Owl Only Post One More…maybe.

I know, it wasn't that long ago that I posted my Snow Queen...but I can't help myself...I found another one on a rainy Saturday morning...just sitting on her bird box, watching the world go by...of course I stopped.   I was actually looking for her...my 2014 gold luck symbol..

She was smaller than the first one, more white, and her face was almost all white except for her eyes...I'm thinking she was a young one...just beautiful and not at all bothered about the rain...occasionally she would fluff her feathers and continue scanning the ground and all of us crazy photographers standing in the rain...

Today, it sealed it for me, that the Snowy...is my talisman this year.   I happened to be in a store, killing time and there on the sale rack of jewelry was a small gold owl...with crystals..running down the front...picked that up so fast the owls head swiveled...o.k the head part isn't true...but in real life they do swivel...I said that was meant to be for me, last one.  My good luck charm.

"Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone."  Robert Allen

"She believed she could, so she did."  

Leaving on a Jet Plane

There is nothing more exciting than to board a plane and head to a new destination...especially if it is a place you have never been before..but I must say, flying is not my favorite thing to do...oh the stress but I fly because it gets me to places that I want to experience...travel is learning and discovering, resting and being part of a different culture...so I go. On this flight I was lucky to get the window seat and I was able to take photo's out the window. It took my mind off the fact that I was in a tin can in the sky...it really helped.  The other thing, once the plane is in the air, I am fine...it's just that closing of the door.

So for Friday's Find I thought I would share my photo's of leaving...Logan Airport in Boston Massachusetts. The airport is right on Boston Harbor...early morning light is beautiful when the sun is shinning...you can just see the city starting to come to life...and yes, you can see how close to the water the run-way is...I pray for the pilot both on take off and landing...please don't feel like going for a swim today...

Planes lining up on the runway..waiting their turn to take off...

Whenever I can..we fly Jet Blue..they are so accommodating...and relaxing. Do you see how close that water is...whew...I wear a wet suit.

A perfect take off.  The green bridge is the Mystic River bridge..if you go right, over that bridge you will eventually get to my house. So we are in the air, thank you God (I always give thanks for a great take-off and landing)...next stop..Savannah Georgia..coming soon..

Linking up to Kim Klassens Friday Finds...

Best Bed Buddy's

Every once in awhile you get to witness something so special it leaves a lump in your throat...this was one of those times...Last weekend I spent two nights at my daughter's house and of course Canon came with me...I could not pass up an opportunity to capture the boys in their night and early morning routines..which I don't get to be part of very often...of course they come to my house once in awhile for sleep-overs and we have lots of fun when they come to Maine to visit...but somehow it is different and real when we experience how they are in their own surroundings...

They are both coming into the age when they can now connect with each other on a more playful level...and boys being boys, they do manage to rumble and tumble...which is something to see.  Jaxson is learning how to hold his own and fight for what he wants...while Liam is trying hard to be patient and tolerant of his little brother...not always an easy task for Liam...sharing is not his strong point yet...but it is moments like the one above that are so special...it's these moments...that tell me that yes, they are going to be best buddies and it's starting right now...

Jaxson loves Liam and Liam loves his little brother..they cuddle in the big bed...you know, Mom and Dad's bed and they pile on their stuffies and blankies...and snuggle under the down comforter..It's quiet time before bed and both are tired...so they lean into each other...Liam reading, in his own way, to Jaxson a story off the I-Pad..and just the touch of Jaxson's arm, leaning on his big brother,  touches my heart.   They are sweet and loving, both of them, and at the end of the day....all their life through, they will be there for each other..just like they were on this night...

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero."  ~Marc Brown

"There's no other love like the love for a brother.  There's no other love like the love from a brother."  ~Terri Guillemets

Textured with Greyday...by Kim Klassen

My Snow Queen

How long I have waited for you to arrive..and you do not disappoint..When I first saw you, my heart started beating. Beating so fast I could not even wait to set the camera on the tri-pod. Thank you for sharing a few moments with me...I'll be back and next time, I hope I'm more prepared for your spendor.  Maybe next time you'll also feel the need to stay a bit longer...oh what a tease you are...

I do believe you are my gift, my sign, that all will be well in 2014... Already my word for the year...Persistant, has paid off...just looking at you brings me joy.

I am most alive in my photography when I am out in Nature...you can't stage it.   It happens or it doesn't, but when it does...there is nothing quite like the sense of wonder that one feels.   And so,  I continue to go...

Hand held at 500mm... ah not as old as I thought.. 

Linking up to KK Friday's Find...

 

White Owl Flies Into and Out of the Field

 “Coming down out of the freezing sky

with its depths of light,

like an angel, or a Buddha with wings,

it was beautiful, and accurate,

striking the snow and whatever was there

with a force that left the imprint

of the tips of its wings - five feet apart -

and the grabbing thrust of its feet,

and the indentation of what had been running

through the white valleys of the snow -

and then it rose, gracefully,

and flew back to the frozen marshes

to lurk there, like a little lighthouse,

in the blue shadows -

so I thought:

maybe death isn't darkness, after all,

but so much light wrapping itself around us -

as soft as feathers -

that we are instantly weary of looking, and looking,

and shut our eyes, not without amazement,

and let ourselves be carried,

as through the translucence of mica,

to the river that is without the least dapple or shadow,

that is nothing but light - scalding, aortal light -

in which we are washed and washed

out of our bones.”

 - Mary Oliver

Coming Out Of My Fog

The fog is lifting at my house...oh, don't get to excited, all is not as it should be but progress is being made. I've had my head in the clouds during the holidays and now the fog is starting to lift and I'm hoping to be on track, full time very soon...well, that is, until someone knocks me off my path again...

I've been cleaning and sorting and having Doctor's visits and yes, babysitting my Lovelies once again...we are back in our routine but unfortunately I still have some catching up to do.  I think as far as the cleaning and sorting and purging goes...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel..and oh, have you heard about the crazy cold, snow and now foggy weather we've been having here in the east...hardly make a soul want to move out of the house...I can see St. Maarten right through the fog this year...it's going to feel good.

O.K. see what I mean, it doesn't take much to get me off track.  Although I have many lessons to catch up on and perhaps a surprise in my future...I thought I would start with something that Kim put out there at the beginning of the year...Sometimes writing things down makes our intentions clearer and it gets into the old brain much better...so the lesson was, write 14 things you want to work on in 2014...

So here goes...my 14 things and believe me I could have added more.  In no particular order.

1. Computer off by 9:30 p.m...Lights out by 11:00 pm...I need more reading and sleeping time.

2.Finish and keep up my portfolio.

3. More blogging, less Flickr and Facebook...

4. Do hard copy of my blog posts in book form. I wanted to do this last year and it never got done..

5. Print more photo's and make more photo albums.

6. Play with my Boys for fun, laughter, love and de-stressing.   The years move fast..I don't want to miss them.

7. Travel more...I missed that these past 18 months...already lined up St. Maarten in February and Paris, Provence and Burgundy in April...thinking on a Fall trip and hoping for Seattle and the Oregon Coast.

8. Spend more time with friends...near and far.

9. Get back to horseback riding..I miss it so much.

10 Start taking meditation classes..and doing it regularly. 

11. Learn to relax more more.

12. I also need to finish my blog..it's almost there but needs some fine tuning...

13 Most importantly, feel and recognize Joy in every day.

14. Try my best to keep up with the lessons I signed up for...because I love it when I'm doing them.

So that is my list..you can't accomplish the lists if your head is in the fog...I'm coming out.

Thanks Kim Klasssen for the texture...KK_45

"When the song of the angels is stilled;

When the stars in the sky are gone;

When the kings and princes are home;

When the shepherds are back with their flocks;

The real work of Christmas begins;

To find the lost and heal the brokenhearted;

To feed the hungry and release the prisoner;

To rebuild the ruins and restore peace;

To Make Music in the Heart...."