Think about this.... often

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy,

a quickening that is translated through you into action,

and because there is only one of you in all time,

this expression is unique.

And if you block it,

it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.

The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is

nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions.

It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly,

to keep the channel open.

You do not have to believe in yourself or your work.

You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you.

Keep the channel open....

No artist is pleased.

There is no satisfaction whatever at any time.

There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction,

a blessed unrest that keeps us marching

and makes us more alive than the others.

~ Martha Graham

I found these words today....

"don't be afraid to fail... be afraid not to try".

Perfect timing. I needed to hear this, because in my head, I hear all the reasons why I don't do this or that, and they truly are based on my fear that "no one's gonna like that", or some such things.

I was just going through all the few things I have posted on this blog, when I came to my very first post... on being free... I had forgotten! and I have, all this time since, been plagued with great doubts. What, oh what, can I find to keep me on track? Well, the same impetus that is helping me go through my house and get rid of needless stuff that serves only to weigh me down... the idea that I only want in my house, the things I love, or the things with sentimental value... and of course, my art supplies. This idea can be applied to my art... to only make what I want to see/materialize in this world... what I love and what is important to me.

Simple idea... but there is value to simplicity! When I wake up to the next new day... I promise myself to be productive/alive!

from reality to fantasy

Well, one things for sure... participating in the "bloghop" has certainly caused me to

set aside my fears of trying to figure out Photoshop,

and just jump right in there and play!

It is evident that I don't have the knowledge to put forth

great photos using Photoshop, but....

I guess it's all a learning process!

so without further apologetic ramblings, here's my BEFORE shot:

I love that little worm hanging by a silken thread that we really can't see...

and here is my 'after shot':

all cropped!

and totally different!

But I still love that little worm hanging around and now,

I can see the thread by which it is hanging by!

In my attempts to edit my photo, I found 'hue and saturation'!

and so many other things!

It kinda came out looking all 'fantasy-like' which is ok by me!

OH! there's so much to learn!

Be sure to visit http://www.pixelperfectblog.com/ to see all the before/after photos!

...joy in nature!

In camera shot:

and edited:

Maybe I don't know what the heck I'm doing, but...
from an instinctual sensibility,

I love the edited photo!

....it feels so JOYFUL

all lightened and softened up!

I used my Nikon d40 camera

and sent the photo to "PICNIK" for editing...

I played around with the contrast

and with the exposure...

with the 'softening focus'...

....and then, just a smidgen of cropping!

If you want to join in the fun of "Bloghop",

go to http://www.pixelperfectblog.com/

and submit your own 'before/after' photo!

... and one last bit of playing around:

little treasure hunter

In camera...





















and edited.
I used a Nikon D40 camera.

So glad I happened upon the "bloghop" over at 'pixel perfect'

I edited the photo at Picnik... I cropped the picture and worked on the exposure and saturation and color... (I'm so new at this, so I feel like I accomplished something) and I kinda really am pleased with the result!!!

However, please feel free to leave comments and critiques... I welcome them!!!

... and thanks for visiting!!!!
It was late and the skies were all hazy due to forest fires in the north... this photo depicts how the conditions
were when I snapped the picture of the little treasure hunter... it was such a spur-of-the-moment shot, and I didn't want to miss it, so I didn't mess with my camera... I just 'saw a picture' and wanted to capture it!

Just look at the rock I found at the beach yesterday! Perfectly round! At first I thought it was a marble buried there in the sand... the blue of it is what caught my eye - me being such a 'blue' lover... When I saw it I thought it was an old, old marble, but when I picked it up and examined it... I was like "WOW, it's a rock!"... what a sweet find... a sweet little treasure!

...where I have wandered today....

The Annunciation by Caravaggio

Here, Mary is visited by Gabriel who tells her

of her blessed summons - that she has found favor

with God, and will conceive, and will bear the Son

of the Most-High...

In her chapter on "A Meaningful Life" Sister Wendy Beckett writes:

"We long for reassurance, our own personal angelic visit,

the removal of obstacles, the certainty of fulfillment".

She writes that for Mary, what follows is:

"it will be a life of loneliness and poverty,

with her son dying a criminal's death

and the only solace her faith".

Now, when I read this, I was quite struck by the idea

that Mary's life was "a life of loneliness and poverty".

And yet, to me, the idea that, because there was

no room for them in the inn,

Jesus was born where the animals were sheltered...

when, because of who He was - the Son of God -

He could've been born in the finest of places!

I find such significance in this!!!

That Mary was found to be 'highly favored',

and yet, her circumstances were humble...

When I put this into perspective, what I see

is that it is not a shameful thing to be 'poor',

even though, those that are, are often treated as though

they are less than others.

I find comfort in this...

I can relate withMary's life,

that was "a life of loneliness and poverty"...

and "the only solace her faith".

I agree with Sister Wendy Beckett when she writes that

"We long for reassurance... the removal of obstacles...

the certainty of fulfillment",

and that for life to have meaning,

"it can come from a determination

to do what is right"...

for I have felt that "determination"...

I have also felt the weight

of trying to live up to the kind of life

that our society deems 'a success'...

...that is a most burdensome weight

and it is time to let that weight fall away.