Weekly Photo Challenge: Earth

Most of my photos are of some aspect of nature.  These two remain my favorites:

When I saw this week’s challenge, I also thought of a Sanskrit prayer that many children in India chant before they get up in the morning, prior to their feet touching the ground. Here is the English translation:

 

O! Mother Earth

who has the ocean as clothes

and mountains and forests on her body

who is the wife of Lord Vishnu.

I bow to you.

Please forgive me for touching you with my feet.

 

May we all develop such devotion and humility.

 

Written for Weekly Photo Challenge: Earth

So Beautiful

I saw some stunning shrubs when I was driving through a Seattle neighborhood two days ago.  I went back to that area today so I could get a closer look.

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Color Your World: Wisteria… and… Wordless Wednesday

 

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Posted for Color Your World: Wisteria and Wordless Wednesday

With New Eyes

Every time I walk a block or two from my house, I see things I haven’t seen before.  That could be because I haven’t noticed it in the past, or because it has reached another phase of its life cycle.

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Color Your World: White

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day when “White” would be the “Color Your World” assignment because I love the photos of white flowers I have taken in Seattle and India. Today’s the day!

 

From my Seattle neighborhood:

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From Amritapuri, India:

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Posted for: Color Your World: White

My Memories of Prince

This morning when I heard that Prince had died, I cried. I probably cried when Michael Jackson died too, but I don’t normally react to the death of celebrities in that way.

In the early 80’s, Prince’s music touched me deeply.  I loved his “Purple Rain” movie and album. I was particularly moved by the song, “When Doves Cry.”

In 1988, I took my children to their first rock concert.  It, of course, was a Prince concert. I have never forgotten the experience of being there with them. My son was 13 at the time and I believe that concert was an important event in his life.  As I remember, my daughter, who would have been 11, was bored; it wasn’t her kind of music.  I wonder how she remembers that experience now!

I haven’t been able to insert YouTube copies of Prince singing “When Doves Cry”  into this post, but I found one performed by another musician.  I hope it brings back good memories for some of you.

Thank you Prince. May you rest in peace.

Intricate Beauty

When I first saw these flowers in the nursery, their beauty stunned me.  I discovered they were called Blue and White Columbine (Aquilegia).  There were only a few blossoms on the plant when I purchased it, but within the week it was full of flowers.