that kind of moment

As I left the wedding that afternoon, I opted to wander to my car, rather than walk. It was quite a trek across the grounds of the ranch where the wedding feast had taken place but it was stunning and well worth the wander. Wide open spaces as far as the eye could see replaced what had been just an hour before; a hillside filled with family and friends honoring a marriage. This was a different kind of day at the ranch where the cows were usually the sole inhabitants.

Throughout the wedding day, I captured images of love and friendship and celebration. There were the signs of the festivities—food, drink, décor—and symbols of a union—the dress, the tux, the ring—all amidst the beauty that only Mother Nature could graciously provide. And she most certainly did on this unseasonably warm, sunny Northern Calfornia day.

As the sun sank behind the hills and the day was slowly turning to evening, guests made their way out, down the winding road back to the small town of cottages and inns. I spent a few last moments with the bride and groom, capturing the day's last light.  A perfect way to wrap up the story of their wedding day.

With less than an hour left before the dusk turned to dark, I took my time to getting back. The light was soft and sweet. The breeze kicked up with the cooling air. The sounds of the sweeping landscape became a symphony of sublty. Birds chirping, heading home for the night. Cows from the pasture calling out for dinner. A chorus of Turkey's raised their voices as I shuffled down the dirt path. And with all that, I could still hear the tall grasses and pine trees carrying the evening wind.

It took me about 30 minutes to find my car. Not because I was lost but because I chose to make those last few moments of the day last. Even despite a few unexpected events throughout my travels that weekend, it was the perfect end to a delightful trip.

As I began to pack up my equipment, I took one last look at the vast, pictureesque countryside of Bolinas. The ranch dog had the same idea. It was that kind of moment.

I have a feeling you know what I mean and that you've experienced that kind of moment. And I'll bet you had your camera there to document it. Do share with us today a moment—big or small—you know you'll never forget.

Picture Kindness

Kindness, as I've said so many times before, is very important to me.  I try to do at least one kind thing a day, no matter how big or small.  One of the easiest and quickest kind things I do is leave little cards with quotes or sayings on them in different places.  I keep a bunch in my camera bag to make it even that much easier. 

It wasn't until today that I got to experience the joy of getting one of those great little cards myself.  Unbeknownst to me, my son had taken the above card and placed it on my screen door.  We were in such a rush this morning that I didn't even notice it until I got back from taking him to school.  Later, when I picked him up from school, I asked him why he did that.

"Why not?  You need kindness, too", he said matter-of-factly. 

Why not, indeed.  And better yet? I took the picture above, printed it, framed it and it now sits on my desk for me to see everyday. 

I love leaving the cards for others to find and I'm not alone in doing that.  Sandy is leaving one thousand paper cranes with a different postitive word written on each one and leaving them in different places for others to find.  She makes each paper crane herself and photographs them as well.  Pretty awesome, don't you think?

Have you pictured kindness? Please share with us.  If you don't have any pictures to share, that's okay.  Tell us about it.  Feeling inspired? Stop by Kind Over Matter and check out their free, downloadable cards for yourself and give it a try.  You'll be so glad you did, I promise.

(cross-posted at Everyday Heartbeats)

Blue Skies Ahead

Over the last few weeks, at a number of gatherings amongst friends I have been surprised (and delighted) by how many times Mondo Beyondo came up in conversations.

That's on my Mondo Beyondo List.

Since I've taken Mondo Beyondo, it's been one adventure after the next.

Have you taken Mondo Beyondo yet? You really should!

I think I'll make that a Mondo Beyondo.

It's like a household, mainstream phrase now. Even still I though since this was coming from friends that I have gotten to know on the web, maybe it shouldn't be that surprising. Maybe it's that we travel in small circles.

The small cirlce theory got blown out of the water when I went over to a friends house (who isn't active on the web and is someone I have been close with since college) and her daughter had Mondo Beyondo artwork a la Jen Lemen spread out all over the floor, making a dream journal in tween-collage style. I was stopped in my tracks! It was the strangest feeling...like my two worlds were colliding in the best possible way. And it was all happening in the name of dreaming big. What could be better than that?

And as synchronicity would have it, the amazing Jen Lemen is celebrating her 42nd birthday today (Happy Birthday dear friend!)by giving us a gift! A chance to experience the magic of the Mondo Beyondo Fall Dream Lab for only $42. Sisters, that is a big savings and well well worth the opportunity to dream big! The offer is only good until midnight tonight (Oct 6th) so make your move!

When I think Mondo Beyondo, I think the sky is the limit, and even the sky might be too limiting. I think of taking it to another stratosphere where anything is possible and dreams most certainly come true. A place where the blue skies ahead, keep getting bluer.

So, what are you waiting for? Now's your chance to get in on the magic of Mondo Beyondo at a fantastic deal.

Share today images that remind us that when it comes to dreams, bigger, wider, more vast and expansive is much much better!

Little Surprises

When school started last month, I started a "Kindness Tree" at my son's school for the kids and staff alike.  At any time they can take a tag, write something kind on it then hang it on the tree.  I was thinking I would see tags that say things like "You're fun!" or "Have a great day!" and that would have been perfect.  However, the kids were writing things that were so sweet and special that they literally brought tears to my eyes.  This 7 yr. old girl was so excited to show me what she had written before hanging her tag on the tree.  What a wonderful surprise it was to see these words that resonate so much with me and probably everyone who happens across this beautiful little tree.  What a gift.

What little surprises have you come across lately? Do share.  We'd love to see them.

the creative path

Do you ever just get preoccupied in the day to day, the week to week, the month to month that you forget to stop and take a look back just for the sake of recognizing how far you've traveled?

We keep walking our creative paths; striving, sharing, expressing, working, playing, moving, and creating. There are days we skip along like children, effortless in joy and other we labor just to take one more step. But, we keep walking because as creative women, it's just what we do. We wouldn't have it any other way. But what about really taking stock of all that we've done? It's high time we do that for ourselves. Because we've all come pretty far. Wouldn't you agree?

I was fortunate enough to talk about the creative path with the inspiring Jamie Ridler for a podcast at the Creative Living Series.  Just talking with Jamie helped me reflect on my own creative journey and got me to slow down long enough to look back and acknowledge how far I've come and how my once-upon-a-time dream of gathering like-minded, like-hearted creative, photography loving women together has grown and is thriving. It left me so humbled and full of gratitude that my path has led me to all of you. 

You can listen in on the podcast at Jamie's site (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN).

And in celebration of each of us and this amazing place where we gather to share our passions, how about another Expressive Photography book giveaway? Consider it an expression of my love and gratitude. And I mean it with everything I am!

Share with us something from your own creative path today. Anything at all that celebrates how far you've come! Go you!

To be entered to win a copy of Expressive Photography just leave your comment here between now and Friday at midnight EST.

Congrats to Laura Gillmore/GenBug for winning a copy of Expressive Photography! Woot!