Saturday, April 30, 2011

...how we play the hand...


"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)
 
 

if you get the chance.
this is worth watching.
i am hoping you have sun.
presently.
i don't.
but i know where i can find some.
light + objects = shadows
what does your hand look like?
just BE.
robin.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

...4.24.11...

"We live and die: Christ died and lived!"
John Stott






this is His promise for today...

happy Easter.
welcome to coffee hour.
welcome to this amazing Sunday morning.
just BE.
robin.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

...at the ocean...


at the ocean.
there is silence in the waves.
at the ocean.
there are many different colors of blue.
at the ocean.
you can let yourself be one.
with the sand, the water and the wind.
at the ocean.
you dare to whisper your dreams.
...at the ocean.
there is a calmness.
that can't help but cover you.
if you let it.
taste, touch, sight ,sound, smell.
breathe her in,
let it out.
at the ocean.

six days ago.
at the ocean.
seriously...trying to find
the words.
and i don't think
i've done it justice.
we all bring something different to her.
but she touches so many of us the same way.
incredible.
i am content.
i am grateful.
my cup of just BE.
is full.
now on to shadows.
to sunshine and objects.
to shadows.
enjoy.
may your thoughts be silent.
so you can hear the waves.
just BE.
robin.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

...oh the places we've been...

when we left...
when we returned... 
and all the spaces in between... 





in janet and mario's wedding program...
On Marriage
 Kahlil Gibran
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.


Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.


Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow. 






...all good things must come to an end.

what an awesome time
we had.
left last thursday.
arrived in orlando.
friday-drove to north palm beach...
hitting cocoa beach before we got there.
saturday-deerfield beach
for the marriage of my best friend
since third grade.
the wedding was amazing.
great food, great dancing, great people.
sunday-heading back to leesburg
by way of new smyrna beach.
spent time with brian's folks and uncle bob.
monday-daytona beach.
monday night...a great rib dinner
with the folks and uncle bob.
tuesday...soaking up as much sun as possible...poolside.
before leaving for michigan.
dragging our feet because we knew the michigan
weather forecast.
left fl in a tank top and capri's
landing in michigan and donned
sweat pants,
socks,
and a jacket.
drove home and hit
sleet,
slush,
and multiple cars off the road
on their tops.
spring has forgotten michigan.
looking forward to our next visit to florida.
just BE.
robin.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

...thoughts at the ocean...



your thoughts
can't help but 
be taken up
by the waves 
and gently taken back out to sea.

this is my
shadow shot for today.
yesterday at the atlantic ocean.
the sun came out 
just long enough to get
this shot.
for more...
today we are headed
to a wedding in
west palm beach!
it is a wonderful day to 
just BE.
robin.

Monday, April 11, 2011

...spring gems...

hosted by lisa gordon photography

i so love flowers.
i often catch myself
just standing and staring
at them.
crazy huh?
just BE.
robin.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

...4.10.11...

last Sunday's snow

old giving way to new   




Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy."
"I am too big to climb and play" said
the boy.
"I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?"
"I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy."
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time....
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy."
"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.
"I want a house to keep me warm," he said.
"I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house ?"
" I have no house," said the tree.
"The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy."

And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
"Come, Boy," she whispered,
"come and play."
"I am too old and sad to play,"
said the boy.
"I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?"
"Cut down my trunk
and make a boat," said the tree.
"Then you can sail away...
and be happy."
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.

And after a long time
the boy came back again.
"I am sorry, Boy,"
said the tree," but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak
for apples," said the boy.
"My branches are gone,"
said the tree. " You
cannot swing on them - "
"I am too old to swing
on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone, " said the tree.
"You cannot climb - "
"I am too tired to climb" said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree.
"I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry...."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy.
"just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
"well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.
~shel silverstein

seasons.
change.
old gives way to new.
seasons change in life.
giving.
more than receiving.
being happy.
just because.
welcome to coffee hour.
welcome to this Sunday morning.
just BE.
robin.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

...for the solace of ordinary humanity...

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity. 
~John Ruskin



Mythology of the Crocus Flower
crocus was a friend (and perhaps lover) of the Greek god Hermes. one day as the two were playing, Hermes accidentally hit and killed his friend with a discus. a small flower grew at the place of the accident. three drops of Crocus’ blood fell on the center of the flower and formed the spots on this plant. the flower takes the name crocus because of this event.

imagine.
my surprise.
...and really it shouldn't have been.
to come around.
the corner of the house.
to see these purple beauties.
now.
i've been out to this spot.
several times this week.
and nothing.
not even the crocus shoots were up.
but today.
because, i believe, i needed it most.
there they were.
flowers.
are my addiction.
and to top it off.
there were four bees.
very happy to see the flowers.
i've said it before.
i'll proudly stand by it again.
i am a simple girl.
that takes delight in the simple things.
like a bee,
in a flower,
creating a shadow.
it doesn't get much better than that.
light + objects = shadows
sun and sixty today.
yeah spring.
just BE.
robin.

Monday, April 4, 2011

...say his name...

hosted by lisa gordon photography.
he took breath
in this house.
he shared laughter.
he gave hugs.
he gave memories that
will last a lifetime.
a daily reminder
of a truly great man.
herman e. byers.
just BE.
robin.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

...ps. Sunday...


my mistake.
mother nature.
decided.
the color
should be.
white.
gently...
remove...
the obstacle.
...with a shovel.
just BE.
robin.

...4.3.11...










patanjali lists nine obstacles
that we have to overcome
in our quest for freedom.
(kaivalyam: illness,
lethargy,
doubt,
impatience,
fatigue,
distraction,
arrogance,
inability to take a fresh step,
and loss of confidence).
when these obstacles occur,
they cause negative thinking
or physical discomfort.
when you doubt yourself
or feel distracted,
ask yourself if one of
these obstacles is in your path.
if so,
work gently to remove it.
~1,001 ways to live in the moment

today.
being grey.
cloudy.
gives the feeling.
of spring.
with no color.
but.
knowing what we know.
color will return.
soon.
the birds were coaxing it,
gently,
this morning.
if impatience
is my obstacle.
between me and color,
and warmth,
and sun.
i will gently remove it from my path.
and patiently wait.
welcome to coffee hour.
welcome to this Sunday morning.
just BE.
robin.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

...the moment is held until someone sees it...

Words and pictures can work together to communicate more powerfully than either alone.
~william albert allard

i work from awkwardness. by that i mean i don't like to arrange things.
if i stand in front of something, instead of arranging it, i arrange myself.
~diane arbus  
As i have practiced it,
photography produces pleasure by simplicity
i see something special and show it to the camera.
 a picture is produced.
the moment is held until someone sees it.
then it is theirs.
 ~sam abell
quotes from photographers today.
i like what they are saying.
words and pictures.
together.
communicate.
i take pictures.
when i use them, here,
the thoughts come to me.
and it seems that my thoughts
and the picture go hand in hand.
i don't arrange a
shot.
i arrange myself to the shot.
thus a lot of belly time.
or squatting.
or bending over.
it's not about me...but what i see through
the lens.
simplicity.
the moment is held until
someone sees it.
i love, love, love.
photography.
see what others have seen.
light + objects = shadows.
what do you see today?
just BE.
robin.