and I crossed paths again in our lives just long enough to reconnect.

And even though she wasn't able to fully connect, the joy in seeing her alive, healthy and blessed overwhelmed me. It is a memory I will always hold on to.


Pictures by me :o}

To do

I simply have to read this. I love reading about
stories of survival in the face of the
most unspeakable adversity. It gives me
an awareness and appreciation of life.