Tag: beauty

The sun sinks slowly to the horizon, creating an orange band of glowing light across all the eye can see.  On the beach its color glistens in the wet sand after the wave has washed away.

The tide rises.  Choppy waves come with greater power and frequency, the very tips of their white frothy lip so thin you can see the orange – now pink – sunlight through them.  I forget how loud the ocean is until the lull between sets.  The last wave crashes and there is an audible, bubbly hush that dances across the beach and leaves me hanging on that quiet pause, marveling that a living thing as immense as the ocean can be so hushed, if only for an instant.  Then somewhere off to the right a small wave breaks and begins the thundering noise once more.

I look out across the vastness of the water.  It’s my favorite time, in some ways, the time of day when the ocean glistens with iridescent blue, green, steel and silver, as if dawning its starry evening gown for one last brilliant dance before dark.  My eyes drink it in, my heart tries to memorize it all – the light, the glistening colors, the setting sun.  I’ve seen it countless times and yet it is everlastingly new and fresh.

I never tire of it.

Suddenly the sun sits low, a great disc, fat on the horizon.  I wish for my camera but know from experience that even that cannot really capture the moment.  I sigh inwardly.  It’s our last sunset on the beach.  Only my immense joy in the moment prevents the stinging in my eyes from becoming a tear trickling down my cheek.  All that time waiting for sunset yet it slips so quickly out of sight, it’s large heaviness suddenly too much for a slow exit.

I look around once more, at the flash of golden color across the sky, the most beautiful colors of my experience, shimmering far as I can see.  It is new and yet old.  It will greet me next year as it did a week ago:  an old friend full of new discoveries, with new lessons to teach.  It is the ocean.

And the moment is gone.  A little arm tugs on my leg, reminding me I’m needed.  We turn in the gathering darkness toward the lights of the house.

Until next year.

Cool morning temperatures, a gentle breeze, blue skies, and some incredible clouds lit up by the rising sun.

It’s good to be alive.


Have a great weekend!

Jennifer

Ok, here are the second half of my “nature” photos from our recent trip.


I thought this tree was so interesting.  The trunk seems to be composed of last year’s growth being pruned off.  I love that the leaves are graceful and fern-like, and the play of pattern next to the traditional palm leaves is beautiful.


All the enormous leaves were stunning.




I know I should remember the name of these blue flowers but it’s escaping me.  I loved the size of them and how they were planted in mass.  They remind me a bit of the allium that is more common where I live.  Can anyone help me with the name?  It was fun to see them all over the place.


And how cool are these tree trunks?  We were all impressed by their spikes.  I think the brown spikes on the lime green trunk is so pretty.


Fern leaves are always pretty.




The first thing I noticed about this fern was its herringbone type pattern formed by the closeness of each stem.  Kind of a sawtooth herringbone pattern.  Isn’t it pretty?!  Of all the things I noticed, this might be my favorite.


It’s always interesting to see an old, mature tree sprout a tiny little branch near it’s base.


Lastly, the play of leaves here was so interesting.  In the foreground are tulip leaves dying back with a pretty bush behind.  I don’t know what it is, but the graceful little leaves and the colors reminded me of a burning bush.  Of course the red leaves add interest and depth to the view, and the palm branch gracefully draping itself over the bush is unusually pretty.  In my own landscaping I lean too often to flowers to provide interest.  This picture reminds me that greenery can play off itself in startling beauty if planted well,  a lesson I’m trying to take to heart.


It is all so beautiful;  a reminder of our infinitely creative Father in Heaven.  How grateful I am for His generosity in creating such a beautiful home away from home for us.

Have you noticed something beautiful lately?

Hopeful Homemaker