Tuesday, July 12, 2011

May you be at peace ...

My son's father died a year ago this month, give or take a few days.
I am re-posting this in honor of his memory. 



You were so good in heart.
You were a good man.
This life was so very difficult for you.


Your time on this earth was not in vain.
Your gift was your kindness.
The biggest gift you gave to me,
and the family we share...
Our son.

Do me a favor would you?
Hug our daughter for me.
Tell her I love her.


Wherever you are may you now find the peace
you could not while you were here.



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R.I.P. Erik.

1964-2010












One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

I think ...



Love feels like this ...


Dog jumping in water, storm over prairie at sunset 194ab



and this ...


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and this ...

STORM LIGHTENING SUNSET OVER MCKINNY 024abBB


In fact I know it does.
 
: )





The true source of joy is love —
love of God, love of beauty, love of wisdom,
love of another human being, it does not matter which.
It is all one love:
a joyful awareness of dissolving boundaries of our ordinary narrow self,
of being one with the reality beyond, of being made whole.

- Irma Zaleski,
from the essay The Door To Joy











One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Point made ...

Now back to regularly scheduled blogging.






STORM LIGHTENING SUNSET OVER MCKINNY 069aG


Literally jumped off the phone and chased the storm tonight.
I have more images but this one ... this one caught my eye.
I love a good thunderstorm.














One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I've been busy ....


Photographing some big talent in the Blues world. 
What an incredible experience that was. The music was insanely good. 
Most of my inside time has been spent post processing 32975722354 pictures from this event.
Will be writing about it very soon.




BLUES FEST SATURDAY 2107ab
Bernard Allison


BLUES FEST SATURDAY 2502ab
Lance Lopez


these are only two of the talents 
I've heard and photographed this last month.




I've been ...

Prairie Lake, Loons, Fish, Hannah 118a
(this was caught on a beautiful red spinner bait among other things sent to me for my birthday!)
[thank you !!!]

fishing ...


and camping, four wheeling, and and and .... 



When the sun is shining and the air is warm, inside is the last place I want to be.
Summer is definitely here.
I'll catch up soon~!











One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.




Thursday, June 23, 2011

My wish ...





They say you can count on one hand,
the people you can count on.  
It's true.
I'm blessed,
to have that many
and then some.

It saddens me that a majority of them
are dealing with situations, physically and emotionally,
that are beyond what most would call challenging.
More people than I know are facing crisis'
they never saw coming.
So for all who find themselves in need...


LADYSLIPPERS 127ca



It's my wish that your healing comes sooner rather than later.
It's my wish that you continue find the strength to push
through pain more difficult than you care to admit.
It's my wish that you find peace in your lives.
It's my wish you find the clarity you seek.
It's my wish that you be surrounded
by those who will lift you up,
that your hearts are filled
and overflowing with joy.



LADYSLIPPERS 145da


It's my wish that you always feel love's gentle embrace.
It's my wish that the universe will show each of you,

a little tenderness ...




















One Love. One peace. Always and all ways.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Postcards from the Fence (7)








I asked if I could photograph them.
They said sure.
He told me ....

We've been married 68 years.
I asked them how they met.
She shakes her head,  " I don't remember."
Stupidly I ask did you "know" he/she was the one right away?
They both reply,  "Probably, we don't really remember."

"But we're still together, we're happy to be together and that's what counts."



BIGFORK WITH CRYSTAL AND JERRY 171a



There was so much pride 
as they talked about being together for 68 years. 
Well earned, I'm sure.




















One Love. One Peace.Always and all ways.

Saturday, June 11, 2011








IMG_9168a



Life requires more than talk.
It requires action. 
The difference between words and deeds is the same 
as the difference between watching the rain and dancing in it.

J. Anderson



IMG_9168b



You couldn't be more right. 
















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Postcards from the Fence (6)













TEXAS WITH SAM 882a
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Texas 2011


I don't know who she is ...
but I think she's got the right idea. 

It was funny to hear Minnesotans complain
about the heat last week
especially after such a long winter and slow spring. 
I thought it was heavenly. 
I think I've acclimated to a warmer climate.
I never thought I'd say that. 

























One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

May The Force Be With You ...




he said to me. 

I do believe it is. 


LolaStarWars



Thank you Gus for the photo edit.
You are truly a Photoshop master.
Wishing you and Kerry all the happiness in the world. 
And then some.














One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

SMUGMUG

Sharing is caring right?
I know a lot of  you bloggers out there take incredible photos.
Smugmug is the place to go.
For website, storage and sales.

I've been with them for quite a while now.
Their staff is quick to help, and well
they do back flips to make sure their customers are happy.


I'm uploading new photos every day!
Be sure to check out the travel section of my portfolio.
And while your at it grab yourself a Smugmug page!


IMG_8708a
                                                                                                                                                                                             Oregon 2011













One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Thank You ...

Two words that look so simple and small.
Two words that hold a world of gratitude,
really aren't small at all.


flag eaglea



Too often,
 we see this weekend as just a weekend to play
because of the holiday,  the extra day off,
the extended weekend.


Let us not forget what it's about. 
In remembrance of ... please share.












One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Portrait of a Man ...





O'War.

I know. I know they look like ....
I so want to run the commentary going on in my head.

IMG_4363a

IMG_4326a

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The beaches of  Corpus Christie and South Padre Island were filled with them.
To tell you the truth I've never seen them up close, and so many.








TEXAS WITH SAM 1045a

Didn't stop me from playing.  Go big or go home, even if goin big sends you home.

















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Postcards from the Fence (5)



and they called it puppy love ...



IMG_8014b


        seal skamoes!

I'm thinking people should kiss more not less.
The world might be a happier place if they did ...
















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Monday, May 23, 2011

On the Subject of Love








IMG_8477aaa


Love is a force more formidable than any other. 
It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, 
yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, 
and offer you more joy than any material possession could.

Barbara de Angelis















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Postcards from the Fence (4)




IMG_7946a


Happy girl.













One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Ponderings ....

IMG_3630b

I recently photographed this whale.
I saw the show. I clapped when the whale did
what he was trained to do. I was in awe of
his size and strength.  He was magnificent.
It was humbling.





IMG_3471a

I saw Dolphins do the same thing.
And I clapped, photographed and cheered as the dolphin performed.
I saw what was called a cove,
hold four or five dolphins. It was an outdoor
tank that was maybe the size of a hockey rink,
(and that's what it looked like)
okay maybe larger, but not even close to the size
of a football field. I was sad as I watched the
dolphins swim in circles. I wondered how deep it was.
They looked sad.  And bored. 


In my head I plotted their escape.
In my head I wondered how I'd feel if I were
held in captivity for the enjoyment of others.

I get that an animal born in captivity knows only the
life he was born into. But does he? Does instinct tell him there's more?
What about the ones who weren't.
The whales and dolphins who know the vastness of the ocean ...


I get the educational aspect. I do. 
But something just doesn't feel right about all of it.


I feel the same way when I leave the zoo.
It's so cool to see these animals I would normally
never get the chance to, but at what cost ...




that's the question I ask myself.


At what cost ...








IMG_3548a


I think I'll stick to the rides.












One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Postcards from the Fence (3)







IMG_4904C

Life ...
is what the Dr. Ordered!~
And it's good.
It's damn good.










One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

SHE'S HERE!!!! SHE'S HERE!!!

I do believe she's FINALLY come to stay.
I knew I'd find her in a southerly way.
And when I did,
Immediately, she apologized for her delay.

You know what's next? SUMMER!

145_2988a



I'm off to find big water, and catch a few fish.
I may be a little scarce,
Warm weather was meant to be enjoyed
and I intend to make the most of it.
Happy days!~













One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Postcards from the Fence (2)








TEXAS WITH SAM 468a


I knew, of course, 
that trees and plants had roots, stems, bark, 
branches and foliage that reached up toward the light. 
But I was coming to realize that the real magician was light itself.

Edward Steichen

















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Taking flight ...






in search of Spring.


IMG_6052a


She is a little late this year.
Actually she's a lot late.
They're predicting snow today.
Obviously she is lost and needs help.
I'll be back once I've found her.















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

On the Subject of Love

 
 
 
 
 
 
IMG_0399b


"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — 
only what you are expecting to give —
which is everything. 
What you will receive in return varies. 
But it really has no connection with what you give. 
You give because you love 
and cannot help giving." 

Katherine Hepburn












One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Friday, April 22, 2011

On the Subject of Emotional Baggage







Got Baggage?

IMG_9516a

 Accessories:

GUILT
SHAME
CODEPENDENCY
DENIAL

to name a few
add your own to the list.


They'll buy it all for $6.00
What a bargain eh?

IMG_9516b


Emotional baggage. 
Weighs you down in ways you don't even realize.
Why are you holding on to it?
No buts when you hear me say this ...
You choose to hold on to it, you realize that right?
What are you going to do about it?

























One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

A Cowgirl and Her Boys

Because they said I would ...I am.






Eric  Chuck and Me 006b

was good to see you both. thnx for the invite.







One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Remembering Summer 1









IMG_6820a







C'mon spring ... you can do it. 
I got my fishin poles ready ...













One Love. One Peace Always and all ways.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep ...







145_3006a

I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave bereft
I am not there. I have not left.
           ~Mary Elizabeth Frye













One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Friday, April 8, 2011

A Southern View




 Looks good to me ...
Beautiful isn't it.











"Guarding the sunset ... we all need a job"



Jan~



She captioned this over on FB.
I like it. 
I like it a lot.














One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.



Thursday, April 7, 2011

Ten Rules for Being Human





I come across lists like this one every now and again.
I like them. I don't always agree with everything on the list,
but I like the intention, they're gentle nudgings.
They do that, they remind us of things I believe we already know,
they bring things back into perspective.





IMG_2279ACB


This I believe was written by Cherie Carter-Scott

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation.
The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."

4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned.
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it.
When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons.
If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here",
you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."

7. Other people are merely mirrors of you.
You cannot love or hate something about another person
unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
[I'm not sure I agree totally with this one]
[You can hate something in someone else without it reflecting something you hate about yourself].

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need.
What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you.
All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.   
[unless your mentally unbalanced, then you might need medication first]

10. You will forget all this.  [some of us won't]




























One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Blog Tips

I'm still wearin the damn hat.
I love this hat.
It suits me.

874b


I've been absent lately.
The minute I say I don't have much to say,
you can pretty much guarantee a good ramble.
I think I found something to say.

I've been asked a time or two for advice on putting together a blog.
I'm no pro.  But I do have a few thoughts.  They probably won't be popular.
Trust me I've been there and done it, made all the mistakes.
I've even gone back to earlier posts from my humble beginnings, edited the hell out of them.
Deleted photos, that at the time I thought were brilliant, so brilliant ...
I posted 3298454332 million per post.
[in hindsight I wonder what the hell was I thinking]
I've taken my years of experience, gone back and rewritten content
from circa 2001. I probably should fix a few more.
[yeh back then it was funnier in my head] most of the time it still is. 
.



Keep it Simple
If your background is so busy with "stuff ",  your content gets lost.
I know you think it's cute. It's distracting.
And not in a good way. It's like chotsky hoarding.
No one likes clutter. Not in your home, not on your page.

 Less is More
You may be a great photographer, you might not be, 8 million pictures
of the same thing at different angles, or 8 million pictures
from a trip on one post ... too much.
I understand, you have talent, and you like hearing people tell you so.
Don't get me wrong, great photographs/art should be shared.
If you're good you don't need more than a few per post,
more than a few, now you're just showing off.
If your pics are blurry and composition is lacking,
well ......it gets embarrassing, especially if you think you're skilled.
A few pics at a time gives me the reader a chance to really
take in what you've shown me.  Don't overwhelm me. Please?

We're Not Groupies 
or fans, kiddos or lovelies or any other name you want to give us.
We're your peers, so don't refer to us as anything but ...
If you refer to me, your reader, as anything other than a peer,
I won't read you,
I don't care who you are or how good you are.

Music
Don't do it. Don't ruin the music I'm already listening to
by forcing yours on me with those instant players.
Use them sure, but adjust the settings so your readers
can choose to play it.  Auto play sends me for the hills.
There's nothing worse than surfing blogs, listening to my own music,
 landing on a page and suddenly I'm knocked out of my chair
by some song I don't know where it came from clashing horrifically with my tunes.
Ruins my groove. Who am I kidding it's irritating and a pain in the ass
to have to stop what I'm doing turn off your player, and I'm usually using
ear plugs so I've been blasted deaf because you have the volume way
up on the player.

Blog Fame
I've seen some great blogs go what I call commercial.
By that I mean all of a sudden
they get hungry for comments, for more readers,
a ton of advertising I never click on.
I know you are hoping to make the list.
Make some money. I get it.
You want to be noticed.  You're going to be the next great blogger,
with readers in the hundreds, thousands, how good for your career if not your ego.
I shake my head. Usually that means a bunch of guest bloggers
going back and forth, groups that offer up an I'll follow you if you'll follow me,
I'll comment on yours if you'll comment on mine.
Spend a little time on blogs you like, comment,
the rest will follow.  People will check you out.  Yes they will.
 La Table De Nana is a wonderful example of quality writing,
food and photography, and because she's good, she has a great following.
Let me ask you this, what was your intention when you first started?
Is it the same now?
Listen, just do you, Be you.   If you're good they'll come.
If you're really good, they'll stay.

Guest Blogging
A guest blogger every once in a while is great.
Variety is the spice of life, you bet it is.
But remember I come to read YOU.

Quality over Quantity ...
 wins every time.
Over posting.  It's not twitter.
Who can keep up with every single thing you do.
I can't. And I don't want to.  More than one posting a day is a bit much.
Believe me the most important things you do in life, you do away from the computer.
Remove your fingers from the keyboard slowly, c'mon you can do it, I know you can,
you won't miss a thing, it'll all be here when you come back.
Life happens when you turn the damn thing off.
I promise.

Keep it positive
No one likes a whiner.
If you sit in negativity that's all you're going to get.
We all have bad days, we surely do.  It's life.
Unless its truly tragic, or catastrophic ... suck it up.
A lot of people have it worse than you do.
Most days I want to see the good in people, the good in life.
If you sit on the toilet every damn day complaining about no toilet paper,
I'm not reading you.  I know right, nice analogy Kathleen.
[note to self, you couldn't come up with anything better than that?]
 
Roll and Scroll
I like to.
I like to roll and scroll right on down
to the bottom of the page, and click 'older posts'.
I'm seeing these new templates, that give bloggers the option to post mini feeds. You know
those squares with a picture and one sentence.  I'm lazy. If I have to click to read the rest of
your story. I probably won't, especially if I'm looking at ten of those squares on your page.
There is one blogger who says "jump for more butter". For her I will.
You all know who she is, and if you don't check out  USE REAL BUTTER

Comments 
Pop out comment boxes. Love them. They don't take you away from
the main page.   That's all I have to say about that.

Sharing is Caring
We have the opportunity to learn from each other, inspire one another,
share laughs, share hearts, share compassion,  it's the better part of this blogger world.
Share the best of you, not the worst of you. 



I think that's about it for now. 

Take it or leave it ...
This is just one readers view.
I was asked. I've answered.















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Of Waves and Winter

Every now and then
someone comes a long and knocks you off your feet
in all the best ways.


I had posted this image and a few others from last weeks
trip to the big lake over on FB.  Much to my surprise a beautiful poem was
waiting for me in the guest comments underneath this image.  I was moved,
in all the best ways.

Good things must be shared.





IMG_0165a



Of the waves

washing, washing,

the land away,
...
slowly, slowly

an island make.

in summer light

surging, surging

a mist refresh

in fall twilight

foaming, foaming

a bitter crest.

cold winter comes,

sweeping, sweeping

snow and ice

tossing, tossing

onto rocks.

flowing, flowing

over again

a sheath of cold

swirling, swirling

petrified smooth

against rocky shore

holding, holding

the shape, of the coastline

like a glove.






Written by Emily McFarlane













One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Emeril Lagasse's Southern Brasied Greens wtih Bacon








Let's face it ...
Slow cooked greens aren't all that photogenic when finished.  
So you're not going to see the end result.  I will tell you, they're fantastic.
So is this recipe.


180a




Ingredients

* 3/4 pound sliced bacon
* 3 cups sliced onions
* 8 cloves garlic, mashed
* 3 teaspoons salt
* 3/4 teaspoon cayenne
* 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 quart water
* 1 (12-ounce) can beer
* 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
* 2 tablespoons molasses or cane syrup
* 5 pounds fresh greens, such as mustard greens,
collard greens, turnip greens, or kale, rinsed well,
picked over and tough stems removed



Directions

In a large, heavy pot cook the bacon until it has rendered most of its fat, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Add the onions, garlic, salt, cayenne, and black pepper and cook until the onions are wilted, about 4 minutes.
Add 1 quart of water, the beer, vinegar, and molasses and bring to a boil.
Begin adding the greens in batches, pressing down with a wooden spoon
to submerge them in the hot liquid and adding more as they wilt.
When all of the greens have been added, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the greens,
partially covered and stirring occasionally, for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until tender.














One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

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