Photography – Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques

Busy Mason Bee

Red zinnia sways in sunlight

Sky robin’s egg blue.

Photograph copyrighted Jenny W. Andrews 2023

Little Lizard on a Leaf

By now, you’ve probably figured out that I enjoy photographing creatures in my garden.

I love nature and find peace and joy in simply watching the quiet little world beneath leaves and inside flower buds.

It is calming to just take a few moments to pause and watch these little creatures go about their day.

I often marvel at the intricacies of this earth. Have you ever paused and just wondered about all that this earth contains: the plants, the insects, the land animals, the sky animals, the sea animals, flowers, food crops, natural resources, et cetera and so on?

Without a doubt, God has powerfully and wonderfully designed and blessed His creation.

So, on this Monday afternoon, just take a few moments from the hustle and bustle of your busy life and consider all the beauty that God had made.

Raindrops on Pink Crepe Myrtle

A brief reprieve from the crushing heat. A steady drizzle, gray clouds hover and burst, spilling cool raindrops that dangle from the pretty deep pink flower clusters of the crepe myrtle tree in my backyard.

Beauty and joy. These are what nature brings. Of course, there are storms, drought, floods, and an assortment of natural disasters that can befall this ancient earth.

But, deep within the earth’s surface, a riot of roots dig deeply and spread like the limitless hands of God and replenishes us with its fertile bounty.

The earth lives forever because of the seeds that burst forth with life and multiply forever.

This crepe myrtle sprouted from the other crepe myrtles in my yard. Years ago, I’d only planted two crepe myrtles. Now, I have several that have sprouted from those trees.

I have young oak trees that have sprouted from the other oaks, as well.

So, when I see the raindrops dangling from the pretty pink flowers of the crepe myrtle I am reminded of eternity because the rain will water the parched earth and return to the clouds because of the continuous movement of the rain cycle.

God is in control of His beloved earth. He has created the rain, wind, trees, all that is within.

So, when you are despairing of the excessive heat this summer, please just remember that it is just a cycle; the coolness of autumn will come, and so will the chill of winter.

And the cycle will start over again.

Trust in God’s love for his beloved earth and His love for us, his children.

It will rain again.

It will snow again.

And, we will be reminded of God’s power.

It is all, after all, in His loving hands.

Lemons and Oranges

Just the other day while putting my groceries away, I put my oranges and lemons in the bowl on the kitchen counter. And, I know that sounds rather mundane, but at the instant the sunlight filtered through the window above my sink and I noticed the intricacies of the colors, yellow and orange. So different, but so beautiful.

It makes me consider all the beauty this world is filled with, all the depths of color that exists. Pale blues, scarlet and cherry reds, lavender and lilac hues of purple, pastel pink and deep fuchsia, bright pearl white and rich ebony shades of onyx.

Yes, the world is filled with such beauty. The earth is God’s masterpiece and He has painted it with brilliant hues that is a gift to us.

Take the time to notice this gift that God has blessed us with.

Seek out the beauty in the simple moments.

And, share with the world.

Have a blessed week ahead.

Grasshopper on Zinnia Stem

I’ve finally managed to get a photo of this little grasshopper that has been clinging to the pink zinnia in my back yard. He nestles himself closely to the green stem and attempts to not be seen. Granted, you have to peer very closely to see the little green guy. Earlier, he’d scurried away when I had tried to photograph him; well, I’ve been quietly sneaky and finally photographed him.

I just wanted to share this photograph because of the quiet beauty of this image.

Early morning or late evening it is amazing just how many little creatures you can spy beneath leaves and in the grass. I love nature because it gives me a sense of peace. All is well with the world if you spend time simply enjoying the beautiful world that God has blessed us with.

So, turn off your cell phones and computers this weekend and go outside to enjoy the beauty of the day. Take some time to really look at the nature around you. It is inspiring just how perfectly formed God’s creation is.

Have a beautiful weekend.

White Rose

Delicate petals

White like snow in late winter

Eternal beauty.

Nature photography: Finding Joy in the Silence

I’ve been organizing my poetry all week, so I decided to take a break and enjoy my rose garden. The photo I’ve included here is a cluster of my lavender roses. They are so beautiful in their simplicity.

It’s my opinion that we can find peace and joy in the simple things that this life has to offer us. Far too many times, people are in a continuous state of angst and worry, always striving for the next thing to do, the next item to purchase, et cetera and so on.

So, in the past few years, I’ve learned to slow down and take the time to walk in my garden and enjoy the simply beauty of sunlight on rose petals and the simple joy of listening to birds singing in the trees. Also, I can’t forget the family of squirrels that scurry around first thing in the morning and leap around my privacy fence. They entertain me with their antics when they chase each other across the fence and up into the leafy oak tree branches.

Silence brings rest and peace. Early morning before the birds awaken and sing, I like to just simply listen to the earth’s silence.

There is joy, peace and rest in nature. That’s the reason I love to capture a snapshot of my garden.

I hope you enjoy the photo.

And I hope you take the time to find joy in the silence.

A Walk in Winter

On this chilly, gray overcast, windy winter afternoon, I took a walk in a garden near my house. I saw this beautifully red flower with raindrops on its petals. Such beauty! I took a photo and just had to share it with the world.

As with enter this winter season, we tend to fear the ravishes of cold and the uncertainty of a new year. We look behind ourselves and oftentimes regret those things we failed to accomplish in the past twelve months.

The past slaps us in the face as it slowly dawns on us that we wasted precious time with empty pursuits, such as scrolling websites on our phones or binge watching Netflix.

We can never get back wasted time.

Truly time waits for nobody.

Such are the thoughts that ran through my mind as I walked in the garden and noticed flowers in various stages of life and decay. This beautiful flower was still aflame with life and vibrant beauty. But, one day it will, too, fade away.

So, I captured its image with my camera so that I can be reminded of beauty, of the brilliance of life.

Before it fades away.

As we move into 2023, into a new year filled with the unknown, please be reminded that time is fleeting, but life is still a blessing.

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Do not waste a second being fearful; have courage; trust in God and know that you are never alone in your despair.

Have courage to accomplish your goals for 2023. Do not waste a second. Life is precious; life is fleeting.

And, life is magnificently beautiful.

Take a walk in a garden on a chilly winter afternoon and be amazed by flowers that are still in bloom.

Monday Blessings

Okay, Monday can either be interpreted as good or bad.

Well, I think it is all in our decision to either be happy or not; to either look up at the brilliant sunshine or cool rain, or to look down at the sticks and brambles that hurt our feet.

This is a photo of a little donkey I saw in the countryside of The Republic of Ireland back in October 2008. It makes me smile; it reminds me of that absolutely breathtaking landscape of mountains and lakes and stone bridges, and that tiny ancient whisper of my great-grandmother Mary Ellen’s people who had to abandon those magical green fields for the unknown land way across the ocean.

I walked those cobblestone paths in Dublin, County Cork, Kilkenny and thought of those footsteps that had preceded me. And, I smile.

On this Monday in late June, I smile at the beauty of memory; I smile at how decisions can change history, for either good or bad. It always depends on who is telling the tale. And, truly, only the passing of time can really determine whether those decisions were either good or bad.

Great-grandmother Mary Ellen’s people settled in the blazing heat of Georgia, farmed the land, toiled there, raised a family, and through their decisions, I am here on this Monday thanking God for the blessings of my life.

I am thankful for this beautiful Monday; I decide to spend this day after work writing on my new poetry book.

I plan to spend this beautiful Monday in happiness and thankfulness.

And remembering those beautiful moments I spent in The Republic of Ireland patting a silly donkey behind the ears.

Beauty to Begin the Week

Well, here we are at the end of another month. It’s hard to believe that we are half way finished with 2022. Time truly flies and doesn’t wait for any of us to make up our minds how we plan to spend the hours that we are given.

Pictured here is a duck that used to hang around the lake near my house. I took this photo nearly ten years ago; but, it feels like just yesterday.

As we all near this last week in June 2022 let’s consider how we plan to spend the following months of 2022.

Is there a goal that you have wanted to complete, but you keep procrastinating? Ask yourself why you keep procrastinating? What’s holding you back? Is fear of failure holding you back?

Consider this: Tomorrow comes no matter whether we are afraid are not. Tomorrow comes whether we waste away our precious minutes scrolling through a computer screen or whether we set aside the time to learn a new skill. Or, whether we call an old friend to just chat rather than send an impersonal message via social media or text message. Tomorrow comes whether we sit in front of the television and mindlessly eat chips and watch Seinfeld reruns (I love Seinfeld so trust me I am not disparaging Seinfeld), or whether we set aside thirty minutes to exercise.

Or, whether we set aside an hour to begin that novel we have in our head.

My point is is that time pays us no attention. It is this incredible gift that most of us squander. We bank on tomorrow. Well, I will get started tomorrow. . .we say.

While, yes, tomorrow does always come, truth is that unfortunately our tomorrows are not promised to any of us. So, those that we are blessed with should be used as productively as possible.

So, as we all turn our sights toward tomorrow, let’s consider what we can do to learn and to grow, to move toward a new skill, to explore a new place, to not let our precious and time-limited existence in this beautiful world be wasted.

Indeed, this life is beautiful. Of course, there are challenges. Life is complex. However, we have control over how we are going to spend our time.

So, make no excuses or time will make the decision for you.

Get going.

Start actively to set aside time to do what your heart yearns to do.

Pursue your passion. Don’t let fear stop you. Be fearless; most of all, trust completely in God and he will provide.

But, you have to get moving.

Blessings!