My peaceful place.

Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go. - Louise Driscoll

This is a photo of my Koi pond, my sanctuary. This is where I spend most mornings quietly sipping my coffee and enjoying the quiet first moments of the day. I feel very close to God when I sit here. Maybe it's because it is so peaceful or maybe it's just because this is the only time of day that I have to myself.  I have discoverd that I need a few minutes each day to reflect. This morning it was 20 degrees outside and yet I still couldn't resist bundling up and spending a few minutes by the pond.  So... needless to say, I am eagerly looking forward to Spring.

The Bridge....

Today I decided to participate in a Weekly Blogging Challenge over at SB.com. The whole point of the challenge is to inspire us to write. Well, I really need some help in that area because I am much more of a visual person and have always had trouble putting my feelings into words. We were given 3 choices to use as inspiration and here is the one I chose.  An awesome, almost mystical photo of a bridge.

So here goes...  This photo inspires me because when I look at it I think of my faith. At heart, I am an optimist (or maybe it's just that I am not a quitter.)  I don't know, but like this photo I always belive that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Something good will come from heartache. So even when things are darkest and I find myself wanting to quit,  I can't. Something in my heart whispers "keep trying...you will get there". It took years, but I have finally come to terms with the fact that there are times I may never really understand the "WHYS". That's ok...I don't need to.  I have faith that it will all turn out for the best. 

One of my favorite songs is from Josh Wilson and it's called Before the Morning.  I listen to it everytime I am down.  Here are the lyrics.

Do you wonder why you have to

Feel the things that hurt you?

If there's a God who loves you

Where is He now?

Or maybe there are things you can't see

And all those things are happening

To bring a better ending

Someday, somehow you'll see, you'll see

Would you dare, would you dare to believe

That you still have a reason to sing?

'Cause the pain that you've been feeling

It can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you gotta wait for the light

Press on and just fight the good fight

'Cause the pain that you've been feeling

It's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends

And you know where you're going

You just don't know how you'll get there

So say a prayer

And hold on

'Cause there's good for those who love God

But life is not a snapshot

It might take a little time, but you'll see the bigger picture

Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=New8i_eX3x8&ob=av2n

From a Distance Photo Challange

This weeks I Heart Faces theme is From A Distance. The challenge is a little different from the usual challenges  because the subjects face does not have to be clearly visible! 

I decided to submit a photo taken from my trip to China. I took this pictureof my mother sitting on the steps of he Great Wall of China. I love this photo because it shows how expansive and curvy the wall is. Be sure to check out the other beautiful entries at http://www.iheartfaces.com/2011/06/photo-challenge-from-a-distance/

I Heart Faces Pet Challenge

This is a photo of Maple, one of our dairy goats.  She is a sweetheart and always very curious to see what's going on around her. Check out the rest of the Pet photos at I Heart Faces http://www.iheartfaces.com/2011/04/photo-challenge-pets/ for this weeks challenge.

Reminder to self

Yikes...I'm so far behind!

Well as I told you a few weeks ago, I decided to participate in Project Love Me.  After only 4 prompts, I am now 4 prompts behind.  HHHHHHMMMMM.  I know the reason... I really hate writing about myself and my feelings.  I guess that's why my LO's are always about other people. LOL.  I am really going to try  to get at least 1 or 2 LO's done today.  Here were the first 4 prompts: Week 1- iDream  Week 2- Flashback  Week 3- The Flip Side  Week 4- Words of Wisdom.  I think I may try to work backwards because I have tried 4 or 5 times to journal week 1 and for some reason I can't write anything that I am happy with.  BTW, this very cool photo is courtesy of http://www.thenotebookdoodles.com/.  Be sure to check them out!


Here it is...I kept my promise to myself and actually did a LO and it was Week 1.

Trying Out A New Camera

After dropping my camera into our pond (twice) and having it slip out of my hands and bounce down the bleachers at a baseball game, I finally had to admit I needed a new camera.  While Christmas shopping, we stopped at the electronics store and came across the new Sony NEX-3.  It was very light and promised to take near DSLR quality photos.  I decided to give it a try.

So far here is what I have discovered about this camera:

Pros
light weight - 2.2 lbs
video quality is good
quick shutter response time
continuous shooting at 7 frames per second


Cons
short battery life
navigation speed - the camera is slow when jumping between shoot mode and playback mode
there aren't many available lenses
flash has a weak range area

Here is a close up of my son taken with the camera.

Our dog

Winter has arrived!

Woke up yesterday morning,to a small sprinkling of snow on the ground and all of my beautiful plants frozen.  I guess it's an appropriate way to start December, but I'm not ready for it.

I love Fall!!

falling leaves
hide the path
so quietly.
 
 
~John Bailey, "Autumn," a haiku year, 2001

I think that Nathanial Hawthorne explained just how I feel about fall in this quote "I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air." With all the beautiful weather it really puts me in the mood to take photos for here are some from the past few days.

Swiss Festival

The Ohio Swiss Festival

Attending and participating in The Ohio Swiss festival has become a part of our family's traditions. It is a somewhat small event but our family loves it!  You can sample award-winning wine and cheese from local artisans. You can attend or be in the 2 parades,or listen to music ranging from polka to Americana  One of our favorite things at the festival is to watch the Steinstossen,The Throwing of the Stone.  During the Steinstossen, competitors attempt to throw a huge stone which weighs about 138 lbs as far as possible. There is a lighter stone for the ladies event, only 75 lbs.  There is also a 5K run, Yodeling Contest, Swiss Costume Contest, Queen Crowning and of course the Crowning of the Ohio Swiss Festival Grand Champion Cheese Maker.  This year Broad Run Cheesehouse was the grand champion, but my vote is  always for last years champion, Guggisberg Cheese Co. On a personal note, I think Guggisberg Swiss goes very well with a lager beer or a Zinfandel.

Here are some pictures of my son, who won Best Decorated Bike in the Kiddie Parade.

Here are a few of my youngest on his "bike".

A few new photos

No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.- Oscar Wilde

I picked up a pizza today and while I was waiting I decided to take a few photos.  This was taken right beside the pizza parlor. My husband saw an old alley way and I saw art. This photo is a perfect example of why I love photography.  At any moment, or any where you may capture a moment that is unique to you and be able to share it for eternity with everyone that comes in contact with your art.

Actions

Today I tried out a few new photoshop actions.  I use these quite a bit for photo editing. 

Cool eyelash brush

The last time I was on the Deviant Art web site I came across these really amazing eyelash brushes that were available for free...yes free download.  They were courtesy of redheadstock. They work fantastic and make add a vey dramatic appearance to your eyes in a photo.  I use Photoshop Elements 7, and they worked perfectly with my program.  Here is an example of what I did with the brushes.  They really made my eyes stand out in the photo for my LO. Here is a link to the page where I found them. http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=brushes+lash#/d102isv

credits for the products used on my LO can be found here.http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/326267/view/2887693/-1/1.html

A Rainy Friday

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.