Cure for Monday Blues

So it's Monday again. It's cold outside. 

My cure for the Monday Blues...  editing through photos of springtime, editing through any photos with the sun shining, drinking a hot cup of coffee, drinking lots of hot coffee, listening to the soundtrack from Annie... hoping the sun will come out tomorrow... 
and drinking lots of hot coffee.

"Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:15

Of winter's lifeless world each tree

Now seems a perfect past;

Yet each one holds summer's secret

Deep down within its heart.

~Charles G. Slater

Winter Break

An exceptionally clear, blue sky can be absolutely breathtaking. The everyday mundane things don't seem quite so mundane in this light. I know it won't be here long. It is still winter. The rain and cold will be back...any minute now I'm sure. So I rejoice in the sunlight for as long as it is up. The warmth is rejuvenating. And even trees with no leaves look beautiful in this golden illumination.

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; 

may they be happy and joyful." Psalm 68:3

The doves feeding and nesting down for the evening are fun to watch .

These are some of the many that line the power lines in the neighborhood. It is definitely a social gathering. Fussing and feathering from one end of the block to the other. 






He who binds to himself a joy 
Does the winged life destroy; 
But he who kisses the joy as it flies 
Lives in eternity's sun rise.  ~William Blake

Catching the Light

The Lord provided us with glorious sunshine today! Took advantage of the beautiful light because don't if we will have another day like this for a while. Decided to take a short trek down the street. The sky was absolutely gorgeous outside. Found some sad little crimson leaves still hanging on the trees. Lovely color! There is always an interesting photograph just waiting around the corner. I really just enjoyed getting outside today. "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12) 
Such wonderful imagery. 

"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift." 

~Albert Einstein

The Winter Grays

Another gloomy, rainy day... water...lots of water. But at least the ground had a nice soaking. Would love to find something to get outside and photograph, but it doesn't look like it will happen any time soon. Everything just looks gray outside. The sky is gray. The ground is gray. O.K. I need a fireplace. The warm flickering glow might do the trick. At least it will make for some interesting shadows and color and a nice place to curl up.

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." ~Edith Sitwell

Nature's Popsicle

Right now it is just rainy and cold outside...which is normal for January around here. But on occasions south Texas actually has some frozen stuff...I think people up north call it ice. Here it means there is a really good reason to stay home because people don't know how to drive...even on a good day. So light the fire, perk up a hot cup of coffee, grab a good book...and don't forget the blankets.

"Hear! Hear!" screamed the jay from a neighboring tree, 

where I had heard a tittering for some time, 

"winter has a concentrated and nutty kernel, 

if you know where to look for it." ~Henry David Thoreau

Top Ten

These were the top ten photos from 2012. Flowers, dragonflies, butterflies, a blue moon, and a tiny reptile made the cut. There were quite a few more that could have been there, but I had to ween it down to just 10. Visit my Facebook page, SMSstudiosandPhotography,to view the images in their entirety.

"Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart 

and mind are the true lens of the camera." ~Yousuf Karsh

A New Year

I know I am a little behind in posting. Wow! Where did the year go? So 2013...It's been a rough start already. Not so much for my family, but my "extended" family. It is only a week into the new year and so many friends have had family members pass away. We continue to pray for all those that need comfort and healing.

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2