Lighten & lift

These flowers really caught my eye. The textures & colours lighten & lift the spirit. On an evening when I'm very tired they felt like the perfect pics to share with you.

Happy Wednesday folks
That's it for now ...
Nics
Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

The gift in Detail

Today I am linking up with Darcy for her P52 - prompt Detail - and Lisa Jo, for Five Minute Friday with her prompt - Gift.

Again, I have been shooting with my iPhone, which was the only camera to hand over the course of the day. These pictures were taking using the available light, and I feel are a little dark, but as I am posting this on the run, they are what I have got today.  And, sometimes, I truly believe, 'what we have got today' can be perfect. To be able to work with the tools that are placed in front of us at any given moment is a gift, and it's a one that can be learnt.

My parents, frequently told us as we grew up 'a bad workman always blames his tools'.  Part of that proverb is of course true, the bit about the bad workman, and always looking for an excuse.  Someone or something to shirt the responsibility onto, when whatever is being done doesn't work.

They used it to teach us to work with what we had.  To realise that situations weren't always perfect, and there often was a better way to do things, but sometimes we just have to run with what is in front of us. Again and again, they told us being able to work with what we have in any given situation will save your bacon.  Guess what - They were right.

It is a gift I firmly believe to be adaptable, to work with what is in front of us, and to make it work.  Some of my best memories, are of times when I have had to make it work, in the most ridulous of circumtances.

I recall the evening, I was given £10 to cool a three course meal for four, in a kitchen with a gas burner with one setting,  two rickety saucepans, no salt, and no wooden spoon.  Less than ideal.

I worked with what I had, and what was in the fridge - bacon, cabbage, chick peas, vanilla ice cream, and there was a bar of toberlone, and some rice lurking in the back of the cupboard.

I made crudites and houmous.  Followed by bacon & cabbage risotto and then vanilla ice cream with Toberlone sauce.  It was a feast, and went down perfectly.  How did I work without salt - that Irish secret, salted butter.

The photographs I am sharing with you today, are from a function in the new Titanic Building in Belfast, the staff were preparing to host a banquet, and the tables each had bunches of spring flower on them.  Their colour made me smile.  The flowers brought a joy to the room, and created an amibance of colour. When I walked into the loos, several more little bunches of spring flowers greeted me. I couldn't help but smile.  Boring tiled loo's were full of the colour of spring. Flowers on the table, and the bathrooms.  The detail of creating an experience in all parts of the function was a gift for those attending, it brought smiles to faces, and was endlessly remarked upon.

How do you like to give gifts in detail?

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt and Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Crocus - Sweet Shot Tuesday

 Isn't Spring such a sparkling time of year - life that has been growing, and surviving through the winter suddenly shoots through, into the crowing glory of bloom.  

These crocuses really captured my imagination, to the point that I pulled my car over lay down on the grass, and shot them; before heading on to my destination.

They were literally a carpet on the ground measuring a good 30 metres long, and several wide.

Sometimes the journey is stopping to take the picture, when the moment inspires you.

Today I am linking up with Darcy's Sweet Shot Tuesday, what have you been shooting - join us?

Happy Tuesday.

That's it for now.

Nics

Salt and Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Breathe - 17

I am going crazy for tulips right now.  Everything about them makes me smile, and brings a warmness to my heart.

What is it about the colour of Spring that makes you smile?

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt and Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Faded Glory

Shadows of their faded glory, show how stunning tulips can be even when they begin to wither. Attracted by their shape, vibrancy, form and colour, I chose them for this week's P52.  Head over to Darcy's blog and show me what you have been shooting.  

Now to today's Five Minute Friday - Real - I am linking this to yesterday's post - Who I'm I - this is my list

ME

I chase light

I look for shadows

Loving to be in creation

Interaction

I walk, and run, dream, and leap

Organiser

I hope, and find beauty in the dawn, and dust

The dusk, and the twilight, the ever changing light

I see your heart

I love that the first thing you did was create

And, that you gave me creativity

Vision

Wisdom

A friend, an explorer, a dreamer, 

I shine

I hold you in my heart, and I listen

Every morning, every moment, I love to listen to you voice

I marvel at the wonders of your creation - I celebrate you the creator, 

Creative

I am a warrior

I fight

You are my healer

Pain that defined me has been broken

I claim your promises for my life - I call them forth

I refuse to be trapped by my past, 

I remember that I am free

I make the choice to live in freedom

Freedom

I speak, I talk, I reach out

Walking every day, each step into your inheritance

I share

Loving life, adoring people

I seek company, but I adore solitude

Animals bring me endless joy

I choose JOY

Prayer is as essential to me as breath

You are my inhale, and exhale, my YHWH

YHWH what I say with every breath

I fly, I hope, I speak

For you I am a storyteller

Hoping, trying to bring - your love, your hope, your conversation in all I do, to all I meet

I want to be a hope walker

Prophetic, you have made me a seer

I seek your wisdom, and test the waters, and words

I speak

I sing

Worship

I dedicate again my work to you, may my work give people an opportunity to meet with you, exactly where they need to

I am FREE

You fought for my freedom - you gave it to me freely, because you are a lover

You walk beside me as I fight to walk in that freedom

You hold my hand, guide my walk

Holding your dreams so incredible, so magnificient in my hands, I say thank you

I hope I don't let you down

I hear your words

I read your words, I long for your word

I commune with nature

Stretching I find your peace, as I move my body

Running

I feel your pleasure when I write

You are my vision, my hope, the owner of my heart

Imagination

A sister, a friend, I dream of being a wife, a mother, a Granny

A writer

published

You are my resting place - ever present in my moments

I am your Queen, your daughter, your beloved

Your girl, 

Colour

Anointed

Holy

You fill me up

Conquer

Breakthrough

FREEDOM

I have strength, I have power, I have resources, I have community - all because of you

You are my alpha and omega, my everything

I look for your perspective

I lay my life at your feet

I grasp your hand, and I walk into our future

Through you I can do all things

I inhale, I exhale

YHWH

That's it for now...

Nics

Salt and Sparkle = Life Remarkable

First Light of Spring

In the cold dreary light of January, a little white flower blossoms.  It brings hope, joy and the first light of spring.  The snowdrop, is there a more delicate, or beautiful flower, showing in the wonder of spring.

As I took these shots, Toby, our 14 year old lab/retriever cross came out to see what I was shooting, gave me the perfect opportuntiy to get a few shots of him.

I'm linking up with Darcy's Sweet Shot Tuesday - I'd love to see what you have been shooting.

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt and Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Lavender - Breathe 13

The scent of Lavender will always be my favourite fragrance.  I love its fresh sweetness, and how it soothes the most frayed of nerves.  I nearly always have a bottle of Lavender essential oil in my bar.  Look at the picture today, find your space, and breathe, imagine the heady scent of lavender feels, and that feeling of calmness surrounding you.

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt and Sparkle = Life Remarkable