I don't know if any of you have read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged - if you have, you will understand me when I say that this week I felt that globe move on Atlas's big shoulders. I work in a job that is directly tied to the financial markets and all I can say is thank goodness this week is over. I read five newspapers each morning to familiarize myself with daily news on economies around the globe - let me just say that I am tired and overwhelmed and somewhat depressed. I have fielded hundreds of calls from anxious investors and feel like I could take up a new career in counseling :)So, to celebrate the end of the week and to slow things down a bit I have decided to soften the pictures this week and let things be 'diffused' a little bit. Sometimes seeing life through rose colored glasses is a great thing. My garden is starting to settle into fall but there are still some wonderful blooms to provide me with beautiful material for this post.
My favorite reading spot where I never read a newspaper, rather I browse through picture books and magazines that fill me with inspiration.
...and, I am blessed with wonderful treats from lands far away courtesy of my swap pal Beth. She made me this scrumptious basket bag where all my most coveted silk yarn is now stored. She included a beautiful piece of fabric that will be featured in another post and an awesome, handmade cuff bracelet that pretty much never leaves my wrist and is being worn while I shoot these pictures.
This has been a great distraction...we return next week with our regularly scheduled programming.
51 comments:
Things have definitely been depressing lately. I hate reading the news. Seems like things just keep getting worse. Your pictures are definitely soothing, though. :-)
Atlas Shrugged is one of those books that I have repeatedly checked out from the library, but I've never read it. When I had the book in a photo a few months back, I received such divided comments. Half of the people HATED the book and dissed it badly. The other half adored it.
An aside: One of my biographical poems, which is presently on my poem/photo site, compares my life to Atlas. :)
i can not imagine what that was like..on our end it was not so great.
but your rose colored galsses see beautifully into your garden.
Sorry to hear of your stressful week! I work as a counsellor - trust me you don't want to go there! Lovely basket your received - nothing like swap goodies to lift the spirits!
And may the markets return to their regularly scheduled program too. (Although maybe not, lately, regularly scheduled = volatile.)
Holy Cow! No wonder you said it hadn't been a great week. Sorry it was so rough. I HAVE read Atlas Shrugged. I don't know how you feel about it, but it's one of my top five -- I LOVED it!
I hope next week is better for all of us -- but especially for you!
beautiful photos! it seems that everyone needs rose coloured glasses these days!
I concur this week has been an economic disaster. Here's to hoping the market gets better soon. On a more positive note, your pictures are gorgeous! Hope the weekend is going well!!!!
I feel that shrug on my end as well. Glad you are taking a breather this weekend. The photos are like slipping into a dream--love that soft light.
i love your picture, their tone, colors, i love the feeling they give me, peaceful, relaxing, warmth, thank you for sharing.
i hope next days will be better for you, i'm sure they will be. i love that fabric...
Hope you can relax during weekend!
we all feel it... it has been an emotional week for me too... thanks for sharing these beautiful photos with us.
*hugs* I've been reading and hearing about the financial situ too. It's pretty depressing all round.
Love the rose-tinted photos. They're beautiful.
sorry to hear what a difficult week you've been having raina. I am so glad that you have found some beautiful distractions though. The softness and warmth of these photos are just stunning. sending you lots of love and wishing that a better week lies ahead.
ginny x
As usual all your photos are beautiful, I will say though... the soft delicate peach colour of the rose had me in a swoon.
Sorry you had such a horrible week on the phones. I'm thinking 'strap it on' and hang on tight because this particular ride isn't over by a long shot.
Atlas Shrugged is one of the very few books my father read (he had a hard time sitting long enough to read :^) and he loved it. This was long after I'd read it and I was tickled that he liked it so much.
Here's to a better week, eh?
ps The basket bag is a Beauty, lovely gifts, looking forward to seeing the bracelet and fabric.
Your photos soothe the sense. Inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale. Hopefully the situation will calm down. If not, reach for the wine, we Aussies make a few good ones!
lovely photos...i hope they make things seem a little better for you. all the finacial stuff this week has been so depressing and distressing. i guess we all need to take a deep breath and hope that the coming weeks will be more stable.
Hi Raina! Hope you've still got those rose colored glasses on this weekend for the whole weekend and are kicking back and enjoying some serious relax and unwind time...You deserve it! :o) Your work is incredibly stressful...and this past week must have been one of the most difficult ever given the downward spiral in the finacial world. Over seas in Europe here, we're feeling it too, everything seems very shaky and precarious...Once down things can only go up again, right? That's what I tell myself to cheer up about it, got to--LOL! On a lighter note, I absolutely love the soft focus flowers here...Our roses are all but done for this season. Soon it will be the occasional florist blooms to liven things up. I must read this book you mention...on my reading list now! Thanks so much for stopping by to see me--always a treat! :o) Oh, and your swap goodies are such fun, so pretty...and perfect timing to cheer you! ((BIG HUGS))
Good luck for the coming week, i hope that things settle down a bit. lovely pictures, i'd love to sit in your chair too. Jane x
Raina, I have been thinking about you this week, because I read recently all your early posts and also the one where you express the concern of upcoming "Atlas Shrugs" that my affect your work.
Me, being on maternity leave and basically home all the time, I get the news mostly through my husband whose fears could be even more depressive. Anyway, I don't know if the rose glasses will help in future but they do so far. Still, I feel silly to blog about some sweaters right now. Have a glass of red wine, I'll have one too.
it's been an incredibly tough week, i couldn't agree with you more.
i love your 're-focus' photos and that reading spot... wow. i just want to settle in with a good novel and a cup of tea.
glad last week is history too. my husband's an economist. yuk! i won't burden you with his predictions of what is to come :(
wonderful photos. the light in your garden is truly scrumptious. practically edible.
That photograph of the bird bath is really really awesome mom!
Beautiful things can take our minds of the worries, can't they. You should change your career to photographing for a magazine because I feel like I just looked at one!
Maryxo
Poor you, I bet work was so horrid. The place where you sit looks lovely. The basket is gorgeous.
I hope you can find things that brighten your week...
haven't read Atlas Shrugged but have been reading the papers, rose coloured glasses sound good to me.
nice post my friend--rose colored glasses to see us through..and a big govt bailout?
I do not envy you your job. I always wear those rose colored glasses and I am here to tell you, it is the way to go. Some people would like it if I took them off once in a while, but why on earth would I do that :-)? Hope this week is a better one for you.
Lovely photos!
Slowing down by softening the pictures is fine, slowing down by taking the time to ....(fill the blank), is even better!
But whether we work in a job tied directly to finances or not, I guess the exchange markets gave all of us a headache!
I definitely feel for you being in the position you are in. I wish I was optimistic enough to say it will get better before it gets worse but alas, I'm not.
Your photos this week really struck a chord with me...the softness of the light, the soft focus on a few of them, and just the gentle, soothing colors. It seems you achieved what you set out to do--beautiful.
Wow these are lovely - the softening effect is so great.
I've been thinking of you this week - I thought it might be a toughy for you. I deliberately don't read or watch the news anymore as most things featured are depressing and out of my control. I'm lucky that I don't need to keep up with things since I'm on a career break to look after Nipper. Lovely photo's - keep your special reading place for the good stuff - no newspapers!
(And yes, I am now an official sock knitting addict!)
I love the Autum light you've captured in some of these!
I needed this right now...thank you. seriously, thank you.
I'm sorry about the tough week.
Very smart to step back and find that beauty surrounds us in small ways. Your photos are beautiful.
A swap gift sounds like just the sort of nurturing you needed.
I love rose coloured glasses. I can't imagine how difficult your week must have been. I've been seeing bits and pieces of the news and it looks overwhelming to say the least.I hope this week goes much better dear friend.
Love & Hugs,
Dy
I'm sorry you've had a tough week, I hope things get better soon- for all of us :)
fantastic photos!
raina, i hope this week is better!!!
Lucky you:)
lovely bag...
lovely photos too, as always...
Sorry you are having a hard time I hope things improve soon.
Your pictures alone are a great way to change one's mind for a few minutes. I imagine that your head may spin during those hard times. Hang in there!
Here's hoping everything settles down for you and that you remain unscathed.
sorry you are having a yucky week! (if it helps at all i lost my job this week.. only to get it back at greatly reduced hours-pay!)
As usual i can't decide if i am more envious of your garden or your ability to take great photos!
gorgeous photography. i will add the book to my list.
sounds like you're keeping things in perspective. a depressing atmosphere indeed but change is certain and we will muddle through this collective groan. your rose colored glasses seem perfect about now. a refreshing breath!
Glad you've got some rose coloured glasses to relax and look through, we all need those sometimes I think. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics with us. Hope the pleasures of home have been keeping you calm through another stressful week.
Sorry to hear about your stressful week- I hope things are getting better for you :-)
Gorgeous shots!
So sorry things are so stressful at work! Scary times. It WILL get better.
Sorry that you've had such a stressful time. Work must be very hectic for you at present. It's great that you can take a step back, take stock, and have a rose-tinted moment! Hopefully things will soon improve!
Lovely reading spot! Great photos on your site! Off to explore more...
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