11-11-11

On Veteran’s Day, I met a few friends at Satellite Beach. We chanted and enjoyed the beauty of the day.

What does 11-11-11 mean? What does Veteran’s Day mean? Do they have special meaning being joined?

Be still and listen…

Here are a few photos from the morning.

Black Point Wildlife Drive

I took a drive up to Titusville to take some pictures at Black Point Wildlife Drive. When did they start charging? I was happy to pay $5 if it keeps the park open. Glad I had cash, too.

It was warm but a there was a nice fall breeze blowing. I had Taylor Swift playing softly in the background.  It was a beautiful day.

Most birds were not interested in being photographed. That explains so many in flight and heading away from me.

Even a Momma raccoon was not interested in having her babies photographed and she heading them into the woods at her first sight of me.

The egrets put on a show. They did not mind me being there at all.

There was a spider that was not camera shy.

The alligator, I would say at least a 6 footer, obviously was not worried about me at all.

The gnarled tree has no choice but to be still for me.

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.



Holiday Tree Globe

As the holiday season approaches I thought I would try my hand at ornaments. I am introducing my Collection of Holiday Trees.  I did not use gem stone for this project. I used acrylic beads.  I think holiday decorations should sparkle. The acrylic beads sparkle the best. After several attempts, I settled on three different types. All the trees are hot glued into an acrylic snap globe.  

The blue ones are in a small globe and the red and green are in a large globe. Stone chips are used around the base of the tree.

The small blue beads are used with silver wire to make the tree.

  Medium red beads used with antique brass to make the tree.

Large green beads are used with antique brass to make the tree.

I am pleased with how they have turned out and hope that others enjoy them as well.

Photographing them proved to be a bigger challenge than I anticipated. How to best show them in photos will be an ongoing process.

Happy Holidays!

Tomorrow really is another day

When life is difficult, remember that even the darkest night gives way to dawn.

 “All of life's riddles are answered in the movies.” Davis- Grand Canyon

 “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.” Scarlett-  Gone with the Wind

 “So uh, you, uh, never know... what... what events are to transpire to get you home.” Jim Lovell-Apollo 13

 “And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?” Chuck Noland- Castaway

Pictures

As the weather slowly cools here on the space coast, I venture out of the comforts of my air conditioned home. I love when the humidity starts dropping and the promise of Fall is in the air.

I leave my fur kids at home longingly looking out the window in a rare moment of togetherness for them.

At the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, also known at the Viera Wetlands, I am greeted by one of my favorite birds, a Great Blue Heron.

A Mommy Duck leads her almost full grown babies away from me.

An Osprey flew off his perch before I could get a good photo of him but gave me a glimpse of his fishing skills.

Another day, at a park just off Murrell Road, was a pair of Sand Hill Cranes. I have always loved them and now live in a place where seeing them is a common occurrence. Do I love them because they mate for life or because that they are so majestic and beautiful?

Someday I will have my photos available for sale on Etsy but for today, they can be seen here.

I finally learned how to add a watermark, so thank you to

GIMPtricks

And her tutorial

How to make a watermark in GIMP - Beginner Tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTN_s3bSpb0

 

Smokey Quartz

I started an Etsy shop in July of 2011 to share my newest interest in crafting. I started making Gem Trees and named the line Gem Tree of Life. I wanted the trees to be more than beautiful. I wanted to use natural gems that have energy and meanings that would inspire those who acquired them.

I made one for myself as an inspiration. Thank you, Brianne, for the suggestion. Thank you also for encouraging me to blog this journey.

I made a gem tree of Smokey Quartz. It symbolizes resurrection and rebirth. It has an invigorating power and represents determination and survival instinct.

I placed it on an Amethyst base. This stone is conducive to meditation and enhances creativity, strengthens our imagination. It refines our thinking. It allows us to bring new projects to fruition by helping us focus make success possible.

Amethyst was a nymph pursued by Bacchus. Wanting to escape, she called on Diana. The Goddess rescued her by transforming her into a pure shiny crystal. Bacchus threw his glass of wine on this stone, giving it a beautiful hue.

Her Greek counterpart is Artemis. She is the Goddess of wilderness, the hunt and wild animals. She is particularly associated with cats. I am an advocate for cats through the rescue group The Last Chance Sanctuary.



I did not know the story of Diane and Amethyst when I chose this beautiful stone. Yet, it proves to me again that all things are connected.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the movie “A River Runs Through It”:

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."