Focus on Life: Week 52 ~ Goodbye

Well, it's week 52 of the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly photography challenge for 2013

 

Sally's last prompt for us this year was:

 

 

Goodbye

 

"Well, we are here at the end of our year long journey. It is time to say goodbye.  This week for one last time in 2013, I ask you to focus on how you would like to say farewell and then capture it in a photo(s)"

 

I'm certain that so many things went through your heads (and your hearts) for this prompt, as they did mine.

 

I thought of the Farewell song from the Sound of Music.  And, annoyingly, The Beatles song "Hello, Goodbye" has been a constant (I am not really a big Beatles fan!) in my head all week long.

 

I thought of Shakespeare's, "Parting is such sweet sorrow,...." and Chaucer's "All good things must come to an end" and of course, the various fashions of the famous one liner in so many movies, "I bid you adieu".  

 

 I thought of how to capture a wave goodbye, some one walking alone down a road, boarding an airplane or leaving in a car,...all sorts of photographic ways of saying 'farewell'.

 

My thoughts were of saying 'Goodbye' and how I would wish you all well and much success and happiness in the coming year.

 

I was saddened to see this journey come to an end.

But happy that it happened and better off for it, too!

 

Then last week when Sally sent out the invitations for the 2014 Focus on Life: 52 Photo challenge, I was not so blue or sad about this last post of the year. 

 

I thought of the seasons that have come and gone only to come and go again and of how it can be bitter sweet to see things come to and end. 

Yet with the passing of the seasons, the days and the months, there's the endless cycle of hope.

 

Of renewal, of birth, of life. Of hello.

 

 

 

I'm excited to continue this journey and look forward to seeing what those of you who continue will be 'snappin' in 2014.  And, even if you don't pop in to share each week with photos, I will be sure to see you 'around' here online.

 

At least that is my hope.

 

So, I will end with this:

 

"May you fare well in these last few days of 2013 my friends.

I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!"

 

And in the famous words of Dr. Seuss,...

 

 

"Don't cry because it's over.

Smile because it happened!"

~Dr. Seuss~

 

Until Next Time, (I don't say goodbye well at all!)

Peace and Love!

Cheers,

~Shel~

*To sign up/register for the FOL: 52 Photos 2014*
Click HERE!

 

 

Focus on Life: Week 51 - Togetherness

This is week 51 of the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly photography challenge and Sally over at The Studio Sublime gave us this post for the next to last weekend of the year:

 

 

 

Togetherness

 

"This week focus on wrapping yourself in the warmth of togetherness"

 

So, here's us,...together in front of the fire place, sharing some 'togetherness'.
 

 

 

 

Wishing you a warm and wonderful Christmas this coming Wednesday and may you have some 'togetherness' with those you love!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Celebrating the Warmth

of Togetherness!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Please click the links below to see
how every one else captured some
"Togetherness"

 

 

 

 

Focus on Life: Week 38 - A Quiet Moment

I'm not quite sure if we're on week 38 or 39,....I think last week was week 37, but I could be mistaken - Lord knows I can't keep track of things very well any more, but either way - this week's prompt from Sally over at The Studio Sublime was one of those that really made me take notice of things around me!

 

 

 

Our prompt this week was:

 

A Quiet Moment.  A moment of calm, peacefulness, self-reflection. Quiet little moments through the day where you pause, listen to your heart and breath. This week, capture a quiet moment.

 

 

Well, this week was just as hectic around our house as last week, but in a totally different direction, so I was completely stumped for what to photograph - again! 

 

I love it though, because it really makes me think and observe things.

 

So, the hubs and I sat outside the night before the Full Moon, and enjoyed a glass of wine together and talked about all the stuff going on in our lives this week.

 

I tried to capture the moon as we sat outside - but as  you can see, or rather as you can't see - I was unable to capture it.

 

 

Yes, there really is a 'Moon-Rising' in this photo.
I know, it almost looks like the sun, but it's the best I could do w/my phone!

 

 

It really is right there,.....just up over those houses.

 

Then, just today (Friday) as I sat in his office and we were writing and reading emails that were going back and forth between us and our son's teacher and guidance counselor (it's all good, baby!!), I looked down to see these,....my hubby's feet.

 

 

 

There they were all propped up on the little foot stool thingy I gave him this week for our 19th Wedding Anniversary (we're not that into gifts, can you tell! LOL!!) and realized that even when things are hectic and seem to be going a mile a minute around you, there's still time to 'put your feet up' and just chill. Even if you are reading and writing tons of emails, answering phones, working on data review and building new classes, like he was doing all this week. 

 

And then, as I was looking at some pics this week trying to find some family stuff - I found these.

 

 

Quiet Moments Through the Years,.....

 

 

Yep, this one, although he rides his motorbike with his 'hair on fire' like I've told you all before, he definitely knows how to take a 'Quiet Moment'.

 

So thank you Sally, for once again prompting us to take the time to realize that 'Taking a Quiet Moment' (or finding one to capture with my camera!) can be nice and come when you least expect it!

 

Now, Hop on over to The Studio Sublime and check out all the "Quiet Moments" that everyone else had this week, won't you?

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Stealing a Quiet Moment!

Cheers,

~Shel~ 

Focusing On Life: Week 35 - Growth and Change

It's week 35 for the Focusing On Life Photography Challenge hosted by Sally over at The Studio Sublime and this week's prompt was

 

"Growth and  Change"

 

 

"This week,  focus on what is

growing and changing about you

or the environment around you!"

 

 

I think Sally's psychically linked to all of us because so many times her prompts are completely 'spot on' for what's going on in all of our lives. 

 

There was indeed "Growth and Change" this week in the Buettner (pronounced Bittner, by the way, for those of you who have asked me recently) household. 

 

However, since my camera either wasn't handy at the time of these changes or said subject refused to let his photo be snapped, I waited until this morning (yep, around 6:30a.m. Saturday) to snap some pics as I walked around with my sister up at her cabin
(It's girl's weekend - Woo Hoo!)

 

Here's the low-down this week for "Growth and Change"

 

• The addition of a licensed driver to our household = Growth (yep, the "Masked Rider" is now legal to drive alone!)

 

• The Passing of an era hit us as we sold "Coach" (our trusty old R.V.) to make room for a third vehicle = Change (the boy's getting the hubs Z3 soon and Mike's gonna need some wheels when that happens!)

 

• Decisions regarding the growth and direction of the various businesses we own were set into place  = Change and Growth

 

• And upon arrival at the cabin last night I was anxious to awake this morning so I could see the "change and growth" that has taken place over at Grandma Emma's just since being up here last month.

 

After the fire - June 2011

 

 

After the 2011 Wallow Fire destroyed the family cabin that had stood so beautifully for over 50 years, everything is now grown up and change is coming soon as "S and H" are preparing their section of land for their new cabin (yeah!!)

 

You can barely see where the site of the original cabin once was, but the fireplace chimney still stands tall and proud.
 

 

New Growth - August 31, 2013

 

 

There's so many new wild flowers that my sister's head is ready to explode! There's new tree growth, more birdies this year than the last, more pine cones on the ground and Mother Nature is changing and growing,....replenishing her land and rewarding those who call this place home.

 

 

New Life Springs Up!

 

 

Now, hop on over to The Studio Sublime and see what "Growth and Change" has taken place this week with everyone else!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Growing and Changing with the Times!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus On Life: Week 33 - In Season

For Week 33 of the

Focusing on Life: 52 Photos Challenge,

Sally over at the Studio Sublime

 prompted us with:

 

In Season

 

"What's in Season where you live?  Fruits, vegetables, a certain kind of flower?  Or is it bathing suits and beach umbrellas? Scarves or mittens? This week, do some investigating and search for what is in season where you live!"

 

Well, it's central Arizona in the summer.

And it's hot.

Really hot.

109 today to be exact.

So I guess you could say

THE SUN is in season.

 

The morning sun on my vines

 

 

The Sun's ALWAYS in season here. 

 

The Phoenix metro area is referred to as
"The Valley of the Sun"

 

Yep, that pretty much covers it alright!

 

Oh, and these guys,

 

Gorgeous 'field' of Saguaro Cacti
(Taken with  my iPhone out the car window while going about 65 down the freeway.
I was a passenger, by the way, not the driver when this was taken!! LOL!!)

 

 

They're always in season, too.

 

Truthfully, I never tire of either!

(the high temps I could do with out, but I love the sun and would just die
living in a place where it was gloomy and rainy more than a few days a year!)

 

So, what's "In Season" where you live? 

 

Hop on over to the Studio Sublime and check out all the wonderful "In Season" Shots people snapped this week!

*Sally might still be having some trouble with her site - so check out the link below for this week's challenge! Enjoy!*

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Sunshine!

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

 

 

Focusing on Life: Week 31 - Hues of Blue

For week 31 of the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos Challenge, Sally, over at The Studio Sublime, prompted us with

 

"Hues of Blues"

 

"There are so many meanings behind the color blue, but the one that seems to be the most prevalent is that blue is a cool and calming color. This week, take time for focus on the beautiful hues of blue."

 

 

 

Since blue is one of my all time favorite colors, I thought this would be a snap. But I was totally wrong. I found nothing blue. At least not when I had my camera (or my phone) in hand.

 

So, I got creative and decided to show you what

Blue means to me,.....

 

 

 

 

 

Hues of Blues = Fun!  The hues of blues in these beads and fibers are calming, yet fun to me. My favorite go to color. And of course, blue pearls are a signature favorite of mine !

 

 

 

 

 

Hues of Blues = My Soul's Love.  A feeling of "I am home" comes over me, producing an awe, a calming and a peacefulness that is only satisfied when I am in the midst of the sea,...or ocean.

 

 

The Pacific Ocean from the Coast of California and the Ligurian Sea, Italy.
 

 

Hues of Blues = Universal Guidance. When we were a bit lost and I silently asked God/The Universe to show us the way to our hill top rental home in Tuscany,  this little blue-eyed beauty showed us 'the road home' to the house (and to the housekeeper - his owner). It was a magical 'sign'.  Especially since Siamese are my favorite and my first kitty looked just like this one!

 

 

Our Blue-Eyed Angel Guide!

 

 

And then there's the

"Hues of Blues" that Rock Your Soul!! 

 

Okay - well, they're more widely referred to as the

Sounds of Blues

but this Kenny Wayne Shepherd instrumental,

"While We Cry"

is one of my all time favorite songs (ever!)

and I wanted to share it with you! 

 

 

Kenny Wayne Shepherd - While We Cry

(You're gonna want to turn this one up!)

 

Enjoy! 

 

Please hop on over to The Studio Sublime and see what  "Hues of Blues" every one else has snapped this weekend.

 

You'll be sad and 'blue' if you don't! :-)

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Hues of Blues, Baby!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focusing on Life: Week 24 - GREEN!

This week's prompt from Sally over at

The Studio Sublime

for the weekly photo challenge was:

 

GREEN! 

 

"The color of balance, learning, growth and harmony! 

GREEN evokes feelings of calm and

symbolizes self-respect and well being. 

 

*Grab your cameras and find some green! 

*Note: Your photo as a whole does not have to be all green in color.

 

Look for pops of green against a contrasting color or muted colors! Have Fun!" 

 

 

I just LOVE Green!!

 

Click on any photo to enlarge

 

It's one of my favorite colors!

 

 

So, last weekend I was at my sis's cabin having "Girlfriend's Weekend" and we were surrounded by GREEN.

 

 

Flowers in the meadow by the  Cabin

 

Which is totally awesome given the fact that a couple of summer's ago the Wallow Fire ripped right through the meadow you see pictured here and took out so much beautiful GREEN!

 

 

The Meadow

 

 

But I think this is my favorite GREEN.

 

 

This is Coco, our Peach-Faced Love Bird. He's about 7 years old and is a bit camera shy!
His "Honey" is named Kiki and she's very shy! She's also sitting on some 'egglets'
at the momemnt - Coco's gonna be a Daddy!!

 

Coco Green!

 

 

Hop on over to The Studio Sublime and check out all the GREEN that captured every one's attention this week!

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and GREEN, Baby!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus on Life: 52 Photos - Week 23

For Week 23 of Focusing on Life: 52 Photos

 

Sally prompted us with:

 

 Typography

"The power of the written or typed word can be more powerful than you thought!

The style and appearance of printed matter has an effect to how we view items, websites, businesses, book titles and the list goes on and on. Is the typography pleasing to the eye, does the font pull you in, draw you away, make you feel inspired?
This week focus on the printed word and see what the words are saying to you!"
 



This font/typography alone conjures up ALL KINDS of Scary Zombie Movies
for me!
 

 

 

 

I cannot WAIT for this movie!

 

 

 

 

I'm hoping the movie will be as good as the book but since they rarely are,...I'm not holding my breath!

 

But that "Z" on the cover is doing it for me!

(Scary, Scary!)

 

Jump on over to

The Studio Sublime

and see what types of Typography

people are posting today!

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and Zombies, Baby!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

*I may not have the best Internet service this weekend and so I might not be able to hop and comment on every one's posts until Tuesday or so! Sorry about that!*

 

Focus on Life: Week 15 - Aged Beauty

***The Bead Soup Blog Party 2nd and 3rd Reveals were postponed one week so today is the 2nd Reveal (instead of the 3rd Reveal).  Please hop on over to Lori Anderson's Pretty Things Blog to see all the participants and get to hoppin' !

 

Please come back here next Saturday, April 20th, for the 3rd Reveal where my Bead Soup Blog Party Partner, Francesca Watson and I, along with a slew of other bead-chefs will be

serving up some great soups for you to taste!!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Now,...On with the weekly photo challenge:

 

Focus on Life: 52 Photos

 

 

 

This week our prompt from Sally over at the

Studio Sublime was:

 

Aged Beauty

 

 

Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old,

but of the natural.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
                                                     
"There is always something so intriguing about old things. Whether an heirloom or flea market find we are always intrigued by the back story of the piece that has caught our eye and the thrill of a possible story of family history, lost love or travel to forgotten worlds. In the rust is character, scratches and dents are their badges of courage and the bare metal exposed by peeling paint is acceptance of time.

Aged pieces have a beauty all their own, a beauty that draws us in to look a little deeper into a past time.

This week focus on the aged beauty that may be an old building or an aging vehicle in a parking lot, items in a local barn, flea market, garage or in your jewelry box and snap a shot of a vintage beauty! "

 

So, here's my take on "Aged Beauty"

 

This is the violin that my Uncle

gave to my Dad.

 

 

 

 

It's 100 years old.

 

 

Click to Enlarge

 

 

I thought of having it restored but I don't think I want to do that.

 

 

 

 

 

To me, that would take away all the

'life-prints' of everyone who handled this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These 'life prints' as I call them, are what makes this "Aged Beauty" so special to me.

 

Please hop on over to the Studio Sublime and see the different types of

Aged Beauties

everyone else has captured this week!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Sentimental Aged Beauty!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~