On Doing More

Since my son died, doing things has become something that I do out of necessity, not because it's enjoyable or gives me pleasure.  It's SO much easier to be a watcher than it is a do-er.  Watching takes little energy, and that's about the speed I've been running lately - little energy.  It's coming back slowly, and I still have days where it's easier to do nothing, but at least it's better than it was.

On Friday, I took a stroll through Riparian Preserve, and took about three dozen photos.  But I think my camera battery died in the middle of it, and I ended up with only 5 good photos.  But it was a 37 minute walk according to my FitBit so that's something!

When I uploaded to my computer and got a good look at them, I realized that there is usually only one subject in the photo, and that many of them seem to be suited to black and white - dark and a little edgy.  Perfect description of my moods.  And then I had another thought:  maybe I needed to take them a little dark and edgy and get it out of my system.







It was an overcast day,
so maybe that was a part of it.

Hello, 2019!

It's my goal this year to get outdoors and take more photos.  I've been lacking in the "getting out" part of my life this past year, and that needs to change.

It's not easy, because I always feel guilty leaving Sadie at home.  But taking her with me in the car causes me a lot of anxiety because she doesn't travel well.  The minute we're in the car, she's bouncing off the walls like a 2 year old who's just had a bottle of sugar water!  On the days when I take off for some photo ops, I make sure to take her on two extra long walks so she doesn't feel so left out.  Ugh.  That's a lot of effort because I have dog! 

The other reason for not getting out as much is due to health issues.  When the need for a bathroom arises, there isn't much time to dash -- and you can't always take a dog into a restroom with you, so where does that leave me?  Dashing to the car to lock her away, then dashing back toward a bathroom!!  The fear of not making it on time has kept me home the past year, and with the help of meds, I'm overcoming most of it, sans dog.  

Today was a quick jaunt over to Riparian Preserve.  Because the weather was 20 degrees warmer than it had been all week, the park was full of people and dogs.  I'm happy they were all outdoors, but it chases away the birds and animals ..... so photos were few.  I'm never sure if people care when their photo gets accidentally taken.  There were some little girls playing follow the leader, and that could have been a wonderful photo, but these days you can never be too careful when photographing kids.  So I didn't.  I just watched as they all followed the bravest girl, who led them up, over, down all the cement climbing opportunities she could!  Oh to be so carefree again!!

Hello, 2019, I hope it's a terrific year!

Weird Days

I don't know if you do this or not, but I'm the type who likes to have a plan for the day.  It may not always be specific, and is ALWAYS subject to change, but a plan to start the day helps.


Yesterday was our "one trip shopping" discount at my BigBox store:  25% off one entire purchase, and this year I went all out:  a new TV and entertainment center for the living room!  It's way past time for the 12 year old TV to take a hike. haha  After pulling two shopping carts through the store in order to get all the stuff I wanted - and needed - I had the task of loading it all into my car.  The hardest piece was the entertainment center.   Being too big for the back seat, it had to go in the trunk, with the lid tied down.  I tacked on this little Santa Hat as my "red flag" to other drivers. hehehehe


After getting it all in the house and unloaded, I moved furniture, emptied out the old entertainment center and figured that Saturday morning would be a perfect time to start Assembling.  But once the pieces were all laid out, I found out that I was short 8 compression dowels.   Ugh.  I called the company (as the instructions read to do) and found the company isn't open on weekends.  After pondering for all of 10 seconds, I hopped in the car and headed to Home Depot.  They had dowels, the right diameter, but an inch too short.  I headed for Lowes, right length, but too fat.  Looks like I will have all these parts scattered all over until I can get more dowels shipped to me.   Which means I didn't take out and inspect my new TV and give that a whirl either!

So much for Saturday's Plan A.   Turns out that my Plan B was to clean the garage out a bit.  My son hasn't been home in over 5 days, and frankly, all the "stuff" he has in there is slowly encroaching on what little space I use in the garage:  the washer and dryer!  I didn't move TOO many things (after all, if I move things, as a man, he will never find them again! hahahah), and I got the floor swept and the corners vacuumed out.  At least I was productive in that area!

After all that, I decided that Sadie needed another walk, and I wasn't in the mood to walk the streets, so we headed to the local riparian preserve and circled around some of our favorite areas.  Lots of people out enjoying this beautiful day in the Valley of the Sun - and many of them dressed up for holiday photo shoots!   Always fun :)

V-Formation

I am challenging myself to two things this month:  

more walking, and less griping.

It's so easy to gripe about how bad things are at work:  it IS the hell-iday season, we're extremely busy, customers are short on patience, bosses are short on patience, and employees are short on everything in between!   But I keep realizing that the more I gripe, the more I see the things that are wrong.  To combat that, I'm forcing myself to write something about a picture I take on one of my walks.  Sadie and I have taken to walking twice a day -  and that's good for both of us!

At Riparian Preserve, in Gilbert, I glanced up and found a V-formation of ducks flying toward me.  And with the sunset painting a gorgeous shade on the smattering of clouds, well.... you just have to shoot!  At least, I do.   Mother Nature in all her grandeur is ours for the taking, if only we'll stop our busy selves and take a few minutes to look around us and really notice the little things.  Maybe that's my calling in life:  recording those little things for those who don't take the time to do it on their own.  *ponders*

May the rest of your week be a blessed one!

Take a Walk

There is nothing more soothing than a long walk in the outdoors.  It doesn't matter if its at a National Park, a local park, or just around your own block.  If you pay attention, there will be things of wonder to see!

Over the weekend, I walked Sadie at Riparian Preserve, a local park of some notoriety.  It is recognized by the National Audubon Society as an important bird area.  There are plenty of birds and water fowl to attract photographers from all around the Valley.

But ... there's nothing more splendid than one of mother nature's sunsets!  The sky is painted incredible colors, and even more if there are clouds to paint upon!

If you haven't gotten out into the outdoors for a walk, start making it a habit.  You can start small by a quick jaunt around the block :)  It's a great way to relieve stress, and serves to remind us that there is more to life than our jobs, our problems, our selves.


#ilovetowalk
#lindadanielsonphotography

Concert!

We live in a great community here in the Valley of the Sun; several times throughout the year, there's a free Concert in the Park at Freestone Park.  Tonight's band:  Rondavous -- a high-energy country band that is fronted by a talented, energetic, female singer along with strong male vocals.  ( link to their website here)  They played lots of country fav's, even did some Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline!



 

There were a lot of people in the audience.  The kids danced up a storm, and even some of the adults.  It was a great evening, warm with a slight breeze.  After the sun set, there's something magical about a concert ... lights ... sharing music under the stars. 

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.  

~Berthold Auerbach

 Music is love in search of a word.  ~Sidney Lanier

Faerie Tales

Do you believe in faeries?  If you do, you're not alone.  The belief in fairies seems to reach back into ancient times, being traceable both in written and oral tradition.  There's just something magical about fairies, and believing in them.  Sometimes the world can be a harsh, cruel place, and we all need time and space to escape it and believe in the good things again. 


On the spur of the moment, I took a late evening walk in the park.  Being Easter weekend, it was quite busy.  I stopped to watch a crowd of wedding goers as they wished the couple well.  And when I looked up toward the sun, on top of the hill surrounding the event .... there she was.  Lucky I had my camera with me (never leave home without it!) 

If you didn't believe in faeries before.... do you now? ;)