wednesday already

I've been having a difficult time keeping up - with the blog, with life. Today was a good day though. Got to see my beloved niece, Cindy. (Check out her kitty tumblr here.) Picked up my Mom for an extended visit. The drive was good - all six hours of it. Except for the parts on Hwy 505 and Bayliss Bluegum Rd where the butterflies were migrating across the road. Hate that. I should teach a course in how to drive while avoiding butterflies and not pissing other drivers off...

taken by Miss J one day from the back seat while I was driving

wed wednesday

My favorite photo of the week from my tumblr, veilsandtales...

photographer: colagrossi studio

via wedding chicks

wed wednesday

My favorite photo of the week from my tumblr, veilsandtales...

photographer: julie kay kelly

via love & lavender

goodbye

Last Friday morning, I had the opportunity to visit a beautiful lady and photograph her lovely animal family. The purpose of the visit was to photograph her beloved horse, Yogi, who sadly had to be put down this morning. It was a bittersweet experience. The horse - as well as her other animals - was sweet beyond measure. I feel so honored to have been invited to photograph this majestic and graceful creature in his last days.

Thank you for your life and death, blessed Yogi. Bless you on your way.

cat saturday

Spent Friday morning with a beautiful lady photographing her lovely animal family - three horses, a dog, and three cats. This cat has the most stunning eyes I have ever seen. Her name is Camo...

islands and bridges

I've been struggling with building bridges. My energy healer says I can no longer be an island. I must be available for and actively seek out partnership and collaboration. I'm accustomed to doing on my own and working on my own and being on my own. For goodness sake, my blog is called The Island of Rose - that says it all. I happened upon a quote yesterday that touched my heart and only confuses things more...

Be islands unto yourselves,

refugees unto yourselves,

seeking no external refuge.

Buddha

wed wednesday

My favorite photo of the week from my tumblr, veilsandtales...

photographer: christina mcneill

via snippet & ink

dragonflies

At a certain time of year - now, orange dragonflies cover the skies around here. Hundreds of dragonflies with the sun glistening off their wings hover just above our heads. It's an awesome sight and an incredible feeling of being connected with these blessed wing creatures...

here

here

here

here

sunday sermon

The happiness of one's own heart

alone cannot satisfy the soul;

one must try to include, as necessary to

one's own happiness,

the happiness of others.

Paramahansa Yogananda

cat saturday

My cats have not only accepted the piano in their house, they have embraced it as their own. It is now covered in cat hair...

Giovanni and White Fluffy Love

missing

I've been missing from the blog lately. Not because I want to be. Not because I don't have things to say. Not because anything is wrong. It's because I can't get to my computer.

Miss J has discovered computer games - pet games, beauty games, surgery games - all kinds of games. She can sit in front of the computer for hours - if I let her, which I don't. She's at the computer enough, though, that I have a difficult time getting everything done I need to. She's in the mountains with her Dad right now, so I have the computer to myself.

Everything is okay. Thank you for sticking with me while I figure out some way for both J and me to use the internet.

taken the last time I was in the mountains with J and her Dad

wed wednesday

My favorite photo of the week from my tumblr, veilsandtales...

Actually, two favorites. I couldn't decide between the two. They're both about the shoes...

 photographer: caca santoro

via wedding chicks

photographer: white haute photography

via burnett's boards

sunday sermon

Today, more than ever before, life

must be characterized by a sense of

Universal responsibility, not only

nation to nation and human to human,

but also human to other forms of life.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

cat saturday

It's a very sad Saturday for me. My beloved Rose passed away today. Her poor little body couldn't fight the cancer that plagued her anymore. I've had many many cats - all with different personalities. Rose was by far the sweetest cat that ever graced my life.

Thank you for the past 13 years, my sweet. Thank you for your life and your death. Bless you on your way.

wed wednesday (on thursday)

My favorite photo of the week from my tumblr, veilsandtales...

Fourth of July edition...

photographer: to live, to love

via green wedding shoes

Happy Independence Day to all those in the USA! Have fun and celebrate wisely!

building bridges

I had a session with my energy healer today. I've been feeling frustrated and discouraged, in a few ways, but mostly in my photography business. I went to see her to help me clear whatever is within me that is blocking my growth and enjoyment and success. I won't bore you with details. It was a wonderful session. She is incredible. (Her name is Joyce. You can find her here.)

There is one thing I want to share with you...At one point she looked at me and said I'm energetically not allowing partnership and collaboration. She said I'm on an island and there is no way for anyone else to cross over. I stared at her, blinked a few times, and quietly said, "That's the name of my blog...the island of rose." She smiled and said that I can't be an island anymore.

So I'm building a bridge - an energy bridge, a rainbow bridge. Everyone is invited to my island. Stay a while; stay a long time. All are welcome...

I don't have any photos of bridges - which is kind of ironic in itself. Instead, here's a photo of a driftwood tipi on one of my favorite beaches.