Evolution of a Sunset

No Wednesday Wings this week, but I wanted to share a recent sunset with you. I'm so happy to see the gorgeous sunsets and cloud formations here in southern Utah again! I can't tell you how much I appreciate them. Not only that, but I also have an addiction to photographing the skies here. I haven't done much landscape photography, but something about the clouds and cliffs here compels me to keep trying to capture them through my lens. This sunset was last Sunday. I was outside a little early for it, but was fascinated by the clouds. I had a feeling there might be a good sunset, and didn't want to miss it. So, this is the evolution of that sunset. From start to finish, it was only 26 minutes - some of the most dramatic color changes were only three minutes apart. Mother Nature paints really fast:-) Hope you enjoy!

Blossoms!

If pink and white flower blossoms are your favorite, then this is the post for you! It doesn't seem to matter how many photos I take of these beauties, I can't get enough:-) This first photo was actually taken by my mom, Nancy, and edited by me. She realized she could see a different perspective from where she was sitting in the car, said how good her view was, and so I handed her the camera. She was right - look at this gorgeous view, and what a great photo!

"Pink Path"

"Pink Think"

"Pretty Pink Petals"

"Light Up"

"Soft and Bright"

"Delicate"

"Reach Out"

"Bright Beauty"

"Clouds of Pink"

"White Light"

A Pretty Stroll

More blossom photos taken recently. Hoping the rain clears so we can get out again tomorrow. I'd like some sunny photos (but really am loving the rain!). Hope you enjoy this selection - who else has fruit trees blooming now? Are you taking photos? Please share how spring is looking to you:-) P.S. Which of these photos is your favorite?

"Slow Dance"

"Pink", ya think? ;-)

"For You!" A little bouquet.

"Focus"

"Wild Beauty", because it was - a little tree on the roadside in the foothills.

Anniversary Tribute

Earlene Vogel (January 10, 1920 - January 30, 2009)

Today marks the one year anniversary of my grandmother’s passing. If you would like to read more about her, and our journey, I have it on this (long) post: Finally, the rest of the story.

For today, though, I just want to share some photos of her – these are some of her favorites, and some of ours. Her favorite colors were pink and brown (especially pink!:-). She used to sew all of her clothes, including the square dance outfits seen here. She was a beautiful lady and a good person, and she is missed.

Charles and Earlene, we love you and miss you both!

A New Year a New Challenge!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May 2009 and beyond offer you many wonderful opportunities and blessings!

It does seem a good time to make changes, and in that vein, I’ve decided to change my daily challenge. After 35 horses, I believe I’ve proven to myself that I can indeed draw again:-) I’ve proven it so well, that I want to do more. I want to draw in color, and I want to do other subjects. In fact, I’ve started something new tonight. However, it’s going to take a little longer because it is color.

I’ve become much faster through doing my horse ACEO’s, but color still takes more time, and I want to do my best. I don’t want to rush just to produce something each day. Yet I want to keep up with my challenge, and produce as much as I can. I’m going to change the name to Erica Lea’s Drawing Challenge, and go from there:-)

So, to symbolize change and color and productivity, I’ve gone through all my photos and picked this shot of one of my African Violets. It’s very bright and colorful, isn’t it? The colors became much deeper as the temps cooled. It’s also my most prolific bloomer at the moment, and hasn’t stopped since it came in the mail this year. Its name is “Mac’s Galactic Glory”, and it’s a chimera. In violet terms, that means it doesn’t propagate true from leaves like other violets. If you propagate from a leaf, you’ll most like get something different from the mother plant. So there you have it, change, color, and productivity!

I love my African Violets, and have about 45 now. That’s a story for another day;-) In the meantime, I hope you’ll follow me on my artistic and life journey here. It’s been pretty amazing so far!