Picture(s) of the Day – Photo Journal: Treat for the eyes, ears and soul

I HAD to make myself get up, get dressed, and go outside… even though it was raining and the sound of it hitting the roof made me want to curl up under my covers and sleep. Is there anything more relaxing? I ask you!

I had a couple of ideas of what I wanted to see before I went out and got waaaay more than I expected. For example: Lay your eyes on that featured photo! I’m in LOVE with it! It looks surreal to me… so muted and… almost smeared with rain. I showed it to my husband, my sister and my mother, who said it reminded her of Wabi Sabi, which means:

Wabi sabi is an ancient aesthetic philosophy rooted in Zen Buddhism, particularly the tea ceremony, a ritual of purity and simplicity in which masters prized bowls that were handmade and irregularly shaped, with uneven glaze, cracks, and a perverse beauty in their deliberate imperfection. (Thank you, Google!)

So perfect for this moment of my life. Thanks for the reminder, Mom!

I saw so many flowers and trees in my travels. Pretty houses, too… just corners, mostly. I took pictures of all of them. Here are a bunch for your viewing pleasure.

This might also be a good time to say that with all my photo journals, I don’t sign those within the walls of my blog posts. They’re all mine and may be used with proper recognition and links back to this blog.

Okay, onward… the houses!

I did my best to leave off addresses and think I succeeded. My only word of caution is that if you live in my area and recognize any houses, please don’t comment publicly. Please and thank you!

They all look so welcoming, bright and colorful. I bet the owners try to make things nice just for themselves and never realize that someone like me will come along and see a corner that demands a photograph.

I also found some neat-o trees…

And this hide-a-way… and that lawn! So green and beautiful! Lake Ontario is just beyond the shack. On a sunny day, I know you’d see it right through the trees. Today, the sky and the water are reflecting off each other and it all looks one color. Nature… gotta love it!

And then, because I was next to the lake anyway… of course I had to stop. I picked up Chai Latte and a slice of lemon loaf. It was so yummy! It felt like a treat because it’s been awhile. I try to go out once a week for my photos and always stop at Starbucks for a coffee or tea… and if I’m feeling in the mood (and let’s face it, when am I NOT?) a treat. (Starbucks says thanks for the free advertisement, SHW! Ha!)

I sit by the water and get a treat for my eyes, ears and soul, too, as the water laps right next to me.

Oh man, I love the photo on the left with all that fog down the beach. It’s haunting and beautiful in a whole ‘nuther way, isn’t it?

So, this is what I did today.

What did you do? Feel free to share… or not. No pressure!

Addendum: In case you can’t see the featured photo in all its glory… here it is: