Fall is not "quite" over yet!

I know I promised to be "through" with Fall, but these beautiful leaves were just laying on the bright green English Ivy and made such a pretty contrast. Soooo, I just had to take one more Fall picture.




Contrasting colors
Catch the eye of beholder
Demanding notice__________________________________________

Art is?

The Magic of Sand

 I've decided Art is Anything that Anyone does using Any kind of media.  That's what makes it so interesting!!!   A friend sent me images of this year's 2010 Sand Castle competition entries from Harrison Hotspring, British Columbia, Canada.  Quite detailed, quite unique, and quite interesting.

Camera Ready

    I have decided to "upgrade" my camera to the same status as my purse--that being a "total necessity".  My purse contains my "lifeline" to the world--my driver's license, my CREDIT CARDS, my medical and car insurance cards, my keys, money (yes, some people still use it), and those "more than important things"--makeup, a brush, a mirror, and Tic-Tacs.  I never leave my house without my purse!! 
   As I was pulling out of the driveway last night,  I noticed the sky was absolutely beautiful with great gashes of pink slashed through it.  I pulled back in and hurried to get my camera, but by the time I got my camera, found a place to photograph the sky without light poles, roofs, and other urban trappings,  the luscious pink coloring had faded.  I still thought the shots I took were beautiful in an eerie sort of way,though not as colorful as they could have been.   I have decided that from now on I'm going to "sling my camera over my shoulder"  just as I do my purse every time I walk out the door.  Then, I will always be "camera ready".


                           Trails of pink icing
                                   Frost the early evening sky
                                             A celebration

Let The Christmas Season Begin!

By Monday morning the pumpkins will be gone, replaced by evergreen and brightly colored Christmas balls. Another Thanksgiving come and gone, another opportunity to reflect on and be grateful for the many blessings we have had bestowed upon us during the year. And so, with a tinge of nostalgia for the passing of Fall, we turn our sights to a new season, another holiday. It is with great anticipation and enthusiasm that we greet the coming of winter and the Christmas Holidays. Bring on the stress, bring on the anxiety, the 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night--we can handle it!!  Because we know that even with all the "busyness" of the season, the joyfulness, the jubilance, the exhilaration we will feel will far outweigh any other emotion.
Let the Christmas Season Begin!

Creative Child?

How is this for a big "switch" in subject matter. I was standing in the kitchen, turned around, and there my grandson was with a pitcher on his head!! I'm a little worried about his sense of fashion--but who knows, maybe he is on to something.

Double Bonus!!!

As colorful and beautiful as Fall has been, it is time to move on to other subject matter. I must say that since I have actively been "looking" for photo ops lately, I have been much more aware and appreciative of my surroundings. My newly found hobby has given me many enjoyable hours searching for and taking some great photos--it has also heightened and deepened my respect and admiration for nature and the world we live in. Double bonus!!!!!

Ripples on the pond
Reflect the unrest we feel
Time to change, move on

Fall's Finale

November's splendor

Wild explosions of color

Beauty unrivaled

Three in One

I'm amazed that one vine can have 3 different colors of leaves at the same time.

The Mellow Season

Autumn is the mellow season,
What we lose in flowers we
more than gain in fruits.

Fall's Bursts of Color

 Flaming shades of Fall
     Flaring fiery color
                  bursts
        Make the spirit soar




Lustrous shades of Fall
   Radiate their brilliant
         glow
     So bright clear alive

Fall, the Festive Season

Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festive season,
When nature is all aglow.

Paradise

"Anywhere is Paradise;
 it's up to you."

















"Why not learn to enjoy the little
things---there are so many of them."

The Forest

        
         "Faith is the bird that sings while it is still dark in the forest."

The Bridge

Cross the bridge of trials
       Face  conquer  vanquish--  find peace
             Well worth the battle
                                                                               

  "Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher in a storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

Memories of Spring

"Up Close and Personal"

   Memories of Spring

     Lighten my spirit
            and soul

   Winter's onset near














          

Blue Sky

                    Pure blue sky above
          Lush green grass beneath our feet
                 What more can life bring

Three Stumps

 Memories remain    
Long after the bloom is gone---
Hidden in the roots

Stillness

    Motionless heron

       Knows the
      preciousness
         of calm

  Values the stillness  







                                               

Stately Oak

Stately graceful oak

Share your beauty
   shelter shade

Gift from Mother Earth   

We planted this Oak Tree 20 years ago.  We transplanted it with one of those
huge spades, and it was at least 20 years old then.  So, for 40 + years it has
added beauty to the world.

Holiday Tables

I am sure that my blog will become quite eclectic in its content from time to time.  I wanted to share an event we have here every year at the Wichita Center for the Arts.  It's a fundraiser, but also a great event to "kick off" the Holiday Season---Holiday Tables.   Businesses, individuals, or community groups decorate tables  to celebrate the Holidays or some other event.  I am always amazed at the beauty, creativity, and hard work that goes into putting these tables together.  The 40 tables range from glamorous and glitzy, to homey and  informal.  We raise around $40,000 that goes back to the Center.  We also have a bake sale while the Holiday Tables event is going on.  I made 5 recipes of Mini Sticky Buns that were snatched up before they could "hit the table".  They are sooooo good and soooooo easy--I thought I would share the recipe.
Mini Sticky Buns
1/3 C brown sugar              
1/3 C softened margarine              
2 T light corn syrup (Karo) 
8 oz can crescent rolls                  
2 T sugar                             
1/2 tsp cinnamon                             
1/2 C or more chopped pecans 
  1.  Mix marg., br. sugar, and syrup.  Spread in bottom of ungreased 8 in. pan.
       Sprinkle chopped pecans over all.
  2.  Separate crescent roll dough into 4 rectangles.  Press perforations together to seal.
  3.  Mix cinnamon and sugar.  Sprinkle evenly over rectangles.  Roll up each one from the short side.
  4.  Cut each roll into 5 equal pieces.  Place cut side down in the br. sugar mixture in rows of 4 x 5.
  5.  Bake @ 375 for 15 to 20 minutes.  Cool in pan for one minute, then invert onto foil or serving plate.  
       ENJOY!!!!!
                                                    
                                           
                                          

The Lake

Clear calm lucid still
Oh that our life could be so

What joy would live there

Lone Tree

Atop lofty cliff
Lone tree towers straight and tall
Affirming the world

Cast a Tall Shadow

Live your life boldly

Stand your ground challenge with verve

Cast a long shadow

        

 Cast a tall shadow

 Let yourself be known heard seen

       You are important

Morning Breaks

   


Golden sun come forth

Softly caress the new day

Spread infinite joy
     

The Joys of Creativity!

What joy I'm finding in posting this blog!!!!    Opening a blog has served a two-fold purpose----it has greatly enhanced my computer skills and has opened a whole new world of picture taking and writing to me.  I love posting some of my photos and adding a hastily written hiaku to many of them.  Being creative is sooooo self-satisfying.  Plus, scrolling through other bloggers posts has once again proven to me that the world is full of immensely talented people.

The softness of an Autumn day

Peek through summer reeds
Blue gentle waters beckon
Come, rest, take pleasure