Into The Light

 "Come forth into the light of things, Let nature be your teacher." ~Wordsworth

Nature can be a wonderful teacher if you just take enough time to let the lessons sink in.   This may require that you go sit in the woods and let the golden rays of the sun shine through the trees until they rest on your head.  The energy of the sun will then soak into you and give you warmth, hope and a new sense of peace.

I wish you a day filled with peace, love and joy.  :-)

To alter or not to alter - That is the question

Colors can look quite different depending on the light and the time of the day we visit an area.  Sometimes, however, we can't be at a spot at the ideal time.  So, what do we do?   Do we just leave the picture the way it was taken or do we change it?   I guess purists would say that we should leave it the way it was taken, that we shouldn't mess with nature.   Although there is some validity in that point of view, I like to keep the original version and then see what I can do with the colors in PhotoShop.  The bottom version shows what the scene looked like, with a little lightening & a little color correction for too much blue.  The top version was modified to show how the colors would have looked if I'd taken the picture earlier in the day.  I like this one best because the colors are more like what I think of when I envision "fall colors".  Which do you prefer?

Alone in the Woods

"Deep in the woods I sat for a long time with the trees.
Feeling their roots reach deep in the ground,
watching their leaves stretch toward heaven,
basking in the joy of being present
with their beauty."  Author Unknown

This picture was taken in Montana a couple of years ago.   I added a little lens flare in PhotoShop to create a more dramatic effect.  Isn't it strange how we try to avoid lens flare "in camera" and then sometimes add it in PhotoShop?    LOL!

I hope you enjoy the quote and the picture.  Have a wonderful day.  :-)

Tomorrow is not Promised

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning,
in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning
that sometimes there isn't "anymore".

No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together,
no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away,
never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and
heal it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage..... and children with bad report cards, aging parents
and grandparents, dogs with bad hips, and old cars.
We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away
or a sister-in-law after divorce.
There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special.
And so, we keep them close!

Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?

Let every one of your friends and family members know you love them.
Even if you think they don't love you back.

Live today, because tomorrow is not promised.

Relaxation for the Soul

"The mark of a successful man is one who has spent the entire day on the bank of a river without feeling  guilty about it."  Chinese Proverb

Possibilities

"What has happened is not nearly as important as what can happen. Look to the possibilities of your future for direction, forsaking the burdensome limitations of your past." Keith D. Harrell

As we go through life, we often think about things that have happened and regret that we didn't act differently, say kinder words, etc. If we stay in that frame of mind, however, we're preventing the possibilities that are ahead of us from occurring. It's important to move beyond the regrets and the guilt that is tied up with the past. We can't change what has already happened, but our attitudes can have a tremendous impact on our future. So, keep your head up and look towards the future, not the past.

The Woods

"One attraction in coming to the woods to live was that I should have leisure and opportunity to see the spring come in." Henry David Thoreau


Spring is here and it looks like today is going to reflect that. I hope you'll go outside and enjoy the beautiful world that we've been given.


Have a wonderful day!

Stepping Stones

If you're given a bag of concrete and a bucket of water, you have two choices. You can either build a stumbling block (a concrete barrier), or you can create stepping stones which can become your bridge to success. It's your choice. Make it the one which will help you achieve your dreams.

I didn't have a picture of a bag of concrete, so this picture with one stepping stone will have to do. I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful and productive day.

Do Something

If you feel bored do something, for there is always something to do, see or explore in this world. Keep in mind that boredom can also cause depression, so get out there and live now. Sylvia Browne