A Beautiful Day and A Purple Cross

On a beautiful Friday afternoon during our Spring break, my 8-year old son and I decided to have a picnic at the lakefront. The skies were clear and blue, the sun was shinning, and there was an strong steady breeze blowing--and almost no humidity. This weather in-and-of-itself is a gift in Southeast Louisiana.

While I was surprised that there weren't more people enjoying the spectacular day, I was grateful for the peace and quiet.  I laid our blanket half under a tree with the intention of reading a book on my iPad (The Boelyn Inheritance). Well... just like in the commercials, even in the shade, I was unable to read because of the glare and back light. Consequently, in frustration, I lay back on the blanket and watched the tree branches sway in the wind like a slow dance.

As usual, I had my handy dandy camera close by. So I scooped it up and snapped a couple of images of the sun rays beaming through the branches above me; not really aiming or framing anything in particular. I didn't notice anything incredible in what I was doing. The sound of the camera shutter and the serenity around me was relaxing and appreciated.

All of us have seen the pictures of the image of Jesus or Mary camouflaged in a burnt piece of toast, on the truck of a tree, or in the clouds. Well, I don't have anything like that to show you.  I have something BETTER!  When I uploaded the images from our picnic on my Mac yesterday, this is what I saw ↓

Awesome right? A purple cross with a burst of light in the center.  This photo has not been altered in any way except to add the copyright.  How incredible is this image???

Oh, and did I mention... it was taken on Good Friday?

Have a blessed day.

Sweet Shot

Because I am no longer an "active" professional photographer and let my website and online portfolio go, I haven't been posting many of my images for general viewing.  In fact, I haven't been motivated to take many creative images at all.  Which is in stark contrast to my past, to my personality. Although I still don't go any place without a camera, my creativity has been in a big funk. This is my grand attempt at 1) rebuilding my blog; 2) sharing some of my favorite images and attempting to re-motivate this gift.

This week I am starting with one of my favorite images. Because my daughter (and her wonderful soldier husband) is the subject of this one I'm probably a bit bias. None-the-less, I love it and hope you will too. This was taken outside the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans as part of her engagement shoot.

Left-Brain, Right-Brain, Any Brain Will Do

I’m a right-brain thinker. I’ve known this long before I knew the "proper" terminology. Or, that there was even terminology to describe the type of thinker/learner people are. I realized early on that I...  uh… am a unique thinker. In fact, that’s all I ever do—think, think, think. Sometimes my thoughts don't make sense, nor can I always explain myself.  Sometimes I can even be a deep thinker.  Look.Out.

For those of you who forgot this information from your Psyc 101 class, I’ll  explain the differences—in "Tena terms" of course. Let me start with a disclaimer: I am not a psychiatric professional and am not playing one on this blog.

While most people have both left and right brain tendencies, one side usually dominates the other.   

Let’s say you want to make a gumbo (“make” means “cook” in Cajun talk). You locate and read the entire recipe and lay out all of the ingredients ahead of time. You wash, cut, and measure out everything in exact portions and line it all up on the counter next to the stove.  Everything is added to the roux in the order it is on the recipe and cooks for the required time.  If this sounds like you, then you’re a left-brainer.

If you’re like me, a right-brainer, you get inspired by the weather or a smell (or who knows what) and you reach for the pot.  After you start the roux, you randomly start adding ingredients from memory or instinct.  You eyeball the amounts without thinking too much and make adjustments for the ingredients you’re missing. The gumbo cooks until you feel like it’s ready—without timing it—or until it just smells like gumbo.

These days, while I’m still a right-brainer, I would be happy to have any part of my brain working properly.  Between stress, age, hormones, and life in general, things are getting lost in this brain of mine.  Sometimes things just bounce right off of my rapidly wrinkling forehead. UGH!  Do you have those moments when you are just scattered?  Lately, these moments seem to be week long events.   

NOTE TO SELF: 1) Call coochie doctor about increasing hormone dosage. 2) Be more of a left-brain thinker.

In the morning when I get to work I attempt to organize my day. Since I am a teacher I have set class times, so that’s already organized for me.  Then I sit quietly and read a devotional and/or say a prayer. Next, I type my To Do list for the day (or at least make a mental note of it). However, with my present scatter brain tendencies, I’ve been making myself type it into my calendar program, which then syncs to my iPhone so I have it with me at all times.  I have no excuses, right? Ha. With all this preparation and technology, one would think I am one organized, put together chick. Don’t be deceived. The trick of always staying organized and on task it to actually READ YOUR LIST throughout the day.  Herein lies the problem.  After I type the darn thing, I rarely go back to check things off and see what’s next.  Maybe that’s where my right-brain tendencies kick in.  While I stress in total chaos, a rigid structure of any kind sends me into a panic attack, of sorts.  The other thing that's happening is I’m the queen procrastinator.  But isn’t procrastination a part of the whole right-brain thing?  Shoot, who knows? Good grief.

What I do know is that I need to get my rear in gear and get back to my art.  I’ve procrastinated enough (I think). I am test driving a new smaller camera (Canon Power Shot SX30 IS) and “plan” to join the picture a day Project Life thing over on Becky Higgins site.  I also plan to COMPLETE an art journal page a week, or if not that, complete a specialty project.

Today, I am in the midst of planning an art journaling summer camp for girls. What a great outlet for young girls, right?  I’m having some trouble locating a site to hold the camp. I want a place where I don’t have to pack up the TONS of “stuff” every day and unload it in the morning.  I need a place where they can spread out to journal in private,  join back together to share ideas and techniques, and "create" over the pages and leave them to dry.  Oh yeah, it has to have running water too.  (If my home were large enough, I would do it there, but I essentially live in a birdhouse.)  I’m running into some issues—like the cost—eeech.  Pray that I find the perfect place to pull this off because time is running out.  I need to earn some money and I really WANT to do this.

Suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.  I’ll keep you informed of my progress – hopefully I'll remember!!!

Another New Door To Open

Hi friends. Long time no see!

I thought.  I thought for a long time. I thought and planned for a long time before creating a blog--before deciding upon a topic. Well...I thought wrong.  Not "wrong" exactly, just not exactly right.  My goal was to create an artful, teaching, informative, interesting, and humorous distraction.  It hasn't quite turned out that way--not yet. I've been side-tracked by an injury and surgery and have badly neglected my blog before it really got started. That sidetrack has me re-thinking my direction.

I stalk numerous beautiful, inspiring, well written blogs. Blogs that I want mine to be like when it grows up. I've motivated a few of my friends to start blogs and they have done so successfully.  All the while my blog stagnates from inactivity. My posts never seem to materialize as I would like them to. And even though I was an English major (once-among other things), I stumble with my expression.  When I read back my writing to myself, it never emulates in the poetic style in which I envision or desire.  I'm so brilliant in my own brain (ha ha). Why doesn't that always translate in writing? 

What the heck am I rambling about??  I'll try to explain.

One of the christian blogs I follow is "Bring the Rain."  It's authored by a God and people loving, heart broken, humble, sincere girl named Angie Smith. I discovered her blog about a year ago while stalking another blog, and I can assure you she has no clue as to who I am. There was a recent post where she spoke about the books she used as her bible study tools.  While I enjoyed reading the post, she didn't say anything unique in the sense of disclosing some earth altering secrets--she simply listed a few books and a couple of bible translations she liked to study from.  I had heard of, or read, most of the books before. Like I said... nothing mind-blowing per se'... but yet possible life altering for some. The impressive part was the comments from her readers. I was amazed as I pondered the responses to this post. It was incredible to me how SHE moved and motivated her readers simply by listing "what she does."  The power of her words moved these people into action. At the very least, enough for them to entertain the possibility to start or renew their pursuit of know what the bible teaches.  Wow! The power of the written word is incredible.

Now--realize--this didn't happen from someone reading just her one post.  It came from a trust and respect that was built upon over time.  Over time spent getting to know a small part of her, her incredible journey, and her spirit--by repeatedly visiting, reading, and RELATING to her words/blog.  She's moves and motivates people--what a beautiful gift, huh?

My Point: I aspire to have my words/works inspire more than one somebody in a positive, creative or passionate direction. That would be so cool. It won't be in the way that Angie or any other blogger does it, but in my own unique way. My perpetual work in progress.

(I already think this post is too long and my 3 readers have probably X'd off by now!)

My interests (and moods) are varied and practically change with the seasons. The consistent things in my life, since I was very young, are photography, writing, art, and religion. I see a story in everything around me like a voice inside my head that never shuts up. I see art and inspiration constantly. There's a lot going on in this peanut brain of mine. So! That's just what I'm gonna write about--what ever I'm passionate about and working on in the moment. Hopefully if will be a little entertaining, motivating, or humorous. And perhaps along the way someone will be inspired--at least enough to visit my blog again. (Jen Lancaster said it's absolutely okay to start a sentence with the word "and"--so nah.)

We'll see how round two goes!  Ding, ding.