Serenity — a quiet afternoon

I love this week’s photo challenge at The Daily Post. It’s just in time, too. I’ve needed a little serenity after a very busy fall and Christmas holiday. So here I am, seeking a little peace in my afternoon.

One of my favorite places to visit is the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. If you’ve visited this blog often enough, you’ve certainly seen some pictures from there, especially in the Abbey Church. I like to go there and walk across the grounds — sometimes to a gazebo hidden by a closed road, other times to a little duck pond next to the retreat house.

I always end up inside the church, and every time, I am delighted by the colors from the stained glass windows. They usually cast a blue or violet light that illuminates the space. Even though most people would say that creates a cool feeling, I always think it’s warm.

Today’s retreat took me to new places as I played a little with a new camera. Of course, I ended up in the church. There’s nothing like the wide open space to lift my eyes and my prayers upward to heaven. I took many intentions with me today, and I left full of peace. Contentment.

Serenity.

shadowed — a weekly photo challenge

I usually like to post only one picture to the Weekly Photo Challenge, but this week’s word, shadowed, inspired me to do something a little different. I try to make my challenge a verbal response to one picture I’ve taken. This time, though, I’m showing three pictures. I spun the copper sun catcher that’s on my porch and tried to get it in three different positions, depending on where I stood and how the sun was hitting it.

I have to say, the brightest one surprised me. I don’t see those colors with the naked eye. Or maybe, I just haven’t paid attention until I was looking through the camera lens.

I wonder how often I’m content with being in the shadows and miss something beautiful because I don’t take the effort to move, just a bit, and see the vibrancy and brilliance that was always there.

Warmth: another weekly photo challenge

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Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

I’m warm and cozy on this new year’s eve, drinking tea, doing a little writing, sharing the sofa with my honey, whose warmth and coziness can’t be captured in a picture.

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