Flat Florida

The Sunshine State is gorgeous... it really is. And I'm not just talking about its seaside.  But tragically, it took me a while to appreciate it.  Recently, it occurred to me why!  Unlike my preferred mountainous states, Florida is flat (aside from a few small knolls in good ole' Tallahassee)... really flat.  And in my opinion, in order to take in the breathtaking beauty of a place you ought to have a view.  Thank goodness someone else must have agreed to me and built a few observation towers throughout this state... and viola... we have a view! 

Pretty, isn't it!?

Rain Rain....

BECKONS ME TO STOP AND STAY

 There is something so ethereal and lovely in a rainy day.  Little details of exquisite beauty that most people simply miss in their hustle to make it from point A to B without getting soaking wet (sadly this is me on far too many perfectly drizzly days).

 Next time, be brave enough to get a little damp (or just take an umbrella) and stop and stay for a bit.  Soak up all the little the details in a splash & ripple, or the magnifying shape of a rain drop.  You'll be glad you did.

Art... turning the world inside out

I love the thought that art can make an impact of the world... it has the power to open eyes to new perspectives. Just one image has the power to express a story of a soul.  JR's art is doing just that... and doing it all around the world! I LOVE his work and the impact it is having and his TED talk is totally worth your 25 minutes.  Enjoy!

Here are just a few of JR's images from his website... http://www.jr-art.net/

Eagle Eyes...

Bald Eagles... I love these birds! They are incredible.  There are several bald eagles that hang out across my parents lake that I love to watch.  Unfortunately I don't have the right type of lens to get a good shot of them from that far away.  But just the other day God blessed me with the gift of a close encounter.

Last week, my husband & I decided to drive out to the west coast of Florida (Hernando Beach) because the weather was so beautiful!  It was a glorious spring day and we had to get out and enjoy it.  As we parked near one of our favorite fishing spots, we noticed a gorgeous bald eagle in a tree across the waterway.  We snapped a few quick photos thinking that we were as close as we were going to get.

But then the great bird spotted a snack and swooped down just a few feet away from us to nab it.  At one point he perched on top of a light pole in the parking lot and let me walk right up to the base of the pole and snap some photos. 

My Winter Wonderland...

The horses playing in the snow on my family's farm.  I miss this.

Awkward Elegance...

Giraffes... I love these creatures.  They are so much better in real life than pictures can convey.  I took these shots early one morning in South Africa, just as the world was waking up.

The best part of fishing...

...is the sunsets.  Catching fish is just a bonus. :)