fool for love

I love magnolias...a pleasant memory from childhood. Foolishly, just three days before my surgery I stopped my car, hopped out then daringly walked a wall on Capitol Hill starting at the low end up to the high to capture this gorgeous lush blossom praying with each step that I wouldn't give my surgeon more to fix than one hip yesterday!

What can I say except…

keep your peepers open!®

sunday snaps

A few weekends ago I started taking myself out for sunday snaps. No, not cookies but an outing where I head somewhere unplanned and find different subject matter to photograph (or should I say the subjects find me). The last couple of times I departed early in the morning, I forgot to check my or bring a back-up battery so I was limited to 30 minutes of shooting which was actually good since I have not been able to move about for long continuous periods because of my hip. In fact, I began sunday snaps as a way to ensure I would get out with my camera at least once a week until I’m able to resume mobility with ease.

Last Sunday, I woke up and decided I wanted to visit one of the monuments that has waterfalls. My desire to hear the splashing sound of water crashing onto stones led me to my destination; I roamed and shot many different things being careful to really listen with my eyes for what called to me when I saw the red light flash signaling a dying battery.

When I got home I was overly anxious to download for some reason and as I did, spirits surfaced beneath my fingers. Emotions burst forward as I edited, meanings from someplace deep surfaced. Here is a selection with titles which may help explain…

underground railroad 

not (in)visible

i am somebody

and still I rise

left or right?

I don’t know where I will go today so…

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on the waterfront

I have such a love for standing on a beach looking at and hearing the water that I sometimes forget how moving water can be for me in other places until I happen upon it and find myself parking the car to capture it...

…or see it once again as I download my photographs.

So serene.

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first/4th

It’s been a laid back long weekend with bursts of all types of energy to light up the moments…

and Sunday hasn’t even gotten started yet…yes!

Hope you had a sparkling 4th of July!

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small wonders

We sometimes come across sheer perfection in the smallest things when we least expect them. This past Sunday, I took a quick walk along the butterfly path next to the Smithsonian. I was on a “one shot only” mission, meaning I see something that I want to take a photo of then have to capture it with one click, no do-overs (I love this fun little challenge when I’m pressed for time yet need a creative fix). I got lots of great pictures; I was enamored with this petite green tomato still on the vine hidden amongst all the flowers, plants, trees and shrubbery...

...it was a divine find, exquisite in its simplicity.

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green days

Ten days ago I embarked on a secret journey, secret because I did not tell anyone due to a fear of failure.

Next month, I will have hip replacement surgery which really motivated me to get my body temple together. I do believe that all things fall into place once the intention is set; while flipping the channels I saw a woman talking about a cleanse which caught my attention. I ordered the book, read it in one quick sitting. Could I drink three green smoothies each day for 10 days? Doubt said, “Maybe you should just stick to the modified plan where you eat one meal per day.” I brushed away that naysayer, picked a start date, went grocery shopping, ate a big hamburger the day before I was to begin and cancelled an appointment to do a supervised cleansing. There was just no need to pay someone $200 mainly because I felt like I needed to report in so I could be held accountable. I could do this. Discipline and tenacity said go for it.

I blended with enthusiasm on day 1 which went well, the taste of the smoothie fresh and appealing. By day 5, I was a little tired of so much liquid plus that days’ drink was not yummy, the after taste of stevia bitter in my mouth. Feeling a little sick, admittedly, I let my foot drag the ground a bit promising myself to pull it

back up on the wagon the next day; the universe gave me a boost when the smoothie on day 6 was a festive bright green made from spinach, pineapple, bananas, and peaches. It was scrumptious, nutritious and a motivator but by noon on day 7, my body needed food.

I honored what it requested mindful of the fact that I should not chomp down on a huge crazy meal since essentially I had not been eating for a week. The next day I felt better, good about the fact that I listened to myself AND did not bounce onto the road as the wagon pulled away. Then a tiny voice in my head reminded me that this journey was for me, no one else, the steps and stumbles mine alone. Onward I pressed and now I have arrived at the last day feeling triumphant sans some tired old weight that I started to pick up when I moved to DC 14 years ago. While releasing pounds is a huge plus, what I needed to see was that I could get my body ready to go into surgery, healthy and well all by myself, that paying another person to keep me in check was not going to help me reinforce belief in my own inner strength, that sometimes we have to shut out everyone else in order to hear the inner guide as it leads us to our destination.

Of course, there is the road ahead and being unable to drive this summer will allow me to focus on the continued restoration of my body temple. Actually I like green smoothies. Up to now, I had purchased bottled versions however this past week I have seen how easy they are to whip up fresh each day. Since there are so many tempting recipes available to try, having them as an alternative or should I say replacement to the bagel habit I have a jump start in breaking will be perfect for my renewal. Try green and…

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tickle my fancy

The very first instrument I was exposed to is the piano. It sat in the music room of my grandparents’ house; we were encouraged to bang on it to our hearts delight. As a child, there was a certain curiosity that came with placing my fingers on the smooth ivory and ebony keys, pushing them down, hearing the sound they made, and wondering where that sound came from and how it was created. When I was older, someone finally opened the top. I was fascinated by the felt covered hammers, strummed my fingers over the strings and just fell into deep adoration with what, at that time, was an enormous presence next to my little body. Sooooo...I often wonder why on earth I would not practice once I learned how to play.

I don’t know what it is about instruments**. I have always loved music but just rebelled when it came to my lessons. Thankfully there are many pianists, both known and not so famous, whose gorgeous works I admire. One of them is Cuban born Omar Sosa whose CD Calma is part of my collection used for meditation and relaxation during my personal time as well as when I’m conducting workshops or one-on-one sessions with patients.

I also like jazz piano especially when it’s part of a trio or quartet. I truly admire one’s ability to seriously tickle the ivories, fingers moving swiftly as they play in harmonious sass with percussion and bass, sending me into a trance like state, my head nodding like a junky after a fix. It’s those moments when I regret not studying this instrument when lessons were provided. I sometimes think that perhaps the piano will one day find its way on to my list of things to take up so...

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PS - **Note the word instruments, plural, above. Later in life, I decided to take flute, played in band, hated the competitive angling for first chair, and as soon as I was able to put it down, I did! I have no desire to pick it up again.