*Roni*'s photostream  

The Way It Makes Me Feel

Self portraits have never come easy to me. But it helps... if I close my eyes, and think of something that makes me feel really happy and at peace. I've been mentoring a group of women on Google+ for the past two months and we are coming to a close within the next couple of weeks. It has been an amazing experience. What a beautiful, warm, loving group of women they are...eager to learn anything and everything about photography, about art, and about the way I "see" things. This week, I asked them to work on paying attention to available light, and to use it to their advantage. Funny, how doing that, always takes me back to my place of peace....the ocean.

You are all so special. You keep coming around, leaving me the sweetest notes and bits of kindness. I appreciate it so much. I try so hard to visit all of you as often as I can. Thank you for being more of my sunshine.:) It still warms my heart. ♥

Heed my quiet call
When the dark and blue surround you
Step Into My Sigh
Look inside the light
You will know that I have found you...

Runnin' With My Heart...

The Secret of Life
I look so forward to those lazy days of summer, when the trees are at their greenest and downtown Syracuse is peppered in dappled light. People take long lunches and sit with their crinkly brown bags and water bottles in places where it's cool in the shade. This particular day was so beautiful. I kept noticing how the sun lit up the leaves on the trees and made their tiny veins visible and the shadows on the ground made intricate patterns as it played with the light and fluttered on the breeze. There were artists in town for the Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival and it was one of those perfect days where you don't even notice the temperature because it wraps you peacefully, and lets you wander comfortably for hours, taking in the sights and smells. I love summer. And I dream of her sweetly as the snow falls softly outside my window, leaving a blanket of white behind her. I am learning to appreciate the change of seasons, the same way I anticipate meeting up with old friends again. The rhythm of it is comforting, when I listen. I think that's the secret.;-) Any fool can do it...there ain't nothin' to it....

It occurs to me that this is what it means to grow old(er) gracefully.