Failings

Words can fail to express the beauty of what lies within sight… sometimes we fail to see the importance of what is in front of us when we focus on the wrong things.

Casting Crowns

Sometimes we fall and we lose what we thought was so dear and soon we have to find our way back to a place where we are comfortable.  Sometimes we find that what we lost wasn’t so great and we shrug it off and we rise above it and we find something so much better.

(About the Photo:  Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the wife of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland and she is who the city of Charlotte, NC was named for.   This statue that appears outside Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) appears to have her casting away her crown symbolically as the city itself once cast away its ties to Great Britain in the American War of Independence. )

Something Beautiful

From the darkness and the debris of that lost...  come a new arising… reaching for the light.   Something beautiful. 

Randam Art

I’m not one to get caught up in jewelry, I always see it as something a bit impersonal… created en masse to be given as gifts and although beautiful no real love was put into it.   It was created for the sole purpose of being purchased and used… not much different than a TV or anything else. 

One of my dearest friends has changed this perception.  Miranda creates some of the most creative and beautiful necklaces, among other items, that I’ve ever seen.  She puts so much into it, she puts herself into the items and each one tells a story.  I like this, it makes them special and one of a kind… qualities that you can't find produced en masse.  I’ve always admired her artistic touch and I’ve showcased some of her work on here before.   She truly is one of the most talented people I know and I am privileged to have some of her work in my own home. 

Figuring It Out

So, I came across where a stream meets the ocean. Though the sand looked solid through the water, I lifted my pants legs and stepped in to cross. No! the sand and water bogged me to my knees, so I had to backtrack and find another way around. Now I am at the other side a little sandier and wetter... And a bit cold. But I made it. Now to do this on a larger scale.

Reflective Witness

Places of tranquility often lead to inspiration, this is a rule that I believe many people neglect to follow.   Here in Mississippi, just a bit north of Jackson on the

Natchez Trace Parkway

lies what was once a part of the Pearl River.   It is marked as a point of interest, not a historical place as most others are, it is the Cypress Swamp.  The Pearl river changed its course thousands of years ago, leaving behind a swamp where it once flowed.  Over thousands of years Cypress trees majestically grew tall and overtook the swamp, creating a quiet breathtaking place of reflection.  I thought of many things as I explored this amazing place, one thing that grabbed my attention were the size of some of the cypress trees, and the knowledge that they could have bore witness to the first explorers to the region, and to the way of life hundreds of years before Europeans discovered this continent... and yet they are alive, to bear witness to me.     Small in the scheme of things.

Bee

As we grow older we believe that to find things of beauty, we have to leave home. There is so much beauty in the world outside our home, but it is not home. That is not true, we just have to stop and look… it is there. Just like this, today in my back yard… a honey bee takes pollen and nectar from a wild flower. I have no idea what kind of flower it is, it is really common, but I have no idea what it is. All I know is that it has the tiny purple flowers, and the stalks are slightly maroon.

[Edit:  The plant in question is Dead Nettle.]

The Scheme of Things

Rainbows symbolize many things to many people. Sexual orientation aside, the rainbow means something to me. The rainbow symbolizes the whole of humanity encompassing all races, religions, sexual orientations; they all compose this beautiful composition. However this is just me rambling, the human race is much uglier, we kill for beliefs, money, hate… all petty things that we can’t seem to overcome. When we finally can look at one another and accept each other for who we each are, and know that we are beautiful in our own right… will we be truly beautiful as a race.

When we really think about it, in the cosmic sense… all of our wars, love, happiness... everyone that has ever existed… has done so on an infinitesimal fraction of what exists… We really need to stop killing each other, and look within ourselves and fix what is wrong there… come on people. Wise up.

life... in general

When life gets difficult, sometimes you have to look for the things that make it a little easier. That may not be the easiest thing to do sometimes, but it is a must… otherwise you will go insane.

Birthday Magnolia

My mom always told me that Magnolias being in bloom always reminded her of when my birthday was coming. This Simple fact has since made magnolias my absolute most favorite flower… especially on today of all days. Growing up, we had a magnolia tree in my front yard, and it never failed most days… birthday included, there were sweet beautiful magnolias in the house! They always bring back the wonderful memories!

Beauty

Sometimes people get so transfixed on what is in front of them that they forget to look around and see the beauty of what is not just in front of them. The sunset yesterday was mediocre at best, but this was not even the sun, it was a reflection through the storm clouds on the other side of the sky… it was not as bright as the sun, but the beauty was nonetheless breathtaking.

Draco

I was minding my business coming in from lunch back on April 15, and something landed on my hand. Normally I would freak out just a little, but natural curiosity made me look down... a dragonfly. I was really shocked; normally these timid creatures do not land on humans, let alone give them time to snap a photo. I was honored to have been used as its perch.

Serenity in Gray

Moments of serenity are the moments that you can cherish… Beauty can be found anywhere, if you are willing to look.

This photo was taken in downtown Jackson, Mississippi at the First Baptist Church of Jackson, It took my breath away when I passed by…

Mooie Bloemen

For Mississippi spring comes several times of the year, and sadly for most flowering plants… so does winter. Flowers symbolize so many things for so many people. We give them to the ones we love as gifts, we give them to people who are sick, and we give them to people when they pass away. But if you look at the reasons why we give flowers, it is always for the same reason… an event, whether happy or sad, it’s an event with a new beginning. Most flowers come first in the spring, and that is the new beginning for the new year, so I do find it very fitting that they are the gift of choice for such an event.

This photo was taken at Kroger off Highway 51 in Madison, Kroger surprisingly has grown in their floral section to a very impressive selection. The bottom flower was taken at another Kroger in Madison (Colony Park) it was their Grand Opening and they had them on the tables in their Deli.

Snow!

This is a rare sight in Mississippi, very rare indeed; and I apparently missed most of it by an hour. I’ve only seen snow maybe a dozen times in my entire life and the most I have ever seen was 7 inches on January 1, 2001. So needless to say I was surprised to walk out my front door and see about an inch of snow on the neighbors roof, and on mine and my room-mates car.. I love it!!!

Blurred Lines

I occasionally find myself staring into the distance, and just thinking, and allowing myself to not focus on anything in my line of sight. Sometimes in that second when I come back, just before my eyes focus, the world makes more sense. Today I went to get my mom, and on the way home the sunset was absolutely beautiful, but I could not get a still shot, the final image left the horizon blurred, but the image itself retains its immense beauty.

Something to Ponder....

"Today I had a chance to watch Fire... Its wild tounges licking toward the sky, sending glittery sparks flying. The embers smoldering like passion in your soul, as the flames lust to grow higher. The heat warmed my face arms and legs, as it begged me to feed it further. I felt bad as the night grew on and I had to starve it to smoldering embers, I knew that it left me a legacy of heat, passion, and lust... A Gift, I suppose." ~ J. Grant Wixson Blakeney 2/20/2006

I wrote this a while back, and I still find it odd, and yet beautiful.

Port Gibson Ruins

Destruction can be devastating, ruining everything that people have built up over long periods of time. Through destruction there can also come unimaginable beauty... That most can not see initially. Volcanoes kill thousands and destroy large areas but through this come fertile land that can feed millions of people and creatures… When bad things happen, you have to find the beauty, otherwise the sorrow will take you to a place you really do not wish to be.

This home was in Port Gibson, Mississippi, all that is left are the ruins of the bottom floor and the bathroom on the second floor… through the destruction there is a eerie beauty that can not be missed.

Royal Castles

Every now and again you come across a place that sparks your interest, and more often than not… your imagination. Meridian, Mississippi is full of such places that spark your imagination, and Royal Land is one of those places. From what I was able to gather, this was a small local theme park adjacent to the fairgrounds, however they are both now defunct, and this entrance is all that remains of Royal Land.