Monday, February 9, 2015

Appreciating the Light





Shadows dance within our home,
after day upon day of grey.
The slant of light
hits everything just right,
catching the eye,
slowing the moment,
capturing attention.

How often do these
moments pass,
unseen, unnoticed,
in the hurried normal
of everyday life?
Refusing to let them pass,
I take time to appreciate
the little things,
the simple pleasures,
that bring light and joy
into my day.
Space is created
to notice,
to be aware,
to live,
in this moment.

I have been appreciating
the light,
watching it move through our home,
leaving behind
shadows, silhouettes,
a contrast between
the dark and light.
It's a reminder that life
is a balance,
that the light is never truly
appreciated without
the dark,
and that sometimes
we need to stop,
be still,
and notice.

Will you join me?

66 comments:

  1. With all my heart, yes. And I love the window decorations you've made to catch that light. A perfect compliment...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew you would :) Thank you. I got a little carried away over the holidays with them, so much fun to make. There are a few hanging in the windows around our home.

      Delete
  2. Yes! I love the idea and your beautiful gentle reminders to slow down!

    www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh yes... It is wonderful this return of the light... I enjoy every moment too when the sun comes through the clouds and hit against my window...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is wonderful, the sun we had last week was just lovely. It has since disappeared again, but I do think she shall make an appearance again tomorrow, and I can't wait!

      Delete
  4. Beautiful pictures, Kim! I usually focus the most on the play of light and shadow in faces, this is where it fascinates me the most. This is why I mainly sketch faces.
    I feel prompted by you to also pay more attention to shadows in my usual surroundings.
    Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Simona. Yes, your sketches are lovely, and always capture light and shadow so well. Hope you enjoy paying attention to the shadows around you. Thanks, you too!

      Delete
  5. Yes and yes. Today is a day of stillness for us. We're taking the quiet while we can. February is a bit of a busy month this year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. such a beautiful post... Kim !!! it's truly been a great month for learning to appreciate the contrast and balance that life brings. Have a great week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Erica. I think February is always like that, finding the balance, and appreciating the light, and shadows :)

      You too, my friend. xo

      Delete
  7. I love your photos today Kim, they are just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Tracey, that means a lot coming from you :)

      Delete
  8. What a lovely reflection Kim! <3

    ReplyDelete
  9. we just came in from cross-county ski-ing and the first thing I noticed went I walked in was the light streaming through my kitchen window and on to my jar of daffodils - i quickly added a few stones and crystals. The sun will set soon behind the mountains but I will wait in anticipation for this little 'scene' tomorrow! Joining with you from miles and miles away to appreciate the same light!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh that sounds just lovely Emma. I hope the sun shines for you tomorrow :)

      Delete
  10. Just shows again why we get on so well! My Flickr stream is full of images like this...I have always loved chasing the light and even have a star like yours on my window! Your images are so very lovely and yes I will be joining in over here! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chasing the light, love that. That makes my heart so happy to know you have a star in your window too. Thank you, happy to have you joining in. xo

      Delete
  11. Great captures of the light in your home. I especially like the light on the cabinet.
    Feels so good to have sunshine after many days of gloomy weather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Darcel. I can't tell you how wonderful that sunshine was for me last week, so needed. We had a very grey weekend with lots of snow, but they are promising sunny skies tomorrow and I can't wait :)

      Delete
  12. Beautiful! I feel like it's been a long time (only since Saturday morning, really) since I last saw sunlight and shadows. I have a friend who said, once when I was grumbling about February, "I like the light in February." Huh. That made me pause. And (when it's shining) notice the slant of the sun. Light's a good thing to pay attention to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Andrea. The light in February has always been something I have enjoyed, it lifts a little higher in the sky, making all these shadows possible. It is also filled with so much hope of what it to come :) I am happy you are now paying attention to the light.

      Delete
  13. Yes, I will! Thank you for this beautiful reminder. You know how I love the chance to see the ordinary for closely. It's still light out when we sit down to supper nowadays. Such a change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew you would :) You are most welcome my friend. I do know, and you and I share that in common, among other things. We have been enjoying the light at dinner now too, it feels so strange. We even managed to squeeze in a few after dinner walks last week, which feels amazing!

      Delete
  14. oh kim! your poetry and your photos... it is all so beautiful! i LOVE your poem... i want to print it out and post it up where i can be constantly reminded :) and i love love love that beautiful suncatcher as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are much too kind Jenny, thank you for your lovely words. I makes me smile to think you would print this out and use it as a reminder, big thank you for that.

      I think you would love making the Waldorf stars, your kiddos too. They are so much fun. Everyone we visited over the holidays got one, I kinda went a little crazy making them.

      xo

      Delete
  15. Love those moments, when something just looks picture perfect...and you managed to capture it in both photo and words. Nice post.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love all these gorgeous pictures but the window star is my most favorite! We'll need to make some as soon as the hearts that our in our windows come down! They are always such a cheery addition! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Shel. You guys definitely need to make some. We have hearts in our windows too, as you can see from one of the photos...the shadow is there :)

      Hope you are well my friend. xo

      Delete
  17. I love light. I did many projects on light in art school. :) The light here and in my home state is so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very cool KC! Light certainly gives you a different perspective on things.

      Delete
  18. This is just beautiful. Thank you. Your photos are wonderful, captured just right.

    We have lost the light today, it is dull and grey outside but yesterday the light was magnificent. When I opened my curtains in the morning the moon was shining so brightly, there was an orange/pink glow over the hills which were bright white with snow and the sky a beautiful blue. Later on we were driving to a group past a lake the sun was shining on the water making it a deep blue and with the snowy mountains behind it was breathtaking.

    Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share these special moments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.

      That sounds wonderful. I love how light can transform a normal view into somethings spectacular.

      You are most welcome, thank you for joining me and sharing :)

      Delete
  19. I love the photos Kim! Great reminder to slow down and appreciate our surroundings as well. Thanks. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. the light in January and February are my favorites, I think because we are lacking during the start of winter. Lovely words :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that might be it for me too Karen. It is just such a lovely light, and filled with so much promise.

      Thank you.

      Delete
  21. Yes, I will :) Thanks for this post, thanks for your words, your photos. ..

    Have a lovely day!

    Lluisa xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy to have you joining me. You are most welcome.

      You too!
      xo

      Delete
  22. Yes, I join in, as much as I can:)
    Love your beautiful reflection and the beautiful star in your window.
    Karin-Ida

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is just gorgeous. Gorgeous images, and thoughts. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Heather...so nice to see you again :)
      xo

      Delete
  24. Beautiful Kim- both images and words.
    You light up our lives.

    ReplyDelete
  25. These photos are so magical! I especially love that last one! And that window star! I've always wanted one. Yours is lovely!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Summer. You would making the window stars, so much fun!

      Delete
  26. Beautiful photos Kim. Beautiful words. Enjoy. xo

    ReplyDelete
  27. You have such a talent for photography as well as words, beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is beautiful, and needs a sharpened and wide opened eye to be captured! I love the colored folding!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh very definitely yes! I love you window star too - we've got three on our garden doors of various shapes and sizes and I love watching the light shine through them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! We love the window stars. I got a little carried away over the holidays and made a ton of them. Our back door has four, and everyone we visited over the holidays received one :)

      Delete
  30. something about that third photo- I. LOVE. IT.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amanda. Those are the doors to a cabinet in our bathroom that Justin made. I love it too :)

      Delete
  31. I can't believe I missed this post! Somehow, it just slip through my feed. Beautiful words Kim. And yes, we are with you... heat, light, shadows, brilliance... all returning to our day to day life. The energy of it is intoxicating. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Yanic. It is amazing to have the light returning, filling our home with warmth and shadows. It leaves a certain magic in the air :)

      Delete