Author’s Day

Posted on by Rebecca C.

Today, November 1, 2015 is Author’s Day. I was once asked, “Who is your favorite author?” My rather bold response was me. Even though, at the time I was a teenager and my writing was so…bad. I put my dreams away to be a writer for the longest time. Until last year, I started writing again with the realization, I love the way the words flow onto the page. Who knows, maybe one day my name will be on a published book; a dream come true. (Actually the dream is closer to reality than I had ever imagined possible).

Until then, I write my blogs and journals. I also write for others, mostly content with a couple magazine articles in review. (I mean, I do have to pay my bills). The work is tedious at times. But I love the structure, meeting deadlines, and having others review my writing style.

Back to the question…..who is my favorite author? I honestly cannot pick one. My shelves are lined with Charles Dickens, Jane Eyre, Mark Twain, JRR Tolkien, various anthologies, and of course a more up to date authors like J.K. Rowling and anything related to Star Wars.

Now, who is your favorite author???

Autumn–Day 1 Photo Challenge

Posted on by Rebecca C.

The second November challenge I was asked to participate in is a photo of the day. Well, I was actually asked to participate in two of them. So, I am going to combine them and pick one from a list each day. I cannot do every challenge.

Day 1 – Autumn

I know I have mentioned this before but Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love the clear, crispness in the year and the last dash of color that Mother Nature has to offer, before the region is covered in snow.

Autumn is a gorgeous time of the year.
Autumn is a gorgeous time of the year.

30 Days of Thanks

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing

it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

William Arthur Ward

So I was asked to participate in a couple different challenges for the month of November. The first one is the “30 Days of Thanks” challenge. The basic concept behind the challenge is to give thanks to all your blessings throughout the month of November. The reason for November is for the Thanksgiving holiday. Even though, I personally feel you should be thankful every day of the year for what you have in your life. I do like the idea of dedicating a whole month to recognizing specific details.

Day 1

I am thankful for my house and where I live. My house is old. Like any old house, the place has some issues. The old structure could use a new roof and a fresh coat of paint. But, I still love the old place. I have wood fireplace that I absolutely enjoy during the cold, winter months of Michigan. One of the best parts of where my house is located; my parents’ house is right next door. I get to see them on a daily basis.

So, is anyone else out there participating in the challenge? I would love to hear (or read) your daily thanks.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,

and the life of the candle will not be shortened.

Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

—Buddha—

I originally posted this photo to my personal Facebook page with the comment, “I don’t know who they are but they look like they were having fun.” A friend of mine replied, they look like us on a girls’ night as we head out to dinner and a movie. She’s right. When we get together, we laugh and share our stories. These ladies were probably no different than the rest of us.

I cannot tell if these ladies were sisters or friends. If they were together at a family gathering or just enjoying each other’s company, I will probably never know. Perhaps they were part of the “Ladies in the Band”. ( https://rebeccaswritingsandphotography.com/2015/10/13/ladies-in-the-band/) I produced the image from the same group of negatives I purchased at an estate sale.  I just know at this moment, they were happy.

As we travel through life’s daily trials, being happy with our family and friends is one of the greatest achievements.

Until next time…peace

Morning’s Sunrise

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“Here Comes The Sun”

By

The Beatles 

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been clear

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it’s all right
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
It’s all right, it’s all right

I will admit this is the song, I thought about when the sun was rising this morning.
Hope everyone had or is having a great Thursday!!
Until next time….peace

Ladies in the Band

Posted on by Rebecca C.

The ladies in the band…well at least that is what I am calling them. I really do not know anything about their story. I purchased this set of negatives from an estate in Michigan. There was not any other information to go along with the find.

I have been trying to research the sign behind the ladies. I was hoping I could figure out a year for the pictures. Any ideas?
I have been trying to research the sign behind the ladies. I was hoping I could figure out a year for the pictures. Any ideas?

I would love for someone to tell me the story around their performance.

  • Were they in a band?
  • Were they putting on a program or play?
  • Were they travelers?
  • What type of music did they play?
  • Did anyone sing?

What Were They Doing?

I would love to hear your theories. Do you know their story?

Until next time….peace

 

The Milan Cathedral

Posted on by Rebecca C.

I recently purchased some negatives from an estate sale. Unlike photographs, I really cannot tell the subject matter of the negatives until I start turning them into images. I usually save the negatives for the winter months when the weather keeps me indoors. But, I could not sleep last night (too much caffeine). So, I decided to “play” with some photos.

One of the first images, I produced was this beautiful cathedral. After researching different architectural structures, I found out this is the Milan Cathedral in Italy. The structure is beautiful. I wish I could fly there right now to view the spectacular place. The Milan Cathedral is 5th largest church in the entire world. We definitely do not have anything that amazing around here. Here are some other facts:

  • The Milan Cathedral is the second largest church in Italy.
  • The cathedral is dedicated to St. Mary of the Nativity.
  • The Italian Gothic cathedral took over six centuries to build. Originally started in 1386 and finished in 1965.
  • The cathedral has a capacity of 40,000.
  • The cathedral is made out of Candoglia marble.
  • The cathedral holds the seat of the Archbishop of Milan which is currently Cardinal Angelo Scola.

The old image I revised does not even come close to showing the beauty of the place. As a person who loves history, I definitely would like to visit the Milan Cathedral. I was on their official website. (http://www.duomomilano.it/en/visit-us/) The cathedral holds various events including organ concerts, Concert by the Choir of Duomo di Milano, and Concert for violin e violcello. The concerts and the guided tours would keep me there for days.

Until next time…..peace

 

Supermoon Thoughts

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon,

 my soul expands in the worship of the creator.”

         – Mahatma Gandhi

Did you get to see the super moon and lunar eclipse last night? Here in Michigan, we had scattered cloudy skies which made the event challenging to view.

However, I was able to view the spectacular event through cloud cover. The clouds would move away, I would catch a glimpse of the beautiful eclipse. Even with the massive cloud coverage and the inability to catch a clear photo, I found the entire night to be peaceful.

  • The stars would shine through the cloud coverage as the eclipse proceeded. A bright star appeared directly above me, I could not help but make a wish.
  • The inspiring nature only heard at night added to the spectacular event. The owls would hoot off in the distance. I would like to think they were voices their happy opinions of the night’s wondrous events.
  • I could hear the deer walking up the gravel road. Deer make a breathing noise, a snort. At first, they did startle me. But once I knew the approaching creature was harmless, I enjoyed the moment in nature. I had to remind myself… this was not one my stories and a werewolf was not approaching.
  • The one creature I was not able to identify was on top of my roof. I am assuming the critter was a raccoon or a squirrel. I could hear scurry back and forth as I stood outside my house. Of course, my imagination kicked into over drive and I was thinking of large gargoyles and goblins.

Despite of my over active imagination, the entire night gave me a sense of calmness.

Until next time…peace

 

 

 

 

First Day of Autumn

Posted on by Rebecca C.

 

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Today, September 23, 2015 is the first official day of autumn. The Autumnal Equinox actually started around 4:20 this morning. Here in Michigan, I have been seeing the signs of the upcoming fall season for the last couple of weeks. I noticed over the weekend (I was photographing an outdoor wedding) that the sun was setting sooner. From my understanding, we are losing about 2-4 minutes of daylight a day. Just another sign from nature, the cooler months are about to be ushered in.

The leaves are starting to show their brilliant last burst of color as the reds and orange become more visible by the day.

I also love this time of year for the mushrooms. As I walk through the woods, the mushrooms are appearing throughout the paths and on the stumps. Mushrooms remind me of fairies. I could spend all day walking around day dreaming about  fantasy worlds. I love to photograph the mushrooms and fungus, and then return to my computer to write. The smallest sprouts sticking up through the ground or along a log can have the biggest impact on my imagination.

First time, I noticed this type of mushroom along the path. I need to research more to find the proper name.

The weather was actually perfect for the first official day of autumn. The sun was shining brightly all day with temperatures around 77˚F. The night has brought a clear crisper sky to view the moon and stars. I am hoping the clear skies will last; I want to be able to see the Supermoon this weekend.

I hope everyone had a great first day of autumn.

Until next time….peace

 

The Blanket of Winter Approaches

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”

– J.R.R. Tolkien

The past week has been cooler which allows me to enjoy every bit of the outdoors. I am not much for hot humid days. I know I should not complain about the heat because winter will be here before I know it. I can already see the signs of the upcoming fall season.

  • Leaves are beginning to turn a fainter green as they prepare for their burst of colors.
  • The summer birds are becoming more scarce as they begin their long migration south to warmer areas. I rarely see Egrets or the Cranes at the old river. I miss the rattle voice of the Sandhill Crane on the river flats.
  • The birds that are still here are gathering in great numbers. I see them flying above the tree tops. They seem to be going back and forth in a harmonic formation as if to gain strength to prepare for their upcoming journey.
  • The days are slowly growing shorter as the frogs and crickets continue to sing their last praises of summer.
  • The squirrels and chipmunks scurry across the dirt paths in the woods where I walk. I see them clutching acorns and walnuts to hoard for the long winter.
  • The nights are cooler which provides a gentle breeze through open windows.

I love this time of year. I know warmer days are still in the forecast. But I am ready for September and October. The two months that seem to be speak to my heart as the blanket of winter approaches. Mother Nature always provides the settle hints that a new season will soon be issued in. Even though today is rainy, I plan to enjoy as much of the outdoors as I possible can during this transition of seasons.

Until next time….peace…