Simple yet Powerful and Beautiful..

I was just thinking about the words "Mother Earth" and was lovingly jolted to see and realize that the First initial in each of the Words spelled ME... I think that Mother Earth wants us to know that we are intimately related.. what do you think?

All or Nothing is a pain in the neck!!

Hello and welcome.. this week has had me swinging between "doing more" for Mother Earth and feeling that I'm "not doing enough"!! This was triggered when I was made aware that, with all my words about love of Mother Earth, I wasn't even recycling paper! I was using to much plastic and using too much water....! This spiral of not doing was a royal pain in the neck, as I know in my head I can not do everything, but my ego says "Yes you must if you really mean what you say. The fear is, if I can not do everything, will I give in to the worst case scenario and do absolutely nothing!!! What I realized; and I have to say I am aware of my doing it.. not happy with it, but aware; my choices are not limited to "all or nothing". That's a limit I place on myself and I get stuck there. Soooo I begin again, with the choice to do what I can as best I can WITHOUT GUILT! I chose to recycle the paper that comes into my home, mail, adds and catalogue's; and the paper that I use in my home, computer papers of all kinds, cardboard and envelopes. We hear often, "take one step at a time", yet, in our culture one step is not enough and far to slowwwwwwwwwwwwwww! However, for me.. One step at a time makes a lot of sense and slow allows for a fuller awareness of what I am doing. It makes sense.. now I have to choose to be aware and Act. and in addition, I will do it with Joy.. Make it fun.. and try not to take myself so seriously!

Objects no longer...

WELCOME..I never realized I viewed myself as object until I struggled with trying to name who I am. Instead of addressing myself as person, I was seeing myself through roles, duties and actions. I am a teacher, I am a twin, I am an Aunt, friend, sponsor, writer, photographer etc. All good..Yes.. but not who I am in essence.. the person.. Have you ever heard yourself say either within or out loud, "Am I only valued for what I do?" I had focused for so long on my "doing" I had totally neglected my "Being". I am a human being named Assunta.. Ah hello Assunta.. I want to get to know you better and appreciate you for YOU!!! I wonder if Mother Earth would like to pose to us the very same question. Am I only valued for what I do? Give.. meat, fish, water, soil, minerals, plants, oil, stone...for the needs of all humans.. Give Give Give.. What About Me?? All that Mother Earth Gives..Why are these gifts not valued for themselves? As they are? Are we willing to get to know the more of a "TREE" than toilet paper, fire wood and building material? All of us want to be known, loved and appreciated for who and what we are... Let us choose to see our family of Life as objects no longer..

And you???

How has Nature Amazed you?

Rediscovering the beauty of Detail, Texture and Light..

Welcome...and thank you for coming! Rediscovering the beauty of detail, texture and light came with "playing with my camera" when taking pictures. On my deck I had a barrel with Geraniums blooming and I decided to zoom in on the flowers and petals! What incredible beauty I found.. the detail of lines and leaves showed each and every petal to be as unique and individual as human beings are unique and individual! Wow.. As for texture.. well, I love the beach and we have a beautiful beach here called "Surfers Beach". I love to go and just sit in my car with a cup of coffee and look at the sand, waves, and surfers as thy enjoy each other. Well, in the late afternoon on one summer day, with no surfers present, I took a picture that I hoped would capture the shadows on the sand and the dancing light on the water! When the film was developed I got an additional surprise, in that the sand had a color and texture that I really had not noticed before. Sand was sand.. Right! I usually didn't even see "texture" in my pictures but this beach photo made me aware in a gentle but concrete way of the gift that texture brings. The sand was more "real" and had a beauty of its own...So often I find that when I take photos, I always get more than I expect!! Talk about shedding new light on the gifts of Earth that we take for granted... and speaking of light.. my home gets the late afternoon sun and I have become more and more amazed at the "golden tone" the light has as it streams through the slider windows and blinds, and dances delightfully on the walls, carpet and furniture!! This always puts a smile on my face. Detail, Light and Texture who would ever think that they were such hidden treasures. Enjoy your day and I hope you too will rediscover the beauty of detail, texture and light..!!!

Simple is not always easy!!

Hi and welcome back... What can be considered a simple but not so easy challenge in our journey to love and respect Mother Earth? For me it began with trying not to waste... so it meant using every bit of toothpaste I could squeeze out of the tube!! Easy and yet I was so impatient...there's only a little more.. throw it away..... NO use it!!! And then.. after reading the article "Former refugee recycles US hotel soap for Uganda" another challenge.. Living on a dollar a day, soap was considered a luxury rather than a necessity for many in Uganda. Thus, lack of soap also became a health issue. And me... sad to say I'd use my bar of soap until it was small and then throw it away and open a new bar. It had become a well ingrained habit. After all... they are just little pieces, come on... that doesn't make any difference.. Right? Wrong.. The author of the above article collected all the "little bits" and melted them down in order to make new full size bars of soap which he sent back home. (According to the article, several Hotels now give the author their soap bits.) "a little bit.. does matter". Soooooooo I choose to use my soap until there is no more. I have to say I was amazed at how far a "little bit" of soap could go. Two simple challenges that reminded me of an older generation who would not think of "wasting toothpaste or soap". How did I get so far off track. I am realizing that I have taken too many so called "little things" for granted. My waste, makes a difference. Do I want it to be positive for our world family or negative? I choose positive.. and you? Enjoy your day and see the little things with new eyes!!

It's not as easy as I thought to risk sharing something you love with everyone!! But here goes..

This blog marks the beginning of sharing my passion for Mother Earth, her Beauty, her Wisdom and her gifts! Why?? Because I want to get us all excited again about being out doors and seeing with new eyes the beauty in our own back yards. (That's what got me started with photography in the first place. )

But not only seeing and appreciating her beauty... that's the beginning.. of a relationship that will then challange us as to how we treat Mother Earth... Once we come to know and understand that we are a part of Earth .. then, hopefully we will take the steps needed to heal her many wounds and realize that we are being healed in the process!! Serious business yes.. yet the work can be done with joy.. with fun.. with respect.. with love... What do you say?