Inauguration and Martin Luther King Day

It was a beautiful day for celebration. The sun was shining and the cold temperatures stayed away.

My intention for the day was to organize my office. That was my intention yesterday, too, but I had a small setback. I slicing my finger while washing out the kitchen sink. Who knew that cleaning was so dangerous. I got things done, but not all that I had wanted to accomplish.

Today my finger was more mobile, but I was in a terrible funk. It's a funk that set in a few days ago and I've been trying to work through it, but just couldn't do it today. It was a very melancholy day.

I headed out late this afternoon to enjoy the end of the day in the fresh air. As my reward for making the effort, there was a fabulous sunset.

This was right outside my front door. The sun was just starting to go down.

I had to drive a bit to find a place to take a picture that didn't have utility lines and buildings in the way, but it was worth it.

I look forward to a new day tomorrow, and hopefully it will be a productive day. Until then, I will enjoy the fact that I witnessed a beautiful end to a very special day. 

Men are from Mars . . .

Women - - Restrain from giving any unsolicited advice.

Men - - Listen whenever a woman speaks, with the sole intention of respectfully understanding what she's going through.

After receiving, and replying to an e-mail from my husband yesterday, I rolled it around in my head for hours. I was coming to the conclusion that I had been living with a stranger for 21 years, and couldn't understand why I had not seen it before yesterday. I knew we had differences, but I never gave it the credence it deserved.

I have always felt that we, as a couple, thought about things in basically the same way, with pretty much the same conclusions. But after reading his latest e-mail, over and over again, I was having trouble relating to the man whose words I was trying to make sense of.

This morning, I woke up still reeling from yesterday's correspondence, trying to put everything into perspective. I am no longer filled with the anger of six months ago, but I'm still bewildered and frustrated, so I analyse every bit of information and try to rationalize what is happening. Since the anger is subsiding, the ability to step back from the situation and think logically, is a little easier.

During this analytic process this morning, the much touted book of the 1990s popped into my head, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, by John Gray. I probably have a copy of it somewhere that was either given to me, or I purchased at the height of its popularity, but I don't believe I ever read it. Well, this morning I had a burning need to get my hands on a copy.

I went to Audible online, and they had the audio version that was read by the author himself. I had a credit, so I downloaded it and began listening. OMG, why had I not read this book!!! After just the first four chapters I was relating to everything he said. He was talking about us!

Because my husband refused to seek counseling, I believe that his wanting a divorce goes deeper than just not being able to communicate, and I believe that there has been irreparable damage done to our relationship, so I have no misguided belief that there will be a reconciliation, but I do now know, with nearly unquestionable certainty, that men and women are completely different beings.

If any of you are going through difficulties in your relationship, do not immediately assume that there is no help and that the end is near. Be open to a new way of seeing and relating to your partner - - and read John Gray's book.

Another fresh start . . .

I hadn't given it much thought, but tomorrow is my birthday. I started getting birthday wishes at the beginning of the week, which was my gentle reminder that it was just around the corner.

For years we, as a family, have had "birthday week" where we would do little extra things for the week of the upcoming birthday. On birthday morning, the birthday girl or boy would wake up to decorations in the living room, soap messages on the bathroom mirror (that tradition was started by my mother), and presents on the table.

For my birthday last year my husband went through the motions, but I knew his heart wasn't in it, and he made it so unhappy. I think it was one of my worst birthdays.

I miss the special things that he used to do for me. For example, on Valentine's Day he had always done a scavenger hunt. He wrote clues that would take me around the house, and at the end of the hunt there would be a present. Last year was the first year that he didn't do one for me, and it was on that day that I knew our marriage was over. 

Tomorrow I will wake up to the cat staring in my face, willing me to get up and feed her, and to a fresh pot of coffee. There won't be any decorations in the living room and there won't be a soap message on the mirror, but I think it will be just fine. It is another hurdle that I will get over and be happier for doing so.

To a happy celebration, and to a fresh start - - Happy Birthday to me!!!

Sunrise on the farm

I left the house early yesterday morning, and as I was driving, the sun came up. It was beautiful. But, not only was I driving, I failed to bring my camera with me, so I was unable to record the pink and orange ball.

I had one of those restless nights last night, so I stopped fighting the inability to sleep, and got up at 5:00 AM. I waited for the coffee to finish brewing (the coffeemaker turns on at 5:00 AM each morning and is usually waiting for me when I come downstairs), and fed the cat. After a couple cups, a Facebook check-in and a few e-mail replies, I decided to venture out and watch the sun come up. I was hoping it would be as brilliant as it had been the morning before.

There is a small, privately owned farm just a couple of miles away. I've been there a few times to take pictures. Once was to catch the Super Moon coming up over the horizon a couple of years ago. Another time was to take pictures of full moon higher up in the sky, and another time just to take pictures of the pond and the farm house. That's where I decided to go to wait for the sun.

I hadn't brought a coat or gloves with me - - what was I thinking?!? The temperature gauge in the car said it was 32 degrees. I figured I would only be there for a few minutes, so it was okay. I'm usually hot, so initially, the cold air felt good.

When I got out of the car, I found rows for cabbage. They were perfectly shaped and looked like they were just waiting to be picked, but with a layer of frost on them I knew they would never leave the farm. They called to me to take their picture.

Once the sun started to come up, it moved quickly. I kept changing my camera settings so I would be sure to get a couple good shots. By the time the sun rose above the trees, I was having trouble moving the dials on the camera because my fingers were so cold.

The sunrise wasn't as brilliant as it had been the morning before, but it felt good to be out and about, welcoming a new day - - even though I was freezing. Maybe I'll try again later in the week.

First Saturday of 2013

Now that we are five days into the new year, I'm finally finished putting my "2012 Daily Photos" on my website.

I dropped the ball about mid-August, so there were a lot of photos to go through, but there were photos and activities I had forgotten about. Although I didn't complete my goal of taking a picture every day in 2012, it is fun to go through all the pictures. It was a worthwhile attempt, and maybe I can complete the challenge this year.

So far, I have taken a picture every day this year! Today's photo was a picture of my daughter just before she left to go back to school.

She was here for three weeks, and other than a couple little hiccups, the visit went quite well. It was fun to have someone to share meals with (especially with someone who cooks!), laugh with, and go places with. Those are the things that I think I miss the most.

Now it's time to tackle my "To Do List" for the New Year - - starting tomorrow!

2012 Daily Photos:

http://www.evalightfootphotos.com/Photography/2012-Daily-Photos/20855040_mBwPDt#!i=2306211433&k=nJpxzTN

2013 Daily Photos:

http://www.evalightfootphotos.com/Photography/2013-Daily-Photos/27389688_53gTwP#!i=2305763426&k=CjZ9Cff

January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

I made it through 2012 with only a few bumps and bruises. I've set new goals, and I washed the sheets (clean sheets always make me feel good).

My daughter, who has been home since December 15, will be heading back to school tomorrow. I hope she had a good break and that she's excited to start a new semester.

While I was waiting for the ball to drop last night, I reflected on the last year. Although I was busy, and I did a lot of things, it was probably the saddest year of my life. I was very happy to let it go at midnight and welcome fresh starts and new beginnings.

This will be the year of photography. A business plan, branding, portraits and events are all on the agenda.

 I still have some calendars, so if any of you still need a calendar for 2013, see this link: 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/117569679/2013-nature-photos-calendar

To see the calendar photographs, see this link:

http://www.evalightfootphotos.com/Photography/2013-Calendar/26334841_w7n7TC#!i=2194626833&k=s8bnp9J

Thank you, to my family and friends, for standing by me, putting up with me and loving me in 2012. Let's get started on an amazing New Year.