Veiling the Beauty

Our warm, sunny July days have temporarily turned into cool rainy days.  I don't mind the rain and since I've been in such a contemplative mood for the last few weeks, I welcomed those little drops of liquid from the heavens with open arms.

As I was sorting through some of my photos, I was reminded of another rainy day.  I had traveled five hours to spend the weekend at the gorge and was very excited to get some picture of the beautiful canyon walls and the sparkling water they surrounded.  To my dismay, it rained the whole time I was there.  I tried taking some photographs but was disappointed that they lacked the colors I was so looking forward to capturing.

It wasn't until looking at those photos today that I realized they were beautiful in their own way.  The clouds were low and hanging over me creating an erie but intriguing effect.  I have learned that there is beauty in everything.  Sometimes we just have to look a little harder and realize that even though we do not see what we may want to or expect, it still can be beautiful.

From the Heart

I have always been intrigued with bleeding heart plants.  I love the shape of their leaves and how delicate and brightly colored the hearts are.  Growing up I was able to enjoy these beautiful plants not only in my mother's garden but also in my Grandma's.

A "bleeding" heart can be a beautiful thing if we remember to keep in view the lessons we can learn in those times in life when our heart may be broken.  Some of our strongest attributes grow only through being broken hearted.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

~Psalms 34:18~

Take Me There

By the still water

Where air is crisp and clear

Wildflower meadows

Take me there

Words taken from the unknown author of the song "Take Me There"

Why I Love Photographs

The mind is a wonderful thing.  It controls our entire bodies, allows us to feel emotion, think thoughts, hold memories and it probably performs many other functions that I can't even begin to comprehend.  As powerful as this central command center is the recalling of memories function is imperfect and not always complete.

Maybe I'm the only one with this problem but often times, as hard as I try to remember some things I find that over time, the memories become less vivid, begin to fade and sometimes slip away all together.  And that is why I love photographs so much.  They capture in great detail the things that we see that may not be held in our memories the way that we want them to be.  Photographs allow us to refresh the memory in our minds and bring back to us the feelings, smells and tastes that are associated with these images captured through the lens of a camera.

I've been reflecting a lot lately on my memories and my poor mind has been overworked in the recall department.  As I've sorted through family photos, some memories are easy to pull up and I can see them in my head almost as clear as the printed picture.  Others I do not remember at all either because I simply can't recall them or because I was simply too
young to remember the event.

Either way, my heart is thankful that we don't have to rely on our minds to capture all the details.  As hard as I try to remember, with the simple click of a shutter I can have a tangible memory, one that if well cared for will not fade no matter how many years pass by.

Gram and Me 1989

The Pasture

By Robert Frost

I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;

I'll only stop to rake the leaves away

(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):

I sha'n't be gone long. - You come too.

I'm going out to fetch the little calf

That's standing by the mother.  It's so young,

It totters when she licks it with her tongue.

I sha'n't be gone long. - You come too.

The View from 11,000 Feet

My Grandpa is a pilot and one of my favorite things to do with him is to buzz around the valley that he lives in and enjoy the world from a different point of view.  Cars and houses look as small as bugs and people aren't visible to the naked eye.  The hillsides and mountains surrounding the valley are impeccable and every once in a while a herd of deer or elk can be spotted.

It's amazing how much can be seen with a simple change of perspective.  Life comes alive in a new way and beauty takes on a whole new meaning.  The view from 11,000 feet is memorable and eye opening - a perfectly picturesque scene.

To be up high flying through the sky

To be where the air is clear

To be able to see forever and ever

That's where I want to be

Music in My Heart

Where does the music go when the playing is done?

Perhaps each graceful note floats to Heaven above.

 With spectacles removed and the strings ever quiet,

the notes on the pages stand firmly in place.

Standing quiet and ready it will never again know

the touch of the skilled fingers it loved for so long.

 Yet it stands there just waiting, keys in ready, music there

for it's next graceful melody that may never be heard.

I will always remember the sounds of those keys

as they were played so lovingly by those old withered hands.

I will always remember the melodies well-known.

If the notes aren't in Heaven they are still in my heart.

Inspiration

My Grandmother recently passed away which has led me to spend a lot of time contemplating my place in this world.  I am my Grandmother's namesake and I feel as though I have her legacy to uphold.  She was the most kind, caring person I have ever known.  She was a true woman of service.  She always believed in me and encouraged me to reach for my dreams.

I have always had a love for taking pictures.  I love capturing the memories that words can't quite describe and Gram always loved my pictures.  I've been contemplating trying my hand at photography for quite some time but never felt like I was skilled enough.  I don't like to edit pictures and prefer that I capture the perfect print by simply using my vision and perspective to capture the moments that I love most.

With the passing of Gram, I realize that I need to chase my dream.  I will never get better if I don't practice.  I wasn't able to be what my Grandmother knew I could be while she was here but I know that she will still be with me.

One of my Gram's favorite places was her beloved Meadow.  As I spent time down there with my camera I captured how I was feeling with a simple picture.

As I sit here and ponder in this place that she loved

I realize that I have some big shoes to fill.

But I do not worry for she is still here.

I may not see her but I'm sure she sees me.

I'm filled with her love as the sun kisses my cheeks

And it's almost as if the wind's whispering "I love you dear."

I look at my reflection in the water ahead

And realize she's looking back through my gaze.

As I sit here and ponder in this place that she loved

I know that she's with me looking down from above.