Light surrounds us everyday.  It is commonplace so we fail to see the beauty and magic of light.

     When I was very young the early morning sun would shine through a tree onto my bedroom window.  At a certain point in time it created the shape of a man's head wearing a hat.  I couldn't get out of bed until the sun moved enough for the image to go away.   I tried to show my mother, but she never saw what I did.  A young girls fear manifest by the magic of light.

      The wondrous beauty of color is made possible by the vibrations of light.  Look around at all the color that surrounds you.  Magical.

     Every time I pick up my camera to create an image I am aware of the light.  It's direction, brightness, and reflection are all part of the magic of light.  Capturing that light and sharing it with you gives me pleasure.

     Without light the magic would be harder to see.  But I am sure that magic will always find a way to manifest itself.

     Autumn recently arrived according to the calendar. A few days later weather here cooled and it felt like Autumn.  I was able to wear jeans and was starting to break out the blankets and long sleeves.  And then this week happened.

     Back to temperatures in the 90+ degree range.  My mood was thrown into a place of unhappiness and discontent. This is unusual for me so naturally I wanted to know why I was so affected by that change in weather.

     It turns out our brains use our circadian rhythms and the length of day to synchronize with the seasons.  So basically the length of available daylight is still becoming shorter, but the temperature was in alignment with what we expect with shorter days.  Our circadian rhythms are driven by exposure to light.

     So my rhythm is responding to the change in daylight and I am expecting cooler temperatures to go with this.  I will continue to get myself and my home ready for the cooler weather because I know soon it will come and stay.

     We are inundated by natural disasters this month in the US.  With wildfires raging in the northwest to hurricanes in the south and southwest you wonder when will it all end.

     These disasters happen every year.  While most of them are beyond our control, some could have been prevented.  Many of the wildfires were caused by careless humans.  At least one was caused by teenagers with fireworks.

     This is a time when we as a nation shine.  We come together to help each other in whatever way we can.  For my part I have decided to donate all proceeds from the sale of the featured artwork, in any of the formats offered, during the month of September 2017 to the American Red Cross of Montana to assist those in need as a result of the wildfires.  Every little bit adds up to be of great help.  How will you reach out and help?

     Blue is the color of distance.  Early Renaissance painters were aware that in nature the further away something was in space the more blue it appeared and so they painted the distance in shades of blue.  It's an interesting aspect of blue as we look out into the distance.

     Blue is a powerful color.  It's vibrations lend to better communication.  The vibrations of blue are cool vibrations, which is one reason why it can help to induce calmness and relaxation.  Perhaps we need more blue in the world today.

     The featured image this week is an abstract of the shoreline of Lake Superior in the UP of Michigan.  It's a beautiful image that can bring a calm and reflective atmosphere into your home.

     I have been having fun recently creating what I am calling Whimsical Works of Art.  They are photographs that have become something more than just a photograph.

     I have been looking at my world and asking myself What If?  The result is the images you can see in my new Whimsical gallery.  Like all the other photographs on my site these are available for purchase in a wide range of sizes.  Most of these are in a square format so they will fit in spaces that the usual rectangle might not.

     Take a moment and check out this new gallery and let me know what you think.  Would you hang these images in your home or office?  Let me know in the comments.  Here's to a new and whimsical day!
​#2017yearofthehome

    I have read that we spend a third of ours lives in our bedrooms.  Because of this it is suggested that we decorate our bedrooms in calming colors.  The other choice would be warm and cozy colors.

     Calming colors would include blues, greens and lavenders.  While warm and cozy colors would be browns, reds, oranges and yellows. The featured image would work in both color groups.

     What color category does your bedroom come under?  Let me know in the survey below.  One question and one click is all it takes.

     A hint, a suggestion or just a touch of the things you love.  Can it be enough to bring you pleasure?

     I think it can. The featured photograph has just a hint of color.  There is only a suggestion of the shape of the flower. Yet it is enough to set your mind on a joyous visual journey.

     Sometimes all you need is to grate a little of that chocolate on top of your ice cream.  That suggestion of flavor can explode in your mouth allowing you to enjoy it without over indulging.  The suggestion of flavor is enough.

     Perhaps all your home needs is just a small touch or suggestion of that crazy color you love that really doesn't go with your decor.  But that little touch of the color might be all you need to enjoy it.

     Yes, I do believe that sometimes a suggestion is enough to bring us pleasure.

     Recently I have been taking stock of the things that I own and the power of my relationship to them in my life.  Not too long ago I moved and downsized to basically one room that holds my things.  So in reality I don't have a lot, but what I have has meaning.

     I have never been one that hoards.  I know people that do and the power of their possessions over their lives is almost destructive.  If I haven't used something in a year it will get donated in hopes someone can and will use it.  Most of my things are necessities.  But I do have my indulgences and some items that hold meaning and memories.

     Visual memories are important to me and are usually in the form of something I can use. Like the coffee mug from a vacation my oldest, and then only, child and I took to the Oregon coast.  I still use it after 20 years.  She still uses her mug too.  

     Art work might fall under the label of indulgence, but it borders on necessity for me.  My art work helps to define who I am and the journey my life has taken.  Whether I create the piece myself or purchase it, art speaks the story of why I needed that piece in my life.  Some of my art work is functional in that I can wear it.

     As I take stock I realize that my things do not control me.  I am not a slave to the power of buying just to be buying something.  That is when we become slaves to our possessions.

     Where do you see yourself? Are you up to your neck in things that you don't really need?  Do your things give you joy when you see them or use them?

     Today I am sharing a photograph of one of my favorite things, a flower.  It is a simple thing, but it has the power to make me feel good when I see it.  It is worthy of being a possession for me.  How does it make you feel?

     We all need moments of silence. With out busy lives we need to create a place in our homes where silence rules and where we can become grounded.

     I raised three children so I know how important those moments of silence can be.  I found mine at 4 A.M. That is the time of day where silence claims my soul.  The time where I look deep inside and put my fears to rest. It is during that early hour when I find the courage to face the day.  My children are all grown and on their own, but the silence of 4 A.M. still claims my soul.

    Four A.M. may not work for you, but somewhere in your home there is a time and place that is yours.  If there isn't, then you need to create and claim that space.  It could be a place where you can meditate on a calming photograph or savor a cup of tea, but find your silent place in your home.  Your sanity requires this of you.

     I'll leave you with a calming photo that was created in a moment filled with the smell of lavender and the silence of buzzing bees.

   
     I have added to and subtracted from my Abstract Gallery.  Part of this comes from my growth as a photographer and a desire to share this with you.

     All of my abstract images are in some way nature based.  The image is created in-camera and might be left at that.  Or, because I envisioned something more, it might be further developed in an editing software.  The end result is for you to enjoy and decide what it means to you.

     All of these images are available for purchase by clicking on the image in the Abstract Gallery. You can also click on the featured image to go directly to the order page for that image and to see all available product and options.