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All Sparkled Up

~ Like dew hanging from the tip of a leaf, a single bead or word adds sparkle where there was none. BE the bright!

All Sparkled Up

Tag Archives: sunlight

Don’t miss it

23 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, allsparkledup, color, encouragement, gardening, nature, photography, sparkling, sunlight

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encouragement, macro, nature, photography, sparkling, sunlight

Yesterday I took a poinsettia outside to shake out the dead leaves. One leaf from the poinsettia had fallen. And then it rained during the night.

The day was busy but from the dining room, the tiny sparkle caught my eye.

The poinsettia leaf was no longer on the plant. During the night, it rained.

The poinsettia leaf was no longer on the plant. During the night, it rained.

I looked closer and it was even sparklier.

The poinsettia leaf had fallen but it was still good for something. It held rain.

The poinsettia leaf had fallen but it was still good for something. It held rain.

What are you missing today? Is there something you need to look at? What is tiny and quiet that you forgot? Love it all. And if you’re what has fallen, collect light from where you are.

Even a fallen leaf can still be bright. Don't waste anything, even hitting bottom.

Even a fallen leaf can still be bright. Don’t waste anything, even hitting bottom.

Never give up.

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A little snow and ice last week

01 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, allsparkledup, nature, photography, sunlight

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

beautiful, ice, nature, photography, sunlight, winter

Photos just can’t capture what the eye sees. I walked under the ice-coated branches and looked up through them. I wish everyone could experience the beauty of an ice storm. We lost power for a couple days so that wasn’t easy getting through but what I remember most is the crystalline beauty. Diamonds!
1 Winter Jan 2016
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Ballerina in the Sunset

17 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, ballet, beach, nature, photography, sparkling, sunlight, sunset, Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

All Sparkled Up, ballet, beach, children, nature, peaceful, photo, photography, sunlight, sunset

For just a moment, she stood in the sunset.

For just a moment, she stood in the sunset.

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There, in the sun

06 Monday Apr 2015

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, color, family, lighting, photography, sparkling, sunlight

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

color, family, hair, photography, portrait, sunlight

“Don’t move!” I told her.

The sun shines through the west window for a short time each late afternoon, hitting a narrow sliver of wall half way between the dining room and living room. Sometimes I move the dining room chair and sit in that small sliver, if only for a short time and let the sun soak into my face, eyes closed.

She was walking from the living room to the dining room and paused just a moment and I happen to look over at that moment and I told her Don’t move because I wanted to capture the sun on her blue hair.  One moment more either way and I would have missed it.

How many moments like that have we missed because we’re too busy walking or talking or cleaning or doing?  The sun follows the same path every day. It isn’t the sun that changes, it is I. I don’t want to miss what the sun lights.

She stopped briefly in the sun, just long enough for me to capture the frame.

She stopped briefly in the sun, just long enough for me to capture the frame.

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A Warm February Day in the Woods

09 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, family, nature, photography, sparkling, sunlight

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Tags

children, family, nature, photo, photography, sunlight, sunset, trees, woods

In the Woods 14 1

In the Woods 14 2

In the Woods 14 3

In the Woods 14 4

In the Woods 14 5

The sun set slow and beautiful.
The warmth wove between us like soft sunbeams.

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Tea by the Sea

15 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Julia Monroe in family, food, grandkids, nature, sunlight, tea time

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

beach, cakes, cookies, family, food, Mom, ocean, picnic basket, sunlight, sunset, tea, tea time, waiting

She’s six now. Last year she carried a ship to the beach. This year she carried a picnic basket.
1 Tea by the Sea
2 Tea by the Sea
3 Tea by the Sea
4 Tea by the Sea
The delicious treats filled the tray.
5 Tea by the Sea
6 Tea by the Sea
The blooming tea was still warm.
7 Tea by the Sea
8 Tea by the Sea
Coconut Cream glaze dripped down the blueberry pomegranate jam-filled cakes. Some were topped with toasted coconut and macadamias, others were topped with sugared rose and lilac petals. Vanilla pearls were sprinkled on top of shell-shaped spice Madeleines. Tiny oranges looked like blooming lotus blossoms and green and Concorde grapes filled the bowl. Crumbly Lavender Lemon Shortbread squares and tea cups were piled on the picnic basket top.

On the top tray: Vanilla Bean cakes filled with Blueberry Pomegranate Jam and topped with Coconut Cream Glaze, toasted coconut & macadamias, sugared lavender and rose petals. On the bottom tray, Spice Madeleines sprinkled with vanilla pearls. On the dessert plates under the tea cups: Lavender Lemon Shortbread.

On the top tray: Vanilla Bean cakes filled with Blueberry Pomegranate Jam and topped with Coconut Cream Glaze, toasted coconut & macadamias, sugared lavender and rose petals. On the bottom tray, Spice Madeleines sprinkled with vanilla pearls. On the dessert plates under the tea cups: Lavender Lemon Shortbread.

10 Tea by the Sea
She poured a cup of tea and waited by the sea.
11 Tea by the Sea
The sunset was soft and dreamy.
12 Tea by the Sea
The breeze was warm and welcome.
13 Tea by the Sea
The colors were slipping away and still she waited.
14 Tea by the Sea
She didn’t stop hoping
15 Tea by the Sea
And finally her mom sat down. Even when the sunset is gone, Tea by the Sea is best with mom.
16 Tea by the Sea

[We had a wonderful time making the treats for this, setting up the table and photographing it all. Thank you, Gabriel Monroe, for being second shooter and lighting expert. Thank you, Donna, for your lovely suggestions and help. Thank you, Uncle Butch and Aunt Dilly, for the use of your beautiful chair! We had a splendid time and it was perfect.
The lovely lace-embossed Filigree appetizer plates, bowl and infinity tray are by Rosanna, Inc.]

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Snowflake in the window

03 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, art, crafts, nature, photography, sparkling, sunlight, water

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

All Sparkled Up, condensation, crafts, drops, paper snowflakes, photography, snow, snowflakes, sparkling, sunlight, water, window

1 Snowflakes in the window
We’re hoping for real snow. But snowflakes cut from rice paper will do for now.
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8 Snowflakes in the window

And this is my 200th blog post!

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Glorious SUN!

05 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, home decor, lighting, photography, sparkling, sunlight

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

adding windows, dining room, gratitude, home remodel, remodel, renovation, sun, sunlight, windows

That had to be all caps because it’s remarkable. Ever since moving into this house 13 years ago, our dining room didn’t have sun in it. Until now. We are nearly done with the remodel so last night we moved the dining room table out of the living room and back into the dining room. And this afternoon… Afternoon, mind you!!! … I sat at the table to plan an impromptu Wine & Cheese tasting party. IN. THE. SUN. Honestly, I had trouble concentrating on my notes because of the sun. Glorious sun!
There are no windows on the west side of our house and the roof has a big overhang so our home gets very little direct sun in it. The solution was two arch windows extending as high as possible in the west wall. I’ll make a blog post with more details soon.
Just look at this!

First sitting at the table in the sun!

First sitting at the table in the sun!


To anyone else, that photo would be completely unremarkable. But I’m an artist, photographer and lover of sunshine. To not have sun is like Michelangelo having no paint. There are no accessories or furniture in the world as glorious as sun. I can’t believe I actually get to live here!

I hope I never get to the point of taking something so basic for granted. I basked in sun today.

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Today and One Year Ago Today

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in home decor, Inspirational, lighting, Scoliosis, sunlight, time, Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

arch windows, inspirational, one year ago, one year ago today, painting, renovation, Scoliosis, scoliosis surgery, sunlight, surgery

One year ago today I had scoliosis surgery. I had an 18″ incision and two titanium rods inserted the entire length of my spine.
Today I put masking tape around the trim of the new windows.
Painting trim-2
One year ago, my back was fused from T1 to pelvis. I could barely move.
Today I stretched high as I worked.
Painting trim-1
One year ago the bolts in almost every vertebrae and four in my pelvis made me unable to move without assistance.
Today I gathered supplies and worked on the major renovation.
Painting trim-3
One year ago, my hands shook as I pressed the morphine button.
Today I firmly held the paintbrush and stroked the smooth white paint over the trim.
Painting trim-4
One year ago, the nurse kept telling me to open my eyes. I had trouble staying awake and the pain seemed less severe when my eyes were shut.
Today the afternoon sun streamed through the wall that had never had a window before.
Painting trim-5
One year ago, I could barely handle the next minute. Recovery seemed impossible. I couldn’t sit up. I felt shattered but glad the surgery was over.
Today I sat at my computer editing photos. Today I mopped the floor. Today I washed dishes and dusted and painted.
Painting trim-6
If things seem dark today, don’t despair. Amazing things can happen in a year.

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Flickering Light

16 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by Julia Monroe in sparkling, sunlight

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Tags

disco ball, mirror ball, reflecting the sky, sunlight, window

Usually around this time of year I start missing moving light. During spring, summer and fall the sunlight splashes off leaves outside and they are constantly moving light around. Even if I’m not looking outside, my eye catches those dancing specks, like sparks of a warm fire. In winter the light outside is so still that it makes the house seem cold and dark. I miss the flickering!

So that’s when I get out the mirror ball. It is five inches in diameter, covered with mirrors like a mini disco ball. I hang it with a thin cord from the curtain rod in the sunny window. The ball is always gently moving and sometimes I give it a good spin. The squares of light dash all the way across the dining room to the living room walls, filling my space with movement and light.

Even when there isn’t much light, such as the overcast sky today, the ball still spins merrily in the window, reflecting the sky. The room is all sparkled up now.

Mirror Ball in the Window

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