it's that season again....

This is for all those mamas out there who are letting someone fly ...

Whether they're flying off for a half day of pre-K or to another state for college or half way around the world for work, our hearts break a tiny bit with each farewell, don't they?

So, for all of us mamas who are letting them fly ... I share these dragonfly wings. When I look at them, they seem so incredibly fragile. Gorgeous, and full of possibility and light...but oh, so fragile! Just like our kids, right?!? Yet these fascinating creatures, as you probably know, have survived millions of years! Engineers dream of making robots that fly as well as the 'delicate' dragonfly! Point is, friends...they're stronger than they look! And just like this dragonfly, our 'babies' will flit off, flutter around and come back to land in the same spot over and over. We've either given them strong roots, or we're working on it... So now it's "trust" time....

....yes, it's the season of letting go...

Joining Tamar

Stillness

fire engine red

you caught my eye

tip toe i did

had to try and try

until still you stayed

and let me near

thank you little creature

who i hold dear

Joining Tamar for Little Things

Enchanted Forest

On Sunday I visited Martha's Vineyard for the first time.

No, I didn't spot the President.

And yes, I did walk along a gorgeous beach,

have breakfast at The Black Dog

and visit some lovely artisanal shops.

Mostly, I drank deeply of time and conversation with dear friends.

These friends are dear enough,

and know me well enough,

to understand that any visit to a new place only feels complete for me

if I have some quiet, solo wandering time with my camera.

So wander I did.
Through a thoroughly magical space!
Acres and acres of private 'woodland' that borders a pond that hugs a private beach.
I have NEVER seen anything quite like it.
The light danced through the branches,
kissed the mossy ground...

...and led me to savory blooms and tiny beings.

No fairies...but plenty of  beautiful little wings!

"Life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim."

Lord Byron

Joining Tamar

Mid-Air

Taking a photograph of a flying insect doesn't often work for me.

My camera and I have a very

trial-and-error

relationship.

The good thing is,

I enjoy trying.

It's possible that I enjoy the process of trying to get a certain photo
even more than seeing the actual outcome.
Until...

Until that magical moment when
the light catches the wing...
and the camera
catches the light
that catches the wing.

Then, for just a wee second, I believe I can fly.



Joining Tamar

Black & White Wednesdays ~ Bedazzled?

Is it just me,

or does it look like this dragonfly

has been

BeDazzled?

Please join me here and share

your Black & Whie photos.

I'm also linking up to

Wednesdays Around the World

Give Thanks

Wandering along the shores of a crystal clear mountain lake,

my camera and I discovered some magical, winged creatures.

Their wings remind me of stained glass.
And I could wander in search of their beauty for hours.

You see,

when I'm alone and find the mystical, winged beauties,

I take a deep breath.

I rest.

Still and present.

There is only that moment.

And there is gratitude.

For the moment.

For the place.

For cool, clear water.

And driftwood.

And sunshine.

For blue skies and tall pines.

For family, and summer time, and fresh air and dragonflies.

"To give thanks in solitude is enough.
Thanksgiving has wings
and goes where it must go.
Your prayer knows much more about it than you do."
Victor Hugo



Linking up with
Saturday Critters

Black & White Wednesdays ~ Chasing the Magic

Along the sandy shores of the Cascade mountain lake,

there were pebbles, rocks, bushes, fallen trees, wildflowers and evergreens.

Flitting gaily about

from pebble, to leaf;

 and from twig to bloom

were the ever elegant dragonflies.

I stand,

with my toes in the cool, clear water,

captivated by their translucent wings that caught the sunlight;

mesmerized by their svelte bodies

and

finding laughter behind their bulging eyes.

My imagination soars.

I imagine riding on their backs ~ 

being carried across the water as they dance on the mountain breeze.

Mystical.

Magical.

Wonderful little dragonflies!

Join me here and share your

black & white photos!

I'm also linking up with

Wednesdays Around the World

Black & White Wednesdays ~ See-through

Transparency inspires me.

I long to live fearlessly, exposing my heart.

I pray to live truthfully, sharing my real thoughts.

I strive to live openly, learning always. Always learning.

Transparency moves me.

I want to see you. See into you.

I don't ever take for granted the chance to know someone.

It's such an honor when someone lets you step into their soul ~ even just a little bit.

Dragonfly wings inspire me.
They're magically transparent!
When I was taking this shot, I was focused on the intricate design of each wing.
And I was trying to capture the light as it reflected off of the wing's delicate surface.
Little did I know, the real magic in the photo would be the shadow of the wing.
The shadow that showed up underneath.

A shadowy depth that would have never been revealed if not for the wing's transparency.

Please link up here and share your black & white photos!

I'm also Joining Kat for this month's

Photo Heart Connection

Some Little Creatures

Thirty years ago, 

when I fell in love with a boy

and he fell in love with me right back,

I didn't know that one of the greatest gifts he would give me

would be his home state of Oregon.

We've never lived here,

but we visit each year and I love this place.

I love it's great-big-huge-see-forever sky

and all the stunning vistas that go along with that.

But I also love it's little creatures.

I so enjoy my time with my camera, the tiny birds and the dragonflies.

Here are some of my favorites.

Posting a tad late...this vacation stuff is really messing with my blog schedule!!

Joining

LIttle Things Thursday

and

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

the joys of the weekend ~

Sweets!!

I made this yummy cobbler on Saturday with fresh peaches and blueberries.

It was so good!

Recipe HERE

Learning to cook with real, non-processed ingredients doesn't have to be boring, right?!!

In the completely random category,

I've decided to try and capture some dragonflies this summer.

Aren't they beautiful!?!

I walked for three hours on Sunday.

My version of fun!

Needed the air.

Needed the space.

And was so happy to find my little swan family.

One of the "tweens" is quite the little show off, don't you think?!

Happy Monday everybody!

Joining Tamar for

The Good. The Random. The Fun.