BE STILL...and SEE Photography

Reflecting on who I am...what is important to me...and the gifts I offer the world, I have reorganized this PhotoSchmoozer blog into separate pages for your viewing. I am about so much...people - relationships - drums and rhythms and especially photography...and I realize that although separate, they are all so INTEGRATED into the Whole of who I am!! It's a very peaceful thought and I am thankful for the intuitive gift to see the connections and the relationships. Enjoy the journey through the blog...and WELCOME.
Contemplative photography is about being totally present and seeing exactly what is before you, without filters or judgment. It is about seeing with your heart.Doesn't everyone see what is before them? Not really. You may see a candle on a table. Do you also see the shadows it creates? Or the reflections that the light casts on it? Or it's underlying shape and form?



DRUMS, Rhythms and Relationships

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Maddie's Signs of Spring!!

 
The First Day of Spring found PhotoSchmoozer walking down to the lake with a friend.  Just a time to connect and catch our 10 minutes in the sunshine and celebrate Spring - the time of New Beginnings.  We were chatting with the ducks and watching folks fishing, planning our new beginnings and laughing and dreaming. All of a sudden Maddie came over from fishing and showed me her hand ful of worms!!  Oh my did it bring back memories of being a teacher and having to be careful with reactions so the kids would know it was 'ok' to touch and try new things.  I took a deep breath and said, "WOW That's great and what are you going to do with them?"  Phew - luckily she didn't ask me if I wanted to hold them.  She was using them for fishing and was going to take some home to show her mom too!!  Happy Spring and Happy Fishing Maddie!  May this be a time of exciting new beginnings for all of us as we watch the new growth emerging from the ground and the baby birds from the nests!!  We can truly appreciate life and all of its beauty. What a message!!  Love it!!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Meet My Special Gracie!!

Working at home can sometimes feel lonely and disconnected.  Some say it is 'perfect', but for PhotoSchmoozer who likes to out and about and chatting people up, well, something is just not in synch.  On top of that today was totally rainy and dreary - no Vitamin D and lots of transitions and changes in the air.  Sitting here in the office, I looked around at memories and saw Gracie looking at me.  She is totally special.  Jon bought her for me when he first started Wesleyan in 1991!  He even packed her up and sent her to me for my birthday!  I always tell my guys that little things mean a lot to me and Gracie is a perfect example of the love and caring that has always come from our son!!  She helped the day go well by just having her sitting on my lap.  When I go to maryi's farm, her cat Stewie has befriended me and it is the same feeling (though I don't get itchy eyes from Gracie!!)  Stewie jumps right up on my lap and settles in and purrs like crazy.  Not being a cat lover, I wondered, but there is a special connection. Hmmmmm where is my camera when I go to the farm?  Watch for Stewie right here soon.  Until then, postings will be whatever is around in my immediate world.  That is the simplicity of life and it is 'just right'.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Gaze into my Eyes!!

I don't like landscapes, whole exhibits at the Philadelphia Flower Show or the 'big picture' of the world.  What fascinates me when I really sit still and watch are the little details that put together make the whole complete!!  This year it was no different!  I sent Jon pictures and he wondered where the big
 views of the exhibits were?!?  I went back and looked at more than 200 pictures and there were none!!  I have what I love - the beautiful details and this creature from the New Zealand exhibit and the close up of her eye (I made her female!!) captured my fancy.  I stood gazing for quite awhile and was taken in by the glimmer of the light in the big blue eyes.  Now for those of you who really know me, you will realize that my eyes are my favorite part of me and I love to look at other people's eyes.  I was listening to Doreen Virtue the other night talking about Archangel Michael and it was his eyes that were her most vivid description of him!!  Oh by the way, I always thought my eyes were hazel and changeable, but in the past few years, I have been told how beautiful my BLUE eyes are.  Maybe that is why I connected with this big blue one on the NZ 'insect'.  Who knows??  And then is it really important?  No...I connected and was fascinated and took pictures to share.  That is what matters to PhotoSchmoozer!!
(And this post is one of those mistakes that I don't know how to fix when it happens.  I can't get a clear background?!?!) For that matter, we can't find the little tape recorder in our house either!!  HELP!!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Pesky but Persistent

Yes we could look at this picture and say, "How Cute?!?" Or we could look at this picture and say, "What a pest?"  We could feel sorry for the birds as this persisten little rodent climbs up and eats lots of their food.  Or we could say that there is enough to go around and everyone can be satisfied.  For PhotoSchmoozer, looking out the window and seeing this little critter was a photo op without a doubt!!  I carefully opened the kitchen window to get a clear picture (the sunlight was not in a cooperative position though) and took his picture.  Wonder why I always refer to squirrels as 'he'.  Have to be some of each for the cute little critters to contionue to exist right??  So, when I opened the window, he scurried away - for a very brief minute.  then he was back to the post, up to the feedere and off across the wire to the suet feeder.  Now Bill has put up a metal tube cover on the post and an electronic zapper on the feeder.  Score?  Squirrel 1, Bill 0, but for anyone who knows my husband, he is just as persistent as the squirrel and the score will even up and move forward in his favor. Of this I can be sure!!
NOTE:  As of today, 3.11.10, we thought the score was even BUT alas, the squirrels seems to rather clever and food is their incentive.  They get up there without getting zapped!!