Then and Now

i am a huge fan of collecting old family photos.
there's nothing i like better than finding an old picture......
So i thought you might get a kick out of my very first nude!
(of course, i look like every other kid who's parent took a
photo like this!!)   it inspired me to take the second photo,
not a very good "reproduction" of the first one!
and its a little blurry, as Sadie tries to "help" whenever
i get in the photo mood.  But i liked the look of whimsy
so i didn't toss it out :)

Casual

Low contrast

was the topic....

and of course,

black and white

is my fav.


Everything in the

photo is a

shade of grey,

except for the

tiny black ribbon....

I liked the

casual repose

in this one.

Hope your week

is going well!

Negative Space

A quick series of poses.... the topic for the day was "negative space".  So I left lots of  yard, and didn't make the focus only me.  Too quick to call this some of the best... but I like the way the hair is moving in the second picture, and the sway of the nightie in the third.
Tis Monday..... *sigh*

Simple

Sometimes, its the simple things that bring the most pleasure.

I liked how the light was shining on my backside curve

with a little hint of sole

Be as simple as you can be;

you will be astonished to see

how uncomplicated and happy

your life can become!

-Paramahansa Yogananda

Purpose

You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. 

That is how important you are! 

- Eckhart Tolle

Sometimes we forget that our purpose in each day isn't to see

how much money we'll make, how many things we can buy,

or how well we can "keep up with the Jones' "

Instead, it seems to me its more important to help others,

give someone else a helping hand, or even a smile,

to find pleasures in the simple elegance of nature.

and to remember that we're all beautiful!

- Gal

Two More

Girls of all kinds can be beautiful – 

from the thin, plus-sized, short, very tall, 

ebony to porcelain-skinned; 

the quirky, clumsy, shy, outgoing 

and all in between. 

It’s not easy though because many people 

still put beauty into a confining, narrow box…

Think outside of the box…

Pledge that you will look in the mirror 

and find the unique beauty in you. 

- Tyra Banks

just a couple more of the same....
here's hoping your week
has been a good one so far!

Pause

When life gets busy, we all need to

take a pause.

The idea of meditating for 15-30 mins

means something else in our busy lives

has to give -- and some days we just

don't have the time for that.

But we all can pause for a minute or two

to take a few deep breaths,

to focus our attention on something else --

maybe something in nature that's around you.


When I got home from work today, got some chores done,
supper started, the sun was streaming at this window, and
I just had to slip into a picture or two.  I haven't been
purposefully neglecting this blog, but have had other things
I've been wanting to get done as well.  I'm trying my hand
at instagram, mostly pics of Sadie, my pug.  lol  That's been
fun!! And I still work on my daily posting challenge of a
topic for photos.  I try and use that for a little humor --
I stick all my photos into a slide show, burn it to a DVD
and send it to my parents, who are getting on in years.
They love it :)

Early Morn

It is in the

early morning hour

that the unseen is seen,

and that the far-off

beauty and glory,

vanquishing all their vagueness,

move down upon us

till they stand clear as crystal

close over against the soul.

~Sarah Smiley







just a little bit more of the
trial and error from using
a sheer curtain as a filter

Morning Light

I can see the orange haze

on the horizon

as the morning

exhales a yawn,

and seems to be

ready to rise.

~Jeb Dickerson

Just a little morning light,

playing with my camera,

using a sheer curtain as a filter

Backyard

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature."  -Anne Frank




for me... its my own backyard :)

Rock-ON

i took a few moments
to slip into my backyard
and enjoy the cool breeze
as the sun begins to rise .....

it has been a busy weekend
for me - as you can see, i
finally got around to getting
some rock installed in the
back yard!

7 tons of it, to be exact!

I like how my butt just kinda peeks out in this photo! *silly grin*

and here is the original

from yesterday's

al fresco version!

i think i prefer

the al fresco!

al Fresco

Here it is, Sunday afternoon,
and i had a little time with my
camera this morning.

i used the "fresco" setting
in photoshop to doodle
around and feel a little bit
creative today.

Kinda gives this picture a
free spirit look to it!

As She Is

Take time as it comes,

the wind as it blows,

woman as she is.

~Alfred de Musset,

Just Me

Individualism

is rather like innocence:

There must be something

unconscious about it.

~Louis Kronenberger

i think i had more fun

playing with the shadows 

in this series

than i did the actual poses!

Be Open

open your eyes 

to the beauty around you

open your mind

to the wonders of life

open your heart 

to those who love you

and always

be true to yourself.

Smile!

“Smiling is 

the way the soul 

says hello ... "

-Jarod Kintz

it seems i'm a dirty girl... errr.... i mean, i have a dirty lens!

i didnt' notice this until i was editing, and by then

the photo shoot was over.

So excuse the blot... i will blame the creek for splashing my camera

(and make a mental note to wipe off the lens more often!)

Hope you had a happy Cinco de Mayo!!! 

Aim Down

Topic:  Looking down vertically or high a point of view as you can manage 

and make an interesting shot

um... does this count?

*giggles*

Stillness

We all have within us

a center of stillness

surrounded by silence.

-Dag Hammarskjold

Joy

"Learning to live 

in the present moment 

is part of the path of joy."

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

A quote by one of my fav authors. 

She's so full of down to earth wisdom.

My fav book of hers is "Romancing the Ordinary".

Have you ever thought about the simple 

things in our lives and the pleasures they can

give us?  One of these days, i'll do an ode

to the "Joy of Socks".  *giggles* 

But if you just  take a minute, look around, 

become aware of those little things that 

give us little pleasures, they add up to plenty of joy! 

Awakens

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul 

and makes us reach for more, 

that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. 

- Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Yes, I am an early morning riser,

Morning is the best time of day,

(in my humble opinion!)

and the sun was streaming past

my bedroom window ---

lucky for you, I've posted

 a few silhouettes to gaze upon! 

Chance

Never give up 

on something 

that you can't go a day 

without thinking about.

- Unknown

We have dreams

and aspirations

about our lives.

Sometimes we're

willing to 

take a chance .....

other times,

we just let 

chance take us.

Just a few early morning nuggets

of this Gal's wisdom.... 

and a few silhouettes to take you

through the weekend.

Hope you're having a good one!

Buns

Inspiration on the back burner today....
my photography challenge was "buns"
yes, i'm sure they meant the bread kind...
but that's not so fun!

Top one in the late afternoon sunshine,
the second, on a bicycle.
Just something different today

“Be different 

so that people can see you clearly 

amongst the crowds.” 

― Mehmet Murat ildan