There's No Denying It

Avon by the Sea, NJ- July 20, 2011

There is no denying it-

I  am drawn to  

the beach

the shore

the sand

the salty air

the crashing waves

even though I do not swim-

my heart belongs to summer into autumn.

While away in the mountains of Utah, my husband embraces the snow covered mountains and skies with the ski crew. Yes, I can ski (on greens and slowly), but generally I am happier when I don't have to jam my feet into 2 pound boots and strap boards to my feet.  So, I  pretty much do what I do when I am home; find a project and work on it.  I am working on last years photos of our daughters wedding in July.  I am having a blast. 

While playing with the wedding photos I  found all my unprocessed beach photos. My husband and I went to the New Jersey shore the week before the wedding. We are blessed to have great friends who allow us to visit at their home every summer.  We decided to stop there on the way to the wedding, and it was the best way ever to prepare for the wedding weekend in Connecticut.  I arrived lightly tanned and relaxed.

So there is no denying it;  although I try to be amenable with winter, my heart belongs to summer and autumn.  And it was just so delightful to be immersed in beach photos on this wintery day in the mountains. In fact, I was surprised to look up and no longer be able to see the mountains out the window... it was a white out of snow!

Heart lines

`

The Farm, Catawba, VA-Jan 27, 2012

Into the repetitive lines

this little heart beats

Lines~ etched into elegant stiffness;  

knowing they are one good thaw

away from waves upon the shore.

 

Little Things

`

 New Smyrna Beach, FL-Sept.14, 2011

What we leave behind is as telling as what we find.

Pierless

Avon by the Sea, NJ- May 15, 2011

The fog allows me to focus on what is right in front of me-although focusing on nature with or without fog comes easily for me. I am very content to capture an image and know it says more than my fumbling words. I am content to walk on the beach when it is not sunny. I find this old pier foundation a lovely remnant of human endeavors- it reminds me to remember that there is a balance.



 

Imagine

One Street Over, Blacksburg, VA - Jan 17, 2011
 `

The other day I saw the foam on the sea shore

And today I heard the sound of the waves-

I have a great imagination.
`

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation

`

So ok, I have a pretty good visual imagination. It is a game I have played since I was a child. Where I make my brain see - and I mean actually see something that is not there. And I am not talking about creepy, yucky things.  I am talking about staring at the evening clouds -many times upside down until I could see ocean waves. Or walking across a fence rail and imagining the ground was really millions of people, very far away. 

`

And less you think I have grown up and become normal -I took the photo above when I was imagining that the residual salt marks on the road were foam from the oceans waves- and ta da I was at the shore! 

`

Another fun way I like to  to "see" things differently is on nice sunny days I love to walk with my eyes closed down a particularly straight part of the trail. Pepper keeps me going pretty straight-and I peak at where I am going every 10 steps or so.  Anyway I do it mostly because I love the feel of the sun on my eyelids. I then imagine I am again walking along the shoreline- the whir of car tires far away becomes ocean waves- The bird calls of course are all wrong-  but they need a vacation too.

`

A safer way of heading to the beach is to sit by a sunny window with your eyes closed and one of those crashing waves sound machines- but I don't have one of those. 

`

It appears winter must be getting to me- no really I am just fine-  Have a great day- Enjoy the beach! 

The Artist at Dusk

New Smyrna Beach , FL- Sept 13, 2010

 God's paintbrush was loaded 

with some of my favorites tonight.

We found the best seats in the house-

and set our  beach chairs down.

While we ate dinner 

a steady wind off the water 

kept the hair out of our eyes.

Colors disappeared -

And we were surrounded 

by

   the sound

of crashing waves

and

the feel

of the luscious dark wind.