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.

... sparrows....

There were sparrows to be seen and heard

everywhere, on our walk today.

When I see sparrows,

I always remember what is said about them in the Bible...

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings,
and not one of them is forgotten before God?
Luke 12:6

I cannot look at a sparrow

without this knowing:

that God is present in this very moment

in this sparrow's existence!

But even the very hairs of your head

are all numbered.

Fear not therefore:

ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7

...and so, in my existence, as well!

To know this... that God is present

in this very moment

in my existence...

how beautiful, how amazing,

how changed I feel

in the moment that I perceive this!

... in the final analysis....

Found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's own room:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends

and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

... a very sweet day!

Look at this pretty spot!

Perfect spot for a picnic!

And that's just what my daughter

and I did!

She came up for Mother's Day,

and brought the doggie

that she loves!

What with the other two

little woofers,

it turned out to be

a very sweet day

for this mother.

happy...

this is one of the gifts I received on Mother's Day...

I love it!

It's my blue...

and has the sweetest

'artistic' feel to it...

The elements that it holds -

the beach glass, the shell, the stone -

each a reminder of the sunny day

my daughter and I spent

walking with the dogs

at the beach...

the intention of the gift?...

oh, how it says,

"I love you"!

.... free

This is what I want to remember...
that I am a creative spirit.

I can create whatever it is
that I am inspired
to bring in to existence...
this is a very freeing thought,

thus, this picture.

May it always serve to remind me

that I can choose

to be free....