My niece and I spotted this guy climbing the wall. Her theory is, the “eyes” on his back, will be on his wings. I honestly do not know the answer, but it certainly sounds logical.
Macro Monday | Caterpillar
Wordless Wednesday | Waterscape
Monochrome Monday | Mushrooms
“Mushrooms are a reminder that sometimes, growth happens in the shadows” ~Anonymous
Macro Monday | Ivy on a Tree
I adore this photo, we haven’t been too far this summer due to family and health constraints, why I am even more grateful for our family cottage. That is where I captured this tree with ivy on it. Shot with my 35mm macro f1.8 – Macro is so fun!
One Word – Animal
This weeks One Word Sunday – Animal(s)
This is my boy, he is 2.5 yrs old, he came into my life during turmoil and it continued. We are still learning this journey together. He is a great companion <3
Cell Pic Sunday + Silent Sunday
Lens Artists Challenge #412 | Places Shaped by Water
John has provided us with a very inspirational challenge this week with the theme of Places Shaped by Water!
From John, The Challenge: Share up to six waterscapes—images where water shapes the scene. Choose your favorite places, your favorite photos, or a single location that inspires you. Natural or man‑made, peaceful or wild—if water helps tell the story, it’s fair game.
When I read about this weeks challenge, we were at our family cottage in Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada- regularly referred to as Saugeen Shores, with my foot up sitting in our gazebo that over looks the beach. I re-injured my knee this week from an ice fall injury last winter. I brought my camera bag with us, however also being realistic that I wouldn’t be moving too far or too much. Honestly I was feeling down, its been a frustrating injury. As I sat in the gazebo, the lake was coming alive, first with the geese on the beach, then with the sailboats out near the island and then sea doos into the bay. The perfect story to tell of the ‘last beach day of the summer’ this Labour Day weekend! I eagerly but slowly and carefully, went to get my camera bag.
I purposely brought a lens to test its reach and my goodness did the beach ever provide the scenery!
Our family cottage has been in our family for about 60 years. This view will never tire, its priceless in so many ways. Although we are a distance from town, its a quieter area and yet still walkable and bike trails into town. Looking across the water is the Port Elgin Harbour. We are only just over an hour from town, so its the perfect distance for a mind-body-soul reset for whoever may need it. Weekends could range from 2-22 and any number in between!
Chantry Island a popular destination when boating around Port Elgin or Southampton. They even have an island tour you can go on to view the lighthouse. The island is home for hundreds, if not thousands of birds. The cormorant is the most common there.
Viewing into Port Elgin harbour. For my own childhood as well as my own kids, this was a hot spot with the mini golf and train station, the restaurant in the harbour for ice cream or fries. Now, as my oldest is turning 20 soon, sadly the last couple of years this area has changed. Although it is still a hot spot with the harbour and beautiful beaches – including an incredible breakwall, the mini golf and train station was removed years ago and the restaurant is now only open a short time in the summer. Its amazing to see the difference, of something I grew up with, as well as my own kids, now with our wee neice and nephew and their own beach memories.
In the corner of the bay, meeting up with the public beach in Gobles Grove is a small boat launch. It isn’t maintained by the town, so as nature changes the launch changes, sometimes its easy and other times you have to back in further. A huge convenience for the cottagers who have sea doos or small boats and not have to drive into the harbour!
You could walk from the Gobles Grove public beach to the main beach, that you can see in the background. A popular place in the summer months!
My summer view. My place that brings me so much peace and solace. Even for just 24 hours, the reset that my nervous system feels is second to none. I am so grateful that one day over 60 years ago my grandparents took a risk – for themselves, their children and grand children’s future. As well as so many family and friends over the years. Truly grateful we have a place we can all gather as a family and have extended family and friends too. A summer family compound at times and my heart feels so full. Our place is on a beautiful road, where many older cottages are being taken down and some very large homes are built in their place. Its been an interesting shift, of how our street has changed over the past 40+ years of my lifetime.
Yesterday afternoon, after I took these pictures, my brother in law saw someone drive by and recognized them from our small town, who circled back and we had a nice visit with. This is the true cottage feeling – its not perfect but its so full of love. The variety of years of photos all over the walls, of people and kids young and old.
Hope you enjoyed my share of along the Gobles Grove waters edge in Saugeen Shores – Port Elgin for “Places Shaped By Water”!
When the Whispers Get Louder
If you don’t listen to the whispers and nudges… it gets louder!
A couple years ago, after a very stressful time with my husband, son and the medical system; my daughter looked at me and said “who will be next, you or me?!”
I looked at her confused at first, and said what do you mean? Then it hit me, Noooooo I told her!
Ive had invisible illnesses Ive been navigating since my teens, I did really well between 2017 and 2021 and then, well life life’d hard and I was under chronic stress. Fell out of my habits as I was always thinking of what someone else needed…
It was my daughter next, technically. She had the cancer removed end July.
Now… truthfully I thought my thing was the Hashimotos diagnosis, 20 years after Hypothyroidism. Or its a meniscus knee injury that by also shifting for what my body and health needs for Hashimotos (to reduce inflammation) will in combination, benefit me and my suspected meniscus knee injury!
Huge gratitude for my Nurse Practitioner who knows we do health and wellness as a team, her face lit up when I mentioned I had a previously scheduled osteopath appointment the day before, and who thinks its a meniscus injury.
So… the caregiver becomes the caree… Is that even a word?
Flower Hour #46 | P, Q and R
I have been given the gift of time this week, time to sit with my leg up and relax. It was not chosen time by me, however I am going to embrace what I can from this experience.
Poppy Wild Flowers have been growing in our flower boxes and they are beautiful and resilient.
Rose of Sharon
A beautiful big rain drop on a red plant – I am unsure of the name.
Rose
“Your Life As Art” | Truly My Heart + Soul
And what it truly means to me…
Have you ever stopped in the middle of a ordinary afternoon—watching light filter through a window, or feeling the quiet stillness of a morning walk—and realized that the moment itself was stunning, just as it was?
I felt drawn to create my own tag line, specifically when I was beginning my blog and thinking of a name, that would have staying power for me. This was before I became a Reiki Master and embraced energy healing, I was in the throws of the early years of motherhood.
“Your Life As Art”, felt like home, everything aligned for me.
To me, this isn’t a brand name or catchy slogan, its me. Its how I live each day – and remind myself on the hard days. Some of the meanings behind this for me are:
1. Art Is Finding Beauty in All
As a macro and lifestyle photographer, I am naturally drawn to the tiny details that are so easy to scroll past or rush by. A delicate pattern on a flower petal, the quiet rhythm of nature, or the unscripted warmth of a real, raw moment with family.
Seeing everyday life as art means slowing down, holding value in the process of life and not just what you are aiming to achieve. Being busy in our minds can create a distraction, where we miss the tiniest of details that can completely shift our soul.
Macro photography can be a big part of that soul shift – it certainly was for me!
2. Living with Energy
With my own journey through life I have been able to see very clearly the way energy shifts can bring balance to my life. The way stress can create so much havoc in the body, especially for things beyond ones control.
Creating MY perfect day for my own health, will be unique to me – just like its unique to whoever is reading this. Calming my stress is incredibly effective with a walk in nature with my camera and especially to photograph animals or birds, or with my macro lens finding all the tiny details!
Its truly incredible the way I feel myself realign and come back into my authenticity with patience, intention and balance.
Plants have natural frequencies, our bodies hold energy, and our daily choices shape how we feel. Living your life as art means tuning into those subtle frequencies, listening to your body, and honoring what helps you feel whole—mentally, physically, and spiritually.
3. Embracing the Modern Mosaic
We all have so many facets to our life! No one is just one thing. I am a photographer, a healer, a wife, a mother, and so much more including whatever the definition of “successful” is.
I believe our lives become richer when we embrace all our layers.
Your life as art means accepting every piece of your story—the quiet moments, the busy seasons, the ‘I can’t believe this’ moments, the creative pursuits—and weaving them into one beautiful, cohesive mosaic.
Stepping Into Your Own Self – Who are you?
You don’t need a paintbrush, a studio, or a professional setup to create art. You create it every time you choose to be present, every time you pause to breathe in nature, and every time you honor your authentic truth.
Life isn’t meant to be rushed through—it’s meant to be felt, noticed, and cherished.
I feel lucky, that with a passion for photography, I do get to create art of everything and anything in my life, with gratitude!
“The flower doesn’t dream of the bee. It blossoms, and the bee comes.”
— Often attributed to Mark Nepo (The Book of Awakening)
