Capturing your world: rainy days....

(My favorite Shot)

As I was sitting on my couch debating if I should take a nap (with all this rain it just makes you want to go to sleep) or do something.....I decided to go out in the rain with my camera.

(note to self...do not wear flip flops when it is raining...hard to walk in them when they are wet)

I am forever learning new things and lately I have been interested in increasing my camera knowledge....to learn what my camera can do to get that perfect shot that my eye sees.  So today I ventured out on this wet day just to see what I could capture with my camera.  I love taking pictures and you just never know what you will see. 

I decided to go downtown Savannah for my outing and this shot was taken on River Street.  My main idea as I set out was to capture umbrellas or raincoats.  On this picture when looking at it I notice all the different colors and textures.   I noticed the blue door, the rough brick wall, the red brick sidewalk and the hint of yellow on the steps and of course the three umbrellas.

Here I decided to take a picture of myself in the window's reflection just to say I was there.

(My third favorite)

This caught my eye as I walked down riverstreet.  I don't know why I love it maybe because the table and chairs are so industrial/modern in an old setting.  Loved the silver color of them against the red brick wall and red cobblestone sidewalk which you really can't see. Plus, what makes it cool is the repetition of the tables and chairs.....so in order.

As I was heading towards Broughton Street I saw this lady with her clear umbrella and just loved it.  I so want a clear one for myself, I just think they are so retro. It was altered in a sepia tone vintage color.  I did use my zoom on this picture and pretended to be taking pictures of the buildings just so she wouldn't fell uncomfortable..yikes a stalker with a camera.

(my second favorite)

As I continue on Broughton Street I came across these bikes locked up and thought I would try a new shot with the focus on the seats.  Which I learned from the Internet on changing your focus.

You could tell this guy had a women's umbrella but I guess when it's raining fashion goes out the door.  I altered this shot by fuzzing the edges and adjusting the color. 

This came at me so fast that I could hardly think when I took this shot because they were moving so fast and I had just taken another photo. It was two kids on one bike and I was glad it turned out!  Loved the bright colors of the rain jackets too. 

Here is a shot in City Market and I tried to capture the lady walking next to the pretty wagon with its bright red wheels.  You can also see what time I took the shot in the market's clock....cool huh? (Yeah this was a spur of the minute outing before my hubby got home from work).

This also was taken in City Market and I altered the photo using a vintage color.  I loved it with all the different designs on their clothes and umbrellas.  This one is my favorite from the whole outing.

Plus, you know I couldn't forget to take a couple of pictures of my hubby's roses in our garden when I got home. So here they are:

On these I was trying to capture the raindrops and did okay.  I still can't wait until Christmas when I will be getting a new camera that will take better pictures especially without all the grain I get with my current camera.  But hey I thought I did pretty good.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my pictures and maybe....just maybe...it has inspired you to go out and capture your world you live in.  The beauty is just waiting for you to discover....even if it is wet outside!

xo

barbara lynn

soul food....

xo

barbara lynn

as simple as that......

 

Every day is a new adventure of the possibility of finding out what makes my heart sing.  What truly moves me in ways that even I didn't realize before.  It can be so ever slight that I don't even recognize it.....

.....until that moment when you look at something....and it does something on the inside to your surprise.  Well, that is what happened to me when I spotted these glasses at the Dollar Tree....the Dooollllllarrrr Tree.

I knew I needed to get some new glasses since we have been using Christmas ones.....well since...Christmas!  (They were glasses we got from my mother-in-law who died of cancer and they were some of the things we brought home with us.  That was a very tragic thing for me and maybe without realizing it that is what I thought of every time I reached and drank from one of them.  Weird right? )
So now I know this is truly ridiculous but I guess I thought who cares it's just glasses anyway they all drink the same don't they.  Well, as I found out that is not true.

With a muuuucccchhhh smaller home and no room for the current things......I have been on a quest to simplify my life inside and out.  But with this comes so many feelings of letting things go.......things that were apart of your past life that are hard to let go of.  Do you know what I mean?  Things that you can't let go of even if you tried. 

 

So I decided to take the plunge and just buy these glasses that called to me.....they just reminded me of eating at a restaurant.  I know that sounds silly but it made my heart skip a beat.  My hubby is not a restaurant kind of guy (don't get me wrong he loves eating out but not that often) but I am, so to me these glasses gave me the treat of going out.....but staying in at the same time everyday!  So clean and clear to me like it just screams pure and fresh. Yikes right!!

They are tall and heavy at the bottom and I just love the bumpy effect on them.  Plus, they have this dimple on all four sides where you pick them up to make you feel even more special.....like they were made just for me.   And as I put my first beverage in this glass and drank from it.....it did something on the inside....it made me smile and special at the same time. 

Plus, As I thought about all this I also noticed by replacing my old ones with these new ones it made me feel like I was starting to enjoy this place we live in by making a simple change.... and receiving a positive reaction.  Finally letting go of the past....and finally....just enjoying my everyday life with this simple pleasure.

(lemon water so refreshing)

So here is my challenge to you:   Start to take notice of your dishes when you pick them up.....do they have a positive message.....negative.....or nothing at all?  Do you enjoy what you eat or drink out of everyday?  Or maybe you never thought of it...if so here are some questions to ask yourself. Do you like colorful dishes.....fancy or fun dishes....simple or traditional dishes...or antique dishes that are mismatched but the same color?  How do you feel when you open that cupboard...do you just love your friends dishes or maybe that favorite restuarant of yours dishes? All these questions will open you up to think about what you like.

Well, maybe you really don't know what you like so here is a simple way to find out......go to stores and start looking at different kinds of dishes and see what happens.  Get a couple home magazines and every time you come across something that catches your attention or makes your heart sing cut it out, then spread them out on a table and see.  Do you own any of the ones you picked out or are you just settling with the ones that just get the job done? 

By replacing them with the ones that make you smile will make preparing for dinner.....eating/drinking......and cleaning up that much more enjoyable. I know it did for me.....so give it a try.  Get rid of all the miss matched or chipped ones and go find some that make your heart sing (they really don't even need to be expensive as you can see from mine).  Or maybe you might slim down on the ones you have to just your favorites and gain some breathing room in that cupboard.  Either way find out what makes your heart sing....and enjoy.

xo

barbara lynn



some where over the rainbow.....

Life has taken me on a journey.....a journey that seemed to fill up my days and nights...where I stopped  seeing the beauty that surrounds me....where life seemed to stop. Where I didn't do and see the things I loved....unnoticed and not remembered.  But then at just the right time...something wonderful happens to pull you back into reality. 

 As I was driving to Walmart one evening I saw this most spectacular rainbow that came after a really rainy day......a rainbow to marvel at its beautiful rays of color!  It came at a time that I needed to remember the beauty around me even though my days had started run into each other....a time where I stopped noticing. 

This however caught my attention and not only do I love the wonderful colors I also love the meaning behind it.  It says in the Bible when you look at a rainbow at that very same minute God is looking at it too.  Isn't that cool?    It is a reminder that God gave to us to remind us that He wouldn't destroy the earth with a flood again as He did in Noah's day. This is what I think about every time I see a rainbow.  Makes me know God is still there and still remembers His promise to us. 

I had taken several shots of this with different settings but I found to capture the beauty of the colors I had to use my vivid feature...so awesome!!!!  I was so glad that the rainbow stayed long enough for me to find the right setting!  I also love the silhouette of the tree on the left and the blue of the sky peeking out.  Kinda reminds be that my madness is coming to an end and the beauty will start to reappear.

Since my life has had some changes the last few months so has my time to blog...not that I hadn't wanted to...just other things screamed for my attention and then my day ran out to start another as the day before.  But I see a light at the end of the tunnel that will give me back some much needed home time....time to do the things I love.   I have also been taking several online art ecourses with two more coming up that have also taken my time.  But after these two I will be taking a break from them so I can stop and smell the roses....literally (we have these right outside our door and I haven't stopped to enjoy them).  You know it is all a choice and right now I choose free time to just put my feet up and stop all this madness.

So with sooooo many posts to do....today I just picked one.  I made a choice to stop and do something I had long forgotten....and as I was doing this post I realized how much I have missed blogging and have missed you my friends.

xo

barbara lynn