Day Thirty

The final day. The only picture not taken in my hometown area. We took a huge family trip to Milwaukee, to watch the brewers play. Four generations worth of family, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Cousins, and my cousins little boy, as well as a pair of soon to be cousins' babies :)

What a fun weekend, and exhausting. Lots of laughs, surprises, and fun. 

(deep breath)

Not sure what the next photo project will be....? Colors perhaps, I feel like I need a break but maybe not, it only takes an instant to capture...??

Day Twenty Nine

A couple little clouds floating past the moon. 

Day Twenty Eight

Decided to go black and white for one. 

This one trips me out a little. It looks like water not the sky. I took it sitting in my parents driveway. The clouds were painted beautiful oranges and touched with pink a little while after this. It was beautiful. I smiled because I couldn't take a picture of it.

Day Twenty Seven

I felt happy, running up the hill that overlooks Eau Claire. My flip flops announcing my steps. I had just about crested the hill when I noticed a man sitting at the lookout point. I froze, slowly focused and snapped a picture, then took off down the hill with the same happiness but an added giggle, heart pounding. I felt like a deer stopped in it's tracks, then bounding down the hill. Having captured and unsuspecting human...tee hee.

I had found a turkey feather near this hill last time I was here. My heart felt full, this time it was a raven feather. I now have two raven feathers and two turkey feathers. 

 Things are coming in pairs. 

Day Twenty Six

Something about the line...

Day Twenty Five

Standing atop my car at the top of the only parking structure in Eau Claire, on my tippy toes to eek the lens over the chain link fence. 

Day Twenty Four

Apparently in my little world focus isn't a key.

None the less, a beautiful blue.

Day Twenty Three

I knew there would be a day like this. Quiet and subtle, shielding us from the sun.

Day Twenty Two

Bold strong colors.

 I caught glimpse of a Bald Eagle just before taking this shot, I love elusive birds and nature magic.

Day Twenty One

Just before 6 am. 

The sun dusting the clouds with a warm golden yellow.

Day Twenty

The rain on my windshield painted the lights in a beautiful glow.

Mundane gray. Beautiful rain.

Day Nineteen

Oooo yeah. 

The blurry focus adds a certain haste to the mood of this image. 

The wall of clouds marched right thru one morning, focused on powering ahead. 

Quieting the birds while leaving the trees tousled and ground watered.

Day Eighteen

I love the vastness this one portrays. 

River to clouds,

clouds to rain,

rain to river.

Don't you just want to fly out over the river?

Day Seventeen

Quiet blues on the river.

Day Sixteen

Looks like Photo Journey "clouds" has turned into sunsets!

Day Fifteen

My Mom and I were on our way home from shopping. I saw the sun peeking thru cracks in the clouds, kicking myself for not bringing my camera with. We pulled in the driveway sorted out our stuff and I jumped in my car and zipped away. I went to the same spot as day thirteen, climbed thru the barbed wire fence and got it. The fog was starting to form in the field. The eastern sky was blushing and purple. It was so gorgeous. Photos never depict what it actually looked like. Which is why I don't usually get too upset missing a beautiful picture, it stays perfect in my mind.

I need a wide angle lens...

Day Fourteen

Day Thirteen

I love this one for its color, though I wish I would have waited just a bit longer. The pinks came out just a while after this. (dang it!) I also love how the clouds look like they are swooping out and up, woosh!

Day Twelve

I lost track of time. 

I got 'volunteer wasted'. 

I helped out at Beaver Creek Reserve, I directed a team of volunteers in planting a strip at the back of the building. I was so glad for their help, it originally had been a task just for me...Would have taken a month of hours! So so grateful for their help. We got it started and finished in 3 hours! Ripped up old weed cloth, laid down new weed cloth, laid pavers, planted and mulched. There had to have been a hundred plants we put in, all natives!

I then moved to my parents house to let my most favorite dog Jack out. Then proceeded to help my mom transplant some herbs and natives for an hour. I hit a wall. She made me food :)

I took off to my next location, Gr and Gr's (Grandma and Grandpa's) They are out of town and my a couple aunts and uncles spearheaded a mission to do some updating. It's kind of a huge project! New carpet, new tile, new paint....wow. It's coming right along, it was great to see all the people getting in each other's way and helping out :)

When I got home at 10 I was empty. It was all I could do to throw myself into my bed.

I gave a lot, and forgot to take care of myself. A good reminder.

This shot was just a few blocks from my Grandparent's place, it was nearby and I could see a little stitch of clouds and the streetlights. 

Day Eleven

Feeling a little speechless on this one.  My camera has been surprising me with night shots, it gives me trouble with auto focus, which is very understandable I have trouble with manual focus in the dark. 

So many beautiful colors emerged and plays of light, the clouds catching the orange from the city lights, the inky blue night sky, the headlights from my car painting in the roadside plants.

sigh...another confirmation of my love for colors and light.

Day Ten

Day ten was relatively cloudless as well. I made it home 30 min to midnight, and the clouds were cast in a tinge of orange from the city lights, it was too dark to get my camera to focus appropriately. It turned out beautifully, moody and dreamlike. 

Day Nine

It was a day of cloudlessness and redneck adventures, and a wild caught fish dinner. Apparently I am the bread winner when it comes to fishing. Though ending creatures lives is something that is difficult for me. I don't like pain, I observed the fish as they died, feeling sad, they were calm and accepting of their situation. I thanked them. After all it occurs in nature, the cycle of life. 

Day Eight

Over the open fields of Northwestern Wisconsin.

Day Seven

5:43 am

The bright sun coaxed me out of sleep and into meditation,

the out of my room barefoot to the road.

Gazing at the eastern sky.

I used both my pictures this morning,

joyfully I must suffer through the picture worthy beauty for the rest of the day.

Day Six

Chasing the sunset. 

Driving up and down the hilly countryside out in the apple orchards. 

I was too impatient to climb the hill in town and sit and wait for the show. 

She crept nearer the horizon.

I took chase, I didn't know of a place that would quite open up enough to see the sun go down,

just followed my heart.

I kept driving.

The sun sank lower, still no clearing.

I looked to the south, at the cotton candy pink clouds, and the green hills.

There is something I love about the round bales and the sweet smell of hay.

The birds bid me to snap quickly...shoot!

I didn't look at my camera settings...

 I got lucky.

A lesson in patience, and being open to the journey.

I wanted the sunset,

but what I got was her love reflected.

Day Five

Part of me thinks I could have done a better job for this day. The other part says Wow...this depicts such an expanse. The clouds look massive and powerful. You can see the setting sun in the lower left corner, obscured by the rains pouring out of the cloud. I love the rain in this picture, a free fall. As you move to the right a cheery bit of blue and pink remind us of the happiness rain brings.

❤

Day Four

My heart sings when I see this. Not only for its velvety inky blackness, but the process it took to get it. 

I had just taken my day three picture around 9pm on June 3. I left a friends house at nearly 11pm on that same night and the clouds were steadily marching past the moon. I wanted to break my rules and take a million pictures of it. I waited, less than an hour to midnight.

 I got home ran upstairs and grabbed my sleeping pad, sleeping bag, a note pad, pencil and I managed to find a tripod. I headed outside attempting to be quiet but as usual I only allow myself to take things in ONE trip. The air valve on my sleeping pad knocked loudly on pretty much every doorway I passed through. (ninja skills were not evident this evening)

I made it outside to the driveway, the light was so beautiful, just enough to not want to use a flashlight, but quite enough to write by, eerie and special. I plopped down and began to affix the tripod parts to my camera to get it set for midnight. Raindrops tipped and tapped nearby...shoot... I opened the garage and settled in there to be safe. They were a tease. The following is what happened while I sat in meditation enjoying the moments until midnight.

A cricket...

whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will...

Frogs in surround sound,

a warm breath of wood smoke hovered lazily in the still air

the songs of the night held gently in the stillness.

deep black blue clouds keeping pace, 

steadily marching in front of the moon.

the moon lighting them in a tender radiance

rogue raindrops tapped on metal nearby.

a pair of fireflies danced timidly.

Distant traffic moaning,

a solitary rumble of thunder.

being,

breathing.

glowing.

midnight.

Day Three

I took my first picture early on in the day and was convinced to wait for sunset by a friend. I had another shot which was a slit a blue sky amongst some gray clouds with a kiss of orange and I didn't take it. So I waited and waited. Knowing that a had a good first picture, but that it is also very similar to the first few I posted, classic white clouds and blue skies. This picture happened just before it was almost too dark to hand hold the camera, the last hour if you will. I love it for its deep blue moody-ness.

Day Two

One of my favorite places to look at the sky and rolling hills. I feel this is a place where a bad picture cannot be taken, and it reminds me of computer wallpaper! ha. It's funny how my computer is filled with images from nature. Quite ironic, no?

Day One

June 1

I had taken a picture right around 1 pm wasn't totally thrilled with it. I thought I was going to fail on my first day... I was out with my Aunt and Cousin and company bowling, without my camera and the light was getting low,  it looked like we might not get any moon clouds either! A softly colorful start.

Life changes in moments, constantly.

Photo Journey

June - Clouds

I have decided to embark on a journey of sorts. Mostly inspired by Jim Brandenburg. I received one of his books in college and love the idea behind it.  He took only one picture each day from autumnal equinox to winter solstice. 

For one month I will do something similar but allow myself two pictures, but also I will be only photographing clouds. I will be using my "big" camera a digital SLR (single lens reflex), which makes it a bit more cumbersome to download but the quality is great!

I think I will intend to post just a picture for each day. I have to choose between the two I take.

Clouds remind me of humility, of how small I am and the great expanse of the universe. They are big and open, colorless and colorful when painted by the sun.  Moody and dark, swift and playful.  The bring rain, shade, destruction and sky decoration. They seem so reflective of humans to me. I often stop to gaze upon them and feel centered, connected, in awe.

Won't you join me? Feel free to choose a subject of your own and let me know about it! Maybe not even a subject but a word a feeling anything! Get your cameras ready!

Cloud Lightening

Big North Carolina Sky

Mountains of California

Make sure you let me know, right here on the blog or:

Facebook

Happy snapping!

xoxo <3

L

Random acts of Love

I'm still amazed at this story in it's wholeness... how my path is coming together...so full of love and gratitude.

Last week my amazing friend Aaron (for some reason it's hard for me to call him Dr. unless its followed by buttface...lol I'm obviously never growing up! So I can check that off the bucket list!) has a Patient Appreciation event planned for his Chiropractic patients (Apex Chiropractic) where he's going to have a few vendors and snacks and chair massage then later a dinner at a local restaurant (Wisconsin Street Cafe & Bakery). But he doesn't have a therapist to do the massage, so of course instantly I say, "I can probably do it...but we need a chair." It just so happens that his open hours worked right around my class yesterday, perfect! Also another syncronicity...I had just learned chair massage last Thursday, talk about perfect timing! And they found a chair!

I was getting a bit nervous we had practiced four 15 min chair massages in a row on Thursday night and I could definitely feel they were more taxing than a regular massage on fingers and fore arms, and now I had two shifts where I could be doing chair massage for hours in a row... It's like learning to run on Thursday and then running a half marathon on Monday! Ok, not that bad ;)

The patients were amazing, I was a little nervous for the first one as my chair massage routine sheet got to go home with someone else on Thursday night... I remembered enough to leave people with sleepy relaxed faces when they got up :) ❤ Everyone was so gracious I felt rich in kindness and appreciation. I loved hearing the relaxed tones and slowed pace of their voices when they were talking to me. Some had never had a massage. There was a trio of patients that I connected with and I told Aaron on our way to the Appreciation dinner. I was exhausted sitting by myself at a little table just enjoying the sounds and faces around me and in walks the trio from earlier in the day, Kirby, Mary Lou and Wayne. One of them said to me that I didn't have to sit in the corner by myself, so I followed them up to a table and plopped right down.

To summarize our conversations we were preaching to our own choirs! We talked about me and massage school, how we have a respect for money and realize it's usefulness but don't place much value on it, how much we love connecting with people and helping make things really anything better, and smiling. Kirby said he is drawn to talk to people by their smiles, and Wayne had mentioned something about seeing a creative spark in my eyes, and Mary Lou she was just sweet as heck!

Amongst the talking we got to hear Aaron talk about some of the successes of the the patients who did the 30 day Maximized Living Challenge. In particular a 61 year old man lost 20 pounds and reduced his tryglycerides by astonishing amounts like 290s down to 192 or 92.. and even lowered 20 points in regards to his diabetes, all by changing his diet and exercising! Amazing!

I was feeling so full of love, my arms were heavy and tired I was feeling sleepy and inspired. I always love hearing Aaron talk about the spine and wellness I felt the love he was sharing. I also felt the love from my new trio of friends. I have a hard time describing it other than we all just connected, lovers of life and lovers of sharing that love! You know how you just feel connected to some people, these were my people. I was so grateful just to be around them but Wayne saw something in me or felt he had something to offer. I caught him out of the corner of my eye writing a check...I got nervous and almost thought please don't I hope thats not for me...I have a hard time accepting money, even from my parents unless its my birthday or a holiday.

He slid it near me, I didn't touch it until it was time to go and he said, "Don't forget that." I took it and folded it in half and stuck it in my purse without looking at it. I didn't care if it said 4 cents or 40 dollars. The fact that he wanted to give me something was beautiful, I would have been thrilled if he'd given me a rock. I would however have a problem if it was an exorbitant amount. It wasn't exorbitant though was much more than I thought. I stepped out to use the restroom and came back and gave all three of them a hug, and told Wayne his gift would go directly toward school.

I was amazed, so much love just flowing in and out and around. Those three are trouble, but the good kind, the kid you want to be in :) Three perfect strangers, who are not strangers at all, universal love.

 A poem from a favorite book The Moon Appears When the Water is Still

"A wise saint once said,

"As ye sow, so shall ye reap."

If we plant seeds of anger, jealousy or hatred

we will harvest only weeds of sadness and misery.

Such is the universal law of nature.

Day follows night. Fathers beget sons.

The apple not only falls close to the tree

the apple is the tree.

Seeds of kindness watered with smiles

must produce flowers of happiness and joy."

Thank you Kirby, Mary Lou and Wayne, for watering my heart with generosity kindness and smiles. Surely the cycle continues. :)

Much love and light

Lindsey xoxo

Night lights and the massage reflex flow-ology

Cloud lightening late one night...

I started massage school just about a month ago...actually we have entered our sixth week. I love it. It feels amazing, it feels like I've stepped into a past life, like I am just a conduit for massage. I just comes thru me, effortless. Being in school is awesome too, I'm totally in love with learning, always. Even when I'm not in school I look for lessons in every little thing. Especially the things my mind thinks I don't want to do. The dishes...as soon as I have that thought that I would just like to put the dishes on the counter, I put them in the dishwasher. (most of the time)

I also met up with some most beautiful women to learn Reflexology. Quite interesting. The day was so beautiful and the learning was free flow and outside in the sun we practiced on each other. Foot rubs that were more like soul rubs (get it?!) Beautiful women, lavender, delicious lunch, reflexology, loveology and connections pretty sure I met a soul sister too...Magic Mama. Our lovely leader Jody Hagedorn was an excellent teacher and pretty rockin cook! She reminds me of the beauty of summertime, it's in her smile. Kelly absorbent as a sponge she is ready to just heal out!

Lots of beautiful night happenings of late. Super moon, wonderful spring storms. My favorite the frogs. 

 It was after a rain

night had come.

Along my trip home,

lay a nook in the woods

where the frogs reside. 

They sing for the moon.

rain song,

rhythm of night

united soul sound

chirps ringing...

croaks floating...

a smile creeps across my face

peace in my heart

metta frogs.

I captured the rhythm on my phone, a small bit of nature metta.

Smile for the frogs.

xoxo

in pictures

Well hello again! Its been a spell. Far too long...Grandmother Spider was reminding me many weeks ago when she crawled on my face one night, then the next night brought a light colored friend to visit as well, they hung out on the window sill above my bed. One dark one light. So for Spider I write!

Creating....

I'm not sure if you remember this blue bag, I made it for a beautiful wonderful friend in North Carolina, it was for her daughter for her birthday. She contacted me a while ago and exclaimed she wanted one too just like Natalie's but a little bigger. I was excited, I knew instantly what fabric I would use, one that reminded me of Paige. She loved it!! <3

Hand drawn and embroidered

 Worms...

 Did I ever tell you I have worms?? I do! And they make magical poo! These bins started with a hand full of soil and a mound of newspaper, and I slowly added chopped up food that I didn't want to eat, and the worms made it into yummy nutrient filled soil! However I need to rework my design, some escape to their demise on the cement floor... :(

The snow is gone! And the grass is GREEN!

My little altar that sits atop my window sill above my head as I sleep

Ferns sprouting in the Wisconsin woods

I went for a nice hike in the woods with a great friend and we spotted these ferns sprouting up everywhere! It was wonderful to be out in the woods, and it was such a beautiful day. I need to remember to make sure I get lots of outside time!

I have also recently started school again. I didn't think I would ever go back to school after college. But this is different, I am studying to be a massage therapist. It's so wonderful, I absolutely love being able to be so close with people gently communicating with their bodies to help them heal. Touch is so amazing, giving and receiving massages is a meditative practice for me as well. When receiving a massage I have to focus repeatedly reminding myself to relax, let go. I am always holding some muscle in tension. I feel love flowing when I give massages, warm and golden.

<3<3

-L

Ice melt = boats = ships = free shipping

Math teachers are probably cringing at my incredible equation above....if any actually read my blog...

But if you understand this and have been eyeballing some goods on my Etsy page, you better batten down the hatches because I'm offering Free shipping! For a limited time only! 11 days to be exact! Ends on March 9th! (I won't count today!)

Go forth and order and I shall ship freely!

xoxo

Lindsey

Catch up.

It's been a while, yes? Recently I've felt the preciousness of time. I've acquired a full time temporary job building super computers. (Not quite up my ally, huh? Rest assured I've been entertaining myself with the idea that I'm a robot. Along with occasional spontaneous dance...and a bit of sassy attitude) Well it's kind of neat. The people I work with are great though the amount of time it requires leaves me with a bit of exasperation. I just get fewer of my own tasks done.

I am excited that it is teaching me how to be productive. Productivity and motivation can be challenges for me. The scheduling of breaks I took particular note in. I tend to be a "lets finish this project" kind of person. I am learning the importance of and using time management and how to organize my time. (for Lord's sake,  it's taken me 26 years to start to understand this concept!)

I have also recently learned so much about the human body and is healing systems. And also embarked on a diet. Not to loose weight but maybe to challenge myself and to see how my body reacts. It's called the Paleo Diet. It's quite simple. Eat natural, unprocessed foods. No dairy, no grains, no sugar. Basically lean meat, fruits, veggies and nuts. This particular diet is synonymous with CrossFit. It began on Jan 9. I also was ill with a cold during the first two weeks of it. It was interesting learning about my body and what it needs, balancing sleep and exercise. I have finally committed to competing in a CrossFit competition. I have yet to sign up (its on the agenda for tomorrow) The trainers at the gym have been at me for some time. I feel afraid to do it, which is why I want to do it. I haven't challenged myself lately to do something outside my comfort zone. It give me butterflies just thinking about it, and butterflies are sweet!

 I have also just begun to receive Chiropractic/Welleness treatment. I have become very fascinated by the importance of the spine in regards to how our bodies heal themselves. And have been thoroughly inspired by Aaron. He is an extremely hard working person and it inspires me to see someone who cares and contributes to society as much as he does. It inspires me to manifest positive change in the world.

And my spine you ask? Jacked! Of course. I tried to convince Aaron that my 26 years of no chiropractic care would still not prevent my spine from looking perfect. Though from the shoulders down it looks pretty spiffy. Shoulders up = mess. The tippy top of my spine is actually pointing in the wrong direction, pinching off the nerves that control my immune system. (no wonder why I have contracted so many colds this winter! and had them for a long time!) So many wonderful things were revealed to me through my time spent at Apex Chiropractic. I would encourage all of you to look up your nearest Maximized Living health center. I was amazed at their approach to health!

Massage school has also been on my mind. I feel an intuitive draw to it. I enjoy touch and the healing power of it. I have always had a deep need to help, in the many different dialects of help. Help someone with a task, or to help someone heal. My heart feels strong and beats loudly, and I feel really centered and focused when I give massages. I like how that feels, it feels like love flowing through me and good vibes. I am completely fascinated with anatomy as well, so it looks like a win win!

with love

L

(the photos were taken on Christmas Eve of a local lights display. I love the glow of light off the snow, it's warm and inspiring)