.

... a wonderful and lightfilled friday to all of you!!!

Most of us can count our truly good friends in our lives on one hand or for most on one finger, (not the middle finger).

For me, John was that really good friend who no matter where or when he would provide me with support even if it was only emotional support. He was always there for me and I as well for him.

I could write volumes about John, what he was like, what he believed to be true. What do you say about a good friend you have known for 50 years who passes away? There are so many thoughts and emotions that swirl through my mind as I search for one or two that would express my profound love and appreciation for knowing him all these years. To begin with let me say that I was with him the last few days of his life. I had the privilege of seeing him at his finest and the sadness of seeing him prepare to pass over to the next part of life. He chose to leave this world more on his terms rather than letting the diseases of life take him. He made his peace with God and himself with the last rites.

But, let me tell you a little more about him. He was a friend, a lover, a handyman, a builder, and a miracle worker at times. He was always quick with an original comeback in any situation.One time when I got back from a difficult training flight with a student, I commented that I wasn't nervous as "God" was with me. He, John, came back and said, "that's a lie", I wasn't with you today. Another time when I screwed up at work, John quipped about it, "Oh, the walk of Shame"... John was always like that, and a friend to most people. He especially good to (and very fond of) young beautiful women. He had a charm about him that came naturally that women all wanted to be around him. He was generous with what he had and with his attention. He never boasted but was always upfront and honest.

Good bye, good buddy

John Serna:

He left this world on December 16th 2021, aged 66. He has now gone on to the next journey.

John was a friend, a lover, and for some, a disturbance in the force. Chico, California will miss his vibrant personality. He is survived by five children and numerous grandchildren. I will truly miss him...

Road Trip: John in Happier times 2011

... dancing with the wind!

We had a fantastic Ipernity/Flickr meetup on Saturday...

visiting the "Museum Insel Hombroich"

Here you'll find some more about this meetup:

www.ipernity.com/home/lightspectral

... one of my favourites of Juan Luis Guerra:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyTaEfAzkGg

After a long rainy day the sky cleared up in the evening. I went on a walk into the vinyards (you see them at the very left corner)... For a change to all my macros I started to take some skyscapes ... and the sunset which will follow tomorrow... I really have to go to bed now :))

A note: I think I am getting inspired by all the beautiful skies from Helmut Gondim... so Helmut, this one is for you :)

www.flickr.com/photos/helmutgondim/

This is one of my favourite summer flowers! I absolute love the combination of the rich yellow petals with the warm red/brown centre! And: the buds have an amazing arquitecture. I decided to do my "tipical" approach... leaving the "main subject" in a a dreamy bokeh - focusing on the bud.

...for the little beauties alongside your path!

Yes, I know, this is nothing but thy love,

O beloved of my heart -- this golden light

that dances upon the leaves,

these idle clouds sailing across the sky,

this passing breeze leaving its coolness upon my forehead.

and my heart has touched thy feet. *

*Rabindranath Tagore

Holy Light

Holy light

Cast away

In cold worlds

Of material form

Locked away

For ages

Waiting in darkness

It strives

To burst its bonds

Of material force

But being opened

By divine will

The smallest foramen

Will suffice the light

To emanate

Holy light

Whirling around

Embracing the form

Bestowing its gift

Of color and warmth

Melting her away

To merge

Into One

Being now

Holy form

(c) 2007 M.R. Schulze-Vorberg

Waves of floating ice balls roll along the North Pier in St. Joseph, MI.

More handmade textures for the Mystic set. This texture is ok to use for your private artwork but not for commercial nor resale. Please do not use my stock to make other stock.

When used, please credit me with a link back to THIS page and leave a small sample of your work. Thanks!

*** I'd love it if you would post your artwork to my group Temari's Art Studio. Thanks!***

A "sambucus nigra" leaf. Behind you see the very late afternoon sun glowing in the autumnal coloured leaves of another plant.

Both light and shadow

are the dance of Love.

Love has no cause;

it is the astrolabe of God’s secrets.

Lover and Loving are inseparable

and timeless.

Although I may try to describe Love

when I experience it I am speechless.

Although I may try to write about Love

I am rendered helpless;

my pen breaks and the paper slips away

at the ineffable place

where Lover, Loving and Loved are one.

Every moment is made glorious

by the light of Love.

~ Rumi ~

While looking for wonderful drops to photograph I found this

mosquito (don't know which kind it really is...) seemingly holding

up the leaf with the big drop. When it flew away... the drop came down.

It had such a meditative attitude...

I wonder

Spirit dreaming duality

Spirit dreaming reality

Spirit dreaming vision

Spirit dreaming itself

I wonder

HKD

Und der Rinpoche flüsterte: Wachzustand und Traumzustand haben eine und dieselbe Quelle: die Seele oder das Selbst.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere,

they're in each other all along*

*Rumi

These little flowerbuds passed a long time covered up... waiting to be free

and expand their little heads... now, they are free at last!

We had a wonderful sunny sunday... spring temperatures! I worked in my garden today. Before cutting away all dry flowers I had to take some last pictures of them... glowing in the sun.

... first signs of spring

I think a lot about who I used to be and the mistakes that I have made. It’s as if I am afraid to move forward out of fear of being pulled back. Temptation is everywhere… waiting. It waits for you to make a misstep and fall into the deep, dark, cycles of comfort. There is no comfort in growth.

www.adbrucephotos.com/in-fear-there-is-temptation/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/adbrucephotos/

The Inner Me, the Outta Me, something in between, something in the middle, it's above and beyond, but it's all inside me. It's just an idea, an idea of my soul, of my outta me and my inner me, something bigger than that, but never too far. It's near enough, but not touching. It's kind of controlling me. Controlling who? Yes, that's the right question. finally. Ripped and eviscerated.

Macro Mondays: Aging

This poor pepper has been hanging out in the back corner of my vegetable drawer for a while now (damn you Costco and your enticing mega-size packs!) and is looking a little worse for wear. Before sending it to the compost pile, I thought I'd give the aging veggie a last shot at glory and use it for this week's theme.

HMM!