Before the Storm

A big snowstorm was predicted yesterday for Colorado.   In preparation, I joined the masses of people who flocked to the grocery store in anticipation of being holed-up for endless days without the storm necessities like bread, milk, and chocolate.  🙂

It was 1:30 on a Thursday afternoon and the grocery store parking lot was nearly full.  Silly me.   I thought I was the only one who had lost my job and was thus “free” on a weekday to grocery shop.  I’d hate to think that so many other people are out of work, too.  Maybe these folks are all just independently wealthy.  I’d like to think so.

Storm Shoppers

In the midst of all these cars and shoppers though, there was another crowd to watch – and they were quite fun.

Sea Gull Storm Chasers

While Colorado is no where near the ocean, we have seagulls – lots of them.  And I love to watch them – soaring, diving, gliding through the air with such freedom and grace.   They were a nice distraction from the screaming sirens – police, ambulance, fire truck – racing to the accident only one block away.

And so it is with life in suburbia – beauty in the midst of chaos.  Or is it the other way around?

Soaring

Gliding

Freedom

Night Photos

I love night photography.  I love the reflection of lights on wet pavement and the glow of lights against the dark night.  It all seems so magical to me.

It is my goal to learn how to take clear and beautiful night pictures.  I have much to learn.

This is one of the first pictures I took with my Samsung Smart Camera. It was Christmas time at the Denver Botanic Gardens and this little foot bridge is enchanting any time of the year.  The lights of blue and green, however, were especially striking against the black night sky.  Unfortunately, the lights are blurry even though my camera was supported and steady.

I wonder if it is possible to capture focused Christmas lights at night – without the blur.

I’m eager to learn more and how to create the impact of “light in the darkness” with my photographs.

Pathway of Light

A Beautiful Exit

Peeping Kitty

Just a few years ago, we were blessed to have been adopted by a little stray kitty who roamed the neighborhood for over a year without a home and finally decided she wanted to live with us.

One day, I looked out the upstairs window and was surprised to find her on the roof looking in the window in the midst of a snowstorm.  Soon, she was our kitty and lived a short, but happy life indoors, much loved, until cancer took her from us far too soon.

Peeping Kitty

Just at Sunrise

6:30 a.m.

The night is ending and a new day begins, and for a few moments, the world feels at peace.
There is great comfort in the order of the heavens.

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?”
Psalm 8:3

For peace in the world, let peace begin with me this day.

Heavenly Peace

If you would like to be a Blogger for Peace, it’s very simple.   You can join Kozo and others in this meaningful venture by clicking here for more information.

And for even more “peaceful” inspiration, check out Just Patty’s post at Petite Magique

Tea Time and a Good Book

Nothing warms my heart on a cold day like a good book and a cup of nice, hot Twining’s Orange Bliss Tea.

In hopes of capturing the “warm fuzzy” of the moment I was enjoying, I took this photograph in natural light, no flash, with my new Samsung camera.  It didn’t go so very well.   After taking many shots, from various angles, this is the best I could do.  Sigh….

Tea Time

This much I can say for sure.   I have developed a true respect and appreciation for the knowledge and/or artistic “eye” of a skilled photographer.

I’m learning that so many of the beautiful photographs I enjoy on various blogs  like eTravelog, a blog about Michael’s travels through Europe as an au pair with stunning pictures of the Alps, and Eyes to Heart   with all her lovely horse and animal pictures, require time and focus – and, yes, great subject matter, too.

Great subject matter is something I DON”T have.  My little home is tired and worn out and needs a “face-lift.”   And, I’d be happy if I could have one, too.  🙂    (Maybe I just need to smile more…)

Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to travel, which I would dearly love to do given the resources to do so.

Some days my life seems devoid of beauty, so simple and mundane.  I’ve come to realize this more and more as I search for beauty through my camera’s lens.

So, is it my world or me who is devoid of beauty?

Is beauty a matter of simple appreciation for where we are and who we are with?   Or am I just not looking in the right places?  Is beauty first discovered within before one can see it without?

It seems that my blog has now evolved into a personal quest for beauty – and the finding, creating, and appreciation of it.

Who knew  on January 1, 2014, that my camera would lead me on an intensely personal journey of self-discovery?  Welcome to my self-study course, Finding Beauty 101.

Foxy! And he’s not a Bronco!

Life in suburbia does have it’s surprises and they’re not all related to the nightly crime report.

With all the talk here in Colorado this week about the Denver Broncos and our coach, John Fox, imagine my surprise when I discovered a fox of a different kind in my own backyard in the midst of a snowstorm at high noon!

I shot this picture through a window with a screen, and as I said, it was snowing,  so the resolution isn’t as clear as I would like.  Still, I’m delighted that I was able to snap a photo of something we don’t see everyday in suburbia.

Look at that gorgeous tail!   All he needs is a Broncos T-shirt!

Foxy!

When Love Hurts….

…. tears.

Love Hurts.

Weekly Photo Challenge

“Juxtaposition”   – placing side by side for contrast or comparison.

Love comes in all sizes – especially when it comes to pets.

I think the concept of juxtaposition between large and small  is nicely portrayed in this picture I took of a young filly named Kitty and her very best friend, a little kitten named “Miss Kitty.”

They were the best of friends and their friendship proved that innocence sees no boundaries and friends can be made regardless of size, ethnicity, color, or species!

True Friends

My Thomas Kincaid-Like Photograph

Copyright 2014 I am J

I took this picture in Downtown Denver over the holidays in 2012 with a basic point-and-shoot Kodak camera on auto setting and that was it.

Yet beauty is beauty – and I think this looks like a Thomas Kincaid painting.

Out of Focus

For whatever reason, I’ve been experiencing a bout of dizziness for the last 24 hours.   Have you ever tried to focus on a photo shot through a lens that is spinning and everything is out of focus?

In spite of the spinning room, spinning sky, and crazy moon flying over the darkening sky last night, I did take this picture before the clouds rolled-in shortly afterwards.

Now, I apologize in advance if this picture is a bit fuzzy or out of focus.  If you saw it through my eyes today, it would look like a ball bouncing on your monitor.

Also, if this post has any typos or seems senseless, again I apologize.  The words on my monitor look like a piece of sheet music – so I’m just playing along and, hopefully, the “melody” I’m creating is, at least, enjoyable.

May the rest of you be blessed with “solid ground” and a firm foot on the world.   : )

Moon in the Trees