There are always things around me that put me in "awe".
In fact, I become quite nostalgic with many small things throughout my day.
Some things bring me to tears, others a smile to my face and sometimes both.
Lately I have been getting inspiration for art, for my soul and for daily life in general.
Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz is absolutely AMAZING!!!
I highly recommend going there no matter what age you are, whether you go with your family or by yourself. If you do want the full ambient experience, I recommend finding a time to go (late morning-noontime) when there are no field trips from any of the local schools going. I have been twice, once with my daughter's first grade class for their field trip and another time with my husband (just him and I). Both times there were a ton of kids there, and though the park rangers do there best to try to educate the kids on being quiet, it is really not as "peaceful" as it would be if the kids were not there at all. Either way it's pretty cool, and this year the butterfly count was around 10,000 butterflies!
Impromptu lunch with dad at the Santa Cruz Wharf!
Another fun place to take kids. My kids loved looking at all the cool stuff in the shops AND they loved seeing all the sea lions at the end of the pier. The photo of me is next to an absolutely amazing water-fountain sculpture that is outside one of the restaurants.
Here is a photo that I took of one of the gorgeous maples in my front yard. It wasn't sunny the day that I took the photo (it was gorgeously misty and foggy out), but when it is sunny it looks like the tree is on fire! It was definitely "awe" worthy.
And now that the Magic Forest is getting wetter, colder and Misty we get to see more and more of the coolest slugs ever! The Banana Slug!
These things are weird and cool as all get out!
And the inspiration doesn't stop there! Sneaking in each corner and under leaves of different kinds you'll find mushrooms and fungi sprouting and thriving all over the magic forest! I think that these beautiful spors will be my next series of art I will be tackling.
Even the fallen leaves at my kids school are screaming with color. It's just so fun and amazing to see all the beauty that surrounds us in this place.
Me and my bestie...and the Portra App
My latest completed watercolor was my crab. One of my favorites so far.
And one of the next endeavors....Moon cards :)
I hope that you're all finding inspiration in your everyday. There is so much to be grateful for even when you think that things seem bleak. Just keep pressing on, start a gratitude journal and make full on effort to see good.
God Bless,
Rochelle
