growth / ambition

L-Nikon D-60 / T - Nikon 35mm

It was so quiet high up on this mountain top not far from Sugar Mountain. Quiet, windy and cold, but so peaceful. And what a view. What a beautiful site these farms were - acre after acre of neatly planted rows of rich evergreen. These trees are meticulously cared for - pruned and protected – in order to grow to the perfect height and shape for a Christmas tree. In fact, it takes approximately 12 to 15 years for a single tree to grow, from seedling to full height, to be harvested for a Christmas tree? That's a long time and a lot of hard work on the part of the farmer, but they say it's well worth the effort when their trees become the centerpiece of our holidays. Maybe there's something to learn from this: that which is worthwhile doesn't come to us without hard work, proper care, dedication and determination.
i love the quiet of a library, it's ability to elicit focus from whoever is experiencing it. focus, the desire for new knowledge and ambition - things that are undeniably important in one's life. it's necessary in one's self and those you surround yourself with. one must always know to reach and strive and push oneself to growth.

I feel like there is alot analogous to these two images, but I struggle with how to pull it together. Again, I leave it to you.

snail mail / puppy tails

L - Nikon / T - phone pic

Ah the simple things. Do we always really appreciate them, or do we too often take them for granted? Christina over at Soul Aperture is inviting us to join her in "the simple things" and for every blog that participates she and her family will donate $1 to Doctors Without Borders. Isn't that the nicest thing?
snail mail, a simple thank you, children's art. Many think it's simpler to just email, call or text but most of us still enjoy old-fashion mail in the box. I am lucky enough to have a most thoughtful little niece who draws me a picture and writes a few words, puts a stamp on it and places it in the mail box for me to receive. It makes my day all the brighter. / puppy breath, soft puppy fur, a wagging tail... i am thankful my friday visits with the puppies at the shelter. it's a simple thing for us to take few minutes out of our day to play and love on the many dogs that have no home. this simple activity puts a smile on my face and i think it makes them a little happier too.

Sugar / sweet

solo post - L, Canon video stills

Sorry I haven't visited you in a few days but as you can see I haven't been home, in Atlanta. I've been to the top Sugar Mountain, NC and down, several times - 13 hrs on skis, no rain, warm feet, 15 runs on the slopes, 17 trails, 2 falls, no wipe outs - sweet. Success. I was worried my older body would feel it. It's been 13 years since I last skied but after the first run down it didn't seem like it had been but a couple. That exhilarating feeling was not foreign to me - the wind against my face, the fresh air, the soft powdery snow underneath my skis gliding so smooth, the rhythm of swishing back and forth, and the rush of speed when you finally feel confident to point the skis straight ahead.
The weather was perfect - temperatures cold but comfortable, the glare of the sun just under the clouds, very slight winds, and no rain! It was wonderful! This old body is doing ok. I'm ready to go back.

copper links, pine path

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

I started another metalsmithing class for the winter months. I haven't worked with metal since being at the John Campbell school and it's nice to get back into it. Our instructor gave us an interesting assignment – to create whatever we wanted out of a bag of 16 copper washers. I decided to hammer on mine to create texture and even change the shape of some of the circles. This is what I have so far - a linked chain, unpolished and unfinished - a work in progress. / a new semester has begun and i'm starting to see the path i have ahead of me and appreciate the scenery as i pass through.

ordinary

solo post - L, Nikon

I was looking back over photos from the past year, trying to collect a few of my favorites. I found it funny that the ones that took me back to the moment the best where the very simple ones (not even necessarily good) taken of ordinary things. This one, for instance, was taken when I was at the John Campbell Folk School for a week. I went off without packing but one pair of socks. The mornings were unusually cold for October and the ground wet with dew on my early morning walks. I had to try to dry them in the sunlight every chance I had. Looking at this simple photo I can not only feel the cool, smooth wooden floors on my feet - all of the many wonderful memories come flooding back to me.
As I looked at other photos in my library I realized that it was the ones I had taken of my shoes, my feet on the ground that I stood, that really took me back to the moment the clearest - so clear I could smell the earth, feel the air, and hear the birds sing. Isn't that odd? I know it's nothing new, and every one does it, but I'll keep taking those photos of my feet wherever I go.

"Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like ordinary life." - storypeople

sepia / silver

solo post - L, Nikon

"I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness." ~Adeline Knapp

sparkle / glow

solo post - L, iphone

We are having a warming trend like the weather men said we would. The morning started out chilly but warmed up to a balmy 50º - warm enough to eat lunch outdoors. And I sure did need some time in the sun. On drive home the sky was awash with amazing colors. So pretty I was taking a photo at almost every stop light, then I had to stop by the Trader Joes. When I stepped out of the store the sky looked like it was on fire.
It will be near 60 tomorrow! I plan to be outside planting flowers? Just kidding. Hope you have an incredible weekend.

warm light / sun light

T- Nikon / L - Nikon

Today her's in on the left and mine is on the right (it just looked better that way)

i love the contrast between the wintry exterior and warm, homey interior. i get to see this lovely light every day now since my classes get out early [: / I guess we were both thinking about the warmth of sunlight and the beauty of it, especially during these cold, cold days. Evee seemed to enjoy that beam of sunlight too. Tomorrow is supposed to be much warmer - into the 40s I think.

coats / boots

solo post - L, Nikon

Coats, boots, scarves, gloves, hats... I love winter clothes and all the layers but it's been really cold - even these sheepskin lined boots are not keeping my feet warm. I guess I'm a lightweight southerner.

reality / perception

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

We got a little bit of snow last night and however little... it's still pretty. But it's very very cold (for down south). It was 16º this morning and going down to 12 tonight. I know that's no big deal to those that live up north but for here it's pretty unusual. Snow is too, so of course schools were closed and work delayed opening until 11am. yeah! It was nice having a relaxing breakfast of oatmeal and playing outside with Evee. / sad - no snow here. this photo i took of kodi last week reminded me of snow though.

hearts / love

solo post - L, Nikon, iphone

A simple dinner alone, eaten at the kitchen counter. That sounds so sad and pitiful but it's OK. She went back to school last night and the house is quite and I am alone once again, but there is a calm and I'm ok - really. We had such a great holiday together and the gifts haven't stopped. I got something in the mail just today - a Christmas gift from Taylor that was late in arriving. And I love it. It's a very cool leather camera strap from an etsy artist. Don't you love it when someone knows just what you'd like?

icy cold

solo post - L, iphone

Yep, it's cold – even way down here in the south. Stay warm, my friends.

refresh / reuse

solo post - L, Nikon

I sometimes have a sense of sadness after Christmas - the packing up of Christmas and the closing of a year can sometimes feel a bit depressing. But after I get started taking it all down, the sun starts to shine a little brighter in my home, I smile and get a feeling of rejuvenation - a sort of refreshed feeling comes about. It feels good. Take a deep breath and breathe new life into this new year - there are a lot of possibilities ahead and they are attainable if I put my mind to it.
It's all cleaned up and there is a sense of calm and peace in the house. It's very cold out there but my fire is burning and it's cozy in here.
And another thing that makes me smile - I take the popcorn/cranberry garland outside for the birds to enjoy.
Hope the New Year is off to a beautiful start for you all.

Wishing You Peace in 2010

L - Nikon, collaborative with T

listening to: I Wish You Peace