Photos By Rhonda McDougall

There is no doubt that summer storms create, deep in my Heart and Soul, feelings of excitement, fear, anticipation and some dread as well. Growing up mainly in Alberta, electrical storms were part of life. My Mom loved to watch the storms — she saw their beauty and we learned to feel the same way.

As an adult I lived on Vancouver Island for many years before moving back ‘home’ two years ago.  On the Island electrical storms are infrequent so this summer has definitely helped to reacquaint me with the wild, loud, sometimes destructive prairie weather.  There have definitely been some “Oh My Goodness!” moments for me when a streak of lightning connects somewhere and the thunder claps right away.

Two weeks ago we decided to explore the countryside east of Edmonton … to see places we hadn’t seen for years. The weather was hot, very humid. By noon the almost-black clouds were quickly building … billowing from within it seemed. As they morphed I was reminded of the way a marshmallow roasted over a campfire will open and the insides will bubble up and spill out.

The vibrant, intense colors were surreal …. the churning charcoal-colored clouds with pink tinges, the deep yellow flowers of the canola fields, the green grasses. The power within the storm — threats of a tornado touching down somewhere, the rumbling thunder and flashes of lightning.   Awesome to say the least.

As I grow older my concerns are for the innocent victims – human, animal and plant — harmed or destroyed by war, natural disaster, neglect or abuse.  That Tuesday — July 24 — my concerns were about the lightning, driving rain, wind, hail and/or possible tornado.  So many emotions filled my Heart!  Finally I remembered a dear friend’s words of wisdom:  “Rhon, please remember that you can’t protect everyone and everything.”

Sometimes I’m a slow learner.

The road ahead …….

Colors, energy …. anticipation … and a little concern

Approaching Storm ….

Colors, Textures, Energy ….

Dancing … between the Storms

Looking back toward Edmonton ….

Sometimes a person simply needs quiet time in the garden … time to sit back and observe what’s there.  Then the imagination can get a little silly and start to play around ………. and it’s absolutely “free” entertainment!!    This endearing cat has resided in my sister and brother-in-law’s garden for years …. through hot summers and frigid winters … but he continues to smile!!

I hope you chuckle over this image!    Wonder what words of wisdom he would share, if he could speak?

This image is available as a greeting card or an art card.

“Wheeeee!” Crazy Cat Hangin’ On!!

A peaceful evening … I’m looking after my sister and brother-in-law’s “4-legged-kids” while they are away on vacation … and the world is good.

Just watched “American Idol” … next week is the grand finale of this season’s competition.  I can imagine how exhausted …. yet energized … the 2 finalists  will be during this coming week as the excitement builds.   So many challenges left to meet!   It’s amazing to see how all of the contestants have grown … blossomed … over the past weeks.    Their presentations reflect the lessons, rehearsals and resulting increased self-confidence.    What a journey for each of these young people … to take that all important “leap of faith” to pursue a dream.   I wish each Idol contestant  — and everyone who has the courage to follow creative passion in Life — inner peace, joy, humility and a never-ending sense wonder.

Each new day … lived a breath at a time.  With gratitude.

Thank you for visiting my site … I hope you will return time and again.

Please remember that the images in my portfolios are available as cards …. many also as art prints.    Please contact me if you’re interested in learning more.

Christine, my best friend for almost 48 years, and I flew home to Edmonton last night  after enjoying a week’s “get-away-from-it-all” with friends who live just outside the small town of Sooke, BC.    http://www.sooke.org/

Each day when we looked out the kitchen and living room windows we saw the ocean and the natural beauty surrounding our friends’ home:  the forest, the flowers, the squirrels, rabbits, deer (a doe and her year-old fawn), quail, hummingbirds, junkos, towhees, jays and flickers.    We saw amazing sunsets, star-filled night skies … and some heavy rain.

It’s hard to believe that  the small village my husband and I moved to in late 1986 has “grown up” to become a town!

We played tourist for six wonderful days — meeting old friends and chatting over meals, a glass or two of merlot, or cups of coffee.    We walked on the Whiffen Spit and we wandered the familiar trails of Point No Point and the Galloping Goose.    My camera was always with me.

St. Rose of Lima, the small parish I attended for years, will be celebrating Mass in their new church next Sunday.  This week volunteers will be busy packing and unpacking — during this period of transition the parishioners are filled with mixed emotions — sadness at leaving the “old” behind but also excitement about the future.    Thank you, Bruce, for showing us through the  “church in the woods”,  a beautiful new building that blends in with the landscape and the neighbourhood.   Thank you for telling us about the planning, the environmental concerns, the construction … and the dreams for the future.   http://www.strosesooke.org/

This brief vacation … and the opportunity to step into the past … reminded me how quickly Time passes!    So many memories — happy and sad.  Joyful laughter and tears.  Life.

I’m grateful to have been able to re-connect with so many people who were — and still are — a special part of my memories, my life.    Stretching my comfort zone a little more, I took some of my greeting cards and art prints to share with old friends — and new.   Their positive, encouraging response to my work touched my Heart more than I can say.

Over the next few days I hope to upload photos I’ve taken in and around Sooke over the years.     Please drop by to see them!

In the meantime, I’d like to share one of my photographs (taken February, 2010 in South Carolina) that seemed to be a ‘favourite’.

About The Photo  —   I’m attracted by the colors, the angles, the reflection in the window at the far end of the balconies and the Atlantic Ocean.  The shades of blue speak of my sadness.   The angles represent the detours and roadblocks we sometimes encounter on our Life’s Journey.  In the window’s reflection I see that we can glance back while still moving forward.  I see the Unknown just beyond the horizon and the deep, calm-seeming waters of the Present.  The breaking waves run joyfully up the sandy beach — bringing with them a sense of promise.

Perspective.    Perception.    Life.

Perspective. Perception. Life.