Everyday Beauty: Seasons

Day 14

I am so thankful to live in a climate with seasons. It gives the heart and mind so many chances to start anew. To never take for granted the now. It's just beautiful everyday.

31 Days of Beauty: Falling Chestnuts

31 Days of Beauty Day 3

Autumn afternoons are to be savored, for they are the last of summers warmth before the brisk air of winter. Changing leaves are comparable to an artists canvas. Chestnuts fall from out of our neighbors tree. The kiddos love to be the first to find them and present them to Dad as a gift. We hear the snicker of squirrels in frusteration as we round them up.

Hope you are enjoying this journey of finding beauty in the everyday.

31 Days: Tomatoes in a Row (Day 13)

Sometimes creativity strikes you with the most everyday of things. These tomatoes were on a row on my deck baluster trying to get the last of the autumn sun to change their coats from green to red.

They struck me funny. I had to get my camera to share with you. These might be a sketch or a watercolor in my art shop someday.

31 Days: Day 8 (An uphill battle)

Sometimes the creative life can feel like an uphill battle. The path less chosen perhaps was less chosen for a reason. Recently I did my first craft show. I was worried about the reception of my work that I had poured my heart and soul into. My mother a seamstress of over 30 years shared that is why she never did a show. Vulnerability is scary.

But it is your mind that is scared. I believe your heart knows Who is creating. It is bigger than yourself. If you have the desire, if you have the talent, than you have been called to duty. You have been asked to fulfil a purpose.

The reward for the uphill battle is the view at the top. It's heavenly.

p.s. This photo is from my Saturday run. 11 miles. Half marathon is next week. Say a prayer for me!

31 Days: Day 7 (Get some fresh air)

Sometimes when inspiration eludes you fresh air is what you need.

Sometimes when inspiration is pummeling you from all direction and your head is spinning with ideas with a lack of clear direction on which one or few is best...fresh air is what you need.

Sometimes when your shoulders begin to tighten and you find yourself glued to your computer worrying about view counts and revenue and advertising....fresh air is what you need.

Even 31 Days and 31 Ways to be Creative needs to clear the decks. Nature and rest always gives me some perspective. I took in some fresh air today and maybe I will tomorrow too. Will you join me?

31 Days: Day 6 and Daily Pic

This post never made it yesterday! Hopefully the rest of 24 days makes it on time! Today's lets be creative goes back outside with the camera. There are so many great photographic opportunities this time of year. Think of it: pumpkin patches, changing leaves, migrating birds, blooming mums....and that was just off the top of my head. The sun is actually shining in my neck of the woods today. So many things to be grateful for.

p.s. My Etsy shop, Blue Leaf Boutique is having a Columbus Day sale. Stop by and use coupon code: COLUMBUS25 for 25 percent off your purchase.

31 Days: Day 2 Backyard Beauties

Beauty is everywhere. Right in your own backyard. Even if you don't have fancy landscaping and a killer view, it is still there. I have a big old butterfly bush in my yard that I am guessing is as old as the house. It is an all you can eat buffet to an entire neighborhood of bumble bees, butterflies, and moths.
This butterfly was being camera shy but at least it let me get a few shots of its wings.

1. Bush + 1. Camera = being creative Day 2. What ways are you being creative today? Share your links!

The Daily Pic: A little birdie told me...

My family and I spend Sunday afternoon at my mom's house. She has a spectacular picture window in her family room and just outside there is a large bird feeder. It is great entertainment to watch the birds come in. A purchased a new camera recently and I was able to zoom in pretty closely while staying farther back as to not scare them off. Here are a few of the shots I got.

Also, there are some exciting things happening this fall for me and my Etsy shop Blue Leaf Boutique that I can't wait to share with you soon!

The Daily Pic: Summer Nights

This was the moon last night. Just as the sun was descending on the horizon and the moon was taking over it's rightful charge of the night.
I just love summer nights.

Simple Pleasures

Our foreheads and upper lips were already moist with perspiration and it was only 9:00 a.m. I'm not sure why I was so inclined to hurry a one year old and four year old through their breakfast and skip their morning cartoons altogether for a morning of picking cherries off trees, perhaps it was the child in me.

The woman behind the counter told me all the trees near the farm were picked. I would have to walk a while to get some good ones. No problem. I had a bottled water and a stroller what else would I need. Nothing I found out. Though Jacob insisted that "he did not like cherries" (although he never tried one), he had an amazing time stretching his little body as far as he could to reach a plum ripe bite size piece of heaven. He was an excellent assistant, directing me to where he could not reach but wanted to. With a child's eye, pointing out all the wonders of nature: a beautiful stick lying in the grass; a bug buzzing around a decaying piece of fruit on the ground.

Little Birdie (as I call her) was not unsure of the taste, one little "sample" and "ma ma" (more, more) was her favorite word of the day.

For the artist in me there was inspiration everywhere: The plump shiny red fruit; the odd angles of the old branches heavy with weight and time. The pealing red barn and the emerald fields of growing goodies. What a morning.

What are your favorite simple pleasures of summer?

The Daily Pic - Spring Sensation

I love my house this time of year. What is usually a modest suburban house becomes a showstopper thanks to Mother Nature. She is like the nerdy girl at school that doesn't get a second glance...and then wow. All of a sudden she puts on that red dress and nobody recognizes her.

Look out neighborhood, my house might just steal your boyfriend.

The Daily Pic

This little guy was found in my garden. It's funny how the smallest things can slip right past our eyes. He was having a nice lunch on a peice of seed packet.

Daily Picture

I am going to start a new daily post called "The Daily Pic." The name pretty much speaks for itself! I have been so inspired by spring and all the beautiful photography opportunities and I want to share them here.

This is one of the bushes out in front of our house. I love the way the rain drops shimmer after a Spring rain. If anyone knows the name of this could you share it with me? It was here when we bought the house.

Thanks!