My favorite time of the year. The sights and sounds of Christmas. So since I’m in a festive mood here are some reds and whites from the floral kingdom.
Photo 1: Festive Dahlia
Photo 2: White Orchids
Photo 3: Red Dahlia
Photo 4: Red Orchids
Photo 5: Speckled red orchids
Happy Holidays everyone!
Something old, something new, nothing borrowed, nothing blue! Some vintage rose photos just for you!
Photo 1: Vintage yellow roses
Photo 2: Single red vintage rose
Photo 3: Vintage roses on a bed of petals
Photo 4: Vintage rose pair
Photo 5: Vintage rose bouquet
The first Friday in October is World Smile Day! Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963 and thanks to him we now have more opportunities to share a smile and an act of kindness!
Here a few photos that I hope will keep you smiling!
Photo 1: Darling Dahlia
Photo 2: Spray of Pink Orchids
Photo 3: Flowers and Swords make me smile (this was at a photo shoot with my Kuk Sool Won Master)
Photo courtesy of Portrait Photographer, Sharon Cohen (@TheVanityFlare)
Photo 4: Bounty of Black-eyed Susans
There are few better ways for a floral photographer to celebrate a birthday as being surrounded by exotic flowers with camera in hand and time to spare.
My lovely family took me along to the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco and I spent a few happy hours bonding with the beautiful blooms.
Photo 1: Orchid
Photo 2: Hibiscus
Photo 3: White Orchid
Photo 4: Yellow Cattleya orchids
The walk home after the bustling activity of the school run is my time for some quiet reflection and focusing my mind for the day. What’s great when I get home is that the wonders in the garden greet me and there is always something to see and make me grateful for being here.
Photo 1: Rose blooming
Photo 2: Memorable rosey moment
Photo 3: Glowing rose
Photo 4: Opening rose
Photo 5: Musing Society Garlic
September is worth celebrating! Not just because it’s my birthday month but my husband celebrates his a few days before mine too!
I found this poem by John Updike to be a lovely reflection of the feel of September where we are.
Wishing you all a fabulous September!
Photo 1: Mother cuts Chrysanthemums
September Poem by John Updike
The breezes taste
of apple peel.
The air is full
of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
burning brush,
new books, erasers,
chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
well-honeyed hum,
and Mother cuts
chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
with suds, the days
are polished with
a morning haze.
Photo 2: Yellow Chrysanthemum Buttons
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” William Shakespeare
Despite the persistent drought and the subsequent water restrictions the rose bushes continue to produce some lovely specimens. After trimming the pink one I was really happy to see the blooms appear.
Photo 1: Pink rose
Photo 2: Pretty in pink
Photo 3: Blooming pink roses
Photo 4: Pink rose bud
Making art is an expression of who I am.
The wonders I see and experience are a catalyst for creating and sharing.
I make art because the alternative is not an option.
Quote 1: “When passion fuels your destiny, joy will appear!” ~Vanessa Lee Thomas
My morning ritual usually includes reading the latest blog post by Seth Godin. It’s a way to kick my brain into gear and give me food for thought.
His recent post, What is your art? really resonated with me. I produce my art because I want to share something beautiful with the world and because I love it!
I am so grateful to all those who tell me that my art makes them smile and brightens their day. That they think of me when they see flowers. It warms my soul.
Quote 2: “Little deeds are like little seeds, they can grow to flowers or to weeds” ~Daniel D Palmer
Quote 3: “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our lives would change” ~ Buddha
Quote 4: ” Your soul can see the beauty that surrounds you, embrace it!” ~Vanessa Lee Thomas
It seems to be a philosophical and gratitude filled period for me so I’m sharing some pics and quotes. Enjoy!
Quote 1: Truly perfect is becoming friendly with your imperfections on the way to doing something remarkable ~ SethGodin
Quote 2: Notice life’s most precious moments as they happen
Quote 3: Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit. We cannot flower without it. -Jess Lair
Quote 4: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. ~Melody Beattie
Quote 5: We are not affected by events but by the view we take of them. Event + Response = Outcome ~Jack Canfield
It’s a stunningly beautiful morning in Northern California today. As my children excitedly anticipate the start of the summer break the mood is jovial and we pay attention to little details on the school run. We spotted a swallowtail butterfly fluttering between the emerging white agapanthus and its wings were catching the morning sunlight. There is so much we can be thankful for and these small moments remind me about the joy to be found in living.
Photo 1: Be thoughtful. Be Kind. Be Considerate.
Photo 2: There are small moments of beauty in every day of you choose to find them.
Photo 3: Each new day is an opportunity to try again!
Photo 4: Surround yourself with positive people who nurture your dreams!
Reading my children’s yearbooks and seeing all the good wishes made me want to share them too – so HAGS to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere and HUGS to everyone in the South!