Sunrise on the Water

April 8, 2013 By 1 Comment

For Easter weekend, we continued our family tradition of going fishing on Good Friday & the next day.  As I get older, the more I realize what an outdoor lover I am at heart- how it makes me so happy just to be outside, surrounded by nature.

 One of the things I look forward to most is anticipating what type of spectacular show Mother Nature will put on for us each morning & evening as the sun crosses the horizon.

 Our first morning out, we departed the docks under a nearly full setting moon & the sun slowly ascended from behind a bank of low clouds just hanging on the horizon.

 Watching the bay all around come alive with the morning sun, catching the suns reflection off the top of the waves, and taking in the rainbow of colors in the sky is a great way to start the day.

The moon wasn’t as full as it was last year, but supposedly a full moon makes for more challenging fishing conditions.

 Our second morning, we were already out of the boat and wading on an oyster bed as the sun started to rise and paint the sky brilliant shades of pinks, yellows, and reds.

 So these photos were all taken with my iPhone as I’d left my Nikon on the boat while I was out wading.  I was really thrilled with how they came out- especially capturing the light and shadows that radiated upward into the sky.

 We were supposed to be fishing the other way, with the wind & sun at our backs, but I stopped for a few minutes to just enjoy this amazing scene & attempt to capture it with my camera.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: We’re having a really nice spring so far- I’m getting outside & enjoying it every minute I can.

Filed Under: nature, photography

Be Your Own Beloved

March 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

 I’ve adored Vivienne McMaster for a long time now & finally got the courage (and committed the time) to taking one of her many fantastic photo courses.  I love a daily photo challenge, as well as the opportunity to use the camera to practice self-love & get better with my self-portraits, so her Be Your Own Beloved class was right up my alley.

This is my absolute favorite photo I took for the course- me, outside, with the dogs, by my house, enjoying a gorgeous sunset to illustrate that I’m part of the whole story & the scene all around me just soothes & comforts me.

 Walking Meditation // Yoga as self-care on the back porch // Playfulness in the pool swimming laps

 My new happy place- on the bike // I’m such an obsessive watch-checker //  Stillness finally in headstand

 My eyes // Reflection at lunch with hubby // I wore the itty bitty bikini for the gremlins

 Open to receiving love as anniversary flowers // Mirror shot at the spa before my massage // Great snow lighting in Breck

 Motion- jogging after a bike ride // My legs make a heart when I meditate // Truth that I love my job & flying around

 Taking up space on my meditation pillow // Savor the moment of a morning jog in Portland // Comfort zone is in bed

 Beholding all the beauty in the backyard is a daily ritual spring/fall // Shadow in the parking lot // Sunset photowalk

Focus my attention on the fire as I meditate // Brave as I tried a new yoga class // Looking good all dressed in real biz clothes


GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Have to work on a Sunday, but at least it’s a trip to New Orleans.

Filed Under: photography, review

February Instagram

March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Another month has passed, and I participated in 2 Instagram challenges.  The usual #FMSphotoAday challenge & I also took an e-course that focused on self-portraits.  Here’s my regular photos for the month- I was pretty good about keeping up & enjoyed the chance to get creative.


Gorgeous sunrise on the way to work // Hope I am 100% done with this work paper // Final approach into Denver airport
Fork in my beets // Smelled this lovely wine // First day snowboarding in Breck
E for Exciting listening to the power outage at the Super Bowl // My name on our Colorado boarding pass // Something orange- fire at our condo

Ready to hit ski school //  Guilty pleasure – fondue dessert // Sunrise view from our condo in Breckenridge
Fresh power on the trees // 3 o’clock with amazing cloud formations // My snuggle bug, fire dog
Getting ready hit the slopes again // Entrance to the Breck mall // Family cuddle time

Pups curled up on the floor with me //  Leaving LAX // In my hand- nuts & wine
Flying into #LAX // Dogs both sunning themselves  // Incredible sunrise on my morning run in Portland
In the fridge at my inspection // Dislike waiting to board the plane // I AM showing up & making it work at the airport lounge

Full attention on the squirrel // Word- Crisp for lunch  // Cloud on the ground on a foggy morning
Makes me smile - shopping for wine at Specs // Visiting baby Abby //  Quiet at the pool
Enjoying awesome spring weather with the pups // Mia’s favorite spot // Another amazing sunrise

Upside down- with Zoe trying to give me kisses!  I’ve really been working on headstand this month & it’s paid off!

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Fireside naps, even at 5:30 AM, are the best.

Filed Under: Married Life, mia, photography, Travels ->, Zoe

Redwoods Photowalk

February 15, 2013 By 1 Comment

 One of my favorite things about the Elevate Retreat was the chance to spend some time in nature hiking through giant Redwood forests.  On Friday, during our free hour, several of us decided to do a little hike around the loop just outside our back door at Stillheart.

 Of course we were all amazed with the incredible soaring trees that towered over us & created a huge canopy throughout the forest.  But beyond the majesty of nature, there were all sorts of spiritual elements in the woods- areas set up meditation or contemplation.

 The geography of the land was rugged- required numerous steps up and down to follow the trail as it winds through the woods.

It was so incredible peaceful and tranquil in the woods- from the little animals scurrying around to the calming waterfall, the woods were magical.

Just that weekend, my favorite new photography muse, Vivienne McMaster, shared the beauty of taking self-portaits on a photowalk through the woods & I immediately knew what I’d be doing during my free hour on Saturday.

 I’d carefully set my camera, prop it up semi-level on the ground, offer thanks for the multi-photo self-timer option, ad go off skipping down the trail.

 I still haven’t mastered the best way to pre-focus on a spot before getting into the camera, but I’m really happy with how most of these turned out.

 Carrying my camera, I see the world through a whole new perspective.  I look for the light, I seek the perfect angle, I get excited about stopping.

 These trees were SOOO big- it was really difficult to adequately capture just how tiny they made me feel.

 I ended up hiking down a slightly different path than the previous day and down to a tranquil little creek & bridge where the light streaming through the forest was just glorious.

 The destination of my walk was the yoga platform perched high on the hillside, looking down below on the babbling brook winding through the forest below.  I couldn’t help but strike my favorite yoga asana- Tree, among some of the most beautiful trees I’d ever seen.  I needed a self-portrait to complete my January collage for One Little Word & I knew instantly that would be my centerpiece for  Light.

I sat out on the platform a few more minutes, taking time to do some quick journaling & checking in with myself during my happy hour before hiking back up to the top of the hill.

 

 GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: So grateful for the opportunity to attend this retreat & spend such an amazing weekend among new friends & ancient beauty.

Filed Under: nature, photography, Travels ->

Photo Favorites 2012

January 22, 2013 By 2 Comments

I’m waaaay behind on my yearly re-cap stuff, but one of my favorite posts is always the photo post. In case you are interested, here are my  Photo Favorites 2007      Photo Favorites 2008      Photo Favorites 2010     Photo Favorites 2011.

During our kayaking adventure in Bariloche on our 5th anniversary trip to Argentina & Chile.  It was such a beautiful place, but I love the landscape in this one- the brilliant colors of the kayaks compared to the sky and crystal clear water.

Watching my husband cook a meal for me, seeing his joy in learning, the excitement as he created something was all captured in this photo of him making chicken pot pie.

So this is cheating a bit, since it’s several photos in this GIF, but I was so thrilled to capture the emotion, the personality, the joy of the moment Lauren & Scott were married in April.

 Captured this beautiful shot while enjoying wine the rooftop with my best friend in Philly in May.  I’ve already collected many fond memories hanging out with them on this deck & I’ve fallen in love with Philadelphia, so this picture is extra special to me.

Over this past year, I’ve really begun to appreciate and value self-portraits, especially throughout my scrap-booking for my One Little Word and starting to use Instagram more.  I took this simple portrait in our backyard in January as a way to document the here & now of January.

 Over the years, my favorite photos are evolving from those that are simply beautiful & gorgeous by photography standards to those that capture precious moments and rich memories.  I just loved that the moment Mark & Pam told us they were having their first baby was caught as you see the joy & happiness light up everybody’s faces.

 This is another one of those precious moment’s shots, taken at the end of the evening after our crawfish boil.  We had such a fun day, hanging out with friends & family, hubby making his very first batch, and just an all around fantastic day together.

 So many hysterically awesome photos from letting Ms. Mia have some mashed potatoes while I fired away on the camera.  I love her expression, the technical aspects of the photo, the memories from the night, and of course, my sweet little cute puppy.

 This list wouldn’t be complete without a photo from my Creative Joy retreat, where I really learned to savor self-portraits & really got inspired on the importance of sharing “Your Story”.   I just adore this photo because it has both of my cameras that I regularly use, it shows both me & my hand, as well as the message on the chalkboard of my shoulder during this self-portrait.

Next up is a blurry camera phone photo that I didn’t even take, but still one of my favorites for the sheer emotional impact and important moment.   Waiting (im)patiently, cold & tired after my marathon, hobbling as fast as I could when I saw hubby, were all captured by my best friend & I’m so grateful she got a photo of us after the Philly marathon because it marked such a milestone for us together.

 And of course, this picture of us together in paradise. So beautiful, such wonderful memories, the kindness of  a stranger that just happened to walk by & offer to take our photo with this amazing background as we walked the beach in Kauai.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: The cottage is gone & moved- hopefully the duplex will follow soon & construction can commence!

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