Joyfully Green: dogs

Rediscovering the Lost Art of "Having a Think"

Confession: My mind has been a jumbled mess lately.

Between school starting for the kids, new photography courses in the works, and a constant barrage of depressing world headlines, I've been feeling completely out-of-whack. So yesterday morning, I said out loud, "Enough."

I wanted to adopt a policy I've seen my children (and dog) following more and more these days: gazing out at the world and simply having "a really good think."

I took my morning coffee (iced, milked, and sugared, because I don't like coffee unless it tastes like coffee ice cream) and parked myself in a comfy chair facing the forest in our back yard. I forced myself (yes, it was a physical and mental effort) to just sit quietly and watch the morning unfold before me.

It was as though the back yard (which had seemed lifeless) came alive before my eyes.

A tiny white butterfly flittered between blades of grass, drinking its dewy breakfast.

A chickadee landed on the kids' swing-set, briefly.

A golden aspen leaf drifted lazily to the ground.

There were quite a few comical chipmunk skirmishes around the back yard. "High-tailing it out of there" is a perfect description of what chipmunks do when they decide to give up on a fight.

In between these observations, I realized how long it had been since I'd gifted myself with pure time in the morning, just to ponder and observe. Much too often, between various work tasks and household chores, I've been guilty of checking in on the world's nonsense and noise (a very nerve-rattling business indeed).

Now more than ever, I need to take time just to be still.

I want to get back to basics.

To keep the morning sacred.

To heighten, to deepen, to breathe.

Are you with me?

***********************************************************

Before you go...

Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to Joyfully Green via email or RSS reader: just click here.

My online photography course, How to Take Better Photos of Nature and the World Around You is coming up again in October! (Sign up below for the early enrollment announcement plus the special discount!)

Save

Posted on 09/15/2016 at 10:30 AM in dogs, mindfulness, simplify, unplug | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: better morning routines, how to be more mindful, mindfulness, observing nature, simplify, unplug

My Top Pick for Summer Reading (plus an almost-announcement and an actual announcement!)

After last week's post about my summer reading list, I received all kinds of wonderful emails and messages from friends near and far who wanted to tell me (a.) they were looking forward to reading some of the books I'd mentioned, or (b.) they had good book recommendations to share with me, too (which I love, despite my own stacks of still-unread books teetering and toppling all over the place). It's downright refreshing to know there are so many bookworms out there!

So, in honor of my book-loving buddies, instead of my usual round-up of "Joyful Reads for the Weekend", I want to give you one more must-read. It's my favorite non-fiction book so far this year: Meditations on Intention and Being: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga, Mindfulness, and Compassion by Rolf Gates. I've mentioned it before on this blog, but it's well worth repeating. Certainly not just for summer (but why not start it now?), it's brimming with daily wisdom on every single page, and every time I flip it open, I'm just...awestruck. I've underlined and re-underlined like crazy! (Of course, Delilah heard me taking pictures of it and ran right over to get in the shot! Never fails.)

Happy July 4th to those of you in the states, and Happy Weekend to everyone!

Before you go...

I CAN'T WAIT to share some very BIG news with you, but I can't officially let the cat out of the bag until July 6th! (Rats! It's sooooo hard to keep a secret!)

Here's something that I can officially announce: Enrollment is now OPEN for the next session of my online photography course, The Art of Photography: How to Take Your Pictures to the Next Level, running in July 2016. Click here for all the details and join me online to create some GORGEOUS pictures together this summer!

***************************************************

© 2016 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com LLC. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.

Posted on 06/30/2016 at 06:27 PM in books, dogs, meditation | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: art photography, beach reads, good reads for summertime, learn photography online, online photography classes, photo e-courses, summer reading

10 Reasons Why Dogs REALLY Know How to Relax

I'm just wrapping up another session of my nature photography course, with quite a large group of students this time. Totally grateful, and totally enjoying it, but it's keeping me on my toes, let me tell ya! Without fail, while typing away at top speed, I'll pause for a moment and catch a glimpse of my dog, the velvety-eared Delilah, taking a big snooze in the sun, snoring like a bulldozer, not a care in the world. (Obviously, she doesn't remember thunder, her arch nemesis, while she's napping.)

Why are dogs such experts at relaxing? I've got 10 guesses:

Politicians: Don't know what they are. Don't care.
Mortgage? Electric bills? Insurance rates? No clue.
Next meal is all ready to eat, just ten steps away from cozy bed.
No sense of "nap guilt."
Dogs are downright gorgeous just as they are. Even first thing in the morning. Even last thing at night.
They don't care about (or even seem aware of) their dreadful doggy breath. Ditto for their dreadful doggy farts.
They know they can make us laugh if they simply flip over for a reeeeeally good belly rub.
They live in the moment: No regrets, no plans, and definitely no multi-tasking.
They can bark if they want to; they can leave their cares behind. (Can you name the 80's pop song going through my mind right now? Hint: One-hit wonder.)
They know just how much they are really, truly, fully loved. And that their mere presence makes our lives so much richer and sweeter, softer and kinder.

Your turn, dog-lovers: What did I leave off the list? I'm all ears!

P.S. Delilah is a rescue dog--my favorite "breed." If you'd like to find your own velvety-eared best friend, I highly recommend Eleventh Hour Rescue (that's where we got Delilah) or your local animal shelter.

***************************************************************************************************************

Catch my latest posts by...

subscribing via email or RSS reader: click here
"liking" my Facebook page
following me on Twitter
circling me on Google+. (That's my favorite place to share--check it out!)

********************************************************************************************************

© 2015 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com LLC. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any of my photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.

Posted on 10/22/2015 at 08:00 PM in dogs, e-courses, photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: are shelter dogs safe to adopt?, dog photos, dogs rule, Eleventh Hour Rescue, favorite dog breed, local animal shelter, nature photography course, online photo classes, rescue dogs, rescue dogs are my favorite breed, shelter dogs make perfect pets, shelter dogs vs purebreds, why I love dogs, why should I adopt a shelter dog

A Perfect Autumn Weekend in the Catskills (Spectacular Scenery Alert!)

Thanks goodness we have a couple of "friends in high places." No, I'm not talking about business connections--I'm talking about our friends who have a lovely cabin way up in the Catskill Mountains and were kind enough to invite us to their place last weekend. (Thanks SO much, Mark and Kim!)

It was peak season in the Catskills for the fall foliage, so we were ooohing and aaaahing all over the place! My son and daughter have caught the photography bug (all my fault), so they were snapping shots right along with me. Truly, it was spectacular! How can dying leaves be so darn pretty?

Of course, we HAD to go apple-picking and pumpkin-picking, because that's just what you do in the northeastern U.S. in September and October. I think it's mandatory in some states. (That's Wilklow Orchards in Highland, New York, pictured at the very top, and in the next four shots.)

The kids were begging us to bake apple pies when we got back to the cabin, but luckily, I remembered how looooooooooooong it took me the last time I baked an apple pie from scratch. (Answer: Over three hours! Lots of washing, peeling, coring, chopping, mixing, kneading...it's no small feat to bake an apple pie, let me tell ya! But yes, the results were delicious, so it was worth it...kind of...I think? Anyway, this time we cheated and bought a pie at the orchard.)

I love everything about autumn. The crispness in the air. Pure blue skies. The crunch of leaves underfoot. The scent of homemade cinnamon doughnuts and hot apple cider. Little children enthusiastically trying to lug gigantic pumpkins uphill to the parking lot. Heavy bags of freshly picked apples with leaves still attached. Dogs sniffing everything, everywhere, excited by the sheer magic of the season. (Well, dogs are like that pretty much every day in every season, aren't they?)

It was the perfect fall weekend: Great scenery. Great weather. Great hiking. Great eats. But most of all, great friends.

***************************************************************************************************************

Catch my latest posts by...

subscribing via email or RSS reader: just click here.
"liking" my Facebook page
following me on Twitter
circling me on Google+. (That's my favorite place to share--check it out!)

********************************************************************************************************

Posted on 10/15/2015 at 09:02 PM in autumn, dogs, landscapes, leaves, photography | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: autumn in Catskills, autumn in photos, Catskill Mountains, Highland New York, leaves changing color, nature photography, peak fall foliage, Wilklow Orchards

All of a Sudden...

My eight-year-old daughter has become quite the philosopher lately. Yesterday, after the rain ended abruptly on our drive home from her summer acting camp, I said to her, "Look at that--the rain stopped all of a sudden!" She said, "Mommy, everything is an all-of-a-sudden. Life is an all-of-a-sudden. New things just keep on happening."

I have to admit that I peeked into the rear-view mirror to check if my daughter had been replaced by a mini Zen Buddhist. Nope. It was still her in the back seat, gazing up dreamily at the clouds.

She's become more and more fascinated with clouds this summer. Especially the way they can morph so quickly from a dinosaur to a fancy lady to a rocket ship. From one to another, all of a sudden.

The dog is also a real pro at noticing even the tiniest changes. She's always on alert for new and fascinating things. So much to see, so much to smell, so many bees to try to eat.

My daughter and dog make quite a team as excellent observers of the world. I think it helps that neither one uses a cell phone.

When you're out with a camera, everything can seem new. Even the littlest things can spark an almost scientific interest, like this teeny-tiny green spider pictured above, crawling around near the top of the weed. I didn't even see it when I started focusing on the weed, and then, there it was. All of a sudden.

With my camera, my dog, and my wide-eyed daughter, I'm noticing the "all-of-a-suddens" even more. And I'm grateful. As always.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

You might have missed...

From "Sacred Time" to Art Journaling: How to Really, Truly Focus

Focusing on What's Important

The Broken Tree: Latching on to Buddhist Non-Attachment

***************************************************************************************************************

Posted on 07/09/2015 at 09:02 PM in Buddhism, BUGS!, dogs, focus, mindfulness | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: children's philosophies, kids perspectives, live in the moment, mindfulness, studying cloud formations, Zen Buddhist

Good-Busy, Bad-Busy, and "Dog-Mode"

Okay, let's get this right out of the way: Nobody really wants to hear how crazy-busy we are, with "craziness" being worn as a badge of honor, some sort of sign that we are "worthy." Because--let's face it--when it comes to busy-ness, we're all pretty crazy. We've all got our own stuff to juggle, and does anybody really know how to juggle (except circus clowns, who creep me out)?

There's good-busy (trying to do a lot of things you enjoy and are proud of) and bad-busy (trying to chip away at Laundry Mountain, paying a heap of scary bills, or--heaven forbid--checking in on loved ones at the hospital). Right now, I'm in the middle of good-busy (even though Laundry Mountain is threatening an avalanche). But I'm trying to take breathers here and there, so the good-busy doesn't start to feel like the bad-busy.

Enter the dog.

My dog, the velvety-eared Delilah, really knows how to take a breather.

But because she's a dog through-and-through, she's also acutely attuned to the Here and Now. Or at least she seems to be. Maybe she's really daydreaming about that handsome German Shepherd who lives up the block.

Anyway, the impression Delilah gives is that she's got mindfulness down to a science. She seems joyfully aware of every little creak and click, every flutter of a moth's wings, every crunchy stick to chomp, and all the tiniest little blossoms that are opening up right at this very second to release their blossomy scent.

She doesn't discriminate against weeds, either. They're all good.

So, as usual, when I need a breather, I grab my camera and attach the macro lens. It puts me into an odd-but-blissful mix of relaxation and hyper-awareness. Dog-Mode.

Like Delilah, I'm fascinated by bugs. Unlike Delilah, I don't try to eat them.

Getting into Dog-Mode, I get as close as possible to things and really check them out. Whoever said "God is in the details" was really onto something. The details I can see with a macro lens knock me right out with their awesomeness. And focusing on the tiniest little things helps me re-focus on the Big Picture.

So I'm channeling the dog, but with a camera and opposable thumbs. It stops me from running around in circles, chasing my tail.

How 'bout you? Are you good-busy or bad-busy today?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

BIG NEWS: Today, part of my good-busy is being featured as a guest writer on BlogHer, with a tutorial called 3 Simple Steps to Finally Learn Manual Mode on Your DSLR Camera. It's part of their BlogHer University month-long course on photography, and I'm tickled pink that they invited me to chime in! I hope you'll check it out during your next break from juggling.

If you found your way here from BlogHer (welcome!) and you enjoyed this post, you can check out more posts up the same alley, under the "mindfulness" and "macro" categories.

********************************************************************************************************************

Catch my latest posts by...

subscribing (at the right)
"liking" my Facebook page
following me on Twitter
circling me on Google+. (That's my favorite place to share--check it out!)

************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Posted on 05/06/2015 at 07:19 AM in BUGS!, dogs, mindfulness, perspective, photography | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: being more aware, being too busy, BlogHer feature, BlogHer photography, busy-ness, busy-ness, Dog-Mode, dogs view of the world, God is in the details quote, how to use a DSLR camera, macro lens, macro photography, mindfulness, opposable thumbs, photography tutorial, refocusing, using all your senses, what we can learn from dogs

Joyful Reads & Finds for the Weekend, Vol. 48

Just a few of my favorite finds this week...enjoy and kindly share them!

From Oh, Honestly (new blog discovery!): A letter to my teenage daughter while you're still a little girl

A photographer explores how our obsession with taking vacation photos has replaced the actual vacation: Trophies

The sacred act of unplugging

YUM!!! 36 healthy spring recipes

Adorably funny: Advice on love from children

Happy weekend, friends!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Next week, I'll be opening Early Bird enrollment (with discount pricing)

for my newest photography e-course,

"The Charm of Children: How to Take Better Photos of Babies & Kids"

The online course will run from April 27-May 3. Watch for details!

********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Posted on 03/26/2015 at 09:02 PM in dogs, Joyful Reads, YUMMY! | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: best blogs, extreme winter weather and climate change, healthy fresh spring recipes, letter to teenage daughter, Sunday morning reads, Sweden playground made of snow and ice, travel photography, vacation photos, weekend reading

"That Occasional Gorgeous Shock"

I gobbled up Anne Lamott's book, Help, Thanks, Wow, in one sitting today. It's a short book, yes, but she's just that kind of writer--the kind where you feel like a close friend is speaking to you--a wise, funny, and sarcastic friend who can artfully describe life and all of its messy bits.

My children (ages 7 and 11) asked me if the book would be good for them to read. "Well... there's a lot of dying in it," I said. They shook their heads in unison and went back to their respective books about wizards and fairies.

I recently read Lamott's book Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace and there's a lot of dying in that book, too--pets, dear friends. But somehow, neither book is depressing. They're both funny, largely because they're truthful, and I had those little moments of self-recognition at least once per page. And even though both books deal with difficult experiences, Lamott also writes about "that occasional gorgeous shock." (Her phrase; I love it.)

As a photographer, I'm always looking for "the occasional gorgeous shock." The "shock" part is the best--when I'm looking through the lens, focusing on one thing, and something completely unexpected pops up. That's what happened with this dragonfly, above. I was focusing on the flowers with my macro lens, when I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a little dragonfly who seemed to be smiling right at me! He posed for one shot before flutter-buzzing away.

One of my ongoing goals in life is to really keep track of the occasional gorgeous shocks--to notice them, fully appreciate them, and be grateful for them. Especially the day-to-day beautiful things that we sometimes take for granted, but then catch ourselves noticing, and almost pinch ourselves, thinking, "WOW! Such beauty, right in front of me!"

When I looked up from the last page of the book today, there was my dog, Delilah, sleeping on the couch beside me, beautiful and serene, completely unaware of just how shockingly gorgeous an animal she is, her chestnut-golden fur catching the sunlight streaming through the window. And I petted her velvety ears, thanking her just for being her gorgeous doggy self.

How 'bout you? What have you seen lately that's shocked you with its sheer gorgeousness? I'd love to hear about it!

P.S. Big announcement coming next week--stay tuned!

********************************************************************************************************************

Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to Joyfully Green via email or RSS reader: just click here.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Posted on 03/17/2015 at 09:02 PM in books, dogs, gratitude, macro | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: appreciating beauty, dog photography, giving thanks, life lessons, Small Victories, writer Anne Lamott book Help Thanks Wow

Joyful Reads & Finds for the Weekend, Vol. 44

Just a few of the little wonders I found this week...

Trying to declutter and organize? Ask yourself: Do These Socks Spark Joy?

A different take on fur coats in winter

I can't stand Bratz dolls and the "hurry-up-and-grow-up" message they send to young girls, so I was overjoyed to read this story: Bratz dolls get their makeup scrubbed off. (Thanks for posting it, Lois !)

Fantastically creative ideas for homemade bird-feeders--I love the Lego bird-feeder!

Finally, I dare you not to get a little misty-eyed: Stray cat helps blind dog

Have a cozy weekend!

********************************************************************************************************************

Catch my latest posts by subscribing (at the right), "liking" my Facebook page, following me on Twitter, or circling me on Google+. (That last one is my favorite place to share--check it out!)

**********************************************************************************************************************

Posted on 02/05/2015 at 09:02 PM in cats, declutter, dogs, Joyful Reads | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: Bratz dolls get a pretty makeover, build your own birdfeeder with Legos, declutter and organize, dog photography, good reading for the weekend, stray cat helps dog, weekend reads

Snow Day? No Problem! 10 Fun Activities to Keep Your Kids Happy & Busy

Well, here we go again: The weathermen all predicted a veritable doomsday of a blizzard, so school was cancelled the night before, morning came and...there was barely any new snow! Somehow, this always happens on the days when I have the most to do. (Funny how that works, huh?) But I wouldn't let the snow day get the upper hand--here's how I kept the kids happily occupied, while keeping my own sanity...

1. Cooking up a creative meal together. The kids are slightly obsessed with the show "Master Chef Junior" (which I fully endorse, since it has the double-benefit of making them more helpful in the kitchen and more willing to try new foods), so we whipped up a french toast breakfast buffet, complete with pomegranates, clementines, powdered sugar, chocolate coins, and syrup. (Mornings are the one time when I don't mind if the kids eat some chocolate because it gives them a little wake-up boost but won't keep them up when it's bedtime. I just pretend that we're French, eating pain au chocolat!)

2. My son asked for a "proper camera" for his recent birthday, and we were happy to oblige! So, activity #2 involved a photo shoot of our breakfast. If your kids don't have cameras, why not lend them your phone to take some snaps?

3. Swimsuits on, bath-time for the dog! Delilah hates bath-time...

...but she loves it when we dry her off!

4. My daughter had the idea to make paper dolls. For added sturdiness, we pasted them onto cereal boxes before cutting them out, and then backed them with pretty decorative paper.

5. Legos! Need I say more?

6. Dress-up time with the grown-ups' stuff: Hats, jewelry, scarves, boots...the works!

7. Write and illustrate a book.

8. Musical instrument practice time!

9. This one involves pre-planning: When you hear forecasts for snow, make sure to hit the library for a new stash of books!

10. And finally...get out there in the snow and go wild!

Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to Joyfully Green via email or RSS reader: just click here.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Posted on 01/27/2015 at 09:02 PM in creativity, dogs, family, food, fun, outdoors, parenting, photography, snow, winter, YUMMY! | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: creative fun for kids, creative ideas for kids' snow days, fun things to do on snow days, homemade french toast, keeping the kids happy and occupied when you have work to do, make your own paper dolls, Master Chef Junior TV show, snow day activities, what to do when there's no school, winter fun activities for children