HAPPY NEW YEAR! No Resolutions for Moi... But I do have a WORD!

The heck with New Year's Resolutions - they're like saying I'm going to drive to Las Vegas ... but with no GPS or map. I have always needed to create a way to focus my thoughts & energies, otherwise I just bounce from shiny thing to shiny thing! I need a plan... I need, a WORD! This New Year, I will have a theme or word. It will be my north star & soul's compass guiding me to how I want to live this year, where I want to go & who I want to be.

I very much like entering the new year this way. Not just a new beginning, but a new attitude thought & way of being. So... decide on a word. It might help you choose to look up the exact meaning. Then WRITE IT DOWN! Post it where you will see it everyday. Move it often to keep it fresh in your mind. Say it each day, as a meditation or a way to focus. Embody it, embrace it, live it! Make this new year the beginning of living a certain way, of nurturing a certain attitude or thought. This word will be the GPS to where you will go & what you will be this year! I'm very excited & love the idea! Need some words to get you started?


Abundant Blessing Clarity Creative Dream Empowered Faith Grateful Happiness Improve Joy Karma Learn Manifest Nurture Open Prosperity Quiet Renew Simplicity Transcend Tranquil Unfolding Vibrant Wellness Xploration ;) Youthful Zen


My words? I had to pick 2 as they just seemed to go together!



INSPIRED
— adj
1. aroused or guided by or as if aroused or guided by divine inspiration
–adjective
1. aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence: an inspired poet.


PROSPERITY
–noun, plural -ties.
1. a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, esp. in financial respects; good fortune.

Are certain words swirling around in your mind? What do you want this year to be, to bring? What is your word?




We lay there & looked up at the night sky
& she told me about stars called blue squares
& red swirls & I told her I'd never heard of them.

Of course not, she said
the really important stuff they never tell you.
You have to imagine it on your own.
~Story People

Happy 2011!

Fog {Columbus Ohio Fine Art Photographer}

WE had a very dense and magical fog this November. Upon wakening and seeing the magical world outside the window, I grabbed my camera to capture what I could. I started at the metropark just a mile away, Blendon Woods. This is my usual haunt on foggy days. But the fog was so dense that I wondered if it was still heavy into the city. I traveled to Franklin Park Conservatory in the heart of Columbus, Ohio. The fog was still hanging in the landscape for some moody shots there. These are by far some of my favorite shots. All photographs were processed in Lightroom using Joyful Lightroom Presets (for jpg) & can be found in the sidebar. I thought it only fitting to end the post with foggy poems! Enjoy!

Most of the photographs featured here are available in MY SHOP!

FOG
The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor & city
on silent haunches
& then moves on.
~ Carl Sandburg

DECEMBER'S MYSTIC MOON
Majestic Oaks in silent solitaire
and Midnight's cold December air,
Rolling hills beneath Heaven's hem of grayish blue
Crowns the earth embraced by northern lights, and
gentle winter's mystic moon.
An unclothed scent of cedar's burnt, and
caressing valleys below,
Inspires Nature's misty gown of rising fog.
~ J Gregory PT Evans

It’s a mysterious morning in the wood as the fogs settled in
Fog dances with the wind through the trees twirling
A hazy white blanket diffusing scattering the light
Everything looks so different tricking your sight
The sun rays pours down breaking through the trees canopy
Linear streaks of light highlighting objects we see
Mysterious fog plays with the light as things it conceals
So when you are only near objects magically reappear
Strange shaped shadows jump out from the teasing mist
And twigs and objects appear that at first you did miss
The gloomy cold fog tries hard to hide the light of the new day
But the darkness and mystery it brings is not there to stay
The wind helps the sun to blow the mist from our sight
And wind sun versus the fog start their regular teasing fight
As normal the fog slowly loses, thins to a light haze in the air
Going patchy with little dancing wisps here and there
The light and the wind always it wins afterall
But the fog would just quickly disappear from us all
But look closely he left a present from his newly departed mist
On foliage are water jewel droplets where it gently kissed
~ Unknown

Holiday Open House!

I'm a little behind (so very busy with clients & my first art show), but... I'm having a Holiday Open House Sunday December 12th from 1PM-3Pm - ish!It's also a book exchange, so bring a book(s) & take a book(s). Munchies provided! Stop in & say hello!

**** Take advantage of the COUPON CODE in my SHOP!! Enter WINTERBLISS during the checkout process for 25% off your order!!

FREE Holiday Card Templates (Columbus Ohio Photograher)

Well, I had hoped to get to this MUCH sooner than December & hope it's not too late! Where has this year gone?! This season has been a very good one (thank you so much to my great clients!), & I have been just swamped with portrait sessions from September through now. But, I wanted to get a couple FREE holiday Card templates out there. These are 5x7 size cards and can be used with SQUARE CROPPED photos.I hope you enjoy!! Find the download link HERE.

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!