Day 22 May Flower Challenge - Architectural Elements

  Welcome to day 22 of the May Flower Challenge.

I'm fascinated with flowers. They are all over my tiny apartment. I photograph them all the time. I draw, paint, doodle them, create them out of paper... I also see them all over the NYC. Each day I will post flowers and I hope that you will join in. The only rules are that your blog post or flickr photo that you link must contain flowers. Click above on the May Flower Challenge Page to learn more.  

I continue to see flowers in the architecture around Manhattan.

When Superman and I are out and about my camera is usually in my hand. 

He often has to pause and wait for me while I snap a picture. 

This Brownstone (townhouse) has floral elements all over it's facade.

A Carriage House on the Upper East Side.

A floral window grate. To me, it looks like the flowers are dancing below. 

Join me tomorrow when I share how I created my own floral wall clings/decals. 

Participate by linking your blog post to my blog post. Each day during May, starting on May 1st, on my blog post I will have a linkytool available so that you can link your specific blog post (not just your blog but the post itself) to my blog post. And, please remember to link back.

Participate by linking to the flickr group - May Flower Challenge- and adding a photo of your flower creation. Make sure you add your photo to the linky below each day that you post.

Shared Messages from the Universe

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere. I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us 

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This is the window at the Restoration Hardware store near Madison Square Park in NYC. (And, darn it, no kick backs for saying that, giggle.)

I walked past the store a couple of weekends ago and had to time the photo just right so I was the only one in the picture.  I also, honestly, had to fight the urge to strip down to my undies to take the picture.  I am just not that brave.  But it is where my thought went first - what a great self-portrait, is all the photographer in me could think.

This message whispered to my soul with such strength that I have been thinking about it ever since.

Come EXPOSED (but not naked)

It made me think about blogging and what I expose, what I share, and how I communicate with all of you.  

I share a lot on my blog but you probably also notice that there are many things that I do not share.  (no front facing photos of Superman, no picks of my extended family, my friends or their children, no rants about my day job, and my address nor my phone number are published) 

As a blogger I feel that I have an obligation to share, inspire, and motivate.  But, and it is a pretty big but for me, I also feel that same obligation to honor those around with me with their privacy.  

This is a personal choice, one that may change over time, but for now it is where I am most comfortable. 

I want you to know that you will always be given the "real" me - I honestly don't know how to be anything else and consciously choose not to figure out how to hide.  When you meet me in person you will find that I am outspoken to a fault, but kind, warm and intuitive in a way that cannot be explained. 

I choose to always come exposed (but not naked) to my blog, my creative journey, and to my art.  I want you to know me...but some things are private - I hope you understand.

How does "come exposed (but not naked)" whisper to your soul?  

Photo-Heart Connection

Kat Eye Studio is hosting the photo-heart connection project. On the first of each month we share the photo, that we took during the previous month, that speaks the loudest and the strongest to our heart and soul.

Of all the pictures that I captured during February, this one is the one that I keep going back to...it makes me smile.

I love the white painted bricks the contrast of the two windows, for some reason, just touches me.

You see, in NYC you need to capture a little of the outside natural world any way that you can and the person who lives in the apartment with that cute little window on the bottom has made a lot of effort to make that happen. Not only did they have to pay for the window (there is no way a landlord paid for that cute window) but they also needed to have it installed. Now they have a beautiful source of light and an indoor garden - so fun.

You see, I have already in my mind and heart imagined a story about the person who lives there. I imagine they have a cat who also likes the window, tons of books, and that the window is in their kitchen above the sink. I imagine that they dream as they wash their dishes enjoying the view of the High Line and surrounding buildings.

I have nothing to base my story on but that window and that makes me giggle - but creating a story, imaging what and who lives inside, even simply enjoying the contrast in the photo takes me back to that sunny afternoon walk with my BF and I smile.

Please enjoy stalking the Photo-Heart Connection blog post and visiting the other participant's links by clicking on the logo below. Enjoy having your heart warmed with the beauty of their photos.