i took this photograph of my nephew a long time ago. with a 35mm film camera, B&W film. i love B&W. that has been instilled in me since childhood.

i had to scan this photo in, painstakingly, geez are we spoiled by the digital age or what? tweaked it a bit and added some grain.

my point is, i've been exploring my options. searching myself on this '40' year old journey.

i want to wake up each day and feel the joy & happiness of going to work. i've been looking at newborn photography and newborn photographers. i LOVE it. although this is the ONLY photo i have ever taken, i remember every moment of it.

my work days are filled with caring for the elderly and seeing death frequently. i feel like i have fufilled that journey. and my heart desires to embark on the next. maybe it's 'new life'. i don't know, still praying.

what i do know is, my mind is reeling with thoughts and ideas and i for sure will have trouble sleeping tonight.

the other thing i know for sure is...

God will show me my path in His time, not my own.

so while i wait...

i will learn, explore and continue my idea journal!

blessings!

shay

Childlike Wonder

when do we lose that 'childlike wonder'? that desire to wear red, sparkly shoes. that desire to stomp in the mud puddles barefoot and feel the cool mud seeping through our toes. to dance in the rain or catch snowflakes on our tongues. roll around in the fall leaves. to see everything as bright and colorful. to color outside the lines. to wake up each morning with a sense of adventure.

i don't know about you, but i think we all need to find that inner child that we have tucked away. i think we would all be better 'grown ups' if we explored a child's imaginative world every now and again.

blessings!

shay

Cup of Tea

feeling under the weather the last couple of days.

i need to make a good cup of hot tea later to warm me up.

have a blessed day!

shay

Psalm 55: 5-8 and my little cabin...

"Who will give me wings," I ask-

"wings like a dove?"

Get me out of here on dove wings;

I want some peace and quiet.

I want a walk in the country,

I want a cabin in the woods.

I'm desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather."

Psalm 55: 5-8

i feel like this often. maybe not flying on dove wings per say, but just getting in my car and driving off, destination unknown. i see myself in a cabin, surrounded by beautiful countryside. maybe even snowed in. wood stove keeping me warm. reading my Bible as i rock in an old antique rocker. knitting. fresh bread baking in a little oven and homemade soup simmering on the stove. this is the place i want to grow old. the place that i long for. away from the rage and storms in this world. a peaceful place. where i will be content just living surrounded by God's beauty and love. where my children and childrens' children will visit. where i will grow old next to the man that i love. just us.

this little cabin in the woods is visiting my dreams, even my wakeful moments frequently lately. it is in my heart. i am on a mission to find it. it's there, waiting for me. calling me.

so i pray for it. hope for it. patiently wait for it.

He knows my hearts desires.

blessings!

shay



Scavenger Hunt Sunday

had an awesome time with this weeks 'Scavenger Hunt Sunday' picks over at Ramblings & Photos! each week i am challenged more and more. i am completely blessed by all your wonderful comments and to be among such talented photographers. you make me strive each week to think outside the box, be more creative and challenge myself.

here goes...

1) 'Inspired by a book or movie'

~Under The Tuscan Sun~

LOVE this movie, especially if i am in a funk and want to run off and buy that beautiful, old villa myself to hide away from the world! 2 things represent that movie to me, bright yellow sunflowers and cobalt blue glass. had to pull these from the archives, but it was worth it.

2) 'Brown'

well i LOVE brown, all shades, i almost considered doing a variation of all sepia this week to honor the 'brown' pick, BUT changed my mind. i have 2 here that spoke to me this week.

3) 'Hazy'

i LOVED the way this photo of a wisteria branch came out after i played around with saturation a bit. the sunlight and maple leaves in the background came out with a beautiful rainbow hazy look.

4) 'Coffe or Tea'

okay, so anyone that knows and loves me, are completely aware that i am a 'frapp-a-holic'. LOVE a good cup of hot tea, don't get me wrong. but this challenge is dedicated to my daughter, Gael, who works for Starbucks in Maine. hope i did her proud:)

5) "Linger'

okay, okay...i am stumped on this one still. but i have a few more days before i have to link up this post. so i am off to linger, i mean ponder:)

ok..so the definition of 'linger' means to stay around in a place longer than expected. sunsets make me linger. i am working for sunrises mostly so i miss them. but sunsets amaze me. the way they can close out even the gloomiest of days. God's way of sending us to rest with His beautiful, water color painted skies, promise a brand new day to follow. so..last nights sunset (thursday) is my 'linger' pick for this weeks hunt.

blessings to you all with the upcoming week!

shay

Eyes Wide Open

such a beautiful morning. breezy. air is crisp and cool. leaves falling. the dogwood off my front porch is full of berries which is making the robins go nuts. flying in and out.

but the best part is, i FINALLY captured my favorite little bird. the black capped chickadee. i swear they are like toddlers. can't stay still or in one spot for more than a second. very flighty little things. but i got him this morning. might not be the best photos i have ever taken. but i got him. and i am proud of that. so surely i had to share with you this morning. the more i photograph, the more i stand in such awe of God's creation around us. what we have right in front of our eyes, if we only look. it is bringing me closer to Him. i am blessed. we are blessed. open your eyes.
if the world we live in awes us..i can't even begin to imagine what God's kingdom will look like.

have a blessed, spirit filled day!

shay

Twirling

rain off and on today, had cleaning, laundry and banana bread baking to do..so didn't get my camera out. supposed to have nice, crisp fall weather coming up this weekend though. looking forward to capturing that. for today though, i've played a little on photo shop. i know there must be millions of things i haven't seen or tried yet. it's all VERY confusing. but i saw on another fellow blogger's post today a note about 'twirling'. do i have twirling on my photo shop? woohoo..i do. it just fascinates me, still, how we can work on beautiful photographs that are able to be left untouched OR turned into a completely amazing piece of art.

so, here goes my first attempts:

Rose~

Fall Leaves~

Stained Glass Window~

i know one thing for sure. our Heavenly Father is one astonishing artist. colors, textures, His hands created it all.

we are SO blessed to see and experience His beautiful masterpiece every day!

blessings!

shay