Crazy for Koi!

I have become a fan of Koi fish in the last year, and these are no exception. What beauties! They are so graceful, bright and colorful. It looks like Nature spilled her paintbox in a joyful way here...

I love watching the Koi swim gracefully back and forth.
They are such lovely colors , and so bright!

Have any food for us?...

Any food?...

For us?... 

I love the texture and color on this one...

I love the gloss on the water here, and the beauty of the Koi...

Nature is not shy when it comes to using dazzling colors!...

Like a pearly ghost in the blackness of the water...

...and with its fellows. A beautiful contrast...

I hope you have enjoyed looking at these images. I did not use any color enhancement on these, in case anyone is wondering. The Koi really are that bright. 

Blessings,

Linda

A Wee Bit of Christmas Humor, Courtesy of Dasher

She does not look too impressed does she, with the idea of flying all around the world in one night on Christmas Eve? She is actually waiting for her keeper to bring her some raisins, of which, I found out, reindeer are passionately fond.

When the keeper said that children could come and feed her some apple slices, I did not hesitate. I took my place in line among the 4, 5, and 6 year olds. I told the keeper, "I am one of the children, for today."
I was so tickled at getting to feed a reindeer! As excited as the children! Not an experience one has every day.

Blessings,
Linda

Random Beauty of the Season I

Whatever your path, there is always beauty and interest to be found in Nature.   These images are from my various wanderings during the Autumn season. Welcome. Walk with me....

The road from Carkeek Park back to 3rd Ave NW. Seattle.

These beautiful colors were only 1 block from my house.  I think they want to be noticed...

Such intricacy in the shapes and textures of these cones, especially paired with the beautiful and tender green of the needles...

Fallen to its sleep, yet kissed by the rain...

I love the way the moss on these branches glows in the slanting sunshine, while the branches themselves are dark and crisp...

The tender blush on these leaves is so lovely with the blessings of raindrops...

Another view of these leaves, against their deeper green neighbors...

The moss is so thick and lush on these branches. Their color really glows in the slanting light of dusk...

The final gift. Like a net of dreams. Pick one raindrop and make a wish...

I hope you have enjoyed this ramble with me.

Blessings,
Linda

Woodland Garden, Arboretum

Color Therapy. When I see colors this intense and beautiful, I concentrate on breathing them into my body. It is very uplifting and energizing...

Welcome to the Woodland Garden at the Washington Arboretum... 

This space is tucked in among the trees, like a secret that you may discover if you are paying  attention...

To stand on this small dock, surrounded with the richness of fallen leaves and the treasure still on the trees is to feel enveloped by beauty...

Floating on the water...

Another view of the dock, water and trees...

Leaves and algae...

Lush colors and textures. Nature is unendingly intricate...

Enticement to solace and shelter...

A place to dream and breathe, breathe deep...

Beauty is waiting to be discovered and experienced at every moment wherever you are. If you ask for it, it will reveal itself to you, in small ways and large ways, in subtle ways and in the joyful riot of color that is Autumn...

Blessings,
Linda

The Leaves Were Dancing

Driving to work this morning I could not help but notice the leaves by the side of the road. They were dancing. Yes, dancing! Bouncing up and down like excited children, doing somersaults, cartwheels, and skittering around in circles in a joyful chase. It made me laugh out loud. One big leaf did 5 cartwheels right in front of me. No music on the radio was worthy of the music they were dancing to. It made me want to dance too. Awesome, joyful way to start the day.

Angels

This is a series begun in the studio when I was attending Evergreen State College, around 1996. It was an experiment, at the time, in working with light, reflective surfaces, and color. I re-visited these recently, and have updated them in Photoshop, and added some mild effects. The majority of what you see here was accomplished in the studio. I am calling these figures angels, but they could just as easily represent the human spirit, or the human aura. Divine Light and Creative Energy all. I hope these inspire, give solace, intrigue, or offer hope to those who are needing it.

My Documentary Videos via You Tube

I am so thrilled that the 2 documentary films I created in 2006, BellyDance: An Inside View, and Mish Mish,  are now live on the web, via You Tube! Links are below, along with images from the videos.

The first video,  BellyDance: An Inside View  is the first film I ever made or edited. I created this project while I was a student at Shoreline Community College, studying Video Field Production and Film Editing, in 2006. It is my love letter to the world of bellydance and the profoundly positive effect it had on my life, as a student, a performer, and a great lover of the art form itself. Many performers and students signed releases and allowed me to film them in class, at home, and during their performances, for the sake of this project. I am deeply grateful for their generosity. 

BellyDance: An Inside View ©2006 Linda Gayle Parker 

 Scenes from the video:

Troupe Zamani, as seen in the video, BellyDance: An Inside View

The first time I ever perfomed in public, as discussed in BellyDance: An Inside View

Elizabeth Dennis discusses how dance helped her body to heal from cancer, from BellyDance: An Inside View

Camaraderie and meaningful friendships often blossom in the world of bellydance, from BellyDance: An Inside View

The second video Mish Mish  was lovingly created as a tribute to my first bellydance teacher, Mish Mish, who is  a legendary performer and teacher in Seattle. She generously gave me her time, access to her home and her classes, and allowed me to film one of her live performances. I also thank her students who unanimously signed releases and allowed me to film them during classes with Mish Mish.

Mish Mish ©2006 Linda Gayle Parker

 Scenes from the video:

Mish Mish performing, in the video, Mish Mish

Detail of one of Mish Mish's self-designed and handmade costumes, from the video, Mish Mish

Taking a walk in the Washington Park Arboretum always reminds me of the incredibly intricate traceries, interconnectedness, and infinite creativity of Life. From a seed, a spark of energy, all of this is possible. It always gives me hope for the future. New patterns, new directions emerge all of the time. Toward light, toward nourishment, Life thrives...

All Photos © 2011 Linda Gayle Parker, All Rights Reserved

This is typical of the intricate beauty of a walk in The Arboretum...

A bridge near the entrance to the Azalea Way path. I love the old fashioned street lights and the moss...

Quiet path leading into the deep green...

Blossoms, blossoms, everywhere...

These leaves were so bright in the sunshine. After enduring a long, grey winter, this felt like color-therapy, a total rush...

Tulip Tree with lovely pink blossoms...

Blossom from a Tulip Tree. These are a particular favorite of mine...

A wonderful little meadow off the side of the path and down an embankment...

This reminded me of the lines of a musical score, with blossoms instead of notes...

Closeup of blossoms from the same tree...

I love finding these fertility shapes and symbols in Nature. They are everywhere. Gaia's Vulva.

New green, new blossoming, new traceries, new Life.