beauty

Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

more ice on the windows

Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, ice, Inspiration, nature, Photography, water, winter on January 7, 2014| 7 Comments »

Clearly, I don’t live in the most insulated house in the world.

But if I did, I don’t know how I would experience this beauty to be found on windows first thing in the morning.

Of course, as I write these words, I am reminded of folks who say that I tend to find the bright side of any situation.

But I wasn’t trying to come to terms with the cold this morning as I wandered from window to window. I reflected on the fact that different windows had different displays of ice from individual crystals to long glittering strands to sheets of ice thinly covering whole window panes.

The most surprising find of the morning was the rainbow. I stood next to an especially patterned window just as the light shifted or I shifted or whatever … all I know is I saw a rainbow and it was lovely. 😉

Read Full Post »

a song of rain, and images

Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, Inspiration, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, music, nature, Photography, rain, Rain Rain Beautiful Rain, song, water on December 23, 2013| 3 Comments »

At the bottom of this post is a video of Ladysmith Black Mambazo singing Rain Rain Beautiful Rain. A friend shared the song with me and I promised her when it next rained that I would share the song with others.

Well today is a very, very rainy and gray day in the Boston area.

Rainy and gray …

and still beautiful.

Read Full Post »

the longest night by angie pickman

Posted in Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Angie Pickman, animation, art, beauty, creativity, cut paper, Inspiration, nature, Rural Pearl, winter, winter solstice on December 21, 2013| 3 Comments »

Simply beautiful in my humble opinion. Enjoy this just over 1 minute video from artist Angie Pickman. A tribute to the winter solstice. 😉

The Longest Night from Angie Pickman on Vimeo.

Read Full Post »

dona nobis pacem, a series of sights and sounds

Posted in Inspiration, Music, Uncategorized, tagged beauty, home, Inspiration, landscape, life, music, musings, nature, peace, Peteris Vasks, Photography, sounds on December 15, 2013| 4 Comments »

And so the morning began with sounds. Laying in bed listening to snow slide from the roof. Over breakfast listening to Steve tell stories of his night. My brothers’ voices, one via voice mail, him singing a made up song about getting up and getting started with a cup of coffee. His words inspired me to pour some beans into a white cup and photograph a single image and hope it came out well.

I continued to take random shots about the kitchen, of lemons in bowls and of rosemary. I don’t think I’m supposed to let indoor herbs bloom but I couldn’t help myself. No sounds there, just lovely periwinkle silence.

During the midst of all this, something happened. Nothing serious but one of those incidents that can color a day, darken it … if you allow. I told myself to let the incident go. To help me do so, I pulled from my bag a list of desired tasks. One of them was to look up composer Peteris Vasks. I’d only learned of him yesterday at an organ recital. The organist had played one of his pieces, Te Deum. During my research I came across this piece, Dona Nobis Pacem.

A beautiful, calming piece.

As it played on repeat in the background, I wandered around taking other photos, indoors of items on tables

and through windows of ice melting beautifully.

What that music inspired exactly I can’t say. It did encourage me, remind me even, to be present, to appreciate the beauty before me that I could see, that I could hear, and that I could imagine. We all need reminders on occasion. 😉

Read Full Post »

empty folders

Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged beauty, colors, folders, Inspiration, letter writing, luxury writing paper, Oxford, Photography, stationery, stationery store, travel, Turl Street on November 20, 2013| 4 Comments »

Two oversized folders purchased in a fine stationery store in Oxford. For what purpose? I didn’t know then and I don’t know now. I do know I couldn’t walk away without them.

They mostly sit on my desk but sometimes I carry them with me and my laptop. I stare at them as they catch the light and imagine filling their innards with fine linen sheets and matching envelopes and writing to clients, family and friends with my fountain pen and colored inks. It could happen …

I imagine using them as vessels, luxurious and unique, to house custom, archive quality prints of my photography and presenting them to clients with a flourish. I can see that happening too. Sort of. Except I don’t do flourish very well.

When I recently did the math of exchange rates, bank fees and all that, I realized what an investment I’d made in these lovely items. But I think they are well worth it as unexpected sources of inspiration and creativity. One day, I am sure, it will become clear what I am to “do” with them but until that moment I will simply enjoy them as they are … empty.

p.s. The store is Scriptum Oxford on Turl Street. Learn more here.

Read Full Post »

Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged beauty, colors, landscape, nature, Oxford, Photography, travel, trees on November 10, 2013| 2 Comments »

This trip was unexpected, a work excursion for Steve and a whirlwind adventure for me. There was little time (or perhaps, energy) for research about what I might see and so around every bend in the road, I am treated to unexpected beauty. Like this tree winding its way up the side of a wall in Oxford.

Read Full Post »

glass + books

Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, art, beauty, dublin, Inspiration, ireland, libraries, National Library of Ireland, Photography, public libraries, stained glass windows, travel on November 8, 2013| 3 Comments »

In my travels I have not forgotten stained glass or public libraries. Here is but a small section of a window found in the National Library of Ireland in Dublin. Via this link you can actually see a 360 degree view of the front hall where this and several other windows can be found along with beautiful mosaics and fine carvings. A lovely place to visit.

Read Full Post »

simply leaves along somerville avenue

Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged autumn, beauty, colors, Inspiration, leaves, nature, Photography, Somerville, Somerville Avenue, trees, urban landscape, walking on October 24, 2013| 9 Comments »

A recent festival in Union Square closed off Somerville Avenue. For the most part, I kept my hands in my pockets as I walked along enjoying the sights. But after a while, those leaves!

Good thing there were no cars as I meandered along with my head in the clouds and eyes on the ground.

I even took some leaves home.

Read Full Post »

a petunia, in parts

Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, family, flowers, gardens, Inspiration, kitchens, memories, nature, petunias, Photography, white on October 22, 2013| 3 Comments »

I did not think the petunias would grow indoors. I thought they’d bloom for a short while and then fade away, but somehow they have lasted the summer and now bloom confidently into the fall.

They have outlasted the basil, thyme and mints.

They soak up the sun near the hardier herbs – the oregano, sage and rosemary. The plant’s white flowers shade the poinsettia that is still bright green and the stellar red garden mum, a hostess gift still hanging on.

I think I have tried to grow petunias indoors before with little luck. They are a complex flower for me, not my favorite and yet I can’t help but think of them as my mother’s plant.

She grew them in wooden boxes and converted tires that my father made and arranged in the yard for her. We shall see if this plant thrives into the winter months. Not to rush time, but I can’t wait to see the white blooms against the window with snow falling down.