We had my mother’s graveside service this past Thursday morning, just a small gathering of family and friends. It was good for me to meet my mothers best friend since high school for the first time. They were each others maid of honor. Saw family I’d not seen in a while. And, of course we always say how we only meet at funerals anymore. My sister and I returned late Thursday evening so it was a quick trip. Found myself emotional and crying yesterday morning. I’ve heard it said that greif does not go away but only becomes different. The grieving process.
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Getting Close
Well, so far I am pleased with the Fujifilm XF70-300mm f4.0-5.6 OIS WR. In the reviews I’ve read they talk about the close focusing ability of this lens and I find it to be true. All of these images were taken at 300mm and handheld.
I am noticing quicker battery drainage but that may be caused by shooting more images as I learn, practice and experiment with thisl ens.
This spider is about the size of a quarter. I am about three feet away and maybe could have gotten closer so the close focusing distance is good for me.
Also, all images are cropped to some extent.
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Follow Them
“The things that excite you are not random. They are connected to your purpose. Follow them.”
Susan RoderickIt’s Saturday morning. Arrived at the natural area shortly after sunrise. Birds were singing and in my imagination they were asking me why I was late. Then I wondered, maybe we’re never too late for those few moments when we are immersed in nature. So my answer was, I’m here now.
I wrote almost nothing in my journal over the past two days, a total of 8 lines in those two days. That is so not like me. Also aware of some feeling of depression, also not like me. Even my meditations has been a struggle. Seem to grab the commentary of my thoughts and run with them more than usual. And yet, there is a tug within me to enter into more times of quiet meditations,and so I did.
On a positive note I was given a gift that brought a smile and lifted my spirits when I returned form the natural area this morning. I watched two women get out of their cars at a coffee shop and share a long heartfelt hug. Both were brimming with smiles as they walked towards me. I told them how wonderful it was to see them hug and the emotions it seemed to have. I was told it had been a year and a half since their last shared hug. I’m hoping experiences like that will be the new normal. Those missing hugs are things that excite many of us.
Thanks for listening. 😍
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It’s Mysterious
forest fires destroy
leaving a path of darkness
yet new life will dawnit’s mysterious
the laws of nature baffle
senseless to logicms
The Lewstone fire is at 100% containment. People returned home yesterday. The Cameron Peak fire is over 21,000 acres and 0% containment. But yesterday evening they had a few showers which helped them. Today the skies are much clearer. We can see the mountains again.
This afternoon I took the 1.8 mile walk around Dixon Reservoir. Eerily quiet for the first half hour I was there. I was able to finish John O’Donohue’s book today, Walking in Wonder. Plan on starting a Mary Oliver book of poems next. Hope you have a great evening and wonderful day tomorrow.
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rebirth
there will be moments when
rebirth by Alexandra Elle
you will bloom fully and then
wilt, only to bloom again.
if we can learn anything from
flowers it is resilience is born
even when we feel like we are
dying. -
A word about the new lens
A short comment about the Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0 lens. Loving it! Crisp images. I’m impressed with the how close I can get for macro images. It is silent compared to the XF18-55mm f2.8-4.0 lens. The focus is almost negligible. I was worried at first with the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) because it is so quick. Thought I may have a bad lens but some experimenting let me know it does it’s job. At my age the OIS is a nice plus. For sure making me a better photographer. 😊
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The Beauty of Silence
“When you have a moment, just listen to the beauty of silence. It has so much to say.”
Armin GangulyI found this article from the Sierra Club interesting. Some of you may have already read it or at least seen the headlines about it. The Sierra Club is apologizeing for some of the early directions the organization took and the views of some of their founders. I found it very revealing and helping me see my role of my privileged life.