View allAll Photos Tagged optimism
Yesterday, our lawn was covered in snow and frozen solid. Then, last night in a big wind-storm and heavy rains, the temperature shot up to thirteen-point-something (uhh, that's like 55 degrees F.). And these guys appeared. Too bad, because already, by mid-afternoon, the temperature is just above freezing and tonight it'll be minus seven (about twenty F).
It'll be a few more weeks yet before the snowdrops get their flowers pollinated.
As in countless years past, a pair of Canada Geese begin work on their new nest at Hubbard Pond, near my home. Sadly, this may be the last year to witness this inspiring event.
On their home located in one of Ann Arbor's premier residential neighborhoods and without a Comprehensive Environmental Impact Report, public review/input, or apparent alternative site consideration, and in return for 185 VIP parking spaces on their Athletic Campus, the Regents of the University of Michigan are about to approve the relocation and the construction of a huge, high activity, high-traffic generating, smelly and noisy, brightly-lit 24/7, dusty, heavy industrial type facility.
Unfortunately, these handsome creatures have no effective way to argue their case. Even if they could get a hearing, parading their delightful goslings, plus indignant hissing, squawking and honking will never work. Instead, they need human help... your help.
To learn more about the proposed project and how you can give Mother Nature a human voice, you are invited to visit:
glacierhighlands.org/wp/?p=335
UPDATE: In a 12 March 2016 letter, the President of the University of Michigan indicates the proposed heavy industrial project for this site has been "paused". Plus, all applications for various construction permits are suspended and no construction contracts have been awarded.
While this turn of events appears positive, all it takes is will and a whim to re-activate the project. Until the final determination is STOP, the possibility of this easily preventable man-made disaster remains. Again, Mother Nature needs your voice. Now is the time to stand-up and sound-off !
UPDATE: 18 March 2016 - UM President apologizes...
www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/03/u-m_presid...
How you can help...
www.change.org/p/boycott-university-of-michigan-s-bus-yar...
Stay thirsty, my friend...
For me there's always a feeling of hope and optimism at the turn of the new year. To me it's more than just the flip of a calendar page. Each year brings a unique vibe that serves as an overlay for life. It's not necessarily a radical change but more of an influencer. It might change how events play out or how we view things. My optimism stems from an enduring sense that change will be better. I base this on the hope that our lives will continue to improve as we age. A culmination of sorts as we have hopefully learned from the life lessons that were dished up the previous year. The optimism is sometimes unwarranted, but I feel all hope is lost without it. I found myself pulled way out of my comfort zone just days into 2020 when I was asked to photograph a funeral service. A very tricky business that, trying to navigate the channel between capturing the moment and being sensitive to the grief of others. In the end I found that it really wasn't about me, but was in a way for me. You see the universe arranged the service on my own birthday. Contemplating life and death at this level, and doing so from the perspective of my viewfinder, was quite humbling. I sensed that the 2020 energy would be like no other. Time will tell. A visit to the gravesite the following day brought me this tiny figurine at an adjacent grave. No way no how would I have ever been here to find this absent the funeral experience. The day was cold and the cemetery desolate and windswept. But I stopped in my tracks to examine this scene closely. Funny my attention span, which lately isn't much longer than a short youtube video, expands into infinity at moments like this. I sensed the grief of the entire world was pressing down on this little angel. A vector for all the sadness in a three inch figurine. And so life lessons in the class of 2020 are already in session.
Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. A "you can do it" when things are tough.
~ Richard M. DeVos
....
For Debbie...Cheer up!
The leaves have fallen, but not the trees. They stand their ground firmly, refusing to surrender to the tides of time (Canon EOS 700D).
EXPLORE: March 27, 2009
These Lilac buds are optimistic that warmer weather is just around the corner. After several days of blizzard like conditons we are all ready for some Spring time. Last night it got down to ten above zero. My first photo with the Nikon 105VR lens. In fact this is my first macro posted on Flickr. If it does not have wings, does not quack or honk or is a critter with four legs and teeth, I feel totally out of my element. Your support is deeply appreciated.
My friend and fellow flickrista, Linda Plaisted (aka Linda's Many Muses) has had her artwork nominated for Daily Candy's Sweetest Things of 2008 in Washington DC's "Best Nest" (home decor) category.
I'd really appreciate it if you could help Linda out by giving her your vote. She's an amazing artist, fully deserving of the recognition. But don't take my word for it, go on over to Daily Candy and see for yourself.
Voting is open until January 16th. Thanks, everyone!!
Mollie is looking brighter and happier but still in the Paediatric Neurological ward at the LGI, in Leeds. The staff there have been wonderful, first saving her life and then nursing her back to health. We don't know the extent or results of our Granddaughter's injuries but are just glad she is still with us. This is another shot from my visit to Staithes for dawn on the day she was, later, rushed into hospital.
How Do You Think
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't!
If you'd like to win, but you think you can't,
It's almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost;
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in the state of mind!
If you think you're outclassed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself
Before you'll ever win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the person who thinks he can!
~Author Unknown
HBW my dear flickrmates!
How fine it would be to have the optimism, strength and will of a weed.😎
As far as this pretty, flowering weed is concerned, there is just enough morning sun and dew to make a "garden plot" out of the bit of dirt in the crack where a wall abuts the asphalt sidewalk.
Location: A stretch of asphalt sidewalk abutting the wall of a building, near the village center, Riehen BS Switzerland.
In my album: Dan's Weed World.
You can sit in the shadows and go nowhere or you can take the path and find the light.
(an original quote by me. I think)
Walking the dog at Astbury Mere. A rushed, handheld shot as a Chinese couple were coming up behind me.
A grass spider, sow bug and salt grass continue after a controlled burn at the San Louis National Wildlife Refuge.
Just because I liked the ribbon writing.
Oh fancy that, it got into Explore! I thought it didn't like me any more, it's been so long... ;-)
Observatory House on the left and Dugald Stewart Monument on the right.
Observatory House, part of the City Observatory.
Edinburgh's City Observatory, also known as the Playfair Observatory, is a fascinating place, where the optimism and excitement of early scientific advances can still be felt.
Inspired by a Greek temple of the Four Winds, the Observatory was designed by William Henry Playfair in 1818.
The first Astronomer Royal to work in this building was Professor Thomas Henderson, appointed 1834, who had discovered how to measure parallax and the distance to a star while in his previous job in South Africa.
Explore
Working with The City of Edinburgh Council, Collective redeveloped the City Observatory site as a new home for contemporary art: conserving and reinstating the original Playfair designs and constructing a new exhibition space and panoramic restaurant. The site is now fully to the public for the first time in its history.
www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/city-observatory
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Dugald Stewart Monument
The Dugald Stewart Monument is a memorial to the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart (1753–1828). It is situated on Calton Hill overlooking the city of Edinburgh and was designed by Scottish architect William Henry Playfair. It was completed in September 1831.
Background
Playfair's design is based on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, Greece, and is a circular temple of nine fluted Corinthian columns around an elevated urn, on a circular podium. This example of the architecture of ancient Greece had been brought to wider attention by James "Athenian" Stuart and Nicholas Revett's illustrated survey, The Antiquities of Athens, published in 1762. The monument is a category A listed building as of 19 April 1966. The choragic form was also used for the nearby contemporaneous Robert Burns Monument, designed by Thomas Hamilton.
Dugald Stewart was a professor at the University of Edinburgh, holding the chair of moral philosophy from 1786 until he died in 1828. The Royal Society of Edinburgh commissioned the monument and selected its site in 1830.
Playfair also designed the nearby National Monument of Scotland (with Charles Robert Cockerell) and was also responsible for the thoroughfare that encircles Calton Hill on three sides, comprising Royal Terrace, Carlton Terrace and Regent Terrace
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugald_Stewart_Monument
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See also:-
edinburghtourist.co.uk/blog/walk-calton-hill/
www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk/newtown-dugaldstewart
britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200365173-dugald-stewarts-mo...
Again i had issues with choosing the color picture or the black and white one..For now i only used the color one in groups although I couldn't resist to upload the other one as well!! Hope you guys like it tho!
copyright: © FSUBF. All rights reserved. Please do not use this image, or any images from my photostream, without my permission.
One of the flowers in the Hope and Memory Garden
Don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission.
© All rights reserved
It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?"
~Winne-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne
In these turbulent times, wishing you all a Happy Furry Friday....!
Feel the love, a little closer.