Queen Anne’s Lace – August, 2016 – Mars, PA
I wandered
and I wondered
surrounded by the intricate
delicate
complex
beauty of nature.
Did “the queen”
strive to achieve her beauty…
or did she just
allow it to happen?
Did she recognize her beauty
in the complexity…
Or did it
even matter?
Was she
a weed…
Or was she
a beautiful flower?
Is it a
beautiful question…
Or is it
a beautiful answer?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Blue Watercolor Feather – 5×7 Arches 140lb Cold Press – Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal, Quinacridone Gold
In light of all the tragedy and horrific events happening in the world,
I am choosing to find goodness, and beauty, and love, and happiness.
It is so easy to get caught up in the news and give more power to the demons
who do such things as drive trucks into crowds of innocent people celebrating life.
Instead, I found peace in art the other evening…
In thoughts of angels among us…
Angels in the form of good people
who do good things…
who spread happiness
and love and hope.
It is sometimes said that feathers appear when angels are near,
so I painted this blue feather to remind myself of the beauty and goodness that is also so close.
Blue is meant to bring a calming and peaceful energy.
May this simple blue feather I painted for #WorldWatercolorMonth today
be a symbol to you
of the angels among us.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
First Purple Iris – May 2016 – Mars, PA
You showed up
in your regal purple cloak
and delicate golden tassels
on the other side of the house.
I almost missed you.
Your hours were numbered
until you gracefully retreated
and made room for the others.
Thank you for the reminder
that beauty is everywhere
and often fleeting
and often in places we rarely look.
Thank you for the reminder
that we must open our eyes
and open our hearts
and take the time to simply look.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The other evening
after dinner,
I went outside
to breathe in
the gentle fragrance
of the Spring air
and dig my fingers
into the warming earth
to clear the leaves and twigs and “weeds”
in preparation for planting
flowers and herbs and vegetables.
In the crack of the stone wall
in the landscape where nothing should grow
and where I tend to pull out things
that do not “belong,”
I decided to leave this tender
flowering plant
that added life
and its own kind of beauty
when you look at it for what it simply is.
Like life in between,
where I cherish the moments,
I cherish the beauty
in the cracks of life.
The crack in the chip
of an heirloom antique cow creamer,
or the crack in the humor
of a “dig” or a joke from one of my guys.
The crack in the corner of the lips
of a friend’s smile when they see me,
or the crack in the voice of my Dad
when we reminisce
about times we’ve spent together
or the times we sadly missed.
The cracks in the corners of
hubby’s (and even my) eyes
that show we have lived and loved and laughed
throughout the years.
(not to mention another cute crack
when he bends over without a belt!)
There truly is beauty
in the cracks of life
if only we open our eyes to see
the tiny little joys
in the cracks in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
watching the……
geese and birds and fishermen and rowers,
cars and bikers and joggers and walkers.
Soaking up the early Spring sunshine after a fun little field trip day with hubby on Saturday.
We stopped by the Three Rivers Rowing Association Youth Boathouse in Pittsburgh.
As I snapped photos, I was drawn to this beat up ole’ beauty that sat alone
amidst all the sleek and shiny new sweep and sculling boats.
It’s beauty caught my eye the most.
Kind of like people.
Youth is sleek and shiny and new and beautiful,
but the real beauty that more often catches my attention
is the kind that emanates from the wrinkles on the face of the older woman
who has spent decades loving and smiling and laughing
with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
or the rough and calloused, knotty, sun-spotted hands of an old man
who worked hard all his life to support his family.
Hands with map-like veins protruding as if telling a story of the places he’d gone and the things he’d done.
Hands that hurt, yet gently stroke his wife’s cheek, guide his children’s path, and cradle his grandchildren.
Yep – sittin’ on the dock of the….. river….
wasting time?
Maybe not.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Photo submission for the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Half-Light: Share a photo inspired by a poem, verse, song lyric or story. Also in loving memory of “Poops” Pap McKinney, who we remember lovingly today on his birthday.
Can you imagine
the pleasant surprise
to float by this building
and read this message
on a recent dinner cruise along the Mississippi River
while visiting New Orleans?
I love to think about the person or persons that took the time to do this.
I can almost envision the beauty in their eyes, their hands, their heart.
There is something beautiful to be found in everything –
Absolutely everything.
Just open your eyes…
and your heart.
You are beautiful!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
One of the many benefits
of living in the country
and such a
sweet surprise
is when
hubby mows the lawn
but drives around
a patch of wildflowers
leaving them intact
to add a patch of purple
amidst the green
to take my breath away –
enveloped
not only in the beauty…
but also in the gesture.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My favorite, dear Bleeding Heart,
are you happy or do you mourn?
Your bright color smiles,
but your tears look so forlorn.
You show us the beauty we oft overlook,
and elicit a pause when our own hearts are shook.
(My bleeding heart plant is my favorite of all in my yard. It has moved with me a couple times as it was a plant given to me by my Grandma. It is a symbol to me of her very special heart every year when it blooms. It reminds me of the joy and the sorrow of love. It demonstrates the intense and powerful artistry of Mother Nature. I could never create or imagine anything more beautiful.)
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS: I love the intricacy of this flower, and this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Intricate.
Is there any more beautiful art than that created in nature?
(Thank you Gary for the beautiful bouquet! Your dahlias are stunning!)
Another little treasure from our trip to Hobby Lobby last weekend was this this little stamp set Janet found in the clearance rack. It “spoke” to both of us, and I had to have it. It reminds me of so many amazing women in my life. I wanted to list them – starting with Stella Star all the way through life, but I am afraid I would accidentally forget someone…
I wanted to show pictures, but again afraid I don’t have all that I would want to post and/or forget someone.
But I think this sentiment should really speak to ALL women.
Be your own kind of beautiful….
Know that there are many kinds of beauty…
Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and even senses….
Beauty can be visual or it can be something from the heart – the way someone makes you feel – maybe with the words they use – spoken or written…
Beauty can come from the way something or someone smells… like flowers or freshly baked bread or cookies or a favorite perfume…
Beauty can be the way something feels – like a tight hug from a friend, your favorite slippers or comforter, your favorite sweater, or the warmth of a kiss.
Know that you have the potential to leave BEAUTY wherever you go!
Happy Friday! We are off to “The Best Book Club Ever” tonight! Woohoo! “People of the Book” by Geraldine Brooks and lots of discussion and wine! 🙂
The layout of this card was designed from the Freshly Made Sketches Sketch #148:
Go out and be your own kind of beautiful!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 