Saturday 31 August 2013

Eyes open to beauty

My daughter gave me a  box of affirmations "Up the Garden Path"  from Affirmations, made locally in beautiful Bellingen.  The words for today were:
'Greet each day 
with your eyes open to beauty,
 your mind open to change,

and your heart open to love.' 

Paula Finn

I reckon I've done just that today!  Come on and join me......



I was up early and I could see by a glance out of the kitchen window
 that it was going to be something special.

 

So I headed up the hill camera at the ready and Cobba the dog
 running up the pathway ahead as usual!


The moon was still in view 


and this parrot seemed as though it was flying straight into the sun.

 

I turned my back to the sun and watched as my long shadow
 reached down to the trees across the paddock.


The warm rays of the morning sun turned the dry wintery western hills gold.






Cobba snuck off to seeing what was going on at the neighbour's place.




My eyes were drawn back into the hazy glare of the new day.


And I could hear the buzzing of bees around the old plum tree.


A pee wee sat atop the highest branch and dared the other birds to come near.


Translucent petals shone against the sky.


The bees were in heaven!



And it felt like I nearly was too!  

Isn't it great when an ordinary day turns out to be extraordinary? I think, as the  opening words say, it can be as simple as being open to the possibility.
Would love to hear what you think makes a day special.







28 comments:

  1. Stunning!! How wonderful to picture you up and about on a Spring morning. You have captured the beauty of your world but also some inner quiet and light which has lifted my heart today. x

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    1. That's wonderful Catherine! What a beautiful thing to say. It is lovely to share our experiences and when it affects others in a positive way, then all the better. x

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  2. Waking up to sunlight streaming into my room at 6.30am. My 4 year old walked into my room half awake and threw his arms around me to give me a sloppy kiss. His little brother gurgling to himself happily in his cot. Bliss!

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    1. It doesn't get much more special than that does it Cassie? And I promise you being a grandparent is bliss too :))

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  3. Dear Jane,
    these photos of the early morning are really stunning - I love the light that is still mellow. I always thought you live in England - but parrots and blossoms show me that you must be in Australia?

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    1. Spot on Britta ~ New South Wales, half way between Sydney and Brisbane. You probably thought that because I was born there, and also visit regularly and so have done posts from England too. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  4. Stunning! Such beautiful light. I love the shadows and the morning mist.

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    1. Thanks so much Naida ~ so glad you enjoyed it! It really was a perfect morning.

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  5. Hello Jane

    You made a great decision to head out early with your dog. The long shadows are wonderful too. I just love the images of the fields. You live in a beautiful place

    Helenx

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    1. Hello back Helen, You are right, I do live in a beautiful place and I really enjoy sharing it with lovely people like you who appreciate it like you do. The dog love's it here too! bye for now Jane X

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  6. Gorgeous pictures! Lovely light like that certainly makes a day look special.

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    1. You're right Patsy ~ the light we see things in can make all the difference :) Lovely to hear from you, Jane

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  7. So many beautiful photos. What makes my day special? Almost every day is special because it starts early in the morning with my dog Snarf walking in our lovely surroundings. Enjoying sunrise, beautiful skies, but also grey clouds, wind and even rain are things I like. The change of the weather is never dull.

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    1. Your days sound perfect Janneke, and a dog always helps to get you outdoors whatever the weather doesn't it!

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  8. What a stunning sky - and the golden landscape is beautiful. The lovely blossom does show it is spring where you are. I'm glad that the bees are enjoying it.

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    1. Oh yes they certainly are Wendy! Busy bees! It certainly is beautiful but oh so dry at the moment ~ hoping for rain very soon.

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  9. Morning Jane...amazing morning! amazing to see the spring blossoms as we stagger from late summer to Autumn...where is Dorrigo, if you don't mind me asking? My little brother and brood live in Victoria so I am a frequent flyer!!! Your skies are incredible...so glad you were reminded of your Honeymoon. And yes! We definitely still have honeymoons, I should coco!!!
    Sarah --x--

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    1. Evening Sarah-Jane! Glad to hear honeymoons are still in vogue! Dorrigo is in NSW half way between Sydney & Brisbane then inland & uphill 41 mins or so, give or take. So you visit your brother in Victoria - my son is in Melbourne for the time being. Flying is fun if you have stamina! There is beauty wherever you go isn't there? Great to be in touch. Bye for now and cheers Jane X

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  10. I agree Jane -you have done exactly that! They are all lovely, but my favourites are the two with fences - 10 up?
    Thanks for your visit:)

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    1. Thanks so much Lori, glad you enjoyed the visit and so lovely to see you:) Bye for now , Jane

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  11. I love affirmations! Your location and photographs is from a part of the world I adore. I can picture where I've visited and the rolling green hills, the falls; coffee stop in township where I purchased two terra-cotta 'chickens' that are still in my back garden (have moved a few houses since I bought them too) from a coffee-shop that had a little nursery at the back end. The skies are wonderful; how nice to walk out of your door to full on rural scenes like this Jane. I read about some 'event' at Dorrigo - oh it was a sculpture display coming up; do you know of it? I think it was inside a national parks online subscription email. Thanks for your recent comment, my Snap Happy Birding blog

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    1. Hi Carole. I will definitely have to check out about the sculptures at the National Park. They host different artist displays throughout the year and they are always fascinating. Glad you have good memories from your visit to Dorrigo, and 2 long-living chickens too! Yes it is lovely to live in such a beautiful place, you are so right.

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  12. Such beautiful countryside Jane.
    What a wonderful share.
    Being out and enjoying nature is one of my biggest joys.

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    1. Yes you can't beat nature can you Willow? And you live in such a beautiful place too ~ we are very lucky aren't we.

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  13. Absolutely stunning photographs. I loved the golden hills and of course Cobba.
    I've just subscribed to your site and am so glad I found it!

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    1. Hi Pinky! I was sure I had replied to your comment, but perhaps I was dreaming...who knows! Thank you so much anyway, and glad to see you here:)

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  14. Your images make me want to escape to the country. They really are very beautiful Jane. My favourites are the two with fences and warm glowing light...10th and 11th from the bottom:))
    Nice to "see" you again Jane:)

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    1. Thanks so much Lori! It was a beautiful morning and I am glad you could share it ~ maybe you'll come along too one day :)

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I really do appreciate it.