Taking Photographs on the Way to Photography Class

I know what two of my greatest passions in life are…photography and travel!  So, it’s no surprise that I couldn’t help but stop to take photographs of the sunset while on the way to photography class…

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Trees are so cool…even in winter and I love Churches!

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We are swimming in beauty and don’t always see it!

 

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Replace Complaints with Gratitude

Everyone is complaining about the snow…but I still think it is so beautiful!  Here are some photographs I’ve taken in the last few days in my yard with a variety of light.  Let’s replace the complaints with gratitude…

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Shortly after sunrise this morning…

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An hour later…

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I pray that homeless people find shelter during this extreme cold!  Make it a great day!

 

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A Vision of White

I awoke this morning to a vision of white all around me…glorious snow!  My kitty Katie was even in awe!

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The kind of snow that clings to every branch and creates a magical world of silence, surrounding you with nature’s calm beauty.

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Traipsing outside in my house slippers, with my camera and tripod, Katie followed me everywhere I went.  My husband nicknamed me Doctor Doolittle because our dog and kitty follow me everywhere.

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“When snow falls, nature listens.”  ~Antoinette van Kleeff

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“Snow flakes are kisses from heaven.”  ~Author Unknown

 

Preparing for Christmas

I’ve been quite busy since arriving home from my six-week–4,200 mile–road trip through the Southern U.S.  In addition to the normal duties one has when returning from a trip (i.e. unpacking, laundry, opening mail, paying bills, cleaning house, grocery shopping, etc.), with the holidays right around the corner, I decorated the house…

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did some Christmas shopping, met a friend for happy hour, responded to party invitations, and took my doggie hiking at the nearby trails.  A couple of days ago, I looked out in the front yard, saw the frosty grass and the shadows stretching across the yard and thought how pretty it looked…so I captured the moment…

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Tomorrow evening my son and his girlfriend are coming over for an early Christmas celebration because he’ll be going to Dallas to visit his father over Christmas.  I’m really looking forward to seeing him, since the last time I saw him was before I left for my trip. I’ll be cooking dinner and a delicious dessert!

In memory of the slain children, here is a photo I took a week ago in Florida of happy frolicking children by the sea at sunset…

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May their families hearts not break from the sadness.

Wishing everyone a joyful weekend!

Naked in the Airport!

Upon arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam from Vientiane, Laos, it seemed I had entered an alien land!  A city of concrete…jumbled wires…a sea of motor scooters blind to the traffic lights…mass chaos with purpose…face masks creating a barrier from the dusty city…an assault on the senses with smells and colors.  Pure insanity!!

The seven of us, on this tour through GAP Adventures, were instructed on how to cross the street.  To walk–not run–to keep walking–that the drivers would go around us.  I felt like a duck on a shooting range.  Luckily, I have a spiritual grounding and realize that there are some things I have very little control over.

After being separated from the group while shopping that evening, there was a moment of sheer panic!  I didn’t know the name of our hotel.  The Tour Guide had given the information to everyone–when I was in the restroom–so I didn’t receive it.  But I found my way to the meetup spot…whew!!

I made arrangements to spend the night on a boat on Halong Bay in the China Sea and said my “goodbyes” to the group!

At $68 for the entire excursion–it was a small price for such serenity and beauty!

I went kayaking…

 

Had a nice glass of vino!

Although I had a six hour layover in Nagoya, Japan‘s airport, on my way home to Cincinnati, I had plenty to keep myself occupied with there.  It was a destination onto itself, with over 60 shops and restaurants and a spa!

Upon arrival at the airport, I met a girl named Andrea who had been teaching English in Hanoi for four months and was so fearful of crossing the street that she decided to move back home to Canada.

We went to the Spa together.  The women had their own hot tub, cold dip, sauna, and steam room area with a view of planes landing and taking off.  We didn’t have our bathing suits, but the other women were naked so…when in Rome.  It makes for a great story…”Naked in the Airport”!

This is Andrea and I at the Airport in Japan.

I returned home on Christmas Eve.  I hope you had fun following my adventure!