House of Butterflies

Butterflies are self propelled flowers. ~R.H. Heinlein

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough. ~Rabindranath Tagore

If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

Maya Angelou

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

All photographs © Angelia’s Photography taken using a Nikon D90, 18-200mm lens at the Fair Park Butterfly House, Dallas, Tx.

A Taste of Spring in the Heat of Summer

My Mother’s garden.

In the Spring, the hands of my mother turn the soil. She picks each plant lovingly and places it in the dirt. She pats the ground around it and wills it to grow beautiful.

She works her garden all the year, but most especially, spring and summer. Sweating, watering, and arranging until she gets it just about right (but it’s never done).

We look upon her gallery of color and placement as if in the finest of museums. From one garden bed to the next, there is more to gaze upon and revel in. Hidden delights find your eye in wonder. Magic sparkles and weaves throughout the yard, delighting in fairy tales come true.

I don’t know if I every thanked my mother for her work, or for the love of gardening, she has instilled in me. I don’t know if she knows how much I appreciate the beauty she brings to life.

I took my camera to Oklahoma, in hopes, I could capture her joy and return it to her.

Mom, you make life more beautiful by just being in it. Thank-you for what you share with us, and for what I can share with all of you.

Gardening is a very special gift. It’s a mix of nurture, artistry, and love. There are many lessons taught in the garden of life. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Martin Bird House

“There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.”

A peek in the Garden

When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden.”

Cottage Blooms amid the Statues

Snap Dragons

Statue Garden in Oklahoma

“A little garden in which to walk, and immensity in which to dream.”

Garden Pansies

Lantana

“All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday.”

Garden Girl Statue

Rose Bud

“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.”-Ben Hogan

Rose Bloom

St. Francis in the Garden

“”True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice.”
— St. Francis of Assisi

Yellow Bells

Garden Bird Statue

“To plant a garden is to believe in the future.”

Garden Statue Home

Stargazer Lily

Lily

“Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

White Snap Dragon Bloom

“Flowers whisper “Beauty!” to the world, even as they fade, wilt, fall.” ~Dr. SunWolf

Mushroom Statue in the Garden

Fisherman and Son Garden Statues

“Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall. Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.”

Sunset of Fire – Blaze Sky Blaze

Animate us with your feverish good-night. Saturate us in your fiery exit.

It’s not often I see a red sunset. I see pink ones, yellow ones, pale orange with purple swirl ones, and aqua blue hues with hot pink center ones. Lovely pale palettes of majesty. All sorts of gorgeous colors, but nothing ablaze, not until last night. And maybe? I just haven’t been paying attention.

I’ve noticed it’s rare for me to watch a sunset, or better yet take the time to watch a sunset. I’m usually driving home from work, doing weekend laundry, making or eating dinner, and every other thing that snatches our sunset watching time. Besides, I live in an urban area. It’s hard to see the sun setting through the new housing additions, and shopping centers.

But last night, we happened to be at the right place, at the right time, with the right view.

A park.

The sun’s timing was impeccable. It was just as we were getting into the car, I saw a red glow from the hillside. I thought…… why don’t we just walk up there and see. I had practiced silhouette portraits earlier with the family I was taking pictures for; the reason for being at the park that time of day. It’s something I have admired on other photo blogs and wanted to try to for myself.

In the midst of a red sunset, I was in photography heaven. It’s not often I have a crimson glow, my new camera, and my teenage model daughter with me.

These pictures are unedited. I did not add my watermark, nor alter them in any way. It is exactly as I saw it through the lens.

Blaze sky, blaze.

What a way to end the day. Thank-you God for such a stunning scene. And my teen?

Was she adrift in the moment of her silhouette debut? Soaking up the rays as one with nature? Ummm, not so much. But, maybe she lit a text or two ablaze. Heh.

Happy Monday of the Thanksgiving week!

Sunday’s Healthy Reflection: A Lifetime of Moments

Should you find yourself at a loss, wondering what life is all about and what your purpose is, be thankful. There are those who didn’t live long enough to get the opportunity to wonder.

Unknown

Taking inventory of your gifts and blessings

You’ll probably spend some time this weekend thinking about the good things in your life and your loved ones. Before you do that, take a moment to just consider how lucky you are to be here in the first place. In the 21st century, we can experience more in a month than most people throughout history did in a lifetime. Instead of appreciating that fact, we usually just end up wanting to do and have more. We look at what’s wrong rather than what’s right. This is a perfect time to take a look at your life and priorities again. Can you make some extra time every day to just enjoy the moment and your loved ones? You’ve been given the gift of a lifetime of moments. Accept the gift and prove yourself worthy.

Brought to you by Sparkpeople.

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‘You’ve been given the gift of a lifetime of moments.’

I haven’t been online the last few days. Spottily from my iPhone is all. What I have seen is a lot of either, New Year’s resolutions, or non-lutions, or even just goals. It is that time of year to think, reflect, and assert what you want out of 2010.

And that is great. I’m not saying any of those things are bad. I quit smoking January 1, 2006. I also lost 50lbs. Resolutions are inspiring and they can work if you have the resolve to do it. Of course they can also be done any time of the year.

What I have noticed is there less focus on living in the moment, cherishing our family, and finding more time with them. I have seen less focus on the priority of “lifetime moments”. And maybe what I am trying to say is….can we resolve to just partake in the wonder – the sheer wonder – of life all around us?

We live in an amazing world, an amazing time. My goal this year is to see – really see – what I am missing in my rush through it. I have a wedding to look forward to. The details to be incredibly poignant and meaningful. A new family to blend and grow with. My daughter turns 16. She will never be 16 again.

One of my goals, along this line of this thinking, is to get a new camera. A DSLR for a beginner. I would like to take a class at the local continuing education building (where I took Italian language). I’ve been playing around with my camera recently and I think my writing this year has increased my “eye”. I would like to expand on that in my blog and in life. I think it will be such a treasure to embark upon a lifelong sight journey.

This is an exciting time and year for me. I refuse to miss it. I want to remember and take part of every miracle that happens. I know there will be struggles. I know there will be complications. My life motto is to live as though everything is a blessing no matter what it is.

I have been through some tough stuff in my life – an abusive past relationship and drug addiction – yet, those experiences are a blessing in that it grew my compassion, strength, and knowledge. I wouldn’t be who I am without them. And that is what I hope for this year, to be AMAZED. To be present and accept the gift.

2010 – Hi there, so glad to meet you. I look forward to knowing you better.

Life is a garden, dig it.

-Joe Dirt

Please note some language in this video (bleeped out), but it is so funny with a great message.