1.15.2012

Unexpected


Yesterday I took a lunch break at the botanical gardens. Excited to see the camellias in bloom in the conservatory, I practically ran there once I parked only to find that "the conservatory is closed for renovation until further notice". Not to be deterred, I walked through the gardens to the back of the building, passing the camellias planted outside in bloom.





Through those pathways is a back entrance to the conservatory. Closed back there, too. I could just peer in and see the camellias blooming away in their warm retreat. Such a disappointment.


As I was weaving back to the front, I came across these plants so beautifully wispy and catching the light just right.


It was such an unexpected find and it, along with the birdhouse that I love, lifted my spirits after the disappointment of finding the conservatory closed.


On the way out, these bright red berries put a cheery closing to a trip that didn't go the way I had thought it would but had been well worth it.

1.10.2012

stone cold favorites


Some icy feeling tunes for this winter month...although it doesn't always feel like winter around here. I hope you hear something new that you enjoy. Let me know...

1.01.2012

Grateful


Happy New Year! As 2012 begins, I'm starting a new 365 project: a visual gratitude journal. Each day, I will post a picture of something I am grateful for. This is a great practice that I've been meaning to start myself since reading about it in my chookooloonks' Path Finder course. (You can read about Karen's gratitude practice on her blog here.)

Some things I'll post, like today's, are going to be big things having to do with those obvious, but probably underappreciated, blessings in life. Some things will undoubtably be small, especially since this is a 365* day project. I foresee that some days might be really small, because, let's be honest, some days are hard to come out of feeling grateful for anything. (In other words, don't be surprised when you see a picture of an Double Stuf Oreo.)

Since I'm participating in this project primarily through Instagram, which facilitates a daily photo project so well, I'm going to keep the project online in a separate blog I can update from my phone. I've linked it at the bottom of this blog and the link is here as well.

If any of you decide to do something similar, please let me know where I can see it if it is online. If it's just in a journal by your bedside, I would love to know that, too, as well as what you think about the practice.

*actually, 366 since it's a leap year