We are all products of nature.  Even though we have tried to remove ourselves from nature with cities and civilization; we still need nature in our lives.

     Science is starting to offer evidence of what many already know; nature is good for us.  Here's a short list, just three, of the ways we can benefit from nature.

1. Time in nature reduces stress.  Take a walk among the trees and plants within minutes you can start to feel the stress melting away.
2. Our mood improves.  It stands to reason that if you reduce stress your mood will improve.
3. Faster healing for those that are ill.  Looking at pictures of trees or flowers helped patients heal faster than when they just looked out a window at a brick wall.

     If you don't have easy access to a place to walk among the trees or plants, research is showing that viewing pictures of nature helps us.  Which is one of the reasons I am such an advocate of decorating your home in a way that includes some photographs of trees, flowers or nature in general.

     Today I am sharing this photo of a tree that always makes me feel good.  Can you picture it in your home?  Would meditating on this for a few minutes improve your mood?

     Life has a way of happening when you least expect it.  And that is exactly what the start of 2017 did to my family and me.  Shortly after the beginning of the year we lost my father unexpectedly.  As a result I haven't been as focused here as I normally would be.

     Slowly life gets back on track and things return to a new normal.  I say new because I am moving forward with a deeper and I hope better appreciation of what is truly important.  Many of you have been in this place so you understand the adjustment of living in a world where my father no longer resides.  There is a tear in the fabric of my life that just can not be repaired.

     I hope as we move forward into this year this better appreciation of what is important and how we bring that into our homes will show in my blog and in my photographs.

     This photograph of the Broken Tree is a favorite of mine.  Even though it eventually broke from time and age it is still a beautiful reminder of what life is all about.

     Those of us in the northern hemisphere are in our winter phase.   The astronomical start of winter officailly arrives Wednesday, December 21 at 2:44 am PST.  This is known as the winter solstice.

     Are you ready?  Even though most of us are already experiencing winter weather we still need to make it through until spring.  Do you have enough throw blankets in your decor for snuggling under?  Don't forget the hot chocolate!  Another winter must you don't want to be without.

     Stay warm and enjoy the winter solstice!
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     We all agree that our homes need to be our safe haven.  A place we can retreat to at the end of the day to relax and be calm.  It's important if we are going to go out and function at our jobs that we have that calming refuge.  Here are 3 quick tips to help you create that space.

1. Every room in your home is important. If you have rooms that you haven't finished decorating, make those rooms a priority.  Get them done to a point where you no longer see an unfinished project.
2. We know that colors can impact us physically and mentally.  Become aware of how you feel in rooms and what the major color is in that room.  Choose those colors for your walls.  
3. Bring in decor items that make you recall good times.  Surround yourself with those items.

     Make the changes to your home that will make you feel that your home is your calm place.  You will thank yourself when you are done.

      I have been traveling for the past week so I have not been online very often.  Sometimes you just have to unplug and enjoy life!  However, you can still purchase images as usual. I might not respond to your emails and comments as quickly as I normally do, but I will respond when I can.

​     Until I return the location remains a mystery.  I can tell you that I will be near water!

     Getting outside and into my natural surroundings helps me to appreciate that perfection isn't always perfect.  And to me, that is wonderful.  These are moments that I treasure and don't want to forget.

     But as the seasons change and winter arrives it is more difficult to get out into the wild. But I have photographs to remind me.  I enjoy hanging these reflective images on my walls where I can see the daily.

     These kind of photographs make for an inviting space to relax in.  When I sit down at the end of the day I can't think of a more perfect way to relax than enjoying natures imperfect perfection.

     The beginning of September heralds the end of summer and the start of Autumn here in the northern hemisphere.  This brings with it the promise of the bright reds, yellows and oranges of the season.

     I have often wondered if there is a reason for the bright colors of Autumn.  Red, orange and yellow are all warm colors. They vibrate with happiness and warm feelings.  I wonder if their purpose is to gives us an overload for us to store away to recall during the dark, cold days of winter.  Like a squirrel with acorns, we store away memories of those colors and the delicious feelings we had when seeing nature bathed in them.

     We are fortunate that we can savor these colors in our homes long after they have left Mother Nature. As we start our way into the cooler months consider ways to bring these warm happy colors into your home.  One way for me is the photograph of the path into the woods featured here.  I look at it and can remember the walk, the warmth of the sun and the smells of Autumn all year long.

     How many times over the years has someone said this to you - You Should Do This?

     I don't know what made me stop and think about all the 'shoulds' I have been given in regards to my photography.  Perhaps it was when my favorite bud vase tipped over and broke, not once, but twice in one week.  And yes, after the first break, which was small, I was still using it.  It was a favorite vase.  The second break was major and I finally got the message.  The joy was gone because I was performing the shoulds and not what my desires were.

     I've thought about it a lot since then.  The conclusion I reached was that I need to be producing the images that I see and love.  Images that I would and do decorate my home with and hopefully you will see what I do and love them enough to use in your home decor.

     I want to continue to explore the topic of the benefits of nature and natural environments on us.  

     Research has been done in hospitals that shows patients that looked out on trees and plants as opposed to viewing a brick wall recovered more quickly.  Honestly who wouldn't want to  look out a window and see a natural environment as opposed to a brick wall or a parking lot?  It doesn't help that the colors generally chosen for hospital walls borders on horrid. It just seems logical to me that sick people would want to see some trees or flowers out the window.

     Viewing nature requires very little from us.  Our everyday life takes energy from us, but natural environments give back.  They rejuvenate.  We need to concentrate on all our activities like driving or writing an email or report that it mentally drains us. Viewing nature doesn't require us to concentrate.  Our minds can switch modes and relax which allows it to refill it's energy required for our other activities.

     Many city and apartment dwellers don't have much of a natural view from their homes. This is a condition that would support bringing in house plants or pictures of nature into the home and even your office decor.  The workplace shouldn't be left out in a consideration to bring a more natural environment into our lives.  Imagine how good you would feel taking a nature break in the middle of the day! Your afternoon would be more energized if you refueled your nature requirement for healthy living.

     Stay tuned as next post I want to talk about what other countries are doing as they realize the impact and value that nature has in our lives and surroundings.

     Learning the rules that relate to your field of artistic endeavor is important.  The rules are how we learn what works and why.  Learning the rules allows us to grow as an artist.

     Once you understand why something works you are able to bend or break that rule successfully.  This is how you develop your look or personal artistic style.  Learning to manipulate the rules, so that everything still works, is its own art form.  It doesn't happen overnight and can require years of work before you can make it work.

     It doesn't matter what form your artistic outlet takes be it painting, photography or interior design, you must do the work first.  Learn how to create the basics of your art form.  Everyone must first understand the rules. Only then can you successfully make your personal artistic style and statement shine.

     Are you an artist?  How have you learned to break the rules successfully?