2017 ….a New Year…
Posted on December 31, 2016
find life experiences
and swallow them whole
travel
meet people
go down some dead ends and
explore dark alleyways
try everything
exhaust yourself
in the glorious pursuit of life
~ Lawrence K. Fish

I stood the other day at the gas station and I heard a song I have not heard for many years. Certainly, I have not heard it played in the USA on New Years Eve. It was Auld Lang Syne.

Find life experiences and swallow them whole.
I was transported back to my childhood, to family and friends, to the gatherings on New Years Eve and the celebrations of life. I remember being woken up from sleep so that we could see the New Year in as a family. Those were good moments and good memories. All of my parent generation have now passed on. We are in a different country and traditions have changed. But I miss those times. I miss seeing my mom put shortbread, and a bottle of whiskey, and some coal at the front door, so that the first person coming into the house would traditionally bring food, cheer and warmth into the house for the coming year.

Travel
As this year closes I reflect that it has been an interesting year. Cameron has now been married to Kathryn for a year, Amy has been in Macedonia for a year, and Richard and I have had to deal with my foot surgery that is taking far longer than I expected to heal. In that we have had good moments, but we also had had struggles. We have faced those struggles head on. This year gave me a greater and deeper appreciation, love and respect for this quiet man in my life, my husband. He stepped up when I needed him to step up. He was supportive and helpful throughout my stuck in bed, unable to move much experience. Cameron also made himself available to do shopping for me and bring me Chinese take out, and I so appreciated it. This surgery put our lives on hold for 6 months. Next year we will face the same thing again. Hopefully once this has all healed life will be back to normal and we will begin to explore again.

Meet many people
This year we got to spend 10 days in Seattle. It was an amazing trip. We met up with my brother Barry and his wife, Enid. Seattle was everything and more. I loved exploring the city. The trip out to the islands was stunning. Heading into the snowy mountains was stunning and cold. Meeting up with my friend’s mother and brother, was a blessing to my soul.

Explore dark alleyways
We traveled by ferry to the Orcas Islands. It was bitterly cold and I endured it. I kept a lookout for whales but apparently they don’t like the cold either. From the Orcas Islands we traveled to Leavensworth. What a quaint little German town, filled with snow, and seriously cold. We wrapped up and we walked the little town. It was delightful. Heading back to Seattle we stopped off a the Snoqualmie Falls. Then back to the city to drop Barry and Enid off and then it was off to the airport for the red eye home. All I can say is that I loved Seattle and I hope that I get back there one day.

Try something new
We also did a relaxing trip to Long Key near Marathon. This was our in-between Seattle and surgery quick get away. For me it was a time to unwind, and enjoy the ocean and to just relax and read a book and enjoy nature. For Richard it was a time to get out in the kayak or off on the paddle board to work off some energy. Cycling played a large role in that as well.

Exhaust yourself
Post surgery the first bit of time away was in December. We were so excited and happy to have Amy come home for Christmas. We have missed her and it was good to catch up on all her news and to just look at her beautiful face and be so proud of her. So to grab a bit of down time and for her to experience a bit of the ocean again, we headed off to Curry Hammock for 2 days. Again for me it was a time to just relax, read a book, enjoy the wildlife, watch the sunsets. Amy and Richard did some kayaking and a fair bit of cycling was done by Richard.

In the glorious pursuit of life!
And now we are back to the end of the year. It seems like the year has flown by even though I spent 8 weeks plus on the bed. I am grateful for all those in my life who have popped in and spent time with me, when I could not go out. I am grateful for my online community who have encouraged and supported me along this year. I will happily say that I really only had one melt down post surgery and I got over it pretty quickly.
As I look to the New Year and 2017, I know that Richard and I face more of the same of what we had this year, but I hope that we will pull through as well as we have done this past year. Amy still has another year in Macedonia, and Cameron and Kathryn has just settled into a new apartment.
As I think of you, I wish you everything of the best for 2017. May your year be filled with love and laughter, good health, prosperity with humility, the opportunities to reach out and touch someone else’s life. strong family ties, good friendships, communities that make you laugh, and encourage you to be more than you think you can be.
May you step out and embrace what the world has to offer, using wisdom and good judgment in all occasions.
…..And I hope you dance …(Lee Ann Womack)
From our family to yours – be blessed in 2017.

Richard

Sharleen

Cameron, Kathryn & Buster

Amy

Moonshine

Simba
Tell me a Story: December 2016
Posted on December 31, 2016
It’s December, a few days before Christmas and Tell me a Story is due to go live on New Years Eve. I am not sure if we are going pull off the blog circle but I want to do my best to try.
This year has not been easy and the foot surgery recovery is still on-going. The foot still hurts and swells but life goes on and I need to do my best to go along with it.
I think because I have been so home bound, Richard has decided that I need to get out. So this particular day he suggested breakfast in Jupiter and then we’d head on over to a park that we had been to many years ago. The park was not quite what I remembered by it sits on the edge of the Jupiter outlet, just across the inlet from the Jupiter tower. I loved seeing the Pelicans. I find them to be such graceful birds for their size. It was also fun to see the boats going in an out – especially the Santa boat.

There were a number of pigeons on the rocks.

However, it is the Pelican that always catches my attention. For such a bulky odd shaped bird, it’s grace always amazes me.

The Jupiter tower is an amazing piece of history, and yes, I have climbed to the top of it to view what the lighthouse master may have seen.

Pelican take off

Pigeon with a water splash behind it

The water was fairly choppy and the waves were splashing against the pier.

I feel like this Pelican was taking a bow. Actually it had just come in to land.

While sitting sedately on the rock, a boat motored out through the outlet to the ocean, resulting in a water splash up onto the Pelican.

Fishing off the pier is always an option.

Pleasure riding was just one of the activities. Scuba boats headed out as well.

Thanks to the boats this Pelican is now wet and disgruntled.

Disgruntled and hungry – off to catch some fish.

Last but not least – only in South Florida will you see a Santa on a dive boat
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Tell me a Story. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my fellow blogger Mindy Sauvageau / Orange Moon Photography and see what they have for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+

30 Minutes in the Life: December Festive 5
Posted on December 26, 2016
Well I am not sure that the circle blog is going to happen this month. We all seem a little behind and overwhelmed with all the Christmas happenings. By the time this goes live, Christmas will have happened, but I would still like to take the time to wish you a safe and happy Christmas Season. May 2017 be a wonderful year for you all.
Aside from the center image, I decided to play with my Lensbaby Composer Pro, using the Sweet 50 and Sweet 35 optics. I got some very interesting effects.

For this image I pulled out the Lensbaby Composer Pro and the sweet 50 optic and landed up with a really crazy effect.

This image was taken with the Lensbaby Composer Pro and Sweet 35 optic.

Staff Party and some playing with the reflections in the golden globe of a chandelier.

Staff Party and some playing with the Lensbaby Twist and Sweet 50

This is my Christmas tree and I used the Lensbaby Composer Pro with the sweet 35 optic and love the effect I got by tilting the lens.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 Minutes in Life. I am not sure how many people will be linking in the circle, but for now you can link to Paige Everson and see what she has for you.
30 Minutes changed their name to Journey to an Artist. If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their Facebook page, or to the blog page. There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+

Artist Inspired: December 2016: White
Posted on December 14, 2016
White is the color for the Artist Inspired theme this month. I love white. However, when I think of white I think snow. Not happening in South Florida!! Christmas? Sure I use a lot of white at Christmas, but it’s only Thanksgiving. To be honest decorations are going to be to the minimal this year. All of my stuff is up in the attic and I am not up to climbing up and down a stepladder with a recovering foot. My tree is in the garage and my Santa’s are in my blanket box and that is probably all that is going to go up.
So back to white. This month I decided to look at natures white. Some images are from a short walk I did this past week and some are slightly older. So take a walk along natures “white” pathways.

I love walking in the wetlands. It is relaxing and I clear my head. On this particular day this plant had flowered and this amazing ball of white with yellow tips was out in abundance. I had never seen this flower before and it just fascinated me.

I recently walked my first complete walk through a rather lonely boardwalk. It is at the local National Park. There is normally no people on the boardwalk, it is through tall trees and there is not a lot of animal life. However, at the start of the walk is a butterfly garden and this orange Swallowtail of one of the butterflies present.

Sunday morning and it’s breakfast on the patio. The birds are chirping, the bees are humming and the sky is making an awful racket. However, the combination of the micro-glider and the white moon was difficult to resist.

A different wetland and another butterfly garden and a white creeper that trailed along the fence.

Butterfly on white plant – this is a Monarch Butterfly that is hanging out around your typical garden weed.

We were down in the Keys at John Pennekamp State Park when I cam across this white Ibis attempting to catch fish. I love the water drops that it created.

Another wetland walk and the bursting of a seed pod. New life is happening in the wetlands and it isn’t just the bird life.

Back at the other end of the butterfly garden and this beautiful Eastern Black Swallowtail was supping the nectar of a white plant.

I love mating season in the wetlands and watching the birds do their mating dance. These two Woodstork were such fun to watch.

Natures White in the form of a flower in the butterfly garden.

Another Monarch Butterfly in the wetlands

Natures White in the form of an Iris. Simplicity in the parking lot.

A Great Egret, hanging out on a cold drizzly winters day in Florida. And yes, I was out with my camera on the drizzly winters day.
Just a reminder that this is a circle blog and I would encourage you to click to continue on reading what they other photographers in this group have for you. Please head on over to my friend and fellow photographer, Holly Nicole and read her blog. Don’t forget to leave a little love on all the artists page.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+

The Artists Inspired Blog Circle is made up of an exceptionally talented group of photographers from all walks of life, from all over the world. They are wives, mothers, friends, daughters and visual storytellers who draw from their own experiences to create art that is inspiring, unique, beautiful and thought-provoking.
Tell me a Story: November 2016
Posted on November 30, 2016
Tell me a Story is live and I happened to take another walk. It would be defined as a short walk in the scheme of the length of the wetlands but honestly it was a long walk for me. Especially since there was nothing much happening in the wetlands. Aside from the two Comorant hanging out on the boardwalk railing.
The weather was cool and overcast lending a grayish look to the sky. Much cooler weather is predicted to come in and getting out and walking was good for me.
There is generally so much traffic in the wetlands that the birds have become used to people getting up close to them. Generally speaking people respect the birds space and do not try to touch the birds or intimidate the birds. Not so much on this particular day. I get frustrated because I understand it is a novelty to see and be up close to the bird but I hate it when people do not think that the bird needs its space as well.

While walking along the boardwalk I came across these two Cormorants. Cormorants in the wetlands seem to be used to people, and will hang out on the boardwalk allowing you to get pretty close to them. Of course, you always get the person who thinks it is fun to touch and intimadate them, but overall people are very respectful of their space.

I am now pretty close up to these two and they have not moved. I tend to take one step at a time and wait to gauge for reaction.

Clearly bored with me this Cormorant decided it was going to snooze, so I moved on between the two and photographed it’s buddy. A lady walked passed and she said to me there is a Cormorant behind you. My answer “Yes I know but it is sleeping”

This Cormorant was busy grooming itself when I moved between the two. It continued almost oblivious of me once it gave me the sideways look.

I love how it’s eyes are closed while it is grooming itself.

And the grooming continued without it feeling threatened by me.

Aren’t these feet stunning. I love the silver effect of their legs.

Two women walked up and stopped and decided to take a photo of it, and then decided it would be really neat to touch the bird, and proceeded to pull on it’s tail feathers. It was not happy and started to move away. Of course, they followed. I finally asked them to please stop harassing the bird.

I then got the “I am not happy” look.

Seriously troubled, the Cormorant was a little stressed out. However, to note one of the most beautiful things about the Cormorant is its stunning turquoise eyes.

Clearly the Cormorant was not happy and so I decided to head on a bit further to see if I could see the Screech Owl. I did not, so I turned back and walked back towards the Cormorant.

On my way back I noticed that the Cormorant was in the water but I was totally unprepared for it to take off out of the water. I totally missed this shot.

I was definitely not ready for this image either but I love all the water drops coming off the wings so I decided to share it.

I did not have time to adjust my setting so I just went with the flow and hoped that I could salvage in Photoshop. Time to flap some more and get the water off

I love that I managed to capture the water drops floating in the air while the cormorant was flapping it’s wings.

The hazards of fishing in the wetlands – weeds stuck in your bill.

Meanwhile through all of this activity, the other Cormorant is still sleeping. Must have been a tiring day.

Say What? Did I miss something. This is one sleepy Cormorant.
My walk was short in some eyes, long in mine. It was time to head home, get the foot up and ice. The downside of the walk is I kept getting cramp in my feet. Not fun, but it was worth it to get out and enjoy filling my head with nature and fresh air.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Tell me a Story. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my fellow blogger LUPJi Photography | North Virginia Event Photographer and see what he has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+

30 Minutes in the Life: November 2016
Posted on November 28, 2016
It is so hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the year. July to August, I slept, watched movies and read. Two months gone just lying on the bed. Then it was back to work, but not back to life. Progress post surgery has been slow. While I tried some short walks they have really been short. Today I decided to attempt what I thought would be a complete walk. It took me an hour of going slowly and stopping and taking photo’s and limping along. So that is my disclaimer, some of my images go over 30 minutes.
So limp along with me. The place I opted to go is probably not my favorite. The walk is dark and lonely, there is no wildlife, just trees and the odd dragonfly, but this was what I was up to and it was an achievement for me. So here are my images from my dark lonely walk.

Into the dark and lonely woods I go. Bobcat have been seen in here and there is traces of that fact, but over all it is me alone with the elements.

I took three lens with me – my zoom lens (70-300mm), my composer pro with the twist optic, and the composer pro that I just bought for my daughter with the sweet 50 optic. This image is taken with the twist optic.

In the midst of a swampy area were these 3 beautiful flowers

The narrow depth of field is a favorite of mine and I enjoy finding leaves on the boardwalk railing and getting down close to them.

This little fern felt like a mighty warrior to me.

These berries were probably the most color I saw on the walk.

Spanish Moss was prominent on the walk and here it is framed by the twist effect.

Again getting down low I loved the pop of color on the boardwalk railing

The walk is dark and so it lends to really moody looking images. I loved the way this fern was unfolding.

This dead leaf was directly in front of a open fern. I liked the effect of the background.

There were so many dead ferns along the walkway and I felt that this one had a lot of character.

Another narrow depth of field using the Lensbaby Composer Pro with the sweet 50 optic.

Ferns with the beautiful light behind again using the Lensbaby Composer Pro with the sweet 50 optic.

While the old ferns are dying new life is happening and this little fern is ready to take on the world, or at least the walkway.

Dead leaves and beautiful backgrounds. This image was taken with the Lensbaby Composer Pro and the sweet 50 optic.

Another dead fern this time taken with the Lensbaby Composer Pro and twist optic

This is perhaps my favorite, using the narrow depth of field that I so love, and coupling it with the Lensbaby Composer Pro and twist optic. I loved that the leaf is sharp and the effects are spiraled.

I am at the end of the walk. I am tired, my limp is probably more pronounced, my foot is sore, but this little leaf reminds me that progress is like a creeper, you keep at it until you reach the end. The end is not anytime soon, but hopefully there is an end in sight.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 Minutes in Life. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend and fellow blogger Stacey Markel / Maryland and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
30 Minutes changed their name to Journey to an Artist. If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their Facebook page, or to the blog page. There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+

Artist Inspired: November 2016: Orange
Posted on November 14, 2016
This month the Artist Inspired theme is Orange. Like pink, orange is not one of my favorite colors. For a person whose wardrobe consists predominately of black, burgandy’s and blue, orange is kind of bright for me.
So what do I think of when I see the topic orange. Since moving to the USA, orange has become associated with fall, of which I see very little of in South Florida. The other association is Halloween. Having never grown up with it, it really has not become a tradition I am inclined to follow. Lastly is Thanksgiving. Mmm, another tradition that I did not grow up with. Quite honestly I have not really got too involved in this either. We have been to a couple of Thanksgiving dinners. Typically, South African barbecue and are thankful it is a four day weekend.
Every month I go to a out of office meeting, where we sit at the oval table to discuss past or future events, propose changes etc. Our hostess is the most amazing lady who not only hosts us, but feeds us as well. The other very unique talent that she has is to create an environment that reflects the celebrations of that month. So if it is Valentines day, we have hearts decorating the table, if it is Easter we have eggs and rabbits, and if it is Fall and Thanksgiving we celebrate that with browns and oranges, and all the fall colors. So today I am sharing with you the beautiful orange decorations from this last months meeting.










We are fed, we are happy, the meeting is over and I think this pumpkin says it all. Wishing you all a beautiful fall and a wonderful time with your family over Thanksgiving.

It’s a new season.
A perfect opportunity to do something
new and bold,
something beautiful
Just a reminder that this is a circle blog and I would encourage you to click to continue on reading what they other photographers in this group have for you. Please stop by Holly Nicole’s photography page and read her blog. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+

The Artists Inspired Blog Circle is made up of an exceptionally talented group of photographers from all walks of life, from all over the world. They are wives, mothers, friends, daughters and visual storytellers who draw from their own experiences to create art that is inspiring, unique, beautiful and thought-provoking.
Tell me a story: October 2016
Posted on October 31, 2016
It is now end October and I am 3 months post surgery, and recovery is taking a lot longer than I expected. However, I am pleased to say that I managed to get a shoe on last week, even though it is far wider than I would normally have it, and I still cannot lace it up, but it is on, and feels relatively comfortable. I wore it to work all week. The first day nearly killed me, it was so uncomfortable. The next day I lost the bandage and just wore a sock. What a difference. So come Friday and I am meeting friends for lunch and decide I will go to one of the local National parks where the walk is not that far and try and take some photographs. No such luck, Richard had removed the pass out my car. So, I go to the next best thing, Green Cay wetlands. My first challenge, do I attempt to walk down the ramp. Walking down may not be too bad but walking up may not be pleasant. I decided to risk it. I cannot measure in yards, but for those that work in metric, I probably walked 50 meters and I knew it was time to turn around and walk back to my car, which was probably another 50 meters away. The park is about 4 kilometers long and that is just not an option right now. So I really only got 4 images. They were in one of my favorite styles to shoot and so I decided to go back through my old files, and do some re-edits now that my computer has been calibrated, and use some of those to add to the 4 images that I took.















Thank you for joining me for this month’s Tell me a Story. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my fellow blogger Mindy Sauvageau of Orange Moon Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
You can also find me on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Google+

sharleenstuart






















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