Some give all and all give some.

Uniformed soldiers walk among the thousands of graves

at the Nashville National Cemetery.

A heartfelt thank you on this Memorial Day 

to everyone who has ever served our country!

Freedom isn't free.

I love to photograph our American Flag.  I often find myself in military cemeteries spellbound by the realization of how many people gave their lives for us.   This particular cemetery in Nashville keeps the remains of almost 35,000 soldiers.  An overwhelming reminder that Memorial Day is about them, not us.  If you ever have a chance, visit it.  You will not be sorry you did.

Some Place Warmer

Oh, that we had wings to escape the bitter cold
that holds most of us hostage!

Makin' Music

There is nothing like the miracle of music
to stir the soul,
warm the heart
and set our feet a dancin'.

Prayerful Pose

Perhaps he knows something we don't.

Crystal Closeup

Mother Nature is currently displaying
her beautiful artwork across Middle Tennessee.
Look very closely and you will see it everywhere!

Broken But Beautiful

A lone poinsetta leaf, bruised and scarred
from a long holiday season,
still radiates her own unique beauty.

Welcome 2011!

Happy New Year!

“And now let us believe in the new year that is given us–
new, untouched, full of things that have never been.”

-Rainer Maria Rilke

A Gift For You

To each of us is given a brand new year.
Beyond the sparkle of celebration
is the promise of a new beginning.
What will you do with yours?

Welcome 2011!

Winding Down

2010 draws to a close,
leaving behind its joys and sorrows.
Having gloried in our triumphs
and walked stronger from our stumblings,
may we say goodbye
and be thankful for all it brought us.

Holiday Magic

The excitement of the holiday season
doesn't end with Christmas.
Lingering lights glow with anticipation
of a new year filled with unknown possibilities
just waiting to make their appearance.

A White Christmas

What a treat to awaken to the first white Christmas
in middle Tennessee in 17 years!
Much to my delight, my feathered friends
provided early morning merriment
right outside my kitchen window
adding to a most memorable Christmas.
Thank you, God, for this special gift.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
- Hamilton Wright Mabi

I collect angels, and this is my special one.
She has graced the top of many Christmas trees in years gone by,
but when Christmas Day is past, she does not go back in the box.
I return her to her special place atop my living room table
where she resides for the rest of the year.
There she serves as a continual reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
It is my wish that you, too, will experience the spirit of Christmas all year long.

Christmas blessings from my heart to yours!

Mary Lawson

Hammin' it up.

A Christmas pig in a Christmas parade.
(Where else but in Leipers Fork would you see this?)

Christmas Spirit

You don't have to be pretty to have it.

Lookin' good!

Ready for some Christmas treats

Back for Christmas

It has been a year filled with many new things,

and I have neglected posting on this blog for most of it.
Attending the Christmas parade here in Leipers Fork
always inspires me to share its delightful participants.
Hope they bring you as much Christmas cheer as they did for me.

Bluebird of Happiness

Everytime I see a bluebird, my heart flutters.

They are an instant reminder of beauty waiting to be noticed,
if, in fact, we take the time to look for it.

Springtime Beauty

Now featured all around you!
Take time to enjoy it.

In the shadows . . .

but always there.


(Note: This cross tops a church steeple,
and I took the photo at dusk through tree branches.
The hand pointing to the cross in the upper right corner
is not the result of photo editing!)

Looking for Spring

Aren't we all?

A Birthday Thought

Tomorrow (February 22) is my birthday,
and as birthdays are wont to do,
each one causes pause for reflection.
As I recently photographed this lovely flower,
I was particularly enchanted with its brightly colored anther.
It becomes an image within an image.
And so it is with my recent discovery of photography.
I have long been an artist,
but I am thankful for photography
and the new creative energy it causes
to spring forth from within me in the years of my maturity.

Winter Seclusion

Beauty In Motion

Nature's Wonders

During a recent snowfall here in the South,
I decided to take some closeups of ice on trees sparkling in the sun .
Most photos came out "icy" but this one causes me
to "wonder" exactly what it is.

Looking Through

Happy New Year

And so 2009 comes to an end.
May what lies beyond be filled with light.

No "Ba-a-a-a-a humbug" here!

Where's the party?

Barnyard Christmas

So this is where the party is!

(Stay tuned)

Keep it simple

Wondering about what to wear to your next Christmas get-together?
A little touch of red and green is all you need!

A Christmas Invitation

Since I live in the quaint little village of Leipers Fork,
I've decided to share my images
of Christmas in rural Tennessee.
No snow for a sleigh yet, but you're invited
to come along with me for a holiday ride.

The Last Rose of Summer

Alas, the time has come when most outdoor flowers have given in
to the cold of winter and will not reappear until next year.
My love for them does not, however, disappear.
Hence, this indoor shot!

Greetings

May your Thanksgiving be outstanding!

Lady in Waiting

With cold weather approaching,a ladybug takes a moment
to contemplate her next step.

Autumn Art

Mother Nature painted the leaves.
I simply laid them on an old iron pot,
much to the delight of my camera.

Meeting Place

Autumn tree tops mingle with a towering church steeple
to create a place of peace and beauty.

Hanging On

A lone beauty makes her encore in the light of the early morning sun.

Fall Colors

The golds and oranges of autumn blend nicely
with the ole red, white and blue. (Look closely)

Autumn Repose

Take some time to simply sit and behold the beauty around you.

Entering Fall

Come along with me as we walk
into the glorious beauty of fall!

Ready and Waiting

With fall in the air, rural barns everywhere quietly anticipate 

their harvest duties.

Nature's Ballet

With fascinating quickness and graceful beauty,
the tiny hummingbirds have exited
the stage of summer.
I will miss their daily performances on my front porch,
and applaud their return next season.

Ode To Summer

One last look. Fall is on its way.

Little Peeps

On The Bright Side

I love sunflowers! Why?
Because over the course of the day (in their budding stage),
sunflowers follow the sun from east to west,
and at night they return to an eastward orientation awaiting
the next sunrise.
Shouldn't we learn to live always watching for the light?

Somewhere Out There

Keep looking, and you will find it.

Morning Fog

Sometimes "Alone" is beautiful.

Reflection

You Gotta Try

(Is there such a thing as "too cute"?)

In The Eye of the Beholder

One can still find beauty in an aging rose.