This photo is intense ... emotionally intense. Brings to mind that feeling of being broken. Over time, it will disappear and be replaced by new growth. Today, it is broken.
~ Rick
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.
©2018 Rick Cartwright
Black and White landscape shots of a freshly fallen snow are great. I love the detail in this photo!
The first day of spring was beautiful, but the second day was a little different. After the beautiful sunrise photos I posted earlier this week, this was not what I expected. I think we had about four inches of snow overnight. I took this photo later in the morning. It was not a sunrise, but it was beautiful.
Freshly falling show tends to make everything look new. By this time of year, we are all ready for the snow to stop, the temperatures to start climbing, and natrue to awaking. The reality: this is how nature works. I was looking at a photo from 5 years ago today. Guess what ... snow. We are at the time of year where we are in transition. The temperatures go up and down, and sometimes, it snows.
That is not that much different than how life works. We have our ups and downs. We can’t control nature, but we can control our response. Walk outdoors and take a deep breath today. Enjoy what nature has to offer you, and make it the best day you can.
~ Rick
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.
©2018 Rick Cartwright
I took this photo about a week ago. I’m sure there is a good reason why this happened so late. I mean, I have passed a number of unharvested crops this past week, so this guy is not alone.
Frequent, I am guilty of practicing the art of procrastination. Mark Twain reportedly said, ““Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” I will do better. 🤷🏼♂️
Sometimes I practice the ‘snow principle’ .. wait and see if it melts. It’s amazing how often things that are said to be urgent, are just noise. Given the time, they melt and vanish.
~ Rick
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.
©2017 Rick Cartwright
Lets start with a nostalgic moment: On November 23, 1974 Lynyrd Skynrd released Free Bird as a single. It was released a year earlier on their debut album. When they played Free Bird it live, it would usually go for 13 minutes, to well over 14 minutes. I was in high school. I loved this song.
I remember the sad news in 1977. I was in college, but at moment I heard it, I was on a date. A tragic plan crash took the life of lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist and vocalist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and others.
This is still one of my favorite songs. The YouTube video is from 1976 .. it’s from a live performance.
I took the sunset picture with the migrating birds a few weeks ago. It reminded me of this song. I was also reminded of this: We often feel trapped or constrained by our circumstances. More often than not, we limit ourselves with self-doubt and fear. I love how the birds do it. They just ‘go’ and ‘do’.
After a long journey, I don’t think they look back and question their progress .. they just do it again. A few months later, the journey is repeated, in reverse.
I am in awe at the accomplishments of so many of my friends and others that I know. Some of them have beat amazing odds in the most difficult circumstances. So many of them feel overwhelmed by the daily grind and the challenges. They go and do, when it seems impossible. They are my hero’s.
~ Rick
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.
©2017 Rick Cartwright
After work yesterday, Teresa and I took a walk at the Garbry Big Woods Sanctuary. Most of the migratory birds have moved on, however, signs of their activity remain. Many bird species build a nest each spring, as a place to lay and incubate eggs. Every year they do this as they begin again, and create the next generation. Some species lay eggs on the ground. Some use refurbished nest for several years. It’s all kind of amazing.
Looking at this next I could not help but reflect on my connection to ‘home’. Home has always been a special place for me. My parents worked hard to make home a safe place. A place where they could teach us, and prepare us for life. When our sons were young, we worked to have a home where they felt loved. At some point, they started leaving to go build their own nest. That is all kind of amazing too.
Sadly, not everyone has that same experience. Some are homeless or find themselves in circumstances that prohibit them from the same joy. When I feel like things are difficult, I remind myself of how privileged I have been. I am truly grateful for a good life, good friends, and an amazing family. Be grateful for whatever you have, and give back when you can.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” ~ Melody Beattie
Be grateful, and have a great day.
~ Rick
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.