"Coming in for a landing...

It's a bird...

"Final Approach #1"
Horsham, Pennsylvania

It's a plane...

"Final Approach #2"
Horsham, Pennsylvania

Nope, it's birds...

"Touch Down"
Horsham, Pennsylvania

Coming in for a safe landing in the morning haze.

Here's where I "link up" today.

(click on image for description of Song-ography)

Next Tuesday's Song-ography title suggestion is "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"  by Billy Joel.

Come back and link up!  (blog, instagram, flickr photos welcome).

"You wanna fly...

"You Wanna Fly"

Atlantic City, New Jersey

...you got to give up the shit that weighs you down."

-Toni Morrison (Song of Solomon)

Here's where I "link up" today.

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Next Tuesday's Song-ography title is "From a Distance" by Bette Midler.

Come back and link up!

A right wing, and a left wing...

"Balance"
Atlantic City, New Jersey


"For everything in this journey of life we are on, 
there is a right wing and a left wing.

For the wing of love there is anger;
for the wing of destiny there is fear;
for the wing of pain there is healing;
for the wing of hurt there is forgiveness;
for the wing of pride there is humility;
for the wing of giving there is taking;
for the wing of tears there is joy;
for the wing of rejection there is acceptance;
for the wing of judgement there is grace;
for the wing of honor there is shame;
for the wing of letting go there is keeping.

We can only fly with two wings
and two wings can only stay in the air if there is balance.
Two beautiful wings is perfection."

C. JoyBell C.

Depression is akin to navigating a life out of balance.  With only one wing.  This I do know.  RIP Mr. Williams.  May you now know what it's like to fly. 

Here's where I "link up" today.

(click on image for description of Song-ography)

Tuesday's Song-ography title is "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac.  Come back and link up!

What's mine is mine, and...

...what's yours is mine.

"Don't Hang Around 'Cause Two's a Crowd, On My Cloud"
Tucson, Arizona

I can relate. Sharing is not my forte' either.  Everything I've learned that I DON'T like, I learned in kindergarten. Back away from my Lincoln Logs.  I'd rather give than receive.  And, I'd rather give...than share.  This includes my popcorn at a movie, my pillow, my blanket, my pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream I keep hidden in the freezer, and anything I drink out of a straw.  I don't like sharing dessert either.  What I prefer is the Better Half sharing HIS dessert with ME.

Here's where I "link up" today.

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.

This week's song title is the Beatle's "All You Need Is Love".

"Song-ography, the 'One is the Loneliest Number' edition...

"One is the Loneliest Number"


"One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do."
-Three  Dog Night

Actually, I'm not sure I completely agree.  I kinda like embracing my "one-ness"...when I'm able to get it!

**********

Very short on words this week for Song-ography.  Thing #2 is in town and we have been busy, busy, busy with wedding stuff.  In this case I can def say TWO is waaaaay better than one.  Even better when we have the Better Half's credit card with us.  Ka-ching, Ka-ching.  Just gonna get right to it with next week's prompt.  Things are changing outside.  Winter is TRYING to turn into Spring.  Next week's song is a classic...

"Turn, Turn, Turn"

The Byrds

Looking forward to taking the time to visit every one's blogs and view your Song-ography interpretations and creativity.  Thank YOU for taking the time to join in, and mash up music with your photography!

P.S.  You can now find me on Facebook. Please hop on over to You'll Shoot Your Eye Out and give me a "like".

Here's where I'm linking up today.

An InLinkz Link-up

Mindfulness...

Mindfulness 

(mahynd - fuhl - nes).  Noun.

- the trait of deliberately paying attention to what is happening around you, and within you.

- done so without judgement or criticism 

"Missing the Obvious"
Miraval, Arizona

I just got back from a long weekend in Arizona getting my Zen on.  Shocker alert.  I am NOT a Zen kinda gal.  I am a total slave to my environment.  Planning what's next.  Regretting or second-guessing the past.  My brain has evolved in a sensory rich world where I can plug in and connect to wherever my mind wants to take me on whim.  And when I want to take a break from the outside world, I can turn on the television or radio to escape by tuning out everything (and everyone) else.  It's hard to let my brain just lie still and take in the moment without wandering or daydreaming.  I judge the success or failure of any given day by how much, or how little I've checked off my "to do" list.  I don't usually take into consideration WHAT specifically I've accomplished.  Maybe taking the time to really listen to what someone is telling me should be deemed be more successful than half-heartedly listening because I'm mentally planning out where I'm heading to after we are done our conversation.

Truth is, our world doesn't reward living in the moment. Especially doing so with no criticism or judgement.  And THAT is the kicker.  I had my first lessons in "mindfulness" this past weekend.  Epic fail.  Scratch that.  Eliminate judgement and it morphs into...I expanded my comfort zone and learned from it.  And just like learning how to tie your shoe,  mindfulness takes practice before it becomes second nature.  Right now, it's a foreign concept that I need to rely on a "how to" manual to navigate.

We humans are suppose to be the smart and evolved species here on Earth.  Yet those "dumb" animals are smart enough to live in the moment. "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it."  They aren't burdened by a brain that requires constant stimulation.  They don't fill up all their time...doing.  Their time is spent...being.  They are keenly aware of their surroundings.  They sure wouldn't miss that beautiful hummingbird buzzing next to them because they are too busy sending a text message to their hair stylist rescheduling tomorrow's hair appointment due to a conflict with getting their nails done.

How much do we miss, and therefore do not get to appreciate, because we aren't mindful of what is going on around us and within us?  And how often are those times when we ARE aware of what is going on, but we accompany it with judgment and criticism.  When we do so, we negate the possibility of empathy and kindness, and we increase our stress.  Some food for thought I acquired, along with a whole heap of healthy food I ingested, this past weekend.

And that folks, is my tranquility du jour.  From the most unZen-like person I know.

P.S.  If anyone is interested in incorporating "mindfulness" into their daily lives,  I picked up the most wonderful book this weekend that I highly recommend:  How to Train a Wild Elephant by Jan Chozen Bays, MD.  Ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Here's where I'm linking up today ..."The Party's On"

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.

This week's song title is the Three Dog Night's "One is the Loneliest Number".

Gossip...

"...hearing something you like,

about someone you don't."

-Earl Wilson

"Whatch' You Talkin' Bout, Willis?"

Here's where I'm linking up today ..."The Party's On"

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.

This week's song title is American Author's "Best Day of My Life"

Where did everyone go?...

"All By Myself"
Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Tuesday after Labor Day.  The traditional back to school day around here.  Have to admit, I rather enjoy having the whole house to myself during these hours.  Solitude.  Plus, I get to straighten up the homestead and relish that it actually STAYS clean for a few hours.  Happy "Back to School Day" to moi!

P.S.  Please take a look at where I'm linking up today..."The Party's On".

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.

This week's song title is Queen's "I Want to Break Free".

Knock, knock...

"Who's There?"

Ambler, PA

Spring.  The temps don't say it's Spring.  But the calendar does.  And even MORE reliably?  The annual decimation of my front door wreath for Spring nesting purposes has begun.  Twig by twig Spring has sprung.  And that hairy eyeball the one on the left is giving me?  Looks like I'll be using my garage door for coming and going.  Sure not gonna play chicken with a finch.

--Kathy


linked to:   Project Alicia WW, Live and Love Out loud WW, The Gallery, The Paper Mama WW, Walk and Click, Outdoor Wednesday, Rurality Blog Hop, Black and White Wednesday, Click and Submit

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/10/2013)...

Welcome to the "what a difference a day makes" edition of Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  Wow.  Snowed Friday.  Almost 60 degrees and sunny on Saturday.  Gotta love when Mother Nature gets a hot flash.  So I grabbed my sister and HER camera, and we headed up to Lambertville, NJ.  To get out of the house, to soak in some rays, and to find some of the Scavenger Hunt prompts that we had previously decided we were gonna skip this week.  Mother Nature made a procrastinator outta me.

This week's prompts are:  #5,  Word of the Day, Sharing, Wiggle, and Cookies.


1. #5

"Five"
Lambertville, NJ

Man!!!  The number of antique stamps I had to go thru to find the only FIVE.  Apparently FIVE is the loneliest number.

2.  Word of the Day

" -ish "
Lambertville, NJ

The word of the day at THIS store is apparently.... -ish.

3.  Sharing

"Sharing"
Lambertville, NJ

Sharing time, sharing space.

4.  Wiggle

"Swimming in Sunshine"
Lambertville, NJ

Wiggle in water.  Waddle on land.  Woefully I can relate.

5.  Cookies

"Canine Cookies"
New Hope, PA

And after Lambertville, we walked allllllll the way to Pennsylvania for the prompt that my dogs loved the best.  Sounds more extreme than it was.  All we had to do was walk across a bridge.  Just don't tell my dogs.  They think I'd go to the ends of the Earth for them.  At least I went to Jersey.

Thank you Mother Nature for giving me the push I needed.  Between the mild temps, and Daylight Savings Time, I'm a happy camper.  Hope you all are getting to soak up some rays too.  It might only be a temporary reprieve but...I'll take it!!!

--Kathy

linked to:   Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Weekly Top Shot, Sunday Snapshot, Simple Things, Sundays In My City

If it's Friday, I must be in France...

...but only because I am so very, very far behind in editing my photos from late summer.  How I wish I could tell you I jetted off to France for the weekend.  C'est la vie.  So today I bring you Aix-en-Provence, France.  As the name implies, Aix is in the Provence region of southern France.

"Morning Shadows"

Aix-en-Provence, France

"Mademoiselle with the Red Purse"
Aix-en-Provence, France

Can't pick a favorite day of the vacay.  That would be like choosing a favorite pair of shoes, no can do mademoiselle.  But I CAN tell ya my day in Aix was at least ONE of my favs.  My plans for the day were two:  stroll and explore.  No more, no less.  To arrive in a French town before it has truly awaken for the day?  Tres' magnifique.

"Symmetry in Aix"
Aix-en-Provence, France

(Yes, that is a parakeet flying thru my shot.  I'm just gonna say I planned it that way.)

Aix is the home of the artist Cezanne, and is also referred to as the city of 1,000 fountains.

Personally?  I thought Aix should be called the perfect French town to wander around aimlessly with "James Dean"...

I wandered and explored my way right into a real live French outdoor market in the center of Provence.  How's THAT for some serious wandering?

"Market Day"
Aix-en-Provence, France

But you will have to wait for "If it's Tuesday, I must be in a French market" for that installment of photos.  Bon jour.

--Kathy

linked to:  Cool Clicks Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things,Little Things Thursday, 1440, Favorite Foto Friday, Give Me Your Best Shot, Photo Story Friday, Friday Photo Journal, 52 Photos Project