An Exercise....

Consider, for a moment, these tall grassy fronds blowing in the Autumn breeze...


Look at the way the sunlight plays with each frond...
turning it into spun platinum,
with sparkling light and shadows against the clear blue sky.
Imagine being asked to paint what you see.
You couldn't paint it without the use of many colors.


And yet, in our mind's eye we so often over-simplify what we see.
We might say that the leaves on a tree are green,
yet it would take a box of many colors to create a life-like representation of them.


Sure, a rose is a rose...
but in taking time to really see it, really smell it, really touch it...
a rose will become much more.
It will become an amazingly magical delicate miracle of nature.


So, my challenge to you is this....


try to take the time to look at the world as if you had to paint it.
Observe how light plays with objects, casting highlights and shadows.
Imagine what colors you would have to add to your palette to bring life to your picture.


I promise you this...
looking at your world in this manner will bring magic to your day.
You will learn to appreciate the simple things more than you can imagine.

And if you are up for just one more challenge....
take a lesson from Ginger and MaryAnn.


Take a moment to lie in the grass.
Feel the cool earth beneath you,
the warmth of the Autumn sun washing over you,
and maybe the cool breeze making the tiny hairs on your skin stand on end.
What do you hear?  What do you smell?  What do you feel?


Why do you think Ginger is smiling?

You see, at the end of it all....
when we draw our last breath and close our eyes for the last time,
I know we will not wish that we had done just one more load of laundry,
or had cleaner floors....

no....

we will wish that we could lie in the grass just one more time and surround
ourselves with the beauty of our world!


Comments

Anke said…
This is just what I needed this morning Bev! GREAT post!
Anonymous said…
those are some smart piggies you have there. :-)
jaz@octoberfarm said…
what a wonderful post. i always look at everything like i would if i was about to paint it. that is how you see the depth in things.
This N That said…
I think I look at things differently since I started taking a lot of pictures...Magical post Bev..
Junebug said…
Well said my dear friend!
Cathy G said…
Priceless...............
Unknown said…
What a super lovely post, you brought tears to my eyes. I use to paint and I know how difficult it is to see those variations of color and light...and I do remember how I looked at everything so differently back then. Thanks for those memories and reminding me to look again.

The best part for me, was the very end...laying in the grass!

Bless you.
Country Gal said…
Awesome post, for this is how I see my world here that's one reason I love nature photography and can be out there for hours doing just that and capturing it in all its glory ! Wonderful photos ! Have a great day !
Katmom said…
One of my favorite authors,,, (lost her courages battle to cancer)... wrote... "If I had my life to live over..." ... then tells of things she would do...
like ride in a convertable with out a scafr.... etc... she wouldn't worry about laundry & dishes... I so agree with this philosophy.... hugz & Happy Friday.
>^..^<
Katmom said…
oops! forgot to mention the author's name... Erma Bomback...
Anonymous said…
beautifully said

Annie v.
Anonymous said…
Brought me back to when we had to put one of our dogs down... We knew it was time, and he knew it was time... We brought him home from the hospital and he slowly walked to our backyard, laid down, and lifted his head higher than he had in days. His nose taking in all the smells, his eyes wide taking in the sunny day.. It was a beautiful sight, although hard to watch, through my tear filled eyes.. He was enjoying his last moments, and showing us that, that is what life is about... Enjoying the beauty around us, and not worrying about what is to come...
Meri
Unknown said…
Ahhhh..I could see it, hear it, feel it and smell it and it was wonderful. Great post!
Mary said…
Wonderful post! Beautiful pics of the grass and flowers. Such breathtaking detail. That's nature for us. Ginger and Mary Ann know what's going on. They know how to relax and enjoy the world!
Tami said…
Amen Sister! Thanks for the reminder.

Beautiful Pics, BTW.
BaileyWife said…
Love it! Could NOT agree with you more!!! LOVE YOUR FARM SO MUCH!!!~Kim
What a beautiful post. I will certainly be making more of an effort to see the beauty around me through colors and shadows. Loved this post.
Anonymous said…
Hello! I realize this is kind of off-topic however I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established website like yours require a massive amount work? I am completely new to blogging but I do write in my diary every day. I'd like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind of suggestions or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Appreciate it!
Bee Haven Bev said…
Dear anonymous....

email me (see the side bar of my blog for my email link) and I will give you some tips and hints for blogging....

Bev
Absolutely, lady. You hit the nail on the head.

I always tell myself, when the kitchen is a dump, and the laundry is piling up, that sitting outside with my 2 year old watching the chickens play is more beneficial than ANY amount of housework.

Wonderful post today!