Tag: nature

creativity

Wonder: Be always blooming

Christa Avampato

be-always-bloomingSunday was a pretty spectacular day. I did most of my must-do items on Saturday so Sunday was a day to do whatever I wanted. It warmed up into the 60s, and Phin and I took a 2+ hour walk around our neighborhood. We enjoyed the sun, the warmth, and the many people and pups who stopped us to say hello. Every restaurant had its outdoor seating open. You could see the warmth seeping into people’s faces and opening up their smiles.

It’s supposed to snow on Friday. Though I do like the chilly weather, I’m looking forward to more than a taste of spring. It will be here in just a few short weeks. For me, the seasons are just the right length here in Washington, D.C. Just when I’m ready for a change, it arrives. No matter what the season, something’s always blooming.

creativity

Wonder: Find beauty in the small vistas

Christa Avampato
Screen Shot 2016-02-09 at 9.06.21 PM
Photo by me

I snapped this photo on a rainy walk to work this week and it reminded me about the beauty of the small. Sometimes it’s the small vistas, not the grand ones, that capture our attention. Beauty is everywhere, in everything. Even in the simplest things. Especially in the simplest things. And I want to take the time to really appreciate it.

creativity

Wonder: The Ghost Ships of Mallows Bay

Christa Avampato
Wildlife of Mallows Bay
Wildlife of Mallows Bay

Less than an hour’s drive from Washington D.C., there are ghosts that have found a new and unexpected life. There are 185 archeologically-documented shipwrecks in Mallows Bay, part of Charles County, Maryland. The area is about to be declared an official marine sanctuary and is literally overflowing with wildlife in the water, on the shores, and inside the ruins of the boats. Once the weather gets a bit warmer, I’m looking forward to seeing it for myself and photographing it. I love a good story of redemption and life restored to something considered long gone.

creativity

This just in: Let the world take your breath away

Christa Avampato
Tuesday sunset in D.C.
Tuesday sunset in D.C.

Yesterday I had my regular call of inspiration and camaraderie with my friend, Sara, one of the wisest people I know. When we hung up the phone, I caught a glimpse of this sunset through a grimy alley in my neighborhood. The light was so rich and intense that it stopped me in my tracks. I ran down the alley and snapped a few photos of the light. I couldn’t get enough of it.

It’s moments like these that remind me that the world we live in is so vast, so incredible. It’s full of magic around every corner if only we will allow ourselves the time and space to see it. It’s not always easy to walk around with your heart on your sleeve, which is where mine has taken up permanent residence. I get knocked around a fair bit. The upside to that is I experience so much more than people who keep their hearts neatly tucked away. The don’t get hurt as much though they don’t love as much either.

Call me crazy, but I’m just fine with the tough times if being open and vulnerable allows me to appreciate sunsets like this, to have friends like Sara, and to experience life in all of its wild and wondrous forms.