Thankfulness

My first glimpse... of Lake Wateree...



beautiful



and serene











I moved my camera to the right, out across the body of water.




As quickly as the lens had opened, and just as the lens closed, I caught a flash glimpse of tiny shimmering stars of light...

...stars that were dancing across the beam of light, gleefully shining, disrupting the flatly placid, still and peaceful surface of the lake.



The light that
I witnessed
that day
did not end
there.
It was everywhere,
shining behind otherwise dull,
brown weeds...
displaying an
array of
come-to-life
scenes.



The forrest
was deep
and
full
of
vibrant
colorful light...
shadows enhanced,
by the
different plays
of light
and dark...




There were
deep reds,
bright yellows,
blending
with the
rich blues
and greens
of
still alive
grasses





...and
there were
the naked trees
that stood alone,
amidst
a backdrop
of sunshiney yellow
and sweet pine green.


I had the priviledge of staying at a beautiful 3-story family lakehouse for the holiday. It was perfect, lots of open space and bright light... plenty of room for each to do their own thing, kids on the basement level, and a kitchen to die for in the main living area. This house was full tilt buggy, to include elevator that went from the basement to top level. The main living area, on the 2nd level, had a ceiling height at least 30 ft., at least it went to the 3rd level... and with beautiful exotic woods throughout, and wooden adornments in every direction, huge windows and even a large wrap around deck. The bathrooms were beautifully tiled in mosaic suns, moons and stars. The walls were jam packed with every sort of imaginable artwork having to do with nature, birds, fish and what not. It was peaceful... and so awesome for solitude, as well as huge family gatherings.

I had forgotten to bring reading material and ended up scrounging through their bookcase. Yes, this calm and peaceful place was perfect for catching up on some reading. I ended up finding an awesome little book entitled A Gathering of Old Men. A story set around the 60's or 70's, but looking back in the early part of the last century... about racial tensions, slavery and ignorance, and men who had been too frightened to stand up, lest they be silenced forever... and then, when they were old and didn't care any longer, wanting to make sense of their wasted lives, they decide to stand up...set in a Louisiana backdrop. Quite the book to read, surrounded by such earthly materialistic pleasures. Makes one thankful, indeed, for so many things.

But the thing that I was most thankful for were all the sights that my camera had found, while out walking. Geese, as they sat on the dock, little waves rocking them to and fro... and white birds in flight, set against a background of warm brown sand. The vast array of colors that teased my senses... the bright light as it shown through the vibrant red, orange, green, and yellow leaves... the shadows as they swayed and danced across the forrest floor... the wind, as it blew tiny puffs of seeded fluff balls through the air, and the way the sun made each tiny puff ball glow... and the sounds of yelping foxes, when the evening had come. Most importantly, the love and warmth of family gathered 'round.


Love on the docks...















... and once we'd returned home...

















... the beautific pond behind our house...