The Santa Fe walking trail runs on the west side of Colorado Springs and stretches for around 17 miles, welcoming foot and bike travelers from Fountain in the south to Palmer Lake in the north. It has nearly a one thousand foot swing in altitude, varying from 6264 feet to as high as 7240, and the vegetation shifts, but it always reflects a semi-arid location.

I often walk north near and into the Air Force Academy. The sandy surface provides a pleasant crunch, and the terrain is not difficult. The view varies. But it is not a flower intense path.

Which is why I was particularly struck by the sunflower that you see in today’s photo, a bright, hope-filled entrant along the way. Its intensity gave me pause. Fortunately, I had my camera.

The shape and color immediately bring to mind a sun-rise, the beginning of a new day, with its new opportunity to re-attack whatever challenges have been bedeviling, to regroup, to rethink. No wonder this is one of my favorite flowers. Each day hope is born again. Flower rise!!

I was cleaning out and a little paper quote book fell out of the bookcase with this appropriate hope-filled statement, supposed by George Eliot in the 1800’s: “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.”

Flower rise … today!!

The Practicals

Flower Rise is a photo that would set the backdrop for a room— possible a kitchen or a breakfast area. It would look great on a pillow or a card. You can order notecards or photos here.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

Last summer, needing inspiration, I took a walk on the beach. But it was not a warm walk-in-the-sand beach – no, it was Lake Michigan, where the sun, rain and even grass were vying for attention. The day was awash with activity of all kinds and this photo was one of the many that resulted.

The wind prevented grass from growing in any kind of orderly fashion, and the rain kept it growing vigorously. It gave a kind of casual backdrop of beauty to the lake, a setting for the blue and the birds swooping and honking.

The photo for me captures the essence of the beach in all its windblown beauty, a snapshot of growth. Slightly chaotic, but with delight. Think about it … where have you seen that recently?

The Practicals

Drops of Green is a photo that would set the backdrop for a room – look great on a pillow or a chair or a card. It is a neutral, just like the grass in your yard – a backdrop for other colors. You can order notecards or photos here.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

Around this time of year in 2012 I took a hike, just a regular ‘ol hike, in a familiar place. Waldo Canyon.

Now famous. Yes, the place where weeks later a highly destructive fire began that roared through Colorado Springs, destroying hundreds of homes and acres of beautiful forest on the mountainside, including this area.

I took this photo, pre-fire. We are not allowed in the area yet in 2013 due to dangerous conditions. The soil is lose and tree roots may have burned; flooding is a danger. Yet I am confident that this type of small plant is even now beginning to press its way through the rocks. These tiny plants can be found in the harshest conditions on mountainsides, at immense altitudes. It seems they never give up.

And the community has not given up post-fire, but rallied and raised funds and helped folks who lost everything. And many, including myself, have put in many a man hour to protect and restore what’s left. It’s something that inspires me. Never give up on things that are worth working toward! Galatians 6:9 echoes that: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”*

New and Old, with perseverance.

The Practicals

New and Old is a photo that is a woodsy scene. It’s a reminder type photo, available as a notecard, with the special message, if you choose: “Waldo Canyon before the 2012 fire.” You can order notecards or photos here.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

*(New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1975, by The Lockman Foundation, Used by Permission)

This particular photo is such a rich photo of a mother’s love. It’s the very heart of a rose, where the petals still curl inward to protect thoughts and memories. No wonder it is one of my photos that my mother loves best – she bought it not only as a photo, but as fabric, and has it on four of her dining room chairs where it holds a center starring role (see photo below).

The thought of a deep place of love reflects the reality that – no matter what a child does – a mother believes in her child even when they go bad. Her influence, which began before birth, can be seen in everything from how we stand to how we speak. I’m always reminded of Mary, in the Bible, Luke 2:51, who “treasured all these things in her heart” – and stood by Jesus until and beyond his death.

I hope that your memories are good ones – and if not, that you have a friend who can stand in. Mine are on the happy side, and my mom continues to be one of my best friends! Let me mention here, if you have not noticed, that she is working with me on this blog. And if you are blessed to be a mom as well, may your heart hold close your treasured memories and the memories that you are making today!

Happy Mother’s Day!

The Practicals

Heart of a Rose is a unique photo – that works for many things. Here is a photo of my mom’s chairs. It looks fabulous on cards, too. Or as a photo on the wall, as the center of a decorating scheme. You can order notecards or photos here and send me a note about fabric.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

Most work days, I walk near the Glen Eyrie castle. The Glen Eyrie castle sits on the edge of Colorado Springs, near Garden of the Gods, a rock formation park, but in a secluded glen. It was built by Colonel Jackson Palmer, founder of the city, with what were the latest housing ideas of his day. Using modern terms, we could say it was his “dream home,” a place of construction creativity.

On one of my walks near this construction marvel, my toe bumped into a small item of beauty, the color purple. A small pinwheel, that you see in today’s photo. I could not help but remember the paper toy – the pinwheels made in crafts classes – and how they blew in the wind. It seemed an odd juxtaposition – this small reminder of childhood laughter up against the giant of a home. Yet an apt one.

Colonel Palmer’s wife had a heart attack at a young age, she left this home in her thirties for England and died there in her forties. It brought to mind an excerpt from a prayer that is worthy for my house, and perhaps yours.

May nothing evil cross this door,
And may ill fortune never pry
About these windows; may the roar
And rain go by….

Laughter shall down the raucous shout;
And, though these shelt’ring walls are thin,
May they be strong to keep hate out
And hold love in.

~ From Louis Untermeyer’s Prayer for this House

The Practicals

Purple Pinwheel is a unique photo— that works for anyone, male or female and works for cards or any type of photo, especially for get well cards. You can order notecards or photos here.

Be sure to visit the Etsy Shop too.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

Today is National Day of Prayer. Congress established the day in 1952 and this particular day in 1988, although a day for prayer goes back to the Continental Congress.

The moment I saw this flower, similar to a Tiger Lily, prayer popped into my head because of the clasped nature of the petals and the way the stem bows. Now I know that there is no one posture that is required for prayer—you can be standing straight up or you can be flat on the ground—but the bowed head and clasped hands are the most common, so I was reminded of prayer.

Is anything more important? The founder of the Christian faith didn’t seem to think so. Jesus indicated we “ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Matt. 18:1*) and stated that we should “keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation…” (Matthew 26:41*)

Prayer is something that can be like breathing—something that we do all day long as we talk with God. Or it can be a challenge as we wrestle over something difficult. But nature itself, as evidenced by this humble flower, leads the way.

The Practicals

Posture of Prayer is a unique photo— that works for anyone, male or female and works for cards or any type of photo, especially for get well cards. You can order notecards or photos here.

Mother’s Day Special Offers – One Week to Go!

Take note! Mother’s Day is almost upon us, but you have just enough time—enough time if you order by FRIDAY, MAY 3 (That’s tomorrow!) for our Mother’s Day Special Offer.

This four-flower bouquet records a select mixture of beautiful petals—a bouquet that will last for years to come. This one-of-a-kind gift comes with matching card that includes the verse. Mom will think of you whenever she glances at this forever bouquet! All you need to do is put this in a favorite frame.

Also available this year are stand alone cards including the poem.

Check it out on Etsy.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

*(New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1975, by The Lockman Foundation, Used by Permission)

This thought-provoking photo could well be called “here comes the spring” because the possibility of dew returns as warm days come again, warming up plants, and allowing moisture to condense at a rate faster than it can evaporate – leaving droplets.

Such a scientific cause does nothing for a poet, of course, and the word pictures are many. Dew-drops. Dew-beads. Tears of the sky (Bailey). Nature’s tears. Stars of the morning (Milton).

Nature, with its vast beauty, but also inherent pain as life ebbs and flows, joins us on our own hill and valley experience. Samuel Coleridge reflects well the mix of emotion these poets put to pen as they mull over dew’s bittersweet expressiveness.

Dewdrops are the gems of morning,
But the tears of mournful eve.

So when you notice the dew in this photo and then when you go out this morning, consider it as more than just condensation – but part of nature’s considered lessons.

The Practicals

Here Comes the Dew is a unique photo – that works for anyone, male or female and works for cards or any type of photo . You can order notecards or photos here.

Mother’s Day Special Offers

Take note! Mother’s Day is almost upon us, but you have just enough time—enough time if you order by FRIDAY, MAY 3 for our Mother’s Day Special Offer. We have a unique, thoughtful gift that your mom will cherish for years.

This four-flower bouquet records a select mixture of beautiful petals—a bouquet that will last for years to come. This one-of-a-kind gift comes with matching card that includes the verse. Mom will think of you whenever she glances at this forever bouquet! All you need to do is put this in a favorite frame.

Also available this year are stand alone cards including the poem.

Check it out on Etsy.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

The common daisy is the subject of this striking photo. It’s part of the second largest family of flowering plants – almost 10% of all flowering plants on earth according to our sources.

In the photo, you can see how the daisy is nearly two flowers, two levels only – a disc floret for the center and ray florets surrounding the center. Striking, simple and common.

It reminds me of a talk and an article I heard and saw the same weekend. The topic: simplicity. The lack of this trait produces frustration, confusion and waste. Do we really need nearly one million apps for a phone? For the record, I don’t have any on my phone! How many types of cereals need to be produced really? Brownies? And the detergent types …

As life simplifies, peace multiplies. Focus on the daisy – strong lines, clear florets. At times we may think that complexity sounds more intelligent or wise, while the opposite is the truth.

Ponder the simple daisy, a living inspiration toward simplicity.

The Practicals

Daisy Tops is available as notecards or photos, as all of our photos are. Reminder that you can browse our shop and order any photo as a notecard order or a separate photo.

Mother’s Day Special Offers

Take note! Mother’s Day is approaching! We have a unique, thoughtful gift that your mom will cherish for years.

This four-flower bouquet records a select mixture of beautiful petals—a bouquet that will last for years to come. This one-of-a-kind gift comes with matching card that includes the verse. Mom will think of you whenever she glances at this forever bouquet! All you need to do is put this in a favorite frame.

Also available this year are stand alone cards including the poem.

Check it out on Etsy.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

This lavender flower plus spring brings to mind soothing properties of rest and relaxation. For the simple fun of it all, we could add to that formula nonsense songs that we sing to and with children. When that is summed up, the folk song from the 1600’s comes immediately to mind: Lavender Blue. You may have heard a recent or fairly recent recording artist do a version, but one version or another dates back centuries. Hum along for a burst of happy or insert your own words:

Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly, lavender’s green,
When I am king, dilly,dilly, you shall be queen.
Who told you so, dilly dilly, who told you so?
‘Twas my own heart, dilly dilly that told me so.

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, And the lambs play;
We shall be safe, dilly dilly, out of harm’s way.

The Practicals

Opening of Lavender is a springtime beauty – that can cheer up a notecard or postcard and thus a friend or relative! You can order notecards or photos here.

Mother’s Day Special Offers

Take note! Mother’s Day is approaching! We have a unique, thoughtful gift that your mom will cherish for years.

This four-flower bouquet records a select mixture of beautiful petals—a bouquet that will last for years to come. This one-of-a-kind gift comes with matching card that includes the verse. Mom will think of you whenever she glances at this forever bouquet! All you need to do is put this in a favorite frame.

Also available this year are stand alone cards including the poem.

Check it out on Etsy.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

After a fabulous roast beef, rich and aromatic, perhaps only the cook sees the drippings left in the pan as glorious. April and springtime settle that way as well – beauty strewn about, so much so that there are hidden incidents of wonder. All kinds of flowers!

This photo reminds me of the uniqueness of blooms, so many types, it seems such a casual thing of creation, tossed off as “so easy”. To see these blooms full on, one needs to lay on one’s back … how normal and yet how odd.

Poetry refers in many places to this bounty of springtime. Gerard Manley Hopkins from the 1800’s asks “What is all this juice and all this joy?” While Edna St. Vincent Millay the American poet of the last century notes that “April comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.”

This month of excess can and should be a month of simply reveling in the beauty bursting all around! Party on!

The Practicals

Drippings of Spring shows a unique bloom that lightens up a notecard and thus a friend or relative! You can order notecards or photos here.

Mother’s Day Special Offers

Take note! Mother’s Day is approaching! We have a unique, thoughtful gift that your mom will cherish for years.

This four-flower bouquet records a select mixture of beautiful petals—a bouquet that will last for years to come. This one-of-a-kind gift comes with matching card that includes the verse. Mom will think of you whenever she glances at this forever bouquet! All you need to do is put this in a favorite frame.

Also available this year are stand alone cards including the poem.

Check it out on Etsy.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

This photo of a simple flower nearly gives an illusion of pink hands lifted or perhaps angel wings at rest. In either case, the photo radiates the natural posture of seeing the positive. Not feeling that?

There are ways to nudge that along. The suggestion has been made by a psychologist* that getting used to something causes one to no longer notice, no matter how wonderful. Think of the aroma of flowers, for instance. Initially, the smell floods the senses – but after a day or so, it is hardly there. And so with the good things in our lives. At first we are astonished – but gradually that wears off. The newness now comes as a yawn.

How do we fix this and instead craft continual thankfulness? These same psychologists, but also many others, suggest that daily writing down five to ten things we are happy for creates gratitude and can recreate the “new awareness” of the fresh smells, the truly good things in our lives.

I also love to read through the Psalms to get to this same place.

Worth a try to feel like this photo? A song based on the Psalms that dates as far back as the 1600’s is a place to start:

Praise to the Lord
the Almighty
the King of Creation.

O my soul praise him
for he is thy health and salvation.

The Practicals

Petals of Praise is a springtime beauty— that can cheer up a notecard or postcard and thus a friend or relative! You can order notecards or photos here. You’ll notice that this wonderful photo is included in our special Mother’s Day Offer, too.

Mother’s Day Special Offers

Take note! Mother’s Day is approaching! We have a unique, thoughtful gift that your mom will cherish for years.

This four-flower bouquet records a select mixture of beautiful petals—a bouquet that will last for years to come. This one-of-a-kind gift comes with matching card that includes the verse. Mom will think of you whenever she glances at this forever bouquet! All you need to do is put this in a favorite frame.

Also available this year are stand alone cards including the poem.

Check it out on Etsy.

Bringing you the world,
Alicia

* 59 Seconds by Richard Wiseman, Alfred A. Knopf, NY, 2009

It’s not a federal holiday, but it’s one of the most celebrated. It’s a holiday of the heart. Mother’s Day comes this year on May 12—a day to treat a grandma, a mom, a foster mom or a female friend with a thoughtful gift or card. Make it a one-of-a-kind remembrance with a selected compilation of photos, complimented with a poem that highlights mom care. This special photo collection will last long after a bouquet will have faded; frame it in a favorite frame and it will be cherished for years.

Some folks choose white carnations as a symbol of Mother’s Day, but this four-flower bouquet records a select mixture of beautiful petals. This special gift comes with matching card that includes the verse.

From seed to petal,
you planted and watered.
There through the winters and the springs,
always bringing beautiful things.

Sweet love and compassion grew alongside
and I thank you always for the guide.
- a poem by me

Also available this year are stand alone cards including the poem. You’ll want to order today!

Check everything out on Etsy! Order Today: Mother’s Day is Just a Few Weeks Away!!

Bringing you the world,
Alicia