love
is ever present
take a
walk in the woods and see
trees growing with hearts on their
sleeves
birth
marks etched into their flesh
and
leaves with this same
symbol
repeated
you
need not go far
sit on a stump place your hand
on
your chest and feel what is here listen
to
life force all around and within as
your heart sings the same refrain
love
is ever present
all in their own time
each blossom knows what to do
and when to open
sun and shade dappled
these long awaited crocus
faces greet the day
I
cannot believe this is our 100th week of sharing close-up images; apparently the
crocuses are celebrating with us! Over the past few days I was able to walk
through the woods with my trusty companion twice. It gave me much longed for
time outdoors to reflect on the precious precariousness of life as we climbed
over downed trees, some that have been on the forest floor growing new life for
years, others newly fallen from this winters’ heavy snow and wind. I walked
carefully, mindfully, sat on mossy stumps when I needed to rest and chose to
meditate in that way. Ellie would go off and sniff around or splash through the
mud. Lots of ticks out there, so it may have been her last romp through the
forest for the season, and who knows, she’s no youngster anymore, although her
energetic spirit insists otherwise. I’m grateful for our time together, and for
decreased physical pain those mornings that allowed me to take my pal out into
the wild, where we are both so happy.
At the
same time there has been much tragedy and sorrow in the world, abroad and close
to home, this week. The devastating earthquake in Nepal, and too many other
terribly sad things have made me/us more aware of the capacity for our hearts
to expand and fill with compassion. I suspect most if not all of us know
someone dear who is coping with ongoing illness, some nearing the end of their
lives, others who have left this earth recently. And yet love ever present sustains
us through these heartaches, enabling us to awaken to joy in small, tender
moments of grace when they arise, and they do, they do.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Welcome to
Week 100
I Heart
Macro
"Pure
awareness transcends thinking... It allows you to look at the world once again
with open eyes. And when you do so, a sense of wonder and quiet contentment
begins to reappear in your life."~Mark Williams and Danny Pennman, from Mindfulness An
Eight-Week Plan For Finding Peace In A Frantic World
It is time for YOU to share the love up-close with YOUR
I Heart Macro offerings!
Enjoy slowing down with your
camera, paying full attention, observing beauty and curiosities many people
pass right by. Your generosity of spirit and keen eyes may open the door to
miniscule miracles and mirth others would not have access to otherwise. Feel
free to include poetry, prose and thoughts your macro photo or series
inspire(s) in you. Writing is completely optional for participation.
Straight out of the camera (SOC), edited, color, black and white, anything goes
as long as you bring the viewer near to whatever it is that drew your heart's
attention and "woke you up" to full presence.
Please
link back to my blog either by copying and pasting the button provided
above on your post, or by linking the words "I Heart Macro" back to
my blog with this link:
By
sharing the link, visitors to your blog will learn about this meme and have a
chance to participate as well if they so choose.
Visit each other...
S p r
e a d the LOVE. Thanks :-)
haiku my heart
The I Heart Macro Linky opens tonight,
Sunday evening at 8pm EST
and remains open for you to share your close-up images all week long.
Big congrats on 100 weeks with I ❤️macro! Unbelievable! Thanks so much for being such a wonderful host and for letting us share and enjoy the beauty of macros!
ReplyDeleteBest, Jannicke from Norway
Congrats to week 100! That a huge amount of weeks! Glad I am a part of it now ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, beautiful pictures. I especially like the ones of the trees mirrowed in the water.
Love
Judith
Okay, you've outdone yourself. I can't even pick a favorite this week.
ReplyDeleteyour images are so pretty Laura, especially the heart on the tree.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful and heart warming post, Laura. Your poem is beautiful and your photos complement it well.
ReplyDeleteEllie makes an adorable walking companion. Love does indeed sustain us as do your photographs and words. Marvelous Laura!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 100th I Heart Macro post and thank you for hosting, Laura! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for your 100th anniversary. Nice collection of beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDear Laura , time and again those wonderful shots! I love the tree with the heart and I love your beautiful dog!
ReplyDeleteDearest greetings , Kirstin
I liked your poem about the heart-shaped abscission scars etched into the flesh of the mother tree. I can count on you to find those hearts hidden in the creation. I feel like I have some in my heart for my children who always eventually leave to become their own persons in the world. The tracings of tree branches against the sky and reflections in the water are awe-inspiring.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful macro shots and a cute doggie !
ReplyDeleteYou catched some beautifulthings, Laura!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week ... Frauke
A wonderful post and my congratulations to 100!
ReplyDeleteYour words are always well chosen, with very nice pictures.
Therefore, I would like to say at this point Thanks again.
♥ly greetings from germany
Beautiful! I'm so glad you were able to get outside with Ellie, it must have done you both so much good. I love the bright light in your photos.
ReplyDeleteHappy 100th, Laura! I couldn't rustle up 100 candles, but I hope what I have shared are enough.
ReplyDeleteA lovely series on photos on your post. Thanks for hosting.
thank you Laura for all those beautiful pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!
A wonderful series of photos! I love the blossoms and the reflection is gorgeous! Cute dog! :) Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura!
ReplyDeleteSuch great pics! The waterdrops on the purple bloosom are amazing. Love it!
Hello
ReplyDeleteButiful Flowers and your sweet Dog.
best regards
Karima
Translucent crocus petals always look amazing in sunlight.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of your happy friend!
Enjoy your week,
Ruby
Congrats on 100 Macro posts...and great to see you out and about a bit more. Incredible images to match your beautiful heartfelt words Laura. Sending much love from my heart to yours as I link in with a garden post. My poetry post did not have a macro so I did not link it, but it talks of loss, aging and life. Drop by if you have a chance.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures to enlighten your words of compassion, love and hope .. Thank you for sharing your insight !
ReplyDeleteIt is heart wrenching to see the pain of all who suffer. Beauty is in the reminders to us to love and five to others! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a heart felt and heart warming post Laura.
ReplyDeleteFantastic macro images, your lens must have so much fun to be out there with you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures! And congrats to the 100th "edition" of I Heart Macro :-D Thanks for hosting, Laura.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovley heart on the tree. I love the crocus, too. Congratulations for the 100 I love macro post.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a lot of sadness going around. Still, we are often blessed and graced. Glad you were able to walk a little this last week. Hope you keep feeling better.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura for sharing the love and grace in your words and pictures... And through hosting as always. I hope you did not mind that my macro was included in a post that also included an example of my zany sense of humor. .... It is great to know that you and Ellie were both healthy enough (at the same time!) to enjoy a walk in the woods.
ReplyDeleteThe crocus with the drops is amazing!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes from Germany
Christine
Beautiful macros, reflections and sentiments. Wishing you a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the first 100 !! :))
ReplyDeleteI love the trees - so beautiful photos !!
Greetings
Marion
Great macros!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, this is a beautiful post and I love all the photos. Congratulations on reaching your 100th day of sharing macros.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that there is so much tragedy and sadness both near and far. Yet there is so much beauty, joy and love if we allow ourselves to partake of it. Blessings and may you have continued strength and freedom from pain to enjoy your walks.
Love the 'heart tree' and your sweet doggie! Always beautiful macro shots here ~ So divine!
ReplyDeleteHappy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
gorgeous images you share :)
ReplyDeleteHello Laura, your Ellie is adorable.. What a pretty companion.. Your flowers are beautiful and I love the heart on the tree. Lovely post. Enjoy your new week!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Laura! Thank you for your beautiful macro captures and your support at MakroMontag!
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful week,
Steffi
Wonderful, beautiful pictures !! Excellent perspective and reflections on trees !! Exquisite flowers!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular shots. I love the macros.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
I love crocus. I haven't planted any but I plan to in the fall. They are the first to pop up out of the snow here.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the great milestone for this meme! As always, your macro shots are awesome.
ReplyDeletesuch lovely images
ReplyDeleteeach one
so glad you got to walk in the woods
i have been doing the same
taking to heart the details
and enjoying springs first flowers
bowing deeply to the heart in all life
Thank you Laura!
ReplyDeleteNice pictures! I like it!
Have a lucky week!
Britta
Wow - simply gorgeous and uplifting! And congrats on your 100th post for the meme.
ReplyDeletelovely images.. beautiful words. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful poetry and words...When I look through a lens I hear the image speak
ReplyDeleteSpring is wonderful.. I can feel my heart beating..
ReplyDeleteYour work - both in words and images are so rich and filling...your authenticity floods my heart center with love...thank you for the beauty that you are and that you bring to others. ♥
ReplyDeletePoetic flowers and words that bloom.
ReplyDeleteYou always touch my heart, Laura~ Beautiful
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you were able to get out with one very very happy dog. I took a little walk in the woods and it is slippery, but my photos don't hold a candle to yours. But it is about memories and the freedom of being able to be out and taking photos that we really appreciate... hugs..Michelle
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful scenes of spring!
ReplyDeleteI remember how fiercely kids begin to pull away - love what you write about each bud knowing what to do and exactly when to open....the cool thing is, once kids figure out they ARE their own persons and dont need to pull away to prove it, they come back close again. I love your happy dog photos, what a wonderful time she is having!
ReplyDeleteDear Laura,
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet heart! ;-)
I like the tree. ♥ Great shoot.
Best regards
Naddel
Yes Laura, love will ever be present, even if it's not always easy to walk on this earth!
ReplyDeleteAll has its own time...
It's often hard work to be (or stay) in balance...Nature and all these enchanting signs help us to draw a deep breath again...
My thoughts are with you and your
lovely, tiny Ellie!
Enjoy a good time & thank you for these wonderful, wonderful post with all these beautiful pictures and for hosting this fantastic meme to the hundredth time!!!♥
Love and lots of Light
Katrin
A beautiful series of shots, and wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteCongrats for 100 weeks ❤ macro. Thank you for hosting this great theme. Have a good day! Tamara
ReplyDeletesun and shade dappled
ReplyDeletethese long awaited crocus
faces greet the day
These are just words of hope. I just wish they would bloom longer!! Have a grand day!
So very beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteHow do blossoms know how and when to open, do you suppose?
ReplyDeletelove all your macro...and reflections...AND raindrops on flowers...(one of my favorite things to take pictures of.) ALL so very beautiful...like life. nature.
ReplyDeletehappy weekend!
Time is great healer and I ma sure all will be well.Lovely shots!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the 100th! Nice shots and better words.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Congrats and Happy May to you and whole family! Lots of joy and love, good health and good times for you! Warm greetings and so thankful for your creativity and love shared with us through these amazing written thoughts!! Hugs, Andra Alexa T
ReplyDeleteBelated Congrats with your 100th post of I Heart Macro - It goes so quick - doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteso much beauty here and with it a dear friend. xo
ReplyDeleteAs always stunning photos Laura, visiting you today from Nature Notes!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the auspicious writeup. It in truth used
ReplyDeleteto be a leisure account it. Look complex to more added agreeable
from you! By the way, how can we be in contact?
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