I am enjoying studying approach to contemplative design called Wabi Sabi.  It's all about spending time quieting your mind, understanding what is front of you, accepting it, and then appreciating it's beauty, with all of it's imperfections.  It's not about perfecting beauty, but understanding and appreciating , and taking the scene or object or person "as is".

I wanted to share with you a number of images that I've had the privilege of taking in the Wabi Sabi tradition.

This first image was taken earlier this spring while traveling on the Pacific Coast in Oregon.  I loved the whimsical display of Owls and birds on a tanks that travels along the diagonal.  What I appreciate about this image is the three pieces of bird artwork and how they are displayed on the tree.  It catches your attention and makes you smile.

We had a very heavy snowfall in mid-April, unusual for us.  Our street wasn't plugged for a couple of days.  I finally got some cabin fever and just had to go out and take a walk.  The snow was deep.  The roads weren't plowed.  The sidewalks were brimming with lots of snow.  At this time of year, this little statue would be sitting with early spring flowers.  What struck me when I spent time observing this before taking the photo was imagining that the little creature is spitting out snow.  Either out of disgust.  Or in revelry of snow.

There is a wonderful tulip farm in Oregon.  And I had the privilege of visiting it this spring.  A definite Wabi Sabi moment.  I spent hours there looking over the various patterns, textures, colors, and light.  There was a storm brewing.  I was worried that I would get my camera wet, but I had enough plastic bags for protection that I felt safe and could enjoy the changing scene and sky in front of me.

And here is another , with the sky being ominous while the tulips are still very, very colorful.

More to come on Wabi Sabi.  I spent time observing and understanding before I took each photo.  The pause before shooting is incredibly important, allowing me to really appreciating the scene or object or person that stands in front of me.