I'll see you next month!

Oh, and the answer to yesterday's puzzle: Those are photographs of a can of green paint (not the same as this can).  The flecks of yellow-green were floating around the surface like that when I opened it.  Neat, huh?

Aerial View - Can You Guess Of What?

I thought these images were pretty cool - they look like land formations from an aerial view.  And since I'm flying to Orlando tommorow, they seemed like the fitting photos to share today.

But, as I'm sure you can tell from the color, they aren't aerial views of land formations.  Can you guess what they are?  I'll tell you tommorow.

Lily Center

Things can look so different, like this lily, when you adjust your focus and perspective.

A Little Rain

We've been getting a little rain, now and again, for the past week, and this weekend we had a full day of nonstop rain.  When I lived back in South Carolina, the rain was pretty much endless, but here in Wyoming, it is rare and precious and you have to be happy when you look overhead and see grey clouds taunting the dry ground with the possibility of moisture.

ETSY PLUG: Kaelyn Michaels Photography

I was reading this city guide to Charleston, S.C., from Design Sponge, earlier this week and it made me so very homesick that I had a few tears in my eyes.  This happens from time to time, even though I am happy in Wyoming, not only because my family is so far away, but because Charleston and the surrounding area is just so beautiful.  It's enough to push everything else out of my head sometimes, and make me wonder why I don't live there.  Reality sets in soon enough - too expensive, great job here in Wyo, so quiet and uncrowded here - and that longing gets pushed back down.  But it twinges every time I see images of Charleston and the Lowcountry. 

Enter the hauntingly beautiful print above, by Kaelyn Michaels.  I've been looking for a piece of art that really spoke to me about the city I love, and this image of the St. Philips steeple and surrounding roofline in the fading afternoon light said exactly what I needed to hear.  It reminds me of my high school and college days, driving to the city from my nearby hometown, to just wander the streets or see a show.  I had to have this print, and my heart swells every time I look at it. 

 

Kaelyn has so many beautiful images of this area that I love, and I will admit, I wanted them all.  But I ultimately chose "Holy City" because the particular landmarks in it were dear to me.  When I was in high school, I spent a month at a summer camp at the College of Charleston,  and, when I was out exploring, I would orient myself by this steeple.  I learned the surrounding streets and shops and restaurants, and it was during this time that the city became familiar to me.  I remember my dad dropping me off, and us having a quick lunch together before he departed.  I felt overwhelmed when he left, being from a small town, but by the end of that month, the city was my friend, and a place where I felt comfortable.

Lest you think all Kaelyn's photographs are of Charleston, let me share a few of her other works.

I love the dreamy atmosphere of Kaelyn's photos, whether they are of the city or the country.  They feel like memories, don't they?  The crispness is gone, just as memories fade around the edges, and what is left is softer and sweeter.

Kaelyn has only been selling on Etsy for a few months, so do go check out her shop.  You might just find a dreamy memory that speaks to you.

Grape Hyacinth

I love these tiny little grape hyacinths.  The blooming part of the stalk is about an inch tall, so I had to get on my belly and crane my neck up at an unnatural angle to get these, but the little crown on the bottom of the blooms was so beautiful that it was completely worth it.

Happy Birthday, Happy

It is my little baby dog's 3rd birthday today!  All the black on her head has now turned brown, and she's a little less sweet and innocent and a little more alpha warrior, but I couldn't love her more!

Hole In The Wall

The rock formations in this region are so cool.  I loved this one, which we saw when we were north of Thermopolis, driving around the lonely dirt roads.

Sedum

During the winter, I cleaned out all the pots I had planted in the front yard, except for one.  I'm not sure why I never got around to it.  But I'm glad that I didn't.  This sedum plant that I am just in love with came back this spring, to my surprise.  Now that I know it can withstand the winter, I am looking for some places to plant it in my yard.

Happy Monday

Happy Monday, everyone.  I hope you are all feeling sunlight and a warm breeze, but if not, here is some California sunshine and pretty little wildflowers for you.

Unexpected Beauty

I love finding unexpected beauty.

I finally began painting my blood-red office yesterday, and when I popped the top on the new green that had been in the basement for a few months and began mixing it, these beautiful swirls appeared.

I mixed some more, and it got even prettier.

I'm going to finish up painting over the next few days.  I'll be so happy when that office looks up to par.  Have a great weekend! 

Grazing Cows

I saw these fellas on the way back from Laramie yesterday.  It was such a  nice day that I was tempted to pull over and snap a few of these beauties grazing in the afternoon sun.

Litter

I hate to tell you what caught my eye during this visit to Guernsey State Park, but I think you're going to guess.  It was all the litter near the picnic areas.  There were not large pieces, but I was looking closely as I wandered around with my macro lens.  And the sparkling glass kept catching my eye.

Why are people so careless?  Why don't they think of the people who will inevitably visit after they are gone?

Daffodils In Blue Vase

The weather here has been just glorious, so I've spent the last couple of days working in the yard, cleaning up the flowerbeds and moving a few plants around.  The daffodils have begun to bloom, and I couldn't resist bringing some inside.

Shooting Out Of The Window

I've got a couple of trips planned for next month, and thinking about them made me want to dig through my old vacation files.  When there is nowhere to pull over, I'm bad about snapping away out of the window.  Normally these sorts of shots amuse me, but that's about it.  This one, however, of some vineyards in Napa Valley, I like.  I love how the gnarly tree branches frame it, and how it is bathed in light.  It makes me smile.

P.S. - I spent some time over the weekend retooling the blog...what do you think?

ETSY PLUG - DKart

I could just post this image from DKart, for today's Etsy Plug, and I think you'd understand.  When I saw this on the front page of Etsy, I knew it belonged in my home.  There was no 'thinking' about it or 'considering.'  It was love at first sight.  I surprised my husband with it, who loves sailing but doesn't get to now that we are landlocked, and he also fell in love immediately.  It was even more gorgeous in person, believe it or not.  I can't wait to see it framed.

This amazing art traveled to my home all the way from Greece, and is by Despina, an editor whose passion is for photography and painting.

She's pretty new to Etsy, so do go check out her amazing work.

IMAGES: DKart