When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is
to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
~  Marcus Aurelius

Carpe Diem

When I was growing up, I was never a morning person. I’d fight for every second of sleep I could wrestle from the morning. But my father? He is, was, and probably has been a morning person since the day he was born.

I’d stumble down to the breakfast table with my dad sitting cheerfully in his chair eating his breakfast. He’d say something bright and chipper to me. Quite often it was Carpe Diem–seize the day. I’d say some typical snide teenager remark back at him, “sure, whatever.”

Now that I’m all grown up–no really–I love the mornings. I get up early. I love to see the morning sky slowly color up with pinks and yellows as the sun rises. I love to get my cup of coffee and watch the birds out the windows of my office. I love to watch the morning sun paint the flowers and leaves with a delicate warm light.

Shockingly, I do love to carpe diem.

Okay, I confess–I’m still not much of a talker until I’ve had a cup of coffee or two, but I do love my early mornings.

(I had a hard time deciding on which photograph to use. Loved them both, but the first one shows the morning sun and shadows and I just love that. But I’m posting my second choice, just because. Taken with my lensbaby lens.)

Enjoy the other great Fine Art Friday photographs by hopping around our blog circle. Visit Story of Life Photography, NJ, fine art friday

This is the first time in about 10 years that my lilac bush has bloomed. It met with an unfortunate tree cutting down incident about 10 years ago…we moved what was left of the bush and it never bloomed again. Each year in spring, I eagerly await for it to bloom. Year after year, I am so disappointed. Each year I wrote about my eager anticipation and eventual disappointment at my personal blog, Wine on the Keyboard.

Finally, this year, after almost giving up hope, she bloomed!! Isn’t she beautiful?? So, of course, I chose to capture the beauty of a lilac bloom for our Fine Art Friday this month. Jump over to Story of Life Photography Fine Art Photography, Northern NJ to see what Dalia came up with this month for our Fine Art challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

So, I’m tired of the endless gray days of the midwest winter. Had a chance to go see my parents in sunny Palm Desert for a quick visit. Ah. Sunshine. Warm weather. And did I mention sunshine? So, to break those winter blues for you…I present you with my Fine Art photo for this month.

ESCAPE

I just love the colors. The clouds in the sky. Oh, and did I mention the sunshine? Loved to see the tall palm trees just scrape the sky and the clouds. Sigh.

Oh, this was my second choice for this month. Loved this little coyote guy that sat at the edge of the patio.

HOWLING AT THE MOON

Have fun seeing what each person in the group came up with! Jump on over to Story of Life Photgraphy a fabulous photographer in Bergen County NJ see her Fine Art Friday.

I believe in pink.
I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner.
I believe in kissing, kissing a lot.
I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.
~ Audrey Hepburn

FINE ART FRIDAY

Fine Art Photography: “photographs that are created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer as artist” according to the wikipedia definition.

I joined a group of talented photographers who are hoping to expand our horizons and travel away from our portrait businesses for awhile each month and capture a fine art image. Each month, on the last Friday of the month, we’ll post our vision of a fine art photo. We’ll explore different types of photography and take time to capture an image that is just for us.

Take a look at what the talented Tracy Tisdale, a Pensacola FL Photographer came up with for our Fine Art Challenge this month. Click on through the blog circle and see some amazing images. Thanks for joining us!