7/365 Movement

"Embroidering Baptismal Stoles"

This was not my "official" picture but it does have its own sense of movement.

"Go With the Flow"

6/365 With Words

"Words Not Required"

Despite the fact fact that I am a musician by profession, I very rarely write about music here.  I'm not really sure why that is.  Perhaps it is because music is such a huge part of who I am that writing about it is like writing about stop signs or lane dividers on the road way; certainly every knows what it is and whit is here.  That is probably a terribly naive and unrealistic perspective on my part.  The other possibility is that I spend all day at school talking about music.  When I get home, I want to do something else.  

Words are a big part of my life as well.  Books are everywhere.  I have multiple games of Words With Friends in progress.  We have witty buttons and bumper stickers all over our office.  Still, I was somewhat stumped as to what I could do with today's photo prompt.  I didn't want just take a photograph of a word or phrase.  I wanted to stretch myself creatively.  (Some days it doesn't take much to be pushed beyond my creative comfort zone.)  

In digging through a drawer in my office I found the button that I used in this picture.  Since today's prompt was "with words" and the button's sentiment speaks of the failure of words, I figured that there should be something that I could do with it that might be marginally creative.  I went with the obvious - the button on a piece of music.  Admittedly, this not particularly creative or subtle.  From the piano, I grabbed the music that I had been practicing, just to have a background.  I wasn't thinking too much about what piece I actually used.  As I was looking at the images I shot, all of the sudden the title, "Romance", jumped at me.  Well, sort of.  As you probably noticed, the complete title is not present in the picture.  Words fail here, but the music still speaks.    

It is with romance that so often our words fail us.  We turn to a song to express our love or heartache or joy or sadness.  We've all done it.  We all have "a song" that floods us with feelings.

I am reading a novel right now to which the author has included a soundtrack.  After every chapter or two there is a link to a song.  One of the main characters in the book is a music therapist so it stands to reason that using music to enhance the character's emotional appeal is in keeping with the overall affect of the story.  In thinking about the fact that this author uses music to tell her story, I was reminded of a birthday gift.

Every year I give Weber a soundtrack, a mix tape, that is a summary in music of the previous year.  It goes without saying that these collections are eclectic, encompassing many artists and genres.  In creating this soundtrack, I relive the year, its events and emotions, and attempt to find songs that sum it all up.  Consider a musical scrapbook, if you will.  

There have been many events in our lives where words definitely fell short and music was the most meaningful way we had to communicate with one another.

This year has just began.  Consider creating your own Soundtrack to 2013.

5/365 Colorful Food

"Friends Shouldn't Let Friends Play With Their Food"

You would think that with all of the beautiful food that we have around here that I should have been able to take a serious photo of some nicely prepped if not nicely plated food.  As you can see, that didn't happen.  Sometimes you just have to follow the muse, or whatever it is that causes one to do such things with perfectly innocent fruits and vegetables.

I hope that something about today made you smile!

4/365 Fur

"Fur"

Harley definitely has the most interesting fur of all of our furry family members so the above picture is my "official" picture of the day.  However, I can't play favorites.  Adidas wanted his picture taken too so I posted them both.  He has handsome fur don't you think?

"Fur #2"

3/365 Repetition

"Repetition"

Repetition is one of those words that conjures up both positive and negative feelings.  People talk about the repetitive nature of their jobs and that usually makes its way to them saying that their job is boring.  The message here: repetitiveness = boredom.  Yet, repetition also creates comfort, security and a sense of well-being. Babies like the repetitive motion of being rocked.  Adults like routine to their day whether they want to admit it or not.  And, engaging in repetitive motions -  like hanging laundry on a line, knitting, doing dishes or weaving - allows our bodies to stay busy but our minds to be free, free to stay in touch with what is going on inside ourselves.  There is truth to the Shaker saying, "Hands to work, hearts to God."

As I thought about today's prompt, I wanted to take a picture that was both an image of repetition but also of the comforting aspects of repetition.  We try to sit down together at the dinner table every evening.  This routine gives me comfort and joy no matter how chaotic or unpleasant the rest of my day has been. Repetition can be beautiful.

2/365 New Beginnings

New Beginnings

In case you haven't figured this out by now,  today's photo prompt was new beginnings.  I had been thinking about what I might photograph today that might give this prompt somewhat of a creative twist.  I had come up with a few ideas for "set-up" pictures, but then I went to visit a friend.  She is fostering this revues feral kitten until a permanent home is found for her.  Once I looked into these pleading eyes, eyes that are just asking for someone to love her, I knew this had to be the image that represents new beginnings for me today.

Today was a cold day by Dallas standards.  This little critter was lucky enough to find someone to bring her in to a warm home, give her a soft bed to play on and pillows to hide under, plenty of food and water and most importantly, someone to love her.  There are so many animals out there right now that are lacking all of these things.  In this economy, as people struggle to feed their families and themselves, pets are often neglected.  It is easy to see how and why this happens, but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking.

If you have a few extra dollars, consider donating some food to your local shelter.  They are strapped for resources during these cold months.  If you too are struggling to feed your family, perhaps you have some old towels or blankets that you could donate to a shelter.  These seemingly simple gestures will go a long way to help these homeless animals and the people who care for them on a daily basis.

As you journey through 2013, be aware of the new beginnings you encounter and the second chances you are given.  Each is a gift deserving of thanks.

1/365 Purpose

"Purpose"

We still receive an actual newspaper at our house.  Mornings just wouldn't seem right without that trek down the from sidewalk to gather up the Dallas Morning News before sitting down at the table with a cup of coffee and a bowl of yogurt or oatmeal.  Reading the paper before heading to school in the mornings gives us at least a sense of what is going on in the world before we walk head-on out into it.  And on days when I am not up to facing the ugliness of life around me, I ignore the headlines and listen as Weber reads me the comics.

In this morning's edition of Dear Abby (Yes, I read Dear Abby almost every day.), rather than responding to the dilemmas of specific readers, "Abby" offers two pieces of advice that speak to all of as we begin the new year.  The first is from the credo of Al-Anon and the second is from the prayer attributed to St. Francis.  The entire article can be found here.

As a Franciscan tertiary, this prayer attributed to St. Francis speaks to me at a deep level, despite the fact that it is often over- and mis-used.  It describes the person that I so desire to be.  So today, a day on which we find ourselves determined to make this a good year by committing to promises and resolutions, what better way to remind myself that I do strive to be an instrument of peace and a sower of love, pardon, hope, faith, light and joy than for these words to be my  first image of Capture Your 365, the 2013 edition.