Insights

Until I took my little stroll around the neighborhood I did nor realize that these evergreen trees had flowers.  A new insight from taking the time to really look around me.  When I am looking for fun things to photograph I tend to look a little closer, look from different angles and different distances therefore I get new insights on the world around me.  If you look at yesterdays pictures you will see more of the tree. Then I just had fun with the close-up and wanted to give you some insight into how I came up with my art edit.

First I adjusted the color to make them brighter as I was shooting in the full sun the colors were a little washed out.

I then made the photo that  zooms out making the colors radiate out.  Next I wanted to add some texture to the photo to add more interest so I added the glasstile effect.  I looked at it for a while and decided that there were too many big blocks with basically the same color so I went to another program and

I layered with a solar system background, but I decided that the photo was now too static so I zoomed it one more time leaving the center as the sky to ground the picture.  I recropped it so that the blocks would be more even; added a couple of sets of borders and like any artist I added my name (signature). Then I hit Save.   I wish I had saved more of the steps to give you more insight but I wasn't thinking about this post when I was editing.  Sigh

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Welcome Home

I'm feeling much better now.  However I am trying to catch up on what was left undone while I was not up to doing much.  This seems to be a constant theme of my life.  I am on an upward spiral this time not a downward one, so I am recuperating faster and getting more done when I do feel better.  Hooray! Hooray!  Right now I am also researching how to do more to improve my health.  The better I feel the more I can do to make myself feel even better so now I am deciding on my next step.  Since my herbal teas seem to be helping so much I am researching herbs and what they help with.  I am trying to find a good reference book on how to use and maybe grow the herbs.  I've been checking books out of the library in hopes of finding one without spending a lot of money on books that may not fit my needs.  If anyone knows of a good book or a good blog on herbs and natural healing I would appreciate it if you would leave a comment or e-mail me (see Hi this is me page above)
Since I was feeling better I edited some of the front door gardens and mailboxes that welcome home the people in my neighborhood.  I love my front door garden and the colorful, cheerful greetings they give to me and have started to notice those around me and take photos of them.  These pictures were taken just a few days ago as I walked around my neighborhood.

                            ENJOY ☺☺☺ Johnina☺☺☺

Shoot for the Moon

I've had a couple of busy then bad days. I was feeling better and think i kind of overdid, I still have a problem with learning to pace myself, but when I feel good I want to accomplish all those things that I haven't gotten around to due to my health so I overdo. Friday was a particularly good day and I got a lot accomplished, dog to the vet, physical therapy, shopping, photo taking more than usual but didn't take extra steroids to compensate for the extra stress. Mistake, mistake. When that happens I tend to sleep all the next day, which is pretty much happened.

On top of that Jeremy came home from scout camp where he was one of the leaders, while this was real nice, he also brought home a bug of some kind and we were both sick today. So sleep is what I accomplished today.

I did wake up long enough to eat and then was awake enough to watch the movie 'Secretariat'. A movie that really moved me.  Here was an ordinary women with a dream to help her family and through all her trials including thinking that instead of helping her family she was losing them due to her absence, but in the end she teaches them so much more.  She taught them about following your own  dreams, perseverance and other great character traits.  Sometimes I feel so bad about my health problems and how they have taken me away from my family, both in down time and the time I have to spend to take care of myself, but my family has learned many character traits from my trails that they would not have learned otherwise.
I've seen this movie once before but this time it struck me that she would not have made her dreams come true if it wasn't for the support system of friends and co-workers who turned into friends with which she picked and surrounded herself with.  I too have had and still have a support system for which I am extremely thankful for.  Without them I would not have been as successful as I have been.  This time the movie moved me to tears at her and her support system and their triumph.  Even though I was a junior and senior in high school (which really dates me) I was still right there with them at the triumphs and disappointments along the way even though I knew how it all turned out, because this time I understood the feelings that was happening in the film.  What a difference it made.
Anyway it reminded me of the moon picture and the quote as she shot for the moon and made it then went even further to reach the stars.  Not just in the triumph of her horse but the triumph of her spirit and the difference she made in so many people's lives.
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina ☺☺☺ 

Inspiring post

Found this post with great wisdom in it- have a look
http://elena-myquest.blogspot.com/2011/07/let-go.html
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Welcome Home

This morning I went out and walked around the neighborhood and took pictures especially of the mailboxes and front door gardens. The things that welcome us home. While I was out one of my neighbors was sitting on his porch and came out to ask what I was doing. It is nice to live in a neighborhood where people still sit on their porches and care enough to question unusual behavior. It makes me feel safer.

I went out this morning at my husbands suggestion. He walks the dogs first thing in the morning and let me know even though it was warm at least the humidity was down. Amazingly I even felt good enough to go. After I did what needed to do in the garden I had to come back in and use the old ice packs, but that doesn't take away from the pleasure of my walk. It wasn't but a couple of weeks ago that due to the siezures that walk would have been impossible. It may not have a very long walk but it is longer than I have walked in a very long time. Progress-Hooray

ENJOY

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Morning Light

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~Psalms 118:24

No matter what form your diety takes or what kind of day it is we should all rejoice in the day that we have; love life, be grateful for it and enjoy the beauty thereof.

ENJOY

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Relief



Jack Benny rose and spider guest
On a rainy day



Jack Benny rose and spider guest
On a rainy day
Art edit

 It was drizzling outside but it had also cooled things off a great deal. What a relief! Just standing outside a couple of days ago would make the sweat drip down my back; I'm still getting wet outside but it feels so cool and refreshing.



Blanketflower in the rain




Blanketflower in the rain
In the star lit sky
Art Edit

 I still can't go out in the garden and work so I am practicing with picnik.com and having quite the good time. Some people might complain that today is cold and dreary but I think it is absolutely wonderful, cool and refreshing; a relief from the heat. You just have to know how to make it fun. I took some delightful water dropped photos then came in and played with them.


Leaves in the rain



Leaves in rain
Art edit



Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺