O What A Beautiful Morning!

I've been shooting sunrises for as long as I can remember. Some require several frames and require that I run from the East to the West to the South and North. What a great way to start the day!!

And with that ~ Mornin' peeps!

Mornin' Peeps!

You know how it is. The cat decides it your turn to be her midnight buddy and she's walking up and down your body, meowing in your ear until you finally give up and rise at about 4 am.

Get up ya' lazy bum!

It's 3:30 and I'm hungry!

So even though I have a ton of work to do I decide, oh what the hell, it's only 4:15. I think I'll play around with the design of my blog. When I started this blog back in March I had just visited an impressive Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit at DAM. Obviously she had an impact on me because my take-away was her statement about "walking on the edge of the knife." At that time in my life I felt a little edgy, a little ready to take on the world ~ so I dubbed my blog "Walking on the Edge of the Knife."

I've been thinking for awhile that although I like to think I still have that edge to me a bit ~ today I am a more kind and gentle Cindi. Experiences over the past few months have mellowed me, humbled me and made me more grateful than edgy. So the Pollyanna side of me is kind of winning over the Georgia O'Keeffe side of me. 

So I returned to a phrase I use often ~ omysweetgoodness. It is what I say when something makes me happy. And I want to choose happiness and light over darkness and brooding. I remembered something my friend, Susan, said about keeping life fluid ~ change things up, keep things interesting. 

So Oh My Sweet Goodness is where I am in my life today. It might change next month. But for now it's where I am.

Back to designing and I look up and see the sun was rising so grabbed my camera.

Then I heard The Mister grinding his coffee beans so went down to make a coconut chai latte and chat a bit. He was all wound up because the car he thought was going to be ours suddenly isn't pearl white; it's red. Huh-uh. No thank you. We'll wait.

Back to designing and of course, you know how it is ~ I looked up and suddenly it is 8:10. And I still don't think I like the new design that much. And I really do have a ton of work and deadlines looming.

Step away from the computer, Cindi...

A Smooth Monday Morning

Just your ordinary beautiful Monday morning in Colorado in June.

And my reward for my mile long walk (besides getting to enjoy all that) was to try a new smoothie recipe when I returned home.

Sunshine Breakfast Smoothie

A great combo of oranges, Granny Smith apple, pineapple, banana, a touch of yogurt, dash of Saigon cinnamon and some ice. (I didn't have flaxseeds but will next time!)

Very yum.

And it made a lot.

I do believe I am a smoothie convert. 

Go. For. A. Walk. That's All. Period.

So this is what happens when I have a grrrrreat idea for a blog post and I don't sit down that minute and write.

I kind of forget my point. And I had a really good point! Dammit.

It had something to do with getting back to my routine of walking every morning in the park ~ of rising very early, grabbing my water bottle and a camera - any camera - and hitting the trail.  I'm happy about this because being in nature is good for my head, good for my soul and any physical benefits are a bonus.

So although the skies were threatening yesterday (and it did pour later) I strolled down familiar paths with my little pink Nikon Coolpix - you know - the one I wanted so badly because it was pink. And I use it about once a year.  

There were clouds in the water as well as the sky. 

Part of my reason for resuming these morning walks is that I quite often clear my head and/or get ideas when I'm in nature. And I wouldn't mind losing a couple of lbs. so previously I have been obsessed with how many miles I've walked and what my time is. Get that cardio up! So those two things (which when you think about it are a total dichotomy) are usually my intent when setting out. But intent can sometimes backfire.

Because I find I can't concentrate. Because I'm distracted by a pelican.

Or a squirrel.  SQUIRREL!!

And I have to stop to get just the right angle 

to make some nice bokeh behind those pink flowers. 

Wait - how do I turn the macro setting on on this thing again?

And I start slowing down because I'm framing things in my head and then - hey - wouldn't that look cool framed like this.

And then I remembered something I read recently.

The purpose of fishing is not to catch fish.

So...

I told myself.  Just stop. Stop trying to control something as simple as a walk in the park. (No pun intended. Or maybe it is...) Maybe the purpose of a walk in nature isn't to solve the problems of the world - or your little life. Maybe the purpose of a walk in nature isn't to see how fast you can do it.  I've climbed mountains in my life.  I'm done with that. Maybe the purpose of a walk in nature isn't to get the *best* photograph of a bird. 

(Full disclosure - I took this pic and the two following

today with my Canon; not the pink Nikon.)

Maybe the purpose of a walk in nature is to just fricking walk in nature.  Don't count my steps; don't plan my new business model ~ just be in the moment and Go. For. A. Walk.

And don't even think about what is around the next bend.

Tech Free Freedom!

Have you ever left home and forgotten your phone?  And by the time you realized it it wasn't worth it to go all the way back home to get it?  And you kinda' felt naked?

That happened to me yesterday.  The Birthday Boy and I were stepping out for just a short time ~ a drink at one of our favorite Cherry Creek North haunts (when I strike it big I still say we're moving to Cherry Creek North!) and picking up what we want to make for Birthday dinner at the super duper fancy dancy King Soopers in Glendale.  You know - the huge one that has everything including a nicely-stocked liquor store.  That's unusual in Colorado so the one-stop shopping is a real treat.

So on our way there I realized I had no phone.  Oh nos!  How will anyone know I've checked in at Hillstone?  I can't post a photo of the birthday duck and my chardonnay and Charlie's vodka tonic on Facebook!  No one will be able to comment on what a great time I must be having!  I can't check my email!  (You will notice I wasn't concerned about missing any phone calls...)

Once I recovered from my mini panic attack and sat back and relaxed I realized this was kind of nice.  Look at me, actually giving my full attention to my husband (and we had some pretty interesting things to talk about!).  We chatted up our sweet bartender, Jordie, who much to our surprise (because we don't see her often) remembered exactly what we drink (right down to the Frank Family chardonnay I drink there and nowhere else).  She even bought our drinks in honor of Charlie's birthday.

No one knew when I checked into King Soopers or what we bought for our Birthday dinner (ribeye for him and wild tuna for me).  It was a totally unconnected, technology free afternoon.

So am I saying I'll leave my phone home more often?  

Are you crazy?  No way!

It being Easter Sunday and all you know I had to do it (and I just realized this has ended up being yet again another bird-related post)...

Mornin' PEEPS!
(ala Lensbaby 2.0)

Why I'm Here

My cell phone has made me a lazy photographer.

Facebook has made me a lazy writer.

A recent visit to a Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit inspired me to create this blog.  I'm not selling anything; not promoting anything.  This is my little space for me to just be me.  Relax a little already. 

Because at 58 and approaching age 60, Georgia got me thinking about how best to spend the rest of my time.  Holy moly time goes fast.  

I find I am beginning to instinctively take a few more chances.  I'm saying yes a little more often. I am worrying less about what others think of me and conversely listening to my own inner drummer more.  I want to travel more; there is so much out there I've yet to see...

I'm also giving myself permission to be selective as to how I spend my time and my energy ~ to surround myself with happy, positive and fun experiences and people.  I'm a little more outspoken and suffer fools less often.  Because I think I've earned the right to say no, too.  

So, come along on the ride if you want.  This is where I'll be starting my day ~ and maybe even ending my day ~ or checking in at noon.  It's my blog I can do whatever the hell I want.  ;-)  

And it is where I'll be greeting you each morning.  On that note ~~

Mornin' peeps!