Category: Art

Pas de deux

The courage of sharing beautiful thoughts.

In a post published last Monday under the title of Having yourself as your best friend, I presented a poem from Kimberly that was published on her blog: Words4jp’s Blog.   As regular readers will recall that poem was an expression of personal sadness.

Then two days later, there was a further poem from Kimberly that just bowled me over with its beauty.  Kimberly generously allowed me to share it with you.

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a pas de deux



The tears of a rhapsody

glide slowly along the strings of a violin

as


He stands…

a single vision

under a dimly lit spot light


He waits…

for an essence of grace

to float by and awaken his spirit


He feels…

the melody

breathing life into his limbs


He hears…

the whisper of satin pointes wafting

from behind


He sees…

gossamer fingers embrace his hand

as



She leads…

him forth into a world which transcends reality.


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Stunningly beautiful.

Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day 2014.

With some minor amendments, I have taken the liberty of reposting what was published for Earth Day 2013.

Like many others, I subscribe to Mother Nature Network.

Recently published on MNN were twelve stunningly beautiful photographs.  There are reproduced below, hopefully without infringing any copyrights.  I just wanted to share them with readers of Learning from Dogs.

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Earth Day photos: Celebrating the beauty of our planet

From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the surreal glacial formations of Patagonia, here are 12 stunning photos showcasing the diverse collection of landscapes found across the planet.

By: Catie Leary

Fri, Apr 19 2013 at 11:40 AM

Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon, Arizona, U.S.
Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon, Arizona, U.S.

 Photo: poorpoor/Flick

Snæfellsnes-og Hnappadalssýsla, Iceland
Snæfellsnes-og Hnappadalssýsla, Iceland

Photo: Greg Annandale/Flick

Hamilton Pool, Austin, Texas, U.S.
Hamilton Pool, Austin, Texas, U.S.

Photo: Stuck in Customs/Flickr

Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Photo: Dietmar Temps/Flickr

Pansarine, Tuscany, Italy
Pansarine, Tuscany, Italy

Photo: hippydreams/Flickr

Muir Woods, California, U.S.
Muir Woods, California, U.S.

Photo: kern.justin/Flickr

Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota, U.S.

Photo: Mary JI/Flickr

Mount Blanc, France
Mount Blanc, France

Photo: OneEighteen/Flickr

Star Trails, Rio Negro, Argentina
Star Trails, Rio Negro, Argentina

Photo: lrargerich/Flickr

Sicily, Italy
Sicily, Italy

Photo: gnuckx/Flickr

Tereia Beach, Maupiti, Leeward Islands
Tereia Beach, Maupiti, Leeward Islands

Photo: SF Brit/Flickr

Namib Desert, Namibia
Namib Desert, Namibia

Photo: mariusz kluzniak/Flickr

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So wherever you are in the world please do something, however small, for the one and only planet that nourishes all the life of the world.

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For those of us embracing our senior years!

Even millions of ‘juniors’ would struggle to match this!

On the basis that today, the Monday after Easter Sunday, is a holiday in many countries, it seemed very apt to keep the theme relaxed.

The following video was sent to me by our neighbours, Dordie and Bill, with the comment, “Paul and Jean, This is incredible….you must watch this on the big screen!

However, big screen or not, this video will have you gasping with admiration.

The Britain’s Got Talent website can be found here.

Picture parade forty.

A very suitable set of pictures for today; Easter Sunday.

Thanks to Bob Derham for sending them to me.

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From Jean and me and all our animals, our Easter wishes for peace to you all.

Picture parade thirty-nine.

The third and final set of photographs by Elena Shumilova.

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A MOTHER FROM RUSSIA TOOK THESE PICTURES AT HER FARM

ALONG WITH HER TWO SMALL BOYS, A CAT AND A DOG.

These wonderful photographs by Elena Shumilova plunge the viewer into a beautiful world that revolves around her two boys and their adorable dog, cat, duckling and rabbit friends.

Taking advantage of natural colors, weather conditions and her enchanting surroundings, the gifted Russian artist creates cozy and heartwarming photography that leaves you amazed. Elena said, “Children and animals – it’s my life. I’m a mom with two sons and we spend a lot of time on the farm.”

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Aren’t they stunningly beautiful!

If you missed the other sets of pictures, the first set is here and the second set is here.

Another Saturday smile!

Yes, I know it’s a car advert ….

but I defy you to watch this and not feel all googly inside.

Thank you, Dan!

You all have a great week-end; especially the animals out there!

Picture parade thirty-eight.

The second set of photographs from Elena Shumilova.

A week ago I introduced Elena Shumilova and am delighted to stay with her fabulous pictures.  I’m repeating the introduction from last week.

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A MOTHER FROM RUSSIA TOOK THESE PICTURES AT HER FARM

ALONG WITH HER TWO SMALL BOYS, A CAT AND A DOG.

These wonderful photographs by Elena Shumilova plunge the viewer into a beautiful world that revolves around her two boys and their adorable dog, cat, duckling and rabbit friends.

Taking advantage of natural colors, weather conditions and her enchanting surroundings, the gifted Russian artist creates cozy and heartwarming photography that leaves you amazed. Elena said, “Children and animals – it’s my life. I’m a mom with two sons and we spend a lot of time on the farm.”

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Final set for you in a week’s time.  You all take care of yourselves.

Things not as they quite seem.

Two videos that end up very differently to how they started!

The common link between Ed Scalpello, Dan Gomez and me is that Ed and Dan are good friends.

Coincidentally, both of them sent me links that matched today’s theme.

So with no further blathering from yours truly here’s the first video from Ed.

and here’s the second that Dan sent me.

You all have a great weekend.

Picture parade thirty-seven.

From The Meta Picture website, link sent to me by Suzann.

All pictures by Elena Shumilova. See her gallery on Flickr and 500px.  They are breathtakingly beautiful.

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A MOTHER FROM RUSSIA TOOK THESE PICTURES AT HER FARM

ALONG WITH HER TWO SMALL BOYS, A CAT AND A DOG. 

These wonderful photographs by Elena Shumilova plunge the viewer into a beautiful world that revolves around her two boys and their adorable dog, cat, duckling and rabbit friends.

Taking advantage of natural colors, weather conditions and her enchanting surroundings, the gifted Russian artist creates cozy and heartwarming photography that leaves you amazed. Elena said, “Children and animals – it’s my life. I’m a mom with two sons and we spend a lot of time on the farm.”

 

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Another eight next week; be sure to come back, they are unmissable pictures.

Just words!

Odds are you have already seen this!

Reason I state that is, as of yesterday morning, some 19,070,066 viewings of the following video had taken place.

But so what!

That number shows that despite the advertising insertions, despite the video promoting a commercial concern at the close, there are plenty of us who want to be reminded of the power of words.

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care

for people will hear them and be influenced by them

for good or ill.

Buddha.

Footnote:

Jean and I were pottering around yesterday afternoon getting everything ready for Ranger’s arrival planned for Tuesday.  In the back of my mind was some self-criticism for just sticking today’s post up in front of you, in the sense that it was just too easy.  Not that the message isn’t powerful but does it relate to the essence of this blog – exploring what we can learn from dogs?

Then it struck me as blindingly obvious! Of all the things that dogs offer us humans, the one key aspect of their integrity is their unconditional love.   The way that dogs love us acknowledges our existence at a ‘being-to-being’ level.

That’s the power of that short video. That the passing lady stopped and acknowledged the existence of the blind beggar-man.

We all need to be reminded of that all the time!