I really needed this…. to get out into the fall weather and into the magnificent colors.  I wish I could have stayed out longer, but I’d forgotten that since the end of Daylight Savings time, it gets dark earlier than it did a week ago.  So, it was getting dark, there were quite a few clouds - the lighting wasn’t perfect (as on Friday when I didn’t have my camera), and the batteries died after about 5-10 minutes, but here’s a bit of what I was able to capture…

I always feel grateful after I’ve had a chance to walk a bit in nature.  Its intricate and exquisite beauty reminds me of the hand of God in my life.  I feel renewed, more grounded, and I am able to more fully appreciate the simple things… simple, but meaningful and inspiring.

Creativity Question: I’ve asked before what inspires you.  This time, the question is, where do you go to renew your soul?
For me, there are several places - but nature is probably the place where I feel the strongest, simplest, soul-stirring feelings of gratitude, and at the same time, refill my creativity cup (and I can’t possibly capture it perfectly through my camera lens).

I wanted to post these because a couple of people wanted to see them. I am not particularly skilled at photographing the moon. I have tried and failed many times. Part of the problem is I don’t have the right equipment. I need a remote trigger for my shutter - usually the photos end up blurry. The other problem is that I don’t know what settings to put my camera on. I haven’t experimented with it enough to figure it out.

That being said, I’m pretty happy with the photos, even though they do have a little bit of “camera shake” on them and they are a bit grainy. I’m just happy that I was able to get two photos that weren’t completely blurry.  The photos here show the moon in “totality” - completely in the earth’s shadow - that’s why it looks more spherical and has that orange tint.
I love astronomy - I considered majoring in it, but didn’t think I’d want that many math classes - so I opted for art and to just be a night sky admirer. I was excited yesterday, though, when I learned there would be a total lunar eclipse. The last one I had to watch in a snow storm in NJ — my fingers froze this time, but it was so beautiful!

Creativity Question: Who are the champions of your creativity? (I believe everyone can be creative in their own way, so don’t say you’re not.)
The top two for me are my mom and my husband. They have always encouraged me in my creative and artistic pursuits. Most of the time they believe in me more than I do. I’m so blessed to have them in my life.

One thing I love about Louisville is that the weather is ever-changing. Last week we had near 70’s and this week a snow storm. They say if you don’t like the weather in Louisville, wait a half hour.

Creativity Question: What is a simple thing that fascinates you? I love the intricate little, often unnoticed details in nature: veins on a leaf, turtle shell patterns, layers of rock in the mountainside, and on and on. I don’t think I’ll ever run out of things in nature to be fascinated by.