Life is far too delicate to be unaware of its intricacies. Breathe it all in – a.a malee
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This week Ann-Christine/Leya inspires us with a look at, Delicate. Her inspiration comes from her recent trip to Japan. Join her as she eloquently describes delicate as having so many different meanings: Exquisite, Fragile, Subtle, Elegant and as art.
My initial reaction was thoughts of our delicate landscapes. Have you ever thought of the soil as a living organism, teeming with life and potential? Always deserving our respect, we tread lightly near the geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone above.
In the desert we are careful not to tread on what we see as a foundation of life…the soil.
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And what of the ocean? I know sometimes it roars, and crashes into our rocky shorelines. Set that aside. Will you also agree it is calm, focused and consistent, all in an effort to maintain a delicate balance with its shorelines?
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Life.
And we understand that delicate balance to holding on and letting go.
But as I type this I am also looking at photos from our last four days in Rome, Italy. It is not our first visit and will not be our last. It is not because we want to see its iconic sites or enjoy its nice weather. It is because Italians are fully aware of the intricacies I spoke of. Love life feels like their mantra (unless of course you are sitting in traffic).
Italy knows very well how to breathe it all in. It is an archeological wonder with windows to the past, and I think of every stone an ancient newspaper to be read and reread.
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Our four days here cannot be complete without thoughts of pasta. Delicate you ask? At Riccardo’s Cooking School we learn to make pasta, and how it must be handled with delicate hands as you would a baby. In fact to fold it, you must learn to use the back of your hand. Very much an art, there is a secret ingredient that goes in all homemade pasta, it is called love.
I repeat…
Life is far too delicate to be unaware of its intricacies. Breathe it all in.
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Wind Kisses, Donna
A huge thank you to Ann Christine for inspiring us to look at delicate in numerous ways. What does delicate look like to you? Remember to link to her post and include the Lens-Artists tag so we can find you. Last week, Patti inspired us with hopeful. It was amazing to see all the places we find the hope we are looking for.
DO save your flowers, for next week. Sofia wants to see them ALL with her challenge, Floral. Her beautiful photos will draw you right in to her soul, so don’t miss her: Saturday 12:00 EST.
We will be traveling for the next few weeks. I will catch up as internet and time allows. Until then, stay inspired with the delicate things in life and flowers…there is always a reason for flowers.
Interested in knowing more about the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.
I’ve been thinking about Italy for a while now, I’d love to go there next year for a big milestone birthday, your views of your days there just made me long for it even more. It’s a wonderful take on this already wonderful challenge. It spoke to me so thank you for that.
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Thank you, Sofia. We do love the culture of Italy, both cities and small towns. So much to do we always find a reason to come back.
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Enjoy your trip Donna. Clearly, you’re aware of the beauty and delicate intricacies of life. Thanks for the beautiful perspective on life and love. May we enjoy the dance. š
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Yes. So much to enjoy, in the form of those little things. Thank you Brad.
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Agreed.
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“The delicate intricacies of life”, well said, Donna. Love it! Enjoy your time abroad, and I look forward to hearing your tales and seeing your lovely images as time and internet allow.
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Hi Ingrid. We just spent a lovely day in Athens. Much larger city than I expected. Thank you.
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Donna, I loved your sentence about the special ingredient of love. Once Vince told me that one of my meals was not made with love. He was right. I threw it together, as I do often, and did even more often when I was working. Making pasta by hand must be quite an art. The ingredients are simple enough – like making tortillas, which I did learn how to make, but yet I don’t. Why is that, simple but messy, time-consuming, lack of love? I enjoy cooking, but truthfully, I don’t LOVE it like I do blogging and reading your post each week. š
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Ha thanks Marsha. I actually wish I had time to share my impressions of places as we move along. Once I get home, but the day stories are what I love. Yes the Italians love their food, and their people. We are in Greece right now.
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Wonderful. What a gorgeous country – a very poor places, too! Along the Mediterranean, I can still see the red roofs in my mind. Against the bright blue sky and the beautiful ocean.
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A fun and unusual set of delicacies Donna. Loved your hot spring and desert sand (I have a VERY strong memory of walking in the yard of my brother’s home in Scottsdale in soft slippers. Had to throw them away afterwards and bore the scars for weeks!) Also loved your Italy memories, especially the pasta š. Yes please
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Thank you, Tina. Had to include the pasta. I laughed so hard when my husband got his own personal lesson on how to be gentle with the pasta. A great challenge to think about.
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What a great interpretation to this challenge Donna! I loved your photographs and words. Just send me some of that delicate pasta! I also love that lovers sculpture. Love is a delicate balance.
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Thank you Anne, the pasta tastes different in Italy. I guess the only ingredient that is different is ā¦ love. So must be true.
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Beautiful photos as always. You captured delicate very well. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Debbie.
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Donna, your photos are mesmerizing. They are delicate no matter what the subject. Whether with nature or people, your photos showed us how delicate the world around us is. I’m so happy you’re enjoying Rome again. What a wonderful city it is!
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It truly is wonderful, And as youāll agree, never enough time. Always a promise to return. We stayed in a flat a block from old town, so we could get coffee on the corner from Marco, hear the mopeds blasting by at early hours, and get pizza in a snap. Loved all of it.
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You met the theme of “delicate” strongly with you gorgeous images, Donna! I despise black widows but that image is stunning. If only they were delicate in real life. Good call on the image of pasta making being a delicate endeavor. And a delicacy š Wonderful images, hope your travels are exciting and relaxing!
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Thank you, Terri. We are having a great time.
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What a fabulous trip you are having, Donna! Love your photos and thoughts, as always. Keep enjoying! šāļøšš§³š½ļøāļø
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Thanks Lisa
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Lovely thoughts and photos Donna. I love Rome as well
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Yes lots and lots to do.
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Great delicate examples.
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Thank you Teresa.
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There’s nothing delicate about Rome- it’s as robust and full of life as they come. Thank heavens! Glad you had a good time, Donna. What kind of pasta are you going to make me?
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Ha. I was saying when I return we need to have a pasta cooking class party. Itās a great way to connect and the rewards of course are in the meal. Thanks Jo. Just enjoyed a day in Athens.
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Fabulous š« š©·
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Some lovely examples of Delicate.
How wonderful to learn pasta making straight from the Italians in the cooking school. I’ll bet you had lots of fun on that occasion.
I’m having trouble choosing images for most of the Lens-Artist challenges, but next week’s Floral will be the hardest for me as I started out in Photography in 2010 living next to the Royal Botanic Gardens photographing flowers with a macro lens for nearly 5 years. How will I ever choose a small selection.
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Haha. Yes. That will be tough to narrow down. No doubt you will bring us a beautiful gallery. I am trying to narrow from my trip, but it might be a late entry as we are still traveling. I so look forward to your post.
And yes, A highlight of our Italy trip was the cooking class.
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A lovely post as always Donna š I liked your emphasis on treading lightly where the earth is most delicate. And like you I love Italy, for many of the same reasons!
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Thank you Sarah.
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I try to tread lightly too. Wonderful post Donna š
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Thank you.
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These are wonderful examples of “delicate.” The spider is my favorite, although I have a spider phobia š I really had to come to grips with my phobia living here in Florida. While I still prefer to not get up close and personal with any spider (well, the little jumping spiders are cute), I’ve learned to enjoy them, especially spiders such as the Golden Silk which weaves huge, intricate webs.
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Itās true for me as well. Kind of a love/hate relationship. Fun to watch until I walk into a web, of one lands on me.
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My husband once walked full-face into the center of a web where a Golden Silk resided. I never saw a spider skedaddle so fast, away from the monster that just destroyed her web. I think thatās when my phobia started to ease a bit š
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š¤£š¤£š¤£.
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I enjoyed your gallery of “delicate intricacies”. There is so much to notice and take in everywhere.
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Thank you Stella, I am feeling that these days in our travel. So much to notice.
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A less obvious take on the challenge, and a lovely one. You have struck a chord too with all of us who love Italy.
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Oh yes, a wonderful culture to explore. Thanks Margaret.
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Love your take, Donna.
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Thank you so much Rupali.
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Putting love into cooking makes it a pleasurable experience for the cook and the ones who partake.
The love sculpture was quite beautiful.
Enjoy your trip abroad!
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Thanks Nancy. Itās been fun!
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Your delicate images are wonderful! Enjoy your travels!
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Thank you Beth.
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I’m smiling at your lovely take on the prompt – it’s hot and steamy, yet delicately woven to capture the innocence of simply enjoying life. Well done! š
Safe travels as you head to your next landing spot!
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Thank you Shelley. A wonderful trip through the Greek Isles. Thank goodness we walk everywhere. It makes all the food that much better. We are off the boat and heading to the Italian Alps. It will be a buffet look from the last few weeks.
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You’re welcome! Your trip sounds wonderful. I’d say enjoy every moment, but I have a hunch you’re doing just that and don’t need the reminder šš
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indeed. We have had pouring rain at this next stop, nothing a raincoat won’t cure. lol.
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Raincoats for the win!
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The black widow is delicate yet dangerous, Donna. I liked your photo of desert flowers as well. It always amazes me that anything can bloom in such harsh environments.
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I agree. I guess thatās what I love so much. Always bloom where planted.
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I think you have captured “delicate” perfectly!
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Thank you. Delicate has so many meanings.
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Just back from Lombardy, staying with my daughter’s inlaws. Luckily Spanish has a lot of similar words to Italian so communication worked. I totally agree with your feeling for the way of life in Italy. I too will be returning soon!
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We are at the airport to head home tomorrow. Yesā¦something so wonderful about this culture.
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