A New Year

To be Aware of the Wonder of Light

May your greatest wish come true in 2013 !

Thank you for being my friend and taking time to visit my blog.

This is a battery-bulb candle...that our sweet "little bits" is holding.

THE END BEFORE THE BEGINNING

Usually my intentions are earnest and sincere, whole-heartedly intended to be fulfilled.

BUT there are times when nothing evolves, it stops before it begins, the good intention evaporates like the  frost on my car windows when struck by the first rays of sun.

To be honest I have several GOOD INTENTIONS that didn't happen in 2012, one of which was so simple, so lovely, such a nice opportunity but poof, like the frost, the opportunity vanished.

Kat Sloma, whom I have taken many photography related courses and learned so much from, offered an opportunity to post ONCE a month our favorite photo of that month.  Not hard, rather fun. A GRAND IDEA I thought, but there was the necessary deadline, and despite her reminders via a newsletter, I never made the deadline. When I would think of it, the deadline had passed.  And I might miss it this time, but I am here to attempt to fulfill 1/12th of a commitment to Photo-Heart Connection.

This is called "tidy-ing-up loose ends" before I do it again in 2013!

My phone camera and Big Mama were pretty busy during December there were so many super opportunities to shoot fun photos.....mostly fading gardens, skeleton trees, holiday lights and family...but we gained a new family member this past autumn and the camera really kicked up a notch with this adorable, photographic, "holds still" new Grand-Doggie.

BLOSSOM BROWN

Blossom was a mistreated, malnourished, ill, damaged, over-bred dog.

She is alive because a wonderful humane society rescued her and she regained some strength and vitality.  The volunteers fell in love with her, but still, a year later, she remained in the humane center.

Ashley and Daniel met Blossom and saw all of her potential and that she deserved a better and more meaningful life.  So they took her home as a foster dog. Love was immediate.

While we were visiting them in the autumn, the decision was made, Blossom needed to be a full fledge member of their home no more "foster" nonsense, but a full adoption and commitment. 

It was one of those Really Good Ideas!

 Blossom Brown received the full Christmas treatment.

Loads of love from visiting family, more photos taken than of anyone else, the privilege to sleep under the Christmas tree and feel the warmth of the lights on her once damaged back, special snacks and presents.

She fell in love with her long-legged Pink Piggy. They are now constant companions.  The "mother" who birthed too many puppies, can now enjoy a "childhood" and be cared for and loved. 

Yes, this photo represents what a healthy dose of humanity, compassion, love and friendship can do for a broken heart...

ANY HEART!

Blossom has truly lived up to her new name.

If you would care to join me as I once again attempt to post on a monthly basis my favorite photo of the month, join me at Kat's Photo-Heart Connection. (click on links above)

  (And feel free to remind me of the deadline dates.) 

Celebrate What's Right With the World

A few months ago I tumbled into an appealing and thoughtful photography website.  Dewitt Jones is a professional photographer.  His work is remarkable, among the best. 

This seems like the right time to share with those who want to focus on the positive in their lives  Dewitt's: Celebrate What is Right with the World.

It is so easy to get bound by the profoundly sad, the slowness by which we learn to cooperate and listen to one another.  It is easy to slip over the edge into finding little that is positive in our lives and in the world.

I subscribed to his blog a few months ago and when I see his name pop up in my mail, I am eager to see what beautiful photo he has shared along with a meaningful quote.

No selling, or needing to read his blog, simply a quote and a photo.  Of course there is much within his website to explore.

I am sticking a note on my computer to join his Celebration of What is Right in the World by trying to share one of my photographs on an almost weekly basis.  Would love to have you join me.

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The quote is  from Dewitt. Check out his site, Celebrate What's Right With the World: How easy it is to celebrate a birthday, a marriage, a holiday. How hard it is to hold that same perspective in our daily lives. Everyday we are inundated with messages that tell us what’s wrong with our world. It’s not surprising that we lose sight of all the things that are right with it; of all that is truly worth celebrating. As a photographer, I have a choice of what lens I put on my camera; a choice of how I am going to view the world. I choose to celebrate. Why? Because it imbues me with gratitude, because it allows me to see the best in people and situations, because it fills me with energy. This website is for those who choose celebration. A gathering place where we can come to share, to learn, to recharge, to take action. To change the world - one celebration at a time.

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The World's Most Precious Treasure

CHILDREN

Children come in all shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs, circumstances, abilities and disabilities and innate innocence.

Today's children, world wide, are our future, but for now, while young they are EVERYONE'S responsibility and blessing.

In our little spot in North Carolina, my husband and I have been blessed with five children, all of whom were once very young, rambunctious, inquisitive, adorable, not-so-adorable, noisy, while sleeping looked like angels, a true mix-match of energy and joy.

We have been blessed by their beautiful spouses;

which gave us 

ELEVEN GRANDCHILDREN
to love and cherish.

There is a glow in a parent's eyes, that says: This is my child whom I dearly love and would protect with my life. 

In honor of the children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the children of Syria, far off corners of Africa, Cambodia, Afghanistan....places where children, can not protect themselves and are suffering: I wish to share photos of children one could see anywhere and just smile.  May all of our children be protected and cherished.

Children can run and run, and run again. Their energy and vitality are part of their youth....until they are stopped.

In our home a candle burns, the glow reminds me of the need for constant compassion and outreach for others who are in great need.

UNICEF  

if you would like to help a child whose home is Anywhere.

iPhone Phun

I have written very little on this blog about using an iPhone or iPad for taking photos, then scrambling them with a bevy of Apps.

Actually, I probably take more photos with my phone and sometimes tablet than my Big Mama Camera.

Time to change it up around here and share a few super fun apps.  

Two days ago I downloaded 

Fuzel Pro

 I wasn't fully convinced I needed another "collage" shaping app.

But this one has turned out to be quirky, whimsical and just plain fun.

The above is a more typical collage layout....so I moved from ordinary to
Phunky-Phun 

No more squares and rectangles, this is a psychedelic kaleidoscope.

The shape configurations, filters, borders, writing and editing makes it a one stop app. 

In today's Apple news,  I read that Fuzel Pro is 

App Store

BEST of 2012

(photo and video magic)

Congratulations and happy to have found you. I think we will be good friends.  

A Moment Of Serenity

"It has to do with being alive, with seeing the beauty of something in this very moment and not postponing it."

Burshild Holmer

 May we all seek our peaceful moments or memories to lift us through a busy season.

PIES GALORE

If your family and friends are like ours, 

everyone takes lots of photos, and prepares lots and lots of food through out the holidays.

Looking back--- what is one of my most fond moments, besides stuffing, loading and basting a 22 pound turkey and preparing enough stuffing to feed a battalion?

PIES

And I didn't BAKE a single one.

I remember pies the best because our daughter, Sarah, sent photos of her amazing pies she created. 

She has decided that her latest undertaking is to make every type of pie possible.  Pies and Photography a great combo.

It should be mentioned that Sarah is very petite, yet having an Asian style kitchen, even she can barely fit in.  Yet out of that tiny space with no dishwasher or disposal, comes a WEALTH of delicious foods.

All in our family loves creating tasty food.
Our son, Hunter, loves to bake cakes and pies.
His specialities are coconut cream pie and pecan pie.

My favorite, Hunter's Pecan Pie

Hmmm, I am not sure. I also ADORE Hunter's Coconut Cream.

These little monkeys are just working up their appetite for dessert!

And this little rascal, must haven eaten ALL of the BERRY PIE!

The only PIE claim I can make this year is sketching! Not nearly as appealing!!! 

Our entire family loves to cook...bake...and eat.

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Our family is blessed. No one goes hungry, abundance is piled upon our plates: an embarrassment of riches.
All the more reason to donate to our favorite charities that help those who need a "hands-up."
In our local community we have over 1,000 children who do not get enough to eat on a daily basis. 

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These Vietnamese children are smiling, happy, content in their world.  But feeding and clothing them is very difficult.
It is like this in too many places all over the world.  

I am so grateful for the many organizations and charities and those who run them,  that give us the opportunity to donate and be a tiny part of feeding our brothers and sisters. 

I know that you join us in donating to local food banks, churches who serve others on a daily basis, any opportunity to share our bounty.

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Today, November 30th, is our daughter's birthday.  Her birth ushered in the Christmas and Hannukah Season.  
So tonight we have a family celebration, for which Hunter baked a luscious chocolate cake, smothered in raspberries.  We are rather

PIE-D-OUT!!!!!!