Charge Me Up

This month, a blogger I enjoy reading (brittanyherself.com) has set out some writing prompts for us fellow bloggers or writers to share our real-life stories. The theme for August is: Body Image, with 31 different topics to write about.

Where do you go when you need to recharge?

When I'm stressed, or tired or just need some time to myself there are a few places I like to go.

I love the ocean!

 
I love walking near the shore or scrambling over rocks or just sitting on some driftwood and watching the waves.

I'll find a beach close to town or even drive to some secluded wild west coast beach.

Rocks or sandy, it doesn't matter.

I love the ocean.


But today I want to share one of my new favourite summer retreats.

It may be for a few hours or it may just be for a few minutes, but my patio garden is where I can always go to recharge.

I sit on my lounge chair facing my back yard, shoes off, toes wriggling freely in the fresh air and relax.

My plants and flowers in my patio garden oasis glow with bright shades of red, pink, purple and orange in the light.

I can hear the birds singing and chirping and twittering.

I can feel the breeze against my skin, hear it among the tree branches and see it rippling the shades of green around my yard.

 I may have a book in hand or not, depends on how tired my eyes are.

I may have a cool drink siting beside me.

My little white dog is usually scampering around in the grass, sniffing where the wild bunnies have traveled or chasing the mostly elusive little lizards into their hidey-holes.

The best moments that leave me sitting frozen still and prickly with excitement are when I hear that familiar thrum and a tiny humming bird comes zooming in from the bushes to check out the glass feeder I've placed near my hanging flower baskets just for them.

They hover and twist their heads towards me, down below them, wings all blurry in a flurry of movement.

If they decide I am not a threat, I am still enough and quiet enough, they turn their tiny jewel eyes to the feeder and zip in and out, assessing if it's something good to sip.

They take a drink, quick as you can blink.

And again, and again. Then finally feel comfortable enough to cease their exhausting wing beating and sit on the feeder perch to indulge in a deeper drink.

I smile and know that I probably have the best and sweetest offering on the block for these dainty creatures. I make a super-sweet and sugary boiled syrup for them, filling and refilling it almost every other day.

The little sharp-beaked bird, once drunk its' fill, then zips off lickedy-split!

Those moments recharge me.

The quiet. The trees. The fresh air.

The feeling of being close to something so small yet so very alive.

I feel the burning knowledge that God, Creator of everything, cares about that little bird.
And if He cares about just one tiny, delicate bird, how much more infinitely does He care about me and my life?

I need to feel that once in a while.

I need those moments.

 

__________________________________


What about you? 
What are some of your favourite places to recharge?

__________________________________

Here are the other Body Image posts I've written about so far:  

Dear 25-Year Old Me, My Confidence Bucket List, Single Rider

 

Beauty All Around

I took my dog for a late evening walk last night as the sun was setting and the air was growing cool.
I had every intention of making it a quick walk, to let my little mongrel run around, chase some birds or bunnies down the trail and head back home, but once I was out, inhaling the fresh summer air and listening to the sweet, soft sounds of birds and ducks at dusk, I had to keep walking and document some of the countless moments of beauty that I came upon.

 

I am SO excited for the blackberry season to begin! This year I hope to harvest LOTS. This trail near my house is just loaded with berries ripening up. These were the very first few that were ready. So sweet and tangy!

I'm not sure what this is, weed or flower? I can't seem to identify it yet. It's very small and dainty.

 

Though Morning Glory is a weed, its' blooms were practically glowing white in the dimming dusk light.

Also a weed, Queen Anne's Lace has always caught my eye. Right now they are prolific all along the sides of paths and roads. They do look like lace and I love when they curl upwards making a nest-looking shape.

Willow looks like she's taking time to smell the Lace!

As the light was dimming it was time to head home.
Willow has learned how to "stay" in a nice pose for a good path shot.

Honestly, I want to frame this one. The light was dappling these grasses making the field so pretty.
There was no wind, this was just how the grass was laying.

 
Sometimes all it takes is a few extra moments to look closely at the world around us to see beauty in every little blade of grass, every blossom, every insect or bird.

Beauty is all around us.

We live in such a beautiful world.

I truly felt God leading me to see that these little, insignificant things are all strokes from His own paintbrush of life. And if God cares about them, the birds and the flowers, how much more does He care about me and about you?

How One Hike has Changed My Life

Tonight I feel like I am being challenged.

Challenged, in a good way, to *do* something.

To take a step, to move beyond what is comfortable and safe and to trust I will be taken care of.

I feel like I felt two days ago after a hike; on the edge of a precipice, peeking over, too scared to get close.

I don't know what I am supposed to *do* but I will take each small step as they come, one foot in front of another, accepting the challenges God places in front of me and trusting Him daily.

I accepted a challenge on Friday by going on a hike up Mt. Tzouhalem.

If you think this isn't much of a step or a challenge, let me tell you that for *me* it was! 

Planet Earth

You may have already seen or known about the spectacular DVD series from BBC called "Planet Earth" but I'm spreading the news anyway. Planet Earth is a collection of the most breathtaking, awe-inspiring and amazing images and video I have ever seen!

I have only watched a few episodes so far, with titles such as "From Pole to Pole", "Mountains" or "Ice Worlds" but I have already seen wondrous places, views and creatures that I can honestly say I have never seen or known about before!!

If you can, borrow or buy this series and show it to anyone who will watch it. I think every child would be amazed at the awesome animals and their behaviours and learn a lot from evrey moment. I also think every person who believes that God is our Creator should watch this series. I was humbled and filled with emotion as I viewed the vastness of what our God has made. Every intricate detail was thought of, every balance, every nuance, every whisker and wing was lovingly laid out with a purpose.

Enough talking from me. Have a look at some beautiful and crazy images from the few episodes I have watched so far:

Have you ever seen Elephants swim like little kids with snorkels? I've seen some cool waterfalls but some shown in this series are so much more amazing and beautiful than I could have imagined!
After watching a lot of Shark Week videos, I found the footage from Planet Earth to astound me even more! What a shot!
The elusive Snow Leopard has rarely, if ever, been caught on film and the crew from PE brings this quiet predator right into our homes.
Flocks and flocks and flocks....you have to see it to believe it!


The caves that PE explores are like part of some weird and wonderful fantasy world!

These African buffalo herds look like flocks of birds, darting and swarming, avoiding or heading towards landmarks. Simply amazing!
This laughable guy is actually a male bird in the Amazon trying to entice the brown female in the foreground! I could not believe the crazy plumage and dance these little avians show off!
No, this isn't a scary stunt scene, it's crazy cliff jumpers diving into some of the biggest and longest caves on earth. (Don't worry, they have parachutes!)
Some of the film that PE manages to achieve is simply unthinkable! The tight spaces, the close proximity to wild animals....like this Giant Panda mother caring for her helpless tiny cub inside her den cave. How did they do it!
I also appreciate all the extras and bonus footage showcasing how they got a certain shot and the leaps and bounds they took with both technology and the methods used to attain such beautiful and stunning visions of our planet.

If you aren't impressed yet, well then, tough luck finding anything more wonderful than this video experience. Watch it, and you'll be amazed!

Spring Blossoms and Birds

Springtime comes early in Victoria....cherry tree blossoms,
flowers and birds fill the air and sky with lovely signs of a wonderful season to come.

Mid-March and the blossoms are already falling like soft, unmelting snowflakes
even as more buds only begin to burst.
Other colourful flowers carpet the interesting rock gardens in my neighbourhood.
Off in the distance over Clover Point there is what looks like a small flock of birds...
on closer inspection it's a tight cluster of aerobatic kites!
If you know me at all, you'll know I love taking photos of Trial Island and all it's different moods and backdrops. This day found it surrounded by billowy clouds with a sea bird resting in the foreground.

As I approached these blackberry canes I noticed some movement so snapped a quick photo. What I had captured was a big humming bird landing for a rest perched on the spiky branches.
I tried to slowly get closer, but the sweet bird scolded me with the most beautiful warbley trill I'd ever heard and promptly flew deeper into the brambles where he could hide.
Such dainty and pretty blossoms!
Oh and this little blue bird just happened to fly by!
Couldn't resist! I love my new baby, "Serenity"!
(10 points for anyone who can tell me what she's named after...
and NO it is not from a Seinfeldism.)

Pictures from me to you....

Here are just a few shots I've taken recently on around Victoria and my attempts at Lunar Eclipse photography.