30.30 ~ Thankful for all (30 Days of Gratitude)

30.30 ~ Thankful for all, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Thankful for the much needed rain today, for gingerale & ginger cookies (tummy flu), for photo projects that renew creativity, for beginnings & endings that bring beginnings, beautiful colors & diversity, friends (cyber & everyday), flowers, books, pets, seasons... so much to give thanks for!

Finishing 30 Days of Gratitude... with a happy heart!

29.30~smiles

29.30~smiles, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Thankful for the people who smile back...........

30 Days of Gratitude Project

28.30 ~ Church (30 Days of Gratitude)

28.30 ~ church, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

I hadn't made it to church the past couple Sundays.... portrait sessions & then my art show. Going again this morning, I felt renewed & recharged. The energy & love & acceptance is amazing. And I am so thankful for finding such a welcoming & spiritual sanctuary.

30 Days of Gratitude Project

27.30~ Imagination

27.30~ Imagination, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Thankful for magic & imagination... in the world & in our hearts.

30 Days of Gratitude Project

26.30~ Recipes & Pretty Food

26.30~ Recipes & Pretty Food, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Part of my Thanksgiving dinner, but I had to play with my food, first! Cranberries, roses... & brussel sprouts? Yep! And they are SOOOOO good ROASTED! So today I'm thankful for the guidance of recipes & healthy, delicious food. For the recipe click HERE.

25.30 ~ Thankful Heart

25.30 ~ Thankful Heart, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

I know some people who have so much, but don't see it. They are fixated on what they don't have. They don't have a thankful heart. On this day especially I am thankful for being able to appreciate the small things - because in the long run, they are what matters - they are everyday. I'm thankful for all those things in my life, beautiful sunsets, everyday walks with my dog, watching a leaf fall to the ground, having food on my plate, my friends, a roof over my head. I hope you have many blessing to count today & everyday!

30 Days of Gratitude Project

Processed in Lightroom using Joyful Presets.

Black Friday Cyber Monday Sale!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I have so much to be thankful for & hope you do as well!

We know what happens after Thanksgiving - a little bit of a frenzy of checking off our gift list. I'm having a great 50% off sale on prints IN MY SHOP for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Cyber Monday. Cards and Calendars are on sale, too! Stop by - there are NO CROWDS to fight!!

24.30 ~ Franklin Park Conservatory

24.30 ~ Franklin Park Conservatory, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

The other morning we had a very dense fog. I grabbed my camra & went to my usual park to shoot in fog... then I wondered if there would still be fog in the city. I drove down to Franklin Park Conservatory. There was just enough fog still to give a beautiful mood. I'm so glad we have such a beautiful & historic conservatory, & wonderful support for it.

30 Days of Gratitude Project

Processed with Joyful Lightroom Presets.

23.30~Color

23.30~Color , originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Thankful that nature gives us such bright, bold, beautiful color in the gray days of November.

30 Days of Gratitude project

Joyful Lightroom Presets.

22.30 ~ Signs, Sings Everywhere a Sign

22.30 ~ Signs, Sings Everywhere a Sign, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

There is always a sign... both in the world at large, & in our hearts/intuition... guiding us on our way. Sometimes I need to remember to stop & look!

30 Days of Gratitude Project

21.30 ~ First Art Show!

21.30 ~ First Art Show!, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Still sinking in that I did my first Art Show! It was a short 1 day event, but I did realy well & didn't have much to take home! Thankful for the friends who encouraged me & supported me in this endeavor!

30 Days of Gratitude Project

20.30 ~ a Place to Walk

20.30 ~ a Place to Walk, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Grateful that in this metropolitan area of 1 million plus people, I have a wonderful green space & path to walk Maggie.... right out my own back door. And I was so pleased for the beautiful foggy morning!!

Joyful Lightroom Presets

19.30~Art & Artists & Community

19.30~Art & Artists & Community, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

I'm thankful for creativity & art in all its forms. And so very thankful for the support & inspiration of creative communities & forums & Flickr! Getting ready for my first Art Show this Sunday! And excited... well & a bit overwhelmed!

18.30~ Vegetables & Farmers

18.30~ Vegetables & Farmers, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Today I've been thinking of my grandpa - he was a naturalist & organic farmer & I learned so much from him. I'm thankful for home grown vegetables & small or local farms - even better if organic! And I'm thankful for chocolately chocolate brownies from Omega Bakery in the North Market. I would have photographed it, but I ate it!

17.30~ Old Photos & Pierogis

17.30~ Old Photos & Pierogis, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

My Mom & Dad.

I’m thankful for my heritage, memories & photos to Our house was full of laughter, singing & love - & lots of pierogis, kielbasa & potato pancakes keep it all fresh.



The cookbook was given to me by my grandma in 1987!

30.16~ Trees

30.16~ Trees, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Trees…
They give so much & take so little…
Shade, home for critters & birds, nutrients from leaves, oh & the scrunching thorugh the leaves in the fall, fruits, beauty, a nice place to walk…

Thank you lesbrumes & ag artstudio for your beautiful textures.

15.30~ Stars

15.30~ Stars, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

OK - these aren't stars! But they're pretty!

This morning I got up extra early (for me -5AM) to assist a photographer friend with an architectural shoot. I walked Mags in the brisk morning air & tilted my head back to see the stars. The Big Dipper, Orion... It reminded me of all those nights with my grandfather - our heads tipped back while he told me about the constellations & the universe. It was magic! And the stars remind me of my mom... & one winter night with our heads tipped back looking at them together. I always think of her when I look up at a starry sky...

14.30~ A Day Off

14.30~ A Day Off, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

I had a much needed day off today - finally! I ended the day at my favorite haunt of late - the Bio Reserve in Granville. A regal 6 point buck kept crossing paths with Mags & me - he just strolled by! There were all sorts of fabulous birds foraging & calling. The day was a balm to my soul!

13.30~Dreams

13.30~Dreams, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

I'm so thankful I have dreams that keep me motivated, that lift my spirits & help me aspire to wonderful things & places.

Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of the chance to become extraordinary. ~Uta Hagen

12.30 Books

12.30 Books, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

Books - what would we do without them? I'm thankful for books story books, handbooks, fiction, research... & all the places they take us & all they teach.

I'm working the Apple project into this one! lol!

Processed with Joyful Lightroom Presets. Info is HERE.

11.30~ Fresh Water

11.30~ Fresh Water, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

I was walking at the reservoir tonight (as always!) and have been noticing the water level continuing to go down. This is the lowest I have ever seen it. The city has grown in population, but we have not established a new water source. I am thankful for the water that comes from my tap, for the watersheds & their preservation and the rain from the skies.

gratitude 10.30~ Indian Summer

gratitude 10.30~ Indian Summer, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

I've been rushing around the past couple days, but this evening I consciously slowed my pace while walking Mags. We have had the most wonderful Indian Summer here in Central Ohio.... upper 60s & sunny? In mid November? Yes, I'll take it! And along with the gorgeous weather, we have had some of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen in a while. Tonight's sunset was sublime! And the reflection on the reservoir was like molten lava.

9.30~ Just thankful for so much

9.30~ Just thankful for so much, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

It was a busy day & I didn't have much time to reflect on gratitudes. My fridge is about dead, my computer is on it's last legs & I still have a big vet bill. But this is supposed to be a gratitude, right?!

Well, tonight as I was walking Maggie & we were doing 2.5 - 3 miles instead of the .5 mile this summer, I was jubilant. I am thankful for my incredible vet who did her best to save Maggie. The vet gave me back my energetic Maggie girl who wants to walk a brisk 3 miles (plus 1-2 miles in the AM!). I am thankful that with the difficult economy, I am still in business doing what I love. I'm so thankful for food on my table, for insurance & a good doctor, & for a roof over my head. I'm really thankful that while I live very simply, my big splurge is a pedicure... & it makes me feel so good - like I won the lottery! I feel rich beyond measure...

8.30 ~ I am thankful for today

8.30 ~ I am thankful for today, originally uploaded by *ojoyous1*.

I am grateful simply for today, for this moment. I try to not dwell in the past & to not get ahead of myself, but to be here, today & enjoy life.

Marian and Maximus {Columbus Ohio Pet Photographer}

I love what I do and feel so blessed to have such diverse and wonderful clients! Once in a while, a client "finds" me and I just know it was meant to be!

Synchronicity:
the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality —used especially in the psychology of C. G. Jung


Such is the case of Marian and Maximus! Marian had a dream about 5 Rottweilers... & then found my website and a portrait of - yep, 5 Rottweilers! I don't really believe in coincidence - I believe that things are meant to be in those times!! We had a wonderful portrait session at Blendon Woods and were able to take advantage of some of the final beautiful autumn days! Maximus was a real sweetie! Enjoy your preview Marian!

30 Days of Gratitude 2010/ gratitude 7/ Acceptance

It took a while to get here... but today I am thankful for being fine with myself/who I am & comfortable in my own skin. In a world of mothers & couples I'm happy & content as a childless single woman. My aunt once told me while going through my divorce that what she wanted for me, was to be happy on a Friday night keeping company with a good book or my knitting. I'm happy to say I have arrived! The abundance of love in my heart gets showered upon my dog Maggie may, my friends & clients children! We all have different paths, roles & lives... & I'm pretty happy with my path and role in life! Diversity is beautiful & makes life richer.

30 Days of Gratitude 2010/ gratitude 6/ Nature

Every day I walk in nature/creation I marvel at the beauty, simplicity, complexity and interconnectedness of life... & I feel grounded & connected to my Creator.

30 Days of Gratitude 2010/ Good Friends

I count my friends as the most wonderful of blessings. My friends are the family I got to choose.

Life is better when shared! Yesterday was the most wonderful day... It started with having Vietnamese soup with a friend (it has become "our thing") and then we went to rent a truck so I could FINALLY get a sofa! I haven't had a sofa in 10 years - just the love seat from my defunct marriage that I sold 2 months ago. My friend went with me & it is always a fun adventure with him! At the store (World Market) I realized I had left a coupon in my car. A woman behind us heard us talking & had a coupon - 25% off - sweet! We got the sofa to my place & then a very kind gas company man saw us & helped us get the box into my condo! My annulment went through this year & it means soooo much to now have my own little sofa that is just mine (& ready for someone new to sit on with me!). The day was so much more perfect because my friend shared it with me!!

30 Days of Gratitude 2010/ Perspective

I have learned that sometimes you need to lie on your stomach & change your perspective to get a beautiful shot - one you couldn't have even envisioned while on a different plane or line of sight. And I have discovered it is true in life as well - sometimes you need to slow down & consciously be "in the moment" to see things in a more beautiful way. Sometimes you need to stop, listen or consider a different angle to gain clarity.

30 Days of Gratitude 2010/ Maggie May

Maggie May came into my life 8 1/2 years ago and I thank God for her every day. We rescued each other, & together learned to trust, love & have confidence. She is my family - it's just Maggie & me, and I couldn't have asked for a better companion! This past year, Maggie became acutely ill with pancreatitis. It was a slow road to recovery, but she made it. I look upon each of these extra days we have as a gift! Trail buddy, travel companion & confidante - she is the best!

30 Days of Gratitude 2010/ Open Doors

I am developing the patience to wait for a door to open instead of trying to force my way through! And I am thankful for doors that open where I did not expect them to... and for being open to where life might lead me.

Joyful Lightroom Presets!!

I LOVE Lightroom! For me, it is much more intuitive than Photoshop. In Photoshop, there are actions. In Lightroom, there are presets. Both perform similar functions - a means of processing a photograph with one click (& then some adjustments). Most presets for Lightroom are for photographers who shoot in RAW. Sometimes I shoot RAW, but most of the time I shoot jpeg (space constraints on my computer & storage). Over the past months, I've had inquiries about my processing and my "signature" tones. So, I've decided to release the Lightroom presets I've developed to get "That Look". These presets are for those who shoot in jpeg. They will NOT look the same if applied to RAW files. Don't have Lightroom? Well download a FREE TRIAL & check it out for 30 days!

Joyful Lightroom Presets - a set of 20 presets for editing jpeg files in Adobe Lightroom. Instructions for installing the presets are included. Want to try a couple first? Click HERE to download 2 FREE presets!

The rose garden shots were taken on an overcast day. I was shooting aperture priority at 5.6 and had white balance set to auto.

The dinosaur shots were taken at 10AM on a clear autumn day. The sun was at about a 45 degree angle to the boys right. I was shooting aperture priority (5.6) with white balance at auto.

The painter shots were taken on an overcast day around noon. I was shooting aperture priority (5.6) with white balance at auto.
These shots were taken around 11AM. The boy was backlit and the sunlight was diffused by tree branches and leaves. I shot aperture priority (5.6) with white balance at auto.

To purchase JOYFUL LIGHTROOM PRESETS, look for the link in the sidebar to the right! Enjoy your free presets!