The End of the Rainbow (and How It Led Me to Treasure)

(Or Why I DO This - Part II)

by Carol

In the doldrums  #white

These white-themed pictures represent the last of our August break postings. Tomorrow is September first, and FOL is back to our usual posting schedule. I am so happy to be here since this August taught me a few lessons.

Back in March, Judy asked herself a question - "Why do I do this?"  You can read her very thoughtful rumination on that subject right here.   In the past years, I have rarely asked myself that question. Maybe because I live alone, I have no one to complain to, or more quiet evenings to ponder things - who knows? But I have to admit that during this August break, my habits really changed.

I have to admit to feeling a bit "fenced in" #white

I read books without underlining quotes that might illustrate an idea. I listened to TED Talks lightly - not straining to remember the deeper thoughts more than enough to have a casual conversation that night with someone. I stopped making room in my life to write. I had a few fruitful get togethers with my photography friends and played with the resulting images long after, but I stopped photographing every day. I read photography blogs and articles with the only thought being - "hmmm, I will have to try that someday." 

My loafing attitude started to spread. I haven't exercised all summer - not even doing the laps of the pool that I look forward to all winter. I stopped working on my 'works in progress' -  ( still haven't finished the book I wanted to make of my trip to France last year.) At the same time, my original local photography group underwent some changes. One of the girls living close by moved a little further away and became a little more limited in her time (although certainly still willing and enthusiastic), and the one girl who was our planner - that would be the one who sent the emails that made our get-togethers actually happen - retired and moved far away. And I have been just plain lazy!

Having a bit of "the vapors." #white

I can't blame the heat - because most certainly, my FOL sisters in the midwest and west have me well beaten in that category! I was very busy at work this summer - but so are many of my creative friends. My son is home again for a bit and we have all kinds of wonderful and precious conversations, so I do have a bit less quiet time - but I love every minute with him. It might be that I haven't been on vacation yet - my vacations are coming up in October and November this year. But these are the doldrums for sure.

Then two weeks or so ago, things started to pop again. One of my local photography friends stepped up and invited a few people to join us for a get together filled with laughs and sharing, and followed immediately up with future calendar dates to note NOW, before we all fill up our time with other things. I spotted some good airfares and made my reservations for our FOL retreat in November, and started to get so excited to see my FOL sisters again! Mail started arriving about the workshop I will be doing with Kim Manley Ort in October, and it really sounds fascinating! (There's still room in the class  - won't you join us? All of the information is  here in Kim's newsletter. ) I will be attending that class with another local friend with an art background, and we started last week playing with our art supplies together.

Something is beginning to hatch! #white

Suddenly - I am awake again and I am feeling the same vibe from the others here. I guess it was just summer vacation after all. But for me, it has really highlighted the fact that you must carefully feed and water your creative garden with people and experiences and practice. Just as I have started walking again after work, I have started back into my photography projects. As Judy said in her conclusion, "My twice a month posting schedule keeps me thinking the rest of the month..." and my time with other creatives keeps me wanting to improve my skills. Judy said "I truly feel that my time here is an invaluable tool in my personal creative journey." I couldn't agree more! 

SO HERE WE GO FRIENDS....

OFF TO THE RACES

HERE'S TO ANOTHER WONDERFUL YEAR HERE AT FOL!

WE ARE SO VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US!

WE'RE BACK!

Here's to another year together at FOL!

A Day in My Life

      by Deanna

For some reason I did not sleep well last night, I tossed and turned and when I finally drifted off to sleep at who knows what time, I was soon awakened by a little bark.  My Cinder had obviously jumped off the bed to get a drink of water and was whining for my attention.  She needed help to return to her cozy spot on the bed.  Personally I think she can jump into bed, but since I have spoiled her by picking her up, she now relies on me for that journey into bed.  I keep a bowl of water in the bathroom since they both seem to want a drink in the middle of the night (just like kids).  I finally drifted back to sleep and again was awakened by a sound, this time it was rain and thunder.  I haven’t heard that rolling sound of thunder for at least 4-5 months.  It was a good sound, the sound of April rains hitting the window, sounds of Spring.

I rise, head for the bathroom, slide my feet into my slippers, dress in my bathrobe and head downstairs with both kids already at the front door waiting, and not very patiently.  I switch off the front porch light, open the front door while both dash out, first checking that no one is walking down “their” sidewalk” before they get down to business.

Meanwhile I walk to the kitchen to make the coffee.  After I have measured the water (5 cups) placed the amount of grounds (3 large scoops) into the coffee maker I head outside via the garage to pick up the morning newspaper and gather the mail from yesterday’s delivery.  Most of the time the entire batch ends up in the recycling bin, junk mail.  This morning the plastic wrapped newspaper was dripping wet due to the rain, so with caution I peeled it away hoping not to transfer any of the wetness of the rain onto the thin sheets of newsprint.  Success! 

Re-entering the house I can now smell the coffee brewing, a heavenly smell I might add. I patiently wait until the dripping is complete, grab a mug and pour.  Because of the anticipation, that first sip is by far the best sip of the day.  The kids are back in, fed, fresh water refilled and now it’s time for me to sit, sip, and read the newspaper.  I grab my cell-phone on the way to my favorite chair to check emails, again mostly junk. 

Up to this point this is what happens in my life every single day.  Maybe it’s boring to some but after years of getting my real children up, breakfast fixed and off to school and then working for so many years with no time for a leisurely cup of coffee, this schedule to me is ideal.  

I am dressed and out the door by 11:15 to meet with 2 old friends.  George and Lucille have been in our lives for probably 30 years.  George and my sweetie worked together at AT&T and it was there that our friendship began.  George is 82 and I am beginning to see signs of aging in his face.  Lucille is about as big as a minute, a few wrinkles but cute as a button.  Both still sharp and still very much in love.  We met at a local restaurant, ordered breakfast instead of lunch, talked and laughed, updating each other on news of our children and grandchildren.  I see George and Lucille only about once a year, along with a Christmas card, and every time I see them it’s a feel-good moment. 

By the time we left the restaurant the rain had stopped and the temps had climbed into the 50’s.  Driving home I decided to do one of two things, go to my local garden center that opened last Saturday or drive to the Arboretum and hunt for wildflowers.  I could either drive straight to the garden center or turn to head to the Arboretum.  I went straight.  Maybe tomorrow I will look for those wildflowers. 

Not too much blooming yet.  But on display was a wonderful variety of hellebores  (see pic below), pansies and small pots of ranunculus.  Oh I was so tempted to buy the ranunculus, it’s probably one of my all-time favorite flower with its layers and layers of petals and divine colors of reds, pinks, purples, whites, reds, and oranges.  The only way I can stop myself from buying is to leave my purse in the car.  And then sometimes that doesn’t even work.  While walking thru the garden center the clouds began to part, the sky turned blue and the temp began to rise.  Yes, Spring is coming and not a minute too soon.  I have been shopping and photographing this garden center for years and it’s always pleasant when returning in the spring to see familiar faces again. 

Returning home I sat on the front porch just drinking in the sweetness and smells of spring.  The birds are singing extra loud, the grass is turning green, the tiny buds on my quince bush are beginning to swell.  April and into May are “iffy” months, but we are on the down-side of winter and that is good enough for me. 

As I type this, I am waiting for a landscaper to come by.  I have decided to hire someone to do the Spring clean-up and weekly mowing for me this year.  Both are such a chore and I was beginning to dread the clean-up.  I love working in my garden, but I have neglected it the past couple of years.  Now with someone else doing the regular maintenance of my yard it will free me up to enjoy my garden once again. 

After he leaves I will prepare something for dinner, not a clue what, since I don’t do much cooking anymore and either watch TV or read, probably both.  I lead a pleasant life, I enjoy my family, my home, my friends, my church. Except for the fact that my sweetie has Alzheimer’s (a wicked, evil disease) and because of that I am leading a much different life than I anticipated, it’s OK. Life can be good in spite of those unexpected detours.

 

"It's not that everything will be easy or exactly as you had expected, but you must just choose to be grateful for all that you have, and happy that you got a chance to live this life, no matter how it turns out." ~ Author Unknown 

Footnote – I took a writing class a couple of years ago and each assignment was to write about our 5 senses; sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.  In writing this post I have incorporated all 5 senses into the description of my day.  And I practiced writing again. 

New Year, New Beginning, New Intentions

by Leigh

Sometimes I dread a new year.  I start thinking about all the things I did wrong the previous year and I assume that I will repeat those same mistakes.  I look back and see patterns in my behavior and wonder how I can change those….or if I will be able to change those.  But then I decided that I needed to change my perspective.  I needed to see the new year in a….well, in a new way.  I've always seen the new year as just a continuation of the old...like a loop in my mind.  I recently read an article from Dr. Wayne Dyer about resolutions in the new year.  And here's what he said, 

"Forget about deciding on the first day of January how you will be conducting your life in September, some nine months later.  Any resolution that involves making decisions about future behaviors is a waste of time.  It also reinforces the self defeating notion of living in the future. For 2015, wouldn't you rather live in the present moment?"

A-ha! light bulb moment for me!  Each day is a fresh new beginning unlike the one prior and unlike the next one.  I have a fresh set of 24 hours in which to live...the only day like this one.  I can make a resolution that I will spend less time on social media this year and I will get myself more organized and I will workout six days a week, etc…But as Dr. Dyer points out we still have to live our lives just like everyone else: one day at a time.  He went on to say that, 

"You can only live minute to minute.  You can certainly use up your present moments thinking about what you'll be doing in the future, but that doesn't change the fact that you can only live in the now.  The important question to ask yourself is: How am I going to live in the present moment this year?"

Instead of spending my days thinking about my patterns in the past, I want to make changes so that I can live life to it's fullest.  RIGHT NOW!  I am going to do this by setting an intention...by choosing a word to guide me daily and that word is focus.   Yesterday my focus was on organization as I packed away Christmas and decluttered the house.  Today my focus is on business as I get back into my work routine at the office.  Tomorrow morning I will let my early morning thoughts dictate my focus for the day.

"Always let the new you make the decision, and then you'll be living in the present moment."

Have you picked your word for this year?

A New Beginning

by Kim

"Every moment is a new beginning" - Elie Wiesel

Time is not a commodity that we are given to start and stop again on a whim. For the universe and for nature, there is no pause of time, and no clean slate.

And within that time things begin and end everyday, not just at the end of a calendar year. Every moment a gift and a challenge to manage well let alone the time you've not yet been given.

I think one reason I love going to watch the sunrise so much is that it's such a reminder that time does not stand still, that it waits for no man. If you've ever photographed a sunrise then you know that there are precious minutes in which to capture the sun rising over the horizon before it gets too bright. It's so easy to take time for granted unless we've paid attention to how swiftly it moves.

You may be wondering at this point what on earth this picture has to do with this post. It's kind of a two for one deal. The magic of the night and a tall ship that was lucky enough to get a new beginning. (fist bump)

Her name is "Elissa" and she is The Tall Ship of Texas. She is a three-masted, iron-hulled ship that was built in Aberdeen, Scotland as a merchant vessel at a time when steamships were overtaking sailing ships. She was originally launched in October of 1877 and is today, a fully functioning ship that continues to sail annually during the sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. She measures a whopping 205 feet from her stern to the tip of her jibboom, is 99' 9" high at the main mast, and displaces 620 tons!

But she didn't always look like this because eventually after 90 years at sea she found her way to a scrap yard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece. She was eventually rescued from being destroyed, in 1970 by preservationists, but still sat in a salvage yard until she was purchased in 1975 by the Galveston Historical Foundation. She finally took her first voyage as a restored sailing ship in 1985 and now calls Galveston her home.

Her new beginning was nothing short of miraculous really, and most of us will never be lucky enough to have that much time to wait for a new beginning of this magnitude. We will forget that we cannot hold it in our hands and save it for tomorrow.

Yes, time is incredibly swift and silent and it moves even when we're not looking. Having a child with a chronic illness, and treated with a medication that comes with the risk of lymphoma teaches you to pay attention to the small beginnings in EVERY. SINGLE. MOMENT. . . and call it hope and faith.

We Begin Again

by Judy

A new year.

New beginnings.

Clean slates, where anything is possible.

We wish for you happiness and good health,

We wish for you courage, so you may follow your dreams,

We wish for you love and peace.

Embrace this new year and the chance to

begin again...


Thank you FOL friends, for supporting us with your kind words this past year.  Thank you for inspiring us, and for making us all strive to be our best.

Happy New Year friends!



As we begin again, January brings us a new theme.  Join us as we explore Night Photography.

Focus on Phoneography

Thank you all for sharing with us how you start your day.  I'm not much of a morning person, but seeing these beautiful images definitely put a spring in my step!

From top left:  @viv_halliwell, @corinnaho, @limez, @keepinupblog

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday friends.

Love, Kelly

Replace

by Deanna

Too often we submerge ourselves in negatives.

Often it happens without awareness.

Examine your home or your work space.

Examine your habits and the ruts you may have fallen into

Remove the negative images.  (ie: procrastination)

Begin to smooth out the ruts in your life (ie: procrastination)

Replace them with positives –

Flowers, photos, music, scents, and mindset.

And now notice the change in your attitude

Just Do It

by Carol

 I LOVE to hear people tell their stories. I like to see the paths that people travel to the places where they end up. I don't care if it's in the classics, or in People Magazine, if it's in a documentary or in a TV show - when someone starts to philosophize about their life, I'm hooked. Because I like people and I believe everyone has something to teach us. And you can learn....if you'll only take the time to listen.

Today, I was inspired by an interview with Goldie Hahn. Are all (or any) of you old enough to remember her start in "Laugh-In?" Here is how that career-making character really happened, according to Goldie.

Goldie was not a comedienne, nor a stand-up. She hadn't acted. Her self-identity was as a dancer. When her agent told her she had a chance to audition for a new show "Laugh-in," she didn't see at all where or how she could fit in. But - and here's my point - she went anyway. Walking down the long hallway in, she was a nervous wreck - not a clue in her head about what she should be showing the producer. 

She started out honestly, telling him how outside her skill set this experience was. He told her to read anyway. In those days, before prompters, a man with hand-written cue cards knelt just below the camera. Although Goldie was undiagnosed at that point, it turns out that she is somewhat dyslexic. As she read the cue cards, she flubbed one after the other and giggled nervously. She stopped and shouted up to the producer's box - I'm not good at this - I'm making a mess of it." And that's when he said - "that's what I love about it ! Keep going!"

And that was the genesis of that crazy, lovable, but unmistakably ditzy character that sent Goldie off into a career, that made her one of the most powerful and accomplished women in media, as a star, a producer, an Academy Award winner.

So do you see?  Begin      Try        Even if you doubt yourself.

And who knows where your journey will take you?

Just as Lao-tzu, the Chinese philosopher says;

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." 

I couldn't agree more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfoUMZAbuQg

Something New

by Terri

 If you tuned in this morning hoping to see Judy’s post, I’m sorry to say that she is under the weather and I’ll be filling in. If you have a moment, send her some warm wishes for a speedy recovery and keep her in your thoughts.

Picking up where Kelly left off on Tuesday regarding “cabin fever” and the winter doldrums, I have to say that in my neck of the woods, this is the time of year to be outside and enjoying the weather because it will be hot all too soon and that’s when WE get cabin fever!  It’s sunny and 75 right now . . . so what’s my problem?

The start of a new year always makes me want to do something new, learn new things and expand my vision a little bit.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to do to make that happen this year. Some years, I tend to over-commit. Too many classes, too many projects, and nothing gets done very well. After all of the holiday activity, I find myself with too much time on my hands and tend to go overboard trying to fill the void. 

So this year I decided to strive for some simplicity. When I heard about a class where I would just be using my 50mm lens for four weeks, that sounded just right.  Simple enough, one lens, a few shots a day for four weeks – I could do that. My 50 was a lens that I had loved in the past but it had taken a back seat to other lenses recently and I was excited to pull it out and fall in love with it again. And that is exactly what is happening!  That wonderful depth of field you can get and the indoor shots you can take with natural light – well, what’s not to love?  The shot at the top of this post was taken indoors with natural light with my 50mm lens.  Because I could open up my aperture to f/1.4, I could keep the focus on my subject, leaving everything else out of focus and I could keep my ISO low and reduce noise.  Mmmm, yes, I think I’m in love with this lens once again! It's amazing how changing things up a little can be so freeing, so inspiring.

The class is taught by Kim Manley Ort and she has many classes going on throughout the year.  You can read about them here:  http://www.365daysofinspiration.com/blog/join-me-at-online-workshop-or-inperson-retreat/monthlong-online-workshops/.

  

But I think anything that pulls you out of your comfort zone and makes you try something new is a good thing. It can be using a long-neglected lens or focusing your camera on something that you don’t usually shoot – landscapes, people, still lifes.  Decide on what new thing you want to try and then go for it!

Does the start of the new year make you want to branch out and learn something new?  What new things are you beginning at the start of 2014?  

Embrace...

by Susan

 Embrace...my one little word for 2014. The one little word that found me...in various ways...and silently said...

"I'm your word.  Take hold of me with wide open arms. Embrace the journey."

Big life changes are happening this year...already happening.  Just this past week I've embraced the spontaneity of…

...which led to the wonderful feeling of...

While surprise and joy are such easy emotions to embrace, there are also the not-so-wonderful emotions to embrace that can come from...

...but what is life if we don't embrace every moment, even the difficult ones...for it makes us who we are. 

Two big life changes that I must embrace are happening this summer. My daughter and her family are moving and my stepson is headed off to college. It's bittersweet. Even though I'm soooo excited for them and their new adventures...it hurts...I'm sad...and yes, I know it's all a part of life.

Once again my word embrace silently speaks to me...

"I'm your word.  Take hold of me with wide open arms. Embrace the journey."

And I smile...

What about you…your one little word for the year? Did it silently speak to you…or did it take some time to choose? Do you embrace your word each day and feel it's presence…or not so much. Please take a moment and share. We'd love to hear from you! xo's!  

{special thanks to my niece catherine…love you}

The Season of Rest

by Kelly

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own. ~ Charles Dickens

You would think I would learn, yet somehow I find myself in this position every year.  Dotti called it 'cabin fever'...I call it my post-holiday schlump.  It's that let down I feel after the holidays.  My girl has gone back to school.  Everything is so quiet.

For the past several years, I have used this relatively quiet time of year to take some online photography courses.  But not this year. This year I am making a conscious effort to simplify and scale back a little.  It's my word for the year ~ PARE.  But here I am half-way into the month, and already today I found myself wandering the house looking for a project.  

My mother is probably nodding her head right now thinking, "yep...I could have told you this would happen."

Anyway, in the spirit of my word,  I am going to take a cue from nature and I am going to use these next several weeks to my benefit.  A season of rest, so to speak.  

And so maybe it won't appear from the outside that there is anything going on.  But hopefully I'll reap the benefit of the restoration and rejuvenation that will transform my life on the inside.

So as Dotti suggested, I am going to use my secret weapon against the post-holiday funk.  And express my gratitude for the special beauty of Winter.  The restfulness.  The peacefulness.

Find new ways to experience the Winter months.  And who knows...maybe I might even enjoy it.

How about you?  How do you cope with these dark Winter months and the post-holiday funk?  We would love to see how you capture the beauty of the season in our Flickr pool. 

Until next time,  Kelly

Begin....

by Deanna  

    Start something.

   Put one foot in front of the other and inch forward one step at a time, slowly and ever so slightly

   Say hello and begin a conversation

   Write one sentence and begin your novel 

   Begin again, this time in a different key, at a different tempo

   Begin putting yourself first

   Begin enjoying it

   Begin a reading group and perhaps focus on women who made bold new beginnings

   Begin a new way of eating, a new way of moving, a new way of getting your needs met

   Begin as soon as you finish reading this page

   Begin at the beginning and don't even think about where it will take you.

   Now Begin

And so it begins...

by Kim

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning 

but a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."

- Hal Borland -

Yes, and so it begins...a new day, another sunrise, and yet even at the start of a new year...it is still all about the continuation of life, not of starting over. In fact, I don't know of many things that are dependent upon the ending number of a year, except maybe for calendar makers. 

Most things are instead relegated to days, to snippets of time, minutes and seconds....to right now. I try not to blink, or make too many unrealistic plans or really long lists. Not that this doesn't work for many other people, just not for me. Because when life throws those curve balls, and we know it does, I need to be able to go with the flow.

Just the same way that these milkweed seeds will often find themselves quite a distance from where they started, but will grow where they land anyway. Because the Monarch depends on it.

And often, we will find ourselves in chaos, far from where we started and our lives will depend on being able to grow where we land.

Much of the time we tend to be so concerned with the end results that we forget about some of the small, sweet beginnings in between, the ongoing process of life.

"What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." - Lao Tzu

Last year almost to the day, I shared here that because I'm an epic failure at New Year's resolutions that I have for the past three years chosen a word instead to be a sort of guide. My word was possible. Not just to know about the possibilities but to believe them possible. This last year was a difficult one for my family and through it all I learned possible in a way I didn't expect, and certainly not in a way I would have ever imagined it would play out. I learned what "possible" means from my teenage son through his diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and his fight back to what he loves (if you're interested in the full story, click here). 

This year I want to be more mindful about moving with intention. More intentional about what is important and what can be left out, and more intentional about letting my passions drive my actions. This year my word has a wing man...intentional, while keeping it as simple as possible. 

In case you missed our announcement, we now have a 365 day project going on over at Flickr called Focus on a photo a day. We would love to have you join us and it doesn't matter if you start today or tomorrow because, "All glory comes from daring to begin." - Eugene F Ware

See you there,

Kim