Winter Haiku

The stillness and simplicity of winter has set in here.

Wishing you a wonderful New Year filled with happiness and wild creativity!

Unexpected!

Sometimes we find beauty in the most unexpected places...

beside the garage, within the rocks -

a fresh dusting of snow upon autumn remnants. 

Happy creating to you!

Through the Lensbaby Blog Circle: January

Shall I tell you that the temperature was frigid,

the wind pelted stinging snow crystals unrelentingly at a rakish angle,

plus my parka and a ton of winter clothes made me look fat?

No, forget I mentioned any of that.....

instead just imagine a winter day upon a hill filled with snowy wonder

and a touch of Lensbaby magic,

please do!

Happy creating to you.

Now head over to my friend, Caroline,
 for some wonderful inspiration!

Shadow Play

Fixating on somber winter light, dancing shadows,

 minimalism, and abstract design today.

A fanciful world of softness, strength, curves, and lines.

Happy creating to you!

Hello 2015!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a year full of wonderful creations.

Extra-Ordinary Spiderweb!

The fog rolled in and stayed all day -

quite unusual to have fog this late in the year

and very unusual to see it last all day!

On this unusual day I found an extraordinary

 spiderweb behind the garage's drain spout.

An original creation, or more likely a time-worn creation,

its asymmetry was embellished with the dampness of the day.

Wishing you extraordinary finds in your corner of the world!

Oh, the Light!

We continue to get snow. 

 I shake my head.

Craziness!

On the plus side, the weather has caused some crazy good light.

The snow-falling days have produced a giant soft box outside my window -

quiet, low lighting that reminds me of Dutch still life paintings and Rembrandt's work.

 So, I'll take advantage of that for now...

while I dream of spring.

Wishing you a week filled with amazing light!

30 Spring Photo Prompts

I wish I could say our woods are touched with hints of green,

 bursting buds, and spring flowers...

but, truth be told,

 my world looks very white, while the dream of spring lies buried 

under mini-mountains of snow and cold. 

Hopefully, spring is no stranger at your house and you will enjoy my 

30 Spring Photo Prompts!

As for me, I guess I'll just have to continue

 dreaming of spring...

Winter Dreamscapes

Reality = 20 below zero most mornings.

Sound appealing?

How about a dreamy winter wonderland instead?

That's my vote!

I hope you've got some marvelous plans and dreams for 2014,

and they all come true!

Enjoy this creative life -

it's the best!

Stillness

Outside the snow is gently falling,

cloaking the landscape in serene stillness and 

a monochromatic mantle.

Indoors, our home smells of freshly cut pine and 

sparkles with the colorful bokeh of holiday lights and ornaments.

It's looking like time to enjoy family, friends, fine food,

and the blessings of the season.

Wishing you joy and happiness

during the holidays!

I'm taking a holiday break.

See you back in the New Year.

Comments are off while I help Santa wrap  presents :)

Sightseeing

It's a mountaintop forest?  Maybe.

It's a miniature forest?  You're closer.

It's a miniature frost forest?  You're much closer.

It's a miniature frost forest on top of a Subaru?  You've got it!

I kinda love my macro lens

because it opens up a whole tiny, tiny visual world 

for me to explore.

Feeling a bit like Gulliver, today.

Hope your world is filled with wonders,

both big and small!

April Winter

How's your spring looking -

colorful, flowery, green?

Ours is looking mighty wintery.

These images were made on April 19!

It's beautiful, but......

snowstorms in April???!!!

Wishing you a perfect, creative spring,

in whatever manner that comes to mind.

Winter Rain

A few weeks ago, we had a winter rain.

This is not the norm for the frozen north,

but a welcome sight for someone who loves water drops, 

reflections, and worlds within worlds.

Yes, that would be me :)

Happy hunting for fascinating views!

Snowy

I'm taking a break to spend some time with my family.

Wishing you happiness and wonderful creative times!

Comments are turned off today.

Books and things...

I currently live in a backwater, a place not really by anything.

Add to this the cold and isolation of winter,

and one thought jumps to mind - road trip.

So, that's just what my husband and I did last week.

We took a little road trip to my favorite, funky old-time bookstore.

Picture really tall ceilings and rows of shelves jam packed with books

 on every conceivable subject.

Oh, and add the scent of old books to this picture.

All in all, a bibliophile's heaven.

We had a wonderful time ~

great books,

great mocha lattes,

great lunch,

and great conversation.

A great day in my book! 

Speaking of books, have you read Whitney Otto's novel, 

Eight Girls Taking Pictures (link)?

In the author's note, Whitney states, "This book is a work of fiction inspired by 

several real women photographers whose lives and work have influenced my own."

I enjoyed how history was woven into this book - 

politics, international events, camera types and technology, 

plus fashions and fads of the times.

Also, I feel every artistic woman can relate to the struggles of the female characters 

as they juggle career and creative desires, 

against family and social expectations.

Timely and timeless.

Wishing you a week filled with great times and great books!

Weather Wisdom

Sometimes, I almost miss the day.

By this I mean, the day may seem too hot, too rainy, too icy - or this time of year - 

too darn cold to want to venture outside with my camera.

On days like these, I like to hole up in my studio and work on bead or quilt projects.

These images are from just such a day.

Icy, snowy, drippy with a bone-chilling dampness...

the great outdoors didn't seem very appealing.

But, once outside I found beautiful soft light and 

small wonders hanging from every surface -

reminding me to take advantage of the day,

whatever the weather!

I'm wondering do you go out with your camera in less than perfect weather,

 or is it all good in your book?

Wishing you creative days filled with weather you love.

Holiday Light

Time for a holiday break!

Wishing you spectacular light and

 wonderful holiday moments with friends and family!!!

See you again in the New Year.

Comments are off today.

Winter Curves

Snow is gently falling today.

Looks like a great day to try out my camera's new Storm Jacket (link), (link).

This "jacket" is sure to beat my camera's usual wet weather cover -

a plastic bag...

 which qualifies as ridiculous!!! 

Hope you're enjoying the beauty of the season,

wherever you live.

Comments are off as I'm busy with family,

 festivities, and fun.