Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Random Photos - November Walk

Melanie Trail Nov 2013

My friend Melanie and I enjoyed a two hour early morning walk yesterday.  We have been enjoying some very mild November weather and I’m afraid we both completely over-dressed for our little jaunt and we both wound up carrying various articles of clothing.  This is Melanie on one of my favourite spots along the way.  I always feel an especial peace in this particular area of our local hike and bike trail. 

Mushroom - Nov 2013 walk

this is a strange looking mushroom which was on the side of the trail.  The green ring is  gooey.  Do you know what type this might be?

UPDATE:

thanks to Siskyou Sue who suggested this might be a Ravenel's Stinkhorn - it turns out it  is related, it is a Phallus Impudicus.  You can read more about it HERE on wikipedia.  Very interesting.

Mushroom 2 Nov 2013 walk

And plenty of regular looking mushrooms as well.  Notice the grass is very green - in the open fields one could almost be tricked into thinking it looks like spring around here, besides the lack of leaves on the trees and the snow creeping down the hills each morning…

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Random Photo - “a different view”

1-apples_Barb-Derksen

 

Yup, I’m the one who looks at life a little different.  My Mr has walked away at times when I’ve gone into “laying on the ground” mode while at other times he’s taken photos of ME taking photos…

Just when you think you’ll die if you see one more picture of a flower, or a butterfly or the things, that though beautiful, (because there  there are a million of them out there) - I make it a rule to capture ordinary things in an extraordinary manner. 

There are so many ways to do this.  You can put yourself (as the viewer, and therefore the audience who sees your photo sees the same unique thing) You could take away all the color except the place or item in the photo you want to lead the viewer’s eye too.  You can take things super up close, or even isolate them. 

Next time you take a photo, why not make a rule to try taking it “different”?  View life from an “extraordinary perspective” - you’ll begin to live this way, inside and out!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Random Photo - waves

1-Me_Dock

Life is a wave,

which in no two consecutive moments of it's existence

is composed of the same particles.

- John Tyndall

 

Did you catch that? 

Life’s always changing.  You can’t stop the world around you from moving on so we really have no choice but to keep up with the times or we will get left behind. 

Some people ♥ waves, to them it means swimming or surfing, the ultimate challenge and they will travel far and wide to find “the perfect wave”.  To others, its a distraction and once they allow themselves to focus on them, they’re sunk. 

I like how waves make beaches brand new each morning. They draw debris and treasures up for display - a mosaic of new discovery each time, even if one walks every day.  They lull me with their rhythmic music.  They captivate me when they leap and lash in a storm.  They soothe me when they lap the pebbles over and over.  They bring sailboats gliding by like triangular butterfly wings. And, they tug me this way and that when I’m on my air mattress, which frankly gets annoying but I think it also makes me not spend more time in the water than I really should be.

But an interesting concept, a wave… when one “starts” one, it can be the beginning of something that goes on and on.  We all have the power of that.  We can be a wave of (hopefully POSITIVE) change! 

A friend of mine is a recording artist and her song is about this very thing.  One day in the not so far future, when her album comes out I’ll remember this post and think of waves when she sings “Be The Change” 

What would YOU do to “make a wave” in your circle of influence?

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Random Photo - Blade of Grass

blade-of-grass_Barb-Derksen

 

People always seem to be drawn to my macro pictures.  I seem to love taking them so its a good fit.  I always ask my self “Why?” - what is the appeal? 

I think it is the same for both me (as the photographer) and you (as the viewer) - it’s STOPPING for a moment.  Coming to a standstill long enough to notice things we usually pass by in our busy lives.  Ordinary things. 

Its funny but something almost magical happens when we allow ourselves to cash out from the hustle and bustle.  As we close off all the switches and release all the ties on our time and take a “time break” (sort of like a coffee break but without the coffee involved)  When we do that and sit still for a bit then NEW and tiny things come into focus.  Our whole being goes into “macro” mode. 

We hear insects buzzing.  We feel the gentle tug of a breeze.  We notice a color or texture that eluded us.  We see patterns, and randomness too - we CONNECT with nature.  There really is beauty everywhere.  When we allow ourselves just a few minutes or longer to simply “be” a funny thing happens - we are able to check back into the world and feel like we went on a mini vacation.

So, I think that enjoying even a photo like this one has the power to take us into the moment it was taken.  Even if it hangs on an office wall, or anywhere, it can give us a reminder that there is a whole world out there, just waiting for us to seek it. You don’t have to travel to “get away” - go discover the beauty right under your nose!

Both my Mr. and I often feel closer to God through this process - it’s a great way to appreciate the complex blessings HE allows us to experience, if we will only take the “rest” time to see.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Random Photo - Ospreys having “Cottage Envy”

Osprey-Cottages_Barb-Derksen

Can’t you hear it? 

The one osprey is saying to the other… “Those folks in the Osoyoos Cottages Have nothing on us.  Why, we have Air Conditioning (the fan blade) and a basement floor with an in-law nesting area - and even ladder access!” 

Giggle!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Random Photo - Fuzzy Wuzzy dines!

 

Fuzzy-Wuzzy_Barb-Derksen

Nummy! 

For this guy its a nice green leaf, for me…

It’s sour cream and onion chips (preferably Old Dutch - not ripple) and like my sister Nina even better if it comes in the cardboard box which has two separate bags in it. It’s the sweet and salty caramel bugles.  It’s Hawkins Cheesies (SO Canadian!) It’s Chapman’s ice cream, in the big square plastic pail (great for making artisan bread in five minutes a day) - vanilla, for I like to dress it up myself with Watkin’s Vanilla Nut extract and gummy bears etc.  It’s….

(sorry, wandering off to the kitchen and pantry…………)

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