More wind today that made it a bit challenging to get a portrait of my neighbors’ daylilies. I persevered and was able to capture these 🙂
blowing in the wind
these delightful daylilies
bow so gracefully
~ Raven Ariana Simons ©2017
Namaste, Namu Amida Butsu, Bright Blessings
~ Raven
“I love the silent hour of night,
For blissful dreams may then arise,
Revealing to my charmed sight
What may not bless my waking eyes.”
~ Anne Bronte
Flashback, Monday, January 2, 2012 – On the fourth of January I’ll again have photos for 2012 because this is when I began the Walk In Beauty daily photo project on Facebook. 2012 was a leap year, which blessed us with an extra day for the month to February. Just for fun, I’ve decided I will put the pick photo for February 29, 2012 in tomorrow’s place for the January 3rd, 2012 flashback photo.
Flashback Wednesday, January 2, 2013 – This is my pick photo of the day and it stars a lavender stalk showcasing the intense orange light from the sunset filtered through polluted (inversion) air.
Flashback Thursday, January 2, 2014 -This pick photo for today stars moss that grows on a tree a couple of blocks away from my home.
Friday, January 2nd 2015 – My second flower on my zigzag cactus opened as the sun set on New Year’s Day. I also lost a dear friend to cancer. I waited until midnight as the fragrance filled my entire room so that I could take photos of this amazing blossom and have them for today. This is the first year that I’ve had this cactus/succulent and was delighted to have two blooms. The first one I missed when it was at its peak and I was only able to take photos of it the next day and I didn’t have a helper to hold a light source. Taking the pictures I was able to get was quite tricky as I either had to hold the flashlight with my teeth or hold the camera in one hand and the flashlight in the other (not too steady, sadly). I gave t my best shot …. literally! Today I have Hubby to thank for staying up and patiently holding this fab little flashlight that I got as a gift 🙂
Part of the process of taking my photos is lots of prayers and gratitude!
So far, I have never edited or changed the pictures in any way. I left them the way that the camera saw the subject and then my computer took this information in to be shared. I am revisiting this part of my project and I might consider some editing, special effects, or other artistic possibilities when Year Four officially begins, although anything that I do in the area of “artistic possibilities” will be in addition to my regular offerings.
I hope that anyone viewing these wonderful gifts from The Great Spirit might be blessed by a further opening of their hearts to the small beauties that surround them.
I also concentrate on subjects that I find beautiful and others might not know exist. I have found out over time that this can be especially true of the insect people and small common birds and plants that many overlook or believe to be “weeds” and “pests”. Truly “weeds” are plants growing in places where humans don’t want them and “pests” are plants or other living creatures that might compete with or inconvenience humans. This flower is not one of the common and unappreciated plant people (at least where I live) that humans find annoying. In fact, people pay money for these.
“in the still of night
I came, opened, and conquered
through total beauty”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“The world rests in the night. Trees, mountains, fields, and faces are released from the prison of shape and the burden of exposure. Each thing creeps back into its own nature within the shelter of the dark. Darkness is the ancient womb. Nighttime is womb- time. Our souls come out to play. The darkness absolves everything; the struggle for identity and impression falls away. We rest in the night.”
~ John O’Donohue
“awake or asleep…
when do you dream I was asked
walking the Dreamtime”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste and Dreaming Blessings ~ Raven
“Clouds of insects danced and buzzed in the golden autumn light, and the air was full of the piping of the song-birds. Long, glinting dragonflies shot across the path, or hung tremulous with gauzy wings and gleaming bodies.”
~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Flashback Monday, October 15, 2012 – This is my pick photo for today and stars a honeybee in basil started from seed by my youngest son 🙂
Flashback Tuesday, October 15, 2013 – This is my pick photo of the day and it stars autumn leaves on my neighbor’s tree.
Wednesday October 15, 2014 – Today it was very windy and I have a few photos of what I believe to be my last datura blossom of the season. The wind was blowing hard enough to make photos a challenge today. I also saw a number of variegated meadowhawk dragonflies. Four at one time where trying to perch on fennel and old iris stalks in the same spot. I believe that they might be migrating. Also The Xerces Society is requesting help from citizens to find out about migrating dragonflies. Today is the 15th day of the month long poetry challenge.
“oh beautiful one
I wonder where you’re going
autumn migration”
Raven Ariana Simons
“where do you wander
variegated meadowhawk
I am curious”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Magical Dragonfly Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
~ Helen Keller
Flashback Saturday, October 13, 2012 – This is my pick photo for today and shows the setting sun shining on the Wasatch Mountains east of my home. The autumn colors really blaze in the light.
Flashback Sunday, October 13, 2013 – This is my pick and only photo for today and it stars our state bird stepping out 🙂
Monday, October 13, 2014 – Today I found one last blossom developing on my datura (aka western jimson weed) and seed pods in various stages of development. It is day 13 of the month long poetry challenge.
“an apple of thorns
pollinated by sphinx moths
and night flying bats”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“sacred datura
extremely strong medicine
will you bring the rain?”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“silent grasshopper
holding on datura leaf
a meditation”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste ~ Raven
“A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.”
~ E. B. White
Flashback Monday, October 1, 2012 – This goldfinch has some attitude going on in this picture as I lay in wait by the seed sock this morning. I have chosen this as my pick photo for today 🙂
Flashback Tuesday, October 1, 2013 – This is my pick photo for today and it stars a dragonfly hanging out on my fennel.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 – It was chilly today but there were still a few pollinators out and about.
“As long as you’re alive…
…you can’t put life on hold like you can with a game-so that’s why…
…those brief respites…
…when you can forget all the bitterness and pain…
they let you take a breath…
…and calm your heart.
If you don’t give yourself that kind of time…
…living on just becomes, every so often-it gets to be too painful.”
~ Hotaru Odagiri
“Little pollen butt
softly sleeping in a bloom
dreaming of nectar.”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
In loving memory of my cat, Velvet, who passed away today, the original Black Cat Queen. May you rule over the Rainbow Bridge with the iron paw in the velvet glove like you did for over 11 years in our home. I’ll always remember your secret names and you will be missed.
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven
Flashback Sunday, September 8, 2012 – This is my pick photo for today and stars a squirrel eating leaves in a tree over the Jordan River on the west edge of the International Peace Gardens in Jordan Park. I really love how you can see the action in this photo and detail on the squirrel’s coat.
Flashback Monday, September 8, 2013 – This is my pick for today and it stars the crescent moon through clouds shortly before is sets behind the Oquirrh Mountains.
Tuesday, September 8, 2014 – Today there’s a full Supermoon and it is the third of three in a row. It rained so hard it flooded streets and there was a small stream running down my driveway deep enough to cover the tops of my feet even with my shoes on.
Drops from a downpour
bringing life and bright blessings,
flowers sparkling clean.
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Wet little lady
sheltering under milkweed
bejeweled by the rain.
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste ~ Raven
Flashback Friday, August 31, 2012 – Thunderstorms on the Blue Moon of Hazel 🙂 Very magical considering we’ve had so little rain and few thunderstorms this season. This is my pick photo for the Blue Moon and I love how you can see the wind whipping the rain around. This pod is of trumpet vine.
Flashback Saturday, August 31, 2013 – This is my pick photo of the day and it stars a little native bee resting in a sunflower 🙂
Sunday, August 31, 2014 – Today we had a visit from a Monarch butterfly. This wayfarer probably came from afar rather than from the milkweed I grow in my yard. Her wings were tattered like she’d been flying for a long way.
“Illuminated
butterfly is magical.
I am enchanted”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“Nature’s poetry
lit by light like stained glass wings,
Monarch butterfly“.
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Butterfly Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven
Flashback Thursday, August 30, 2012 –This is my pick photo for today and features the waxing moon of Hazel, a neighbor’s tree, and some of the clouds that were part of today’s thunderstorm front. I love the subtle colors, textures and overall balance of the picture as well as the mood it evokes for me.
Flashback Friday, August 30, 2013 – This is my pick photo for today and it stars a dragonfly hanging out where the hummingbirds usually sit.
Saturday, August 30, 2014 – I went out early this morning to see yesterday’s datura flowers while they were still open.
“Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – we haven’t time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
“The unexplainable thing in nature that makes me feel the world is big far beyond my understanding – to understand maybe by trying to put it into form. To find the feeling of infinity on the horizon line or just over the next hill.”
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!Flashback Monday, July 9, 2012 – This is my pick photo for today and stars the lovely little blossoms of my heirloom black plum tomatoes which is a Russian variety. I love the detail in this photo including the hairs on the plant.
Flashback Tuesday, July 9, 2013 – This is my pick photo for today and it stars my neighbor’s echinacea (coneflower).
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 – My neighbor’s mimosa tree draws bees of all kinds. I don’t know why the honeybees particularly seem to go for the wilted flowers. Here I have one type of bumblebee and honeybees. Hummingbirds love this tree, too.
“Fear is inevitable, I have to accept that, but I cannot allow it to paralyze me.”
~ Isabel Allende
“The source of my difficulties has always been the same: an inability to accept what to others seems natural, and an irresistible tendency to voice opinions no one wants to hear.”
~ Isabel Allende
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste and Bright Bee Blessings ~ Raven
Flashback Sunday, July 8, 2012 – This is my pick photo for today and you can see the green stripes that give this heirloom tomato its name, tigrella 🙂 My raised bed is doing awesome and I’ll be including an overall picture in the next few days.
Flashback Monday, July 8, 2013 – This is my pick photo for today and it stars a honeybee on catnip. I really love the silhouette and soft colors of the catnip blossoms in the shade. Almost reminds me of a tinted photo.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 – My yucca is in full bloom and I was surprised to see that a honeybee liked it as I thought it attracted night pollinators.
“Live simply. Deepest joy is like a flower….beautiful in essence.”
~ Tony Samara
“You are a cosmic flower. Om chanting is the process of opening the psychic petals of that flower.”
~ Amit Ray
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven
Grace and Mystery 