On Solid Ground

Be sure and put your feet in the right place…

…and then stand firm.

Abraham Lincoln

That’s a great quote for me today. I’m beginning to realize that sometimes “self-learning” doesn’t really teach me anything. Well, it does but it doesn’t.

It’s like that joke about men never wanting to ask for directions. I’ll spend hours on the computer—testing out tools— and never take a second to open up any form of instructional material. Obviously that joke applies to women as well. Ha!

What I’m really learning is that sometimes you learn a lot more when you look to others for guidance. That being said, I’m hoping to spend the next (school free) month looking at other blogs—and tutorials and such.

The man in this photograph is the same paddle boarder that was seen in Walking on Water —but on a different day. He was back on solid ground, and looking a little tired. That paddling must be exhausting! I gave the image a silhouette appearance because of the way he’s looking down. He seems humble.

That’s about all for now. Peace & love to you all. Life is good and God is great!

Yesterday’s News

What screws us up most in life is the picture in our head of how it’s supposed to be.

—Author Unknown

I’ve been thinking a lot. That’s what happens when I have time on my hands (did I just say that in an earlier post?). What I’ve noticed lately is that—in certain areas—I’m a bit of a control freak. Nothing huge, mind you, just little nagging issues that bother me.

keep reading

The Man Cave

Boys & Their Toys

It started with skates,

Then a skateboard or two.

The toys just got bigger,

As the little ones grew.

A bike; then a car,

With a rack on the top,

To haul all these toys…

Oh, when does it stop?!

Toys for water and sand,

Three wheelers and such,

Soon the car had to go,

Since it didn’t fit much.

A board for the snow,

One for catching a wave,

The garage has been shrinking,

Now we need a Man Cave!

Horsing Around

I’m taking a much needed break from my studies this evening. Just horsing around I guess! There are 6 more weeks in the semester, and I’m SO looking forward to some rest and relaxation.

The photography class I’m taking right now does NOT permit the use of any image altering software, so this Photoshop fiend is going bonkers. I figured, at the very least, I’d do a black and white this evening to let off some steam.

During an attempt to do some street photography, I stumbled on this horse. I thought it was an interesting subject, and he was not what I had expected to find out there on the streets. I did an unusual camera angle for the sake of class experimentation (yes, I did that on purpose). This course is forcing me out of my comfort zone… and it’s scary out here! 🙂

Anyway, I wanted to check in, say hello, and send some love. I miss everyone, and I’ll be checking up on you shortly.

Peace & Love!
—Janet

End of the Rainbow

Something wonderful happens when it rains here! I saw this ‘end of the rainbow’ a few weeks ago and thought it was a great image for this evening. I logged on a while ago and saw that I have 25 minutes to go until my sober anniversary. Woo!

School is keeping me SUPER busy, and I rarely come up for air… but I’ve been thinking about everyone!

Anyway, I added a lot of drama to this photo, just because. It was quite a dramatic feeling to walk out and see it in person. I never really knew if you could see the end of a rainbow until I actually saw it.

And now I’ve hit my 3 year sobriety mark and life is fabulous.

What’s funny is that I shared it on Facebook the day that I shot the image, and someone seemed adamant that it wasn’t real. I guess my Photoshop adventures have placed my photo shares in the “this image could be fake” category. BUT… it is real.

That’s about all for now. Miss you all and hope to have more time soon… “Spring Break” is just a couple weeks away. 🙂

Peace & Love Everyone!!

Directionally Challenged

—I need a little direction right now.

First of all, I took this photograph yesterday while riding with my son. I noticed the yellow lines in the mirrors and the Which Way Photo Challenge instantly came to mind. I realize I’ve already used the “rear view mirror” idea, but I had to do it again because I really enjoy how the lines repeat, but they don’t line up.

One of the things I love about word and photo challenges is that they provide you with a little direction. The blank canvas isn’t quite so “empty,” because you’ve been given a prompt to draw upon.

read on

Eclectic Thoughts

How does one decipher,

Mixed messages conveyed?

Go where there is no path,

But be careful not to stray.

Reach for the stars is guidance…

That often goes around,

But can this be achieved…

When keeping both feet on the ground?

Am I shooting for the moon…

If I aim to rise above the crowd?

Or is this evidence…

That my head is in the clouds?

Unraveling ancient proverbs,

Double edged, their meanings dual,

Will knowledge bring me power…

Or the wisdom of a fool?

—Janet

Written for Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Eclectic