Beyond the Sunset

"Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning
When with our Savior heaven's begun
Earth's toiling ended, O glorious dawning
Beyond the sunset when day is done.

Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather
No storms will threaten, no fears annoy
O day of gladness, O day unending
Beyond the sunset eternal joy.

Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me
To God the Father whom I adore
His glorious presence, His word of welcome
Will be my portion on that fair shore.

Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion
With our dear loved ones who've gone before
In that fair homeland we'll know no parting
Beyond the sunset forever more..." 

~Virgil and Blanche Brock 


This is one of my favorite gospel songs.  There is a part of the song that is spoken but I didn't list the lyrics here.   

Wimauma Sunrise

"Every sunset is also a sunrise. It all depends on where you stand". ~ Karl Schmidt 

Just a plain ordinary sunrise.  I took this while we still lived in Wimauma.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas day.

Old trees

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."  ~Robert Louis Stevenson

This is a photo that I posted on an old, no longer existing blog.  I hope you don't mind seeing it again.  I've been trying to find something that is cheerful and happy for the season but alas it escapes me.  

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.  ~Cindy

On the far shore

"One summer night, out on a flat headland, all but surrounded by the waters of the bay, the horizons were remote and distant rims on the edge of space. Millions of stars blazed in darkness, and on the far shore a few lights burned in cottages. Otherwise there was no reminder of human life. My companion and I were alone with the stars: the misty river of the Milky Way flowing across the sky, the patterns of the constellations standing out bright and clear, a blazing planet low on the horizon. It occurred to me that if this were a sight that could be seen only once in a century, this little headland would be thronged with spectators. But it can be seen many scores of nights in any year, and so the lights burned in the cottages and the inhabitants probably gave not a thought to the beauty overhead; and because they could see it almost any night, perhaps they never will." 

~Rachel Carson

I try to find a quote that will go with the photo but I'm not always successful.  This is a beautiful quote by Rachel Carson.  It's one of my favorites and I've been wanting to post it.  I hope you enjoy it.

The Morning Sun

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, "What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?”
~Rachel Carson

Fern

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
~Rachel Carson

Seagull II

"I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over."
~By John Masefield (1878-1967).

I took another trip to Bayport Park today.  I sat in the car a long time just watching the seagulls fly around.  It was good to get out of the house.  The poem is titled "Sea Fever".

Sand, Sea and Sunshine

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it's always our self we find in the sea.  ~e.e. cummings

I took this photo at Pine Island.  Dad and I went yesterday to get out of the house for awhile.  It was our first trip there.  It's a small park with a beach, a playground, picnic shelters, small observation deck and a cafe.  The good thing about it was it wasn't very crowded as you can see.   It was a little warmer by the sea then I thought it was going to be.  I wore bluejeans, two tops and a sweater.  I was actually comfortable but you can imagine the looks I got.  Anyway, it was a nice little outing.

Simple Beauty

"If you get simple beauty and naught else, you get about the best thing God invents."  ~Robert Browning

A closeup of a tree trunk.  I don't know why but I saw all the little green moss/lichen on it and thought how pretty.

Red Shouldered Hawk

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all."  ~Emily Dickinson

This is a photo from my archives that I took back in 2007.  I have several shots of this bird perched on the trellis.  I don't believe I've posted this particular shot before.  

Changes

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."  
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Nothing spectacular about this photo of leaves.  I took it today while visiting a local park not far from home.  I thought it was pretty.

Seagull

"The seagull sees farthest who flies highest" ~proverb quote

Solitude

"Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better." ~Henry Rollins

I took this yesterday evening while visiting Bayport Park in Spring Hill, FL. I'm told that just beyond this buoy is a grass field for manatees. Unfortunately I didn't get to see any, maybe next time. Don't you think the buoy together with its shadow look like a cross? I do.  The only processing I did on this photo was reducing it's size.

In the thicket of it

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing except make music for us to enjoy.  They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corn cribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.  That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."  ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

I thought I'd post this even though it's not the best photo.  It's a little blurry around the head but I still like it. 

Branches

"For the birds that cannot soar, God has provided low branches."  ~Turkish proverb

A Little Flower

"Just living is not enough.  One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower'.  
~Hans Christian Anderson

In Autumns Light

 "How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days".  ~John Burroughs

A photo from my archives.

My Mom

  Martha Ann Miller September 09, 1932 - November 26, 2011

Okay, I said I'd never post a photo that wasn't mine.  However, this is a special exception so I hope that you won't think badly of me for breaking my own rules.  This photo is of my Mom.  I can't tell you when or where it was taken.  As you can see it's an old one and is ripped on the side.  But even with the fading and the tear it's still quite a beautiful photo of her.  My Mom passed away this past Saturday November 26, 2011, a day before my birthday.  She had been diagnosed with a rare cancer (a sarcoma).  Sarcoma's are rare but Mom's cancer was rare for her age and the location of the tumor.  She was seen by a specialist who deals only with Sarcomas and was told that he could remove the tumor.  Unfortunately she wasn't healthy enough to go through the surgery and so she couldn't have it.  Chemo and radiation would have killed her so her only option was to live with it.  To endure the discomfort it caused.  To allow it to grow and spread.  She did this but never gave up hope that she would be okay.  She told me one day that she wasn't going to die.  I didn't know what to think but secretly I hoped she was right.  Of course things don't always work out the way we want.  Mom suffered in her last few days.  I would have endured the pain and suffering for her if I could have.  She was the most wonderful, loving and caring Mom anyone could have had.  She was awesome.  I hope she knows that I love her very much.  I'll see you again one day Mom.  I miss you and love you the whole sky full.

A glorious day

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Psalm 19:1 

This is another photo from my archives.  I really need to get out and get some new shots but that might have to wait until school is over.  I took this at Emerson Point Preserve in Manatee County Florida.  This is a fairly large hill right next to the bay.  I posted this once before on another blog.  Again, if you've seen it I hope you don't mind seeing it again.

Where have all the leaves gone?

"If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees." 
~ Khalil Gibran   

I was digging in the archives again and found this photo of an Oak tree.  The color version leaves a lot to be desired but I like the B&W version.  I believe I've posted this before on one of my other blogs but not on this blog.  However, it is the same tree in the post titled "The Moon". 

Crape Myrtle aka Crapemyrtle

"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends".
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo of some Crape Myrtle buds taken awhile back.  I think they bloomed pink.  

I went out yesterday on a photo hunt but didn't really find anything.  I'm not sure I like this photo but I wanted to post something. 

A Maple leaf

"How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude".
~Emily Dickinson

I took this photo a while back.  It's from a small maple tree in the backyard of our old home.  The tree never seemed to grow but always had leaves on it.  

Ocean treasures

Song of a Shell

"I held a sea shell to my ear,
and listened to its tale
Of vessels bounding o'er the main
and all the ships that sail.
It sang of brilliant water flowers-
the bright anemones
that bloom beneath the ocean waves-
tossed in from seven seas.
Each time I harken to this song,
I hear the breakers moan,
and fancy that a warning bell
rings from a lighthouse lone.
No longer need I wish to go
where foam-capped billows swell,
for I've an ocean of my own
within this pearly shell".

~Violet L. Cuslidge

A sensitive plant in a garden grew

"A sensitive plant in a garden grew,
And the young winds fed it with silver dew,
And it opened its fan-like leaves to the light,
and closed them beneath the kisses of night".
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Seashell

"Never bend your head.  Hold it high.  Look the world straight in the eye".
~Helen Keller

This is a moon shell or shark's eye shell.

Beauty in imperfection

"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection".
~Conrad Hall

A butterfly photo that didn't come out to well.  I loved the colors but they were too light and the butterfly was not in focus.  I added some processing along with a canvas texture. 

Ripples

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness.  Every act creates a ripple with no logical end".
~Scott Adams

I have posted this photo before but on my other blog which no longer exists. As for now I have no new photos and so I'm digging around in my archives. If you've seen this before, I hope you don't mind seeing it again. This was a ditch overflowing with water after a massive thunderstorm went through our neighborhood. The sun came through just enough to create some interesting light and shadows on the plants and the ripple was just perfect timing.

Opportunity

 

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting".

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Patience

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience".  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Clouds

"I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills..."

~William Wordsworth

Hope

"All it takes is one bloom of hope to make a spiritual garden". ~Terri Guillemets