Life Blooms

"We are not here just to survive and live long...
We are here to live and know life
in its multi-dimensions
to know life in its richness,
in all its variety.
And when a man lives
multi-dimensionally,
explores all possibilities available,
never shrinks back from any challenge,
goes, rushes to it, welcomes it,
rises to the occasion
then life becomes a flame,
life blooms."--Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, 'The Sacred Yes'

As the long, hazy days of summer evolved into the cooler, more abbreviated, first days of fall, I lamented that my photographic opportunities were diminishing as well. Many of the multi-hued plants and interesting insects I’d enjoyed capturing over the past months were going dormant and the trees seemed weeks away from their riotous, colorful change of clothes. Little did I know that from our late summer rains would emerge an astounding variety of intriguing shapes, colors and textures. On one lunchtime walk alone, I captured seven completely different species of mushroom. Among the most beautiful was this massive golden specimen that bloomed beneath a giant oak tree.—Sue Ivy

The Strongest Oak in the Forest

"The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun."--Napoleon Hill

Love and Loyalty

"Dogs come into our lives

to teach us about love and loyalty.
They depart to teach us about loss.
We try to replace them, but never quite succeed.
A new dog never replaces an old dog;
It merely expands the heart.
If you have loved many dogs,
Your heart is very big."—Erica Jong