This morning I awoke the strangest light outside. There was a golden yellow hue that seemed to envelope everything. It was lovely and erie all at the same time. I tried capturing it a few times with no success. Then I passed by my front door and it looked as if a yellow spotlight were being shone through the glass. The image truly does not provide the sense of strangeness and beauty that I experienced, but it certainly displays it in a way like no other. It made me think, as all things do, about the distortion of my thoughts and beliefs at times. One of the things that helps me to stay pretty happy most of the time is that I pretend. I choose to believe some things not exactly how they are because it's way more fun, just easier, or not quite as difficult to think about. For example, I choose to believe that George Clooney really wants to be with me, but simply doesn't want to put me through the woes of the spotlight. He's very kind that way :) When I stay in hotel room, I choose not to think about all of the icky things that could be lingering in the room from all the previous guests. Rather than drive myself absolutely crazy, I choose not to think about it. My thoughts distort the reality of what really is. In the same way, I know I am guilty of not being able to see things in the clear beautiful way they are meant to be seen because of my own misperceptions or insecurities. Sadly I have missed things because my expectations clouded how lovely it already was. Leaded glass is pretty, but when it comes to reality, I strive to look at life in as clear, honest way as possible.

pic of the day - yellow rose of texas

Yellow roses are without question my favorite flower. When I was little, I loved the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas". If my memory is correct , there was a TV show by the same name in which Cybyl Shepherd and Sam Elliot were the stars. I'm not sure how at the age of 5 at most I could think he was cool, but I sure did. I'm pretty sure it was a combination of the voice and the mustache. I had a thing for the bass singer in the Oak Ridge Boys too...again with the deep voice. Weird. I had never seen anyone with facial hair of that kind, and I thought it was pretty cool. I can remember trying to talk my dad into growing one just like it. When the movie Tombstone came out, he was, without question, my favorite character. Crazy I know. Again, it's the mustache. Now every everytime I hear him stump for the beef industry or Dodge trucks, I want to run out, fire up the grill and trade in my car.

While yellow roses carry sweet meaning for me for many reasons, I can't help the fact that I always hear that song and think of the mustache for just brief split second before ooooing and awwwwing. I giggle a little on the inside every time! Now you know.

pic of the day - when the chimes sing

Maybe it's the fact that I love the part of "It's A Wonderful Life" where everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings. It could be that one of my favorite toys as a child was that multi-colored bell thing that looked like a piano and you bonged it with the yellow batton...I know there's a real name for that, but my memory escapes me. I'm not sure just exactly why, but I love windchimes. Everytime I hear them sing, I feel like something special is happening. I may not know what it is, but it's happening and the chimes are letting me know. It's as if I'm supposed to listen...like they are a message to me. Sometimes they bring me comfort, as if someone I love is watching over me. Sometimes they trigger a memory. Sometimes they are a bit haunting. They always have meaning though.

This afternoon as I came home from work, something passed through. There was this wonderful cool breeze that totally squashed the oppressive heat that has plagued us for several days. There were little sprinkles of rain and that wonderful smell that comes along. It felt wonderful as I stood on the back porch watching Bertie run. Then I heard the chimes. I took a deep breath and waited for the meaning. It was a feeling of "Ahhhh" ....of peace...of OK. I still have no real idea of what that means, but I've never been let down before. I couldn't record the sound, but I could capture the moment...every time the chimes sing.

pic of the day - enjoy your bathroom floor

I knew this day would come. It actually took longer than I thought. To say I'm quite proud of myself is an understatement. This challenge I've given myself to take a picture a day finally proved to be nearly unobtainable today - if it weren't for Bertie. It's just been one of those days. The morning was rushed - a result of hitting that wonderful snooze button one too many times, the fact that I woke up starving making a bowl of cereal a priority over showering on time, and wanting to wear something that needed to be ironed. It's funny how all those little extra 5 minute tasks add up. There was no time for smelling the roses or seeing the light this morning.

My office is rather drab and I'm in the middle of finishing some big projects so scoping out the campus was not an option during the day. Lunch was fraught with trying squeeze in an errand or two on top of eating a bite at home while giving Bertie her mid-day potty break. After work, I hurried out to my folk's house for dinner, and while there may have been a moment or two worth capturing, of course I had no camera. I had a list of other errands that needed to be run that couldn't wait until Saturday so a quick trip home to provide Bertie yet another potty-break and supper was next on the list. Upon pulling in the driveway, I noticed the driveway was wet. Further inspection showed me that my entire front landscaping, yard, and that of my neighbor was totally saturated with the water now shooting like "Old Faithful" from my front hose. I swear with all memory in me that I turned the water off last night after giving the flowers a much needed drink, yet today, it was on and the pressure combined with the heat burst through the hose. Now that would have been some picture. Nevermind that...no time...errands to run! While out, of course there was a glorious sunset and again I had no camera. Upon returning home, I found my poor doggy who'd been alone the greater part of 13 hours ready to bounce off the walls. After a mighty game of tug of war, laps around the backyard, obliterating 2 toys, she took a swan dive onto the bathroom floor to cool her belly. AND I HAD MY CAMERA! Yes folks, that's as good as it gets today.

Some days are just filled to the brim with demands and tugs and pulls and things you just have to do. It's ok if the best thing that happens in a day is to sprawl out and cool your belly. If it weren't for the hectic times, we would never know to treasure the bathroom floor of our lives. Ok, so I don't sprawl out on the bathroom floor, but if it weren't for the many demands we face and the challenges we overcome, would we really appreciate the beauty of rest? I may not have gotten a cool memorable publishable shot, but I had a great laugh at Bertie's frog-like pose. All my errands are done. I had a nice dinner with my parents. My projects at work are nearly complete. And now I'll enjoy my rest.

pic of the day - the other side of the leaf

I love this shot. I shoot it over an over again every time the opportunity arises. There is something special about the other side of the leaf making such a pretty picture. Normally, it is the right side of the leaf that is the preferred side. I can't think of a single flower arrangement that I've seen where the underneath side of the leaf is purposely shown. I have never seen a potted plant displayed upside down so the other side of the leaves can be viewed. No one that I know of has ever gotten down on the ground, looked up, and exclaimed, "Oh what a pretty plant!"

The addition of a simple ray of light changes everything. Everything! From my normal position, this leaf looked as bland and heat stunned as any other leaf among my flowers and plants. A slight change of angle and a view into the sun illuminates the ordinary leaf like fireworks on the 4th of July or the tree at Christmas. No longer is the leaf its normal plain self, but instead the other side of the leaf is so much more. And it's the light that makes it all possible.

I think I spend too much of my time going through life only seeing the bland ole view you get from a regular glance. What would happen if we suddenly started changing our view? If we looked at things from a different angle? Most importantly what if we all took a look into the light? Would we see things of beauty as they are meant to be seen? Would we see that there is so much more out there for us to enjoy if we only took the time? If we only saw the light. What about me? What does my other side look like? Am I offering a view with the light shining through? I think this offers a whole new meaning to the phrase "turning over a new leaf".

pic of the day - my sweet daddy

My dad and I share a number of traits. We both have the Naylor ears. Stubborn and a little hardheaded are pretty good descriptives at times. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. Our feet are narrow and bony and we have monkey toes. We share my mom for a best friend. Among many many other things, we both have this need to please and are therefore unfamiliar with the words "no" or "can't" in the English language (refer back to stubborn and a little hardheaded). So when someone says "Can you blah blah blah?" our answer is always a resounding "SURE!!! No problem. Be glad to." If someone tels us "Well you can't blah blah blah." we say "Ha! Wanna bet? Watch me!". I learned at a very young age that "can't never did nothing!" And to always stay focused.

The great thing about this superhero gene is that we always know we can call on each other for help and to get the job done. Therein lies the beauty of the gene. You see, I'm an only child, so in essence, I'm the son my dad never had. We have always enjoyed working together and are able to do so quite often. Many a memory has been shared during one of our work projects...laminate flooring in my upstairs bedrooms, cooking on retreat teams, building outdoor swing arbors that leave me deformed for life :), buidling a deck and laying carpet just to name a few.

Our most recent adventure involves reconstructing and underground coal mine. The local museum is kind enough to display several pieces of his woodworking creations and offer them for sale. When they approached him seeking some assistance in making underground support poles look natural in their new underground coal mine exhibit, I'm not sure my sweet daddy knew just what he was getting into. But he said "sure, no problem,I can do that!" And off we go on our next adventure.

We have had such a wonderful time finding just the right wood for our project, designing the construction, fighting drill batteries that won't hold a charge, broken drill bits, sulfer leaks in the mine, and standing back looking at a finished product and knowing we did it together. We've talked about fun ideas, travel dreams, ways to make my mom laugh. We've shared the things weighing on our hearts. Over the years, our work projects turn out in the end to have a two-fold accomplishment...the completion of the project and the growing of a never ending bond. So the next time someone says "Can you blah blah blah?" or "Well you can't blah blah blah, you better believe I'll be the first to say "Sure, no problem, I can do that!" I treasure my sweet daddy with my whole heart and wouldn't trade a minute of our work.

pic of the day - nosy posy

As requested by her boyfriend Preston (a sweet little Westie she met at puppy school), today is all about Bertie. Those of you who have visited my house know that I have this massive bay window area in my living room. It's more of a nook with windows than it is actually a bay window, but you get the idea. Situated nicely in the nook are two comfy yet chic-y off white chairs. That spot is my little retreat and haven while for Bertie, it is her window on the world. Since she was a tiny puppy, she has clamored for the chance to get as close as doggly possible to the windows so she can see out. When she was really little and couldn't yet jump up in the chairs she would stand on her hind tippy toes with her front paws pulling herself up so she could look out.

Once she could get up in the chairs, her world changed. I still wonder if somehow she has a bit of parrot in her because she likes to climb up on my shoulder and sit with her arms hanging over the back of the chair, watching the world go by. It is by far her favorite past time. Wish I could take a picture of that now don't ya?

Now, don't get me wrong, I am a people watcher to the core. Bertie though, she's a master. She knows every car that goes up and down the street. Bikers and walkers really crank her up. Birds, rabbits, and the occasional squirrel that dare enter my yard totally put the charge in her. Cars with squeaky brakes like my mom's or a diesel engine like my dad's call for full on nose to the glass observation. It's Leo the cat though that lives across the street that truly unwinds her. She will quite literally jump from chair to chair to better position herself for optimum viewing. And heaven help us all if the front door is open. She races back and forth across the living room at the pace of Indy cars at the sight of the white flag. There literally have been claw marks in the carpet when Leo makes his presence known.

There will be times when I realize it's terribly quiet and that she's not with me whatever I might be doing in the house. I quietly tiptoe into the living room and there she is, up on her perch, keeping watch on the neighborhood. Literally hours have gone by under her watchful eye. Ahh....the life of a dog...my little watch dog.