Winter's Splendorous Chandelier by alophoto

Winter's Splendorous Chandelier

Like any psychotic and perfectionistic photographer, I took 30 or so shots of the same flipping thing and it has taken me days to sort through them (I finally gave it up...who cares?!). Each was nice in it's own way, but what I liked about this one was that as I shot it, the wind blew and the snow dust was blown into the shot and added some additional magic and sparkle.

Yesterday, I went to church dressed as a sewer tart (in my costume from my recent silly selfie). No one batted an eyelash. I even wore the raspberry beret. I love that our church is "Come as you are" style and that Jesus accepted and loved everyone, even the prostitute. He was cool like that.

One awesome thing about church yesterday was that we had a completely different service where we had various stations set up around the church that we got to attend and do the appropriate activity at each one. There was a wailing wall like in Jerusalem, where you wrote your cries to the Lord. I included a prayer for my 365 friend, Andy, who is struggling with extreme depression right now. I prayed for him to be protected from himself. Another place we lit a candle and said a prayer, another we untied a knot symbolizing giving up a burden. One thing was particularly powerful for me, I was able to give up and turn over this hurt that had been really making me nuts. I put a white flag on a table and surrendered the hurt and pain to God. It felt so freeing and needed. Moving on is such a good and beautiful thing.

Have a blessed Monday, my friends. Here's to a healthy and thoughtful time of year, not getting caught up in the commercialism, but the true meaning of the season.

Here is a cool thing about today: 19 years ago today, I met my hubby at a club called "The Edge" in Orlando. I walked up to him and used the line, "Why aren't you dancing?" We ended up talking the rest of the night. So glad that I was so forward. And yes, I was just a child. 19 years ago...oy!!

And one more funny thing...this is outside my bathroom window. I noticed these sparkling all pretty like in the window while in there and thought..."Ooooh, shiny!" and of course had to grab my camera and capture the snowy bling.
This is beautiful , love the light and twinkles. Great story too. Sounds like a really neat church you go too. Fav
December 16th, 2013  
Beautiful, magical and oh, so pretty.... fav.!
December 16th, 2013  
This is beautiful!!! Love the stations idea, too. I must untie some knots today!!!
December 16th, 2013  
wow! this is so beautiful and magical! fav!
December 16th, 2013  
@bpaquette It was so beautiful and freeing. Hope that it goes well for you. Hugs.

@wind_of_the_sothern_sea @jackie8 @bristolrose Aw, thanks, my friends...really appreciate your kind comments and faves!!
December 16th, 2013  
Wonderful sparkly shot, fabulous
December 16th, 2013  
So beautiful! Magical shot, fav!
December 16th, 2013  
Great shot.
December 16th, 2013  
Very pretty!
December 16th, 2013  
Wow wow wow! A great shot that captures winter and looks quite magical!
December 16th, 2013  
And fav.
December 16th, 2013  
so pretty and sparkly. fav
December 16th, 2013  
Such a magical, sparkling image! fav (An inspiring caption, but a tag of perfect murder weapon??? LOL)
December 16th, 2013  
Just beautiful!
December 16th, 2013  
@genealogygenie I just had to do it.:) Sometimes I'm a nut;-). Haven't you heard the riddles about icicles and how they make the perfect weapon in that they melt and the evidence is gone? Maybe I should remove that? Thanks, Kim...so appreciate your words and fav:).
December 16th, 2013  
Jo
I can hardly see this image as im looking on my iPhone, screen far too small and failing eyesight, but what I can see of it I love, great shot and a fav. Loved the back story too.
December 16th, 2013  
@jo13 Check it out on big screen later, lady. It's pretty cool...literally. Thanks so much, friend. And maybe recheck the fav button...it was finicky this time;-). Thanks, Jo!!!
December 16th, 2013  
@taffy @jaynspain Thanks SOOO much, girls. I appreciate you!!
December 16th, 2013  
Wonderful,sparkly icicles!! FAV!!
December 16th, 2013  
Magical sparkle! A really fitting shot into this day, to remember your first meating
December 16th, 2013  
so sparkly and beautifuk! love it
December 16th, 2013  
Ohhhhh fav!i aspire to take a shot like this!
December 16th, 2013  
@mzzhope Last year I took a horrid icicle shot. This year, I was lucky to have them on my home (and this day was blessed with the shining sun). Not so lucky in that it means that I have a poorly insulted roof, but...it does make for a pretty shot. Thanks so much, Hope!!!

@carolmw Thank you, Carol. Really appreciate that!
December 16th, 2013  
very beautiful winter photo
December 16th, 2013  
Ooooooh FAVtastic love it!!!
December 16th, 2013  
A very pretty shot Amanda with beautiful light.
December 16th, 2013  
JH
Lovely wintery sparkle
December 16th, 2013  
So you were already fearless 19 years ago. Wow!! lol What a great shot, Amanda. I love how the sun get´s the ice .. beautiful!
December 16th, 2013  
@deniseescovino I've been pretty fearless my whole life. So so glad that I mostly stayed out of trouble. Fearless, but mostly law abiding:)! Thanks, friend!!

@simon0128 High five for the fav!!! Thanks, Simon:)!
December 16th, 2013  
@amandal hahaha You´re a great girl, Amanda, and being fearless is great! Keep it up!
December 16th, 2013  
Jo
Yup a definite fav, well worth a second look. :-) FAV
December 16th, 2013  
@jo13 Aw, thanks, Jo!!!:) So appreciate that. I fell kinda flat last week so it's nice to have a better shot for a change. Hope to get a few more in before I go away for vacation.
December 16th, 2013  
Your church sounds like a beautiful place. Thank you for praying for Andy, he needs all the strength we can all muster for him at the moment.

Love your shot, especially the sparkly snow dust
December 16th, 2013  
Love the light in this. Happy meet-your-hubby anniversary!
December 16th, 2013  
Wonderful winter capture. The light on the icicles is fabulous!
December 16th, 2013  
Love your lighting.
December 16th, 2013  
Love the light on the icicles
December 16th, 2013  
beautiful light ...magical ... love those sparkles .. very thoughtful of you .. but kinda expect that from ya .. seems like a awesome church ..!!
December 17th, 2013  
Fav .. btw!!
December 17th, 2013  
Kev
Sparkly, pretty capture, Amanda.
December 17th, 2013  
What a beautiful shot, Amanda. I love the sparkle and hint of snow coming down. FAV
December 17th, 2013  
Caz
Magical !! Loved your story too :) Fav
December 17th, 2013  
The glow and the shine here are just spectacular!
December 17th, 2013  
Very pretty. The light through the ice makes all the difference. I'll bet someone new checking your narrative will wonder about the "sewer tart" thing!
December 17th, 2013  
Meg
Very pretty! The sparkle makes me think of Pixie dust. I think I have been watching too much of my kids television!
December 17th, 2013  
such glorious sparkle :) (and hey, weren't you planning on taking a break from 365? so glad that's not working out for ya ;p)
December 17th, 2013  
Really beautiful, Amanda!
December 17th, 2013  
Great capture. So beautiful.
December 17th, 2013  
SPECTACULAR!!! FAV
December 17th, 2013  
Lovely shot Amanda, but what I enjoyed the most is your commentary, that shows us your eccentric side, your challenging side, your daring side, your fun side, your caring side, your loving side, and all wrapped up that is what makes you the wonderful person that you are. There are many friends that I have on 365 that I wish lived round the corner from me, and you are most certainly one of them.
December 17th, 2013  
@seanoneill Love your kind words. Thank you, my friend. I agree. I'd so love to meet and hang out with you, Rebecca and the boys!!
December 17th, 2013  
@eyesmile Thanks so much, sweet Gena!!

@anazad511 @fishy Aw, thanks, guys!!

@northy Yeah, not so great at the break. I did take a week off when our internet was down (between services) and then caught up with mostly mediocre photos. Limping along to finish up the year. I'm taking another week off around Christmas and will post a bunch to be done by Dec 31. Next year will be more of a break...just posting when I have great, I think.
December 17th, 2013  
fav - you are a photographic magpie ! shiny shiny! sorry not much commenting time at the moment sweet - hope the move has gone well & you are well-settled for christmas
December 17th, 2013  
Fabulous Amanda - love the bokeh floating on the air and perfect title too!
Thank you for all your lovely comments on my project, apologies for being so behind with yours - I am way, way behind with everything at the mo! : ))
December 17th, 2013  
Fabulous shot, love the floating snow and the sparkling icicles are something else. Love the commentary and the fact that you went to church dressed as you did - FAV
December 17th, 2013  
@friend2303 Thank you so much, Vijay!! I actually emailed Andy to check in today...no word back yet. He and I have followed each other since January this year and are pretty good friends. So hurting for him. Appreciate your wonderful comments and fav!!
December 17th, 2013  
nice
December 18th, 2013  
@malc Thanks so much, Malc!!

@rennes No worries, I'm behind on most stuff on here and in life, too. Soon I will be taking another week off and then powering to fill all my gaps so that i can finish up on December 31. Ending year 2 and starting a new season of change.

@gozoinklings Getting there slowly, lady. No worries. Thanks so much for your fun comments and the fav!
December 18th, 2013  
@eyesmile Thanks so much, kind Gena!!
December 18th, 2013  
@megstorey Tinker Bell!! How fun. You know, I kinda can't stand her for being such a punk in Peter Pan. She has this little 'tude I can't get past! Thanks, Meg!!

@rvwalker I changed my profile photo to fill people in. And Gena saw it and said "I like your sewer slut photo!" I had to say, "Tart, she's a tart!!;-)

@archaeofrog Thanks, Katie!

@cazann Aw, thanks so much, Caz!!

@darsphotos I did, too, my friend. Sparkle is so glorious. Thanks for the fav!
December 18th, 2013  
@snaggy @rachelwithey @stimuloog @pflaume @nadaa Thanks so much, my friends!! Shiny things are so nice:)!

@pixiemac Love that you said that, Sarah. Thank you. I emailed him to check in yesterday...no word back yet.

@jewelsandbinoculars @paulaw @gerry Thank you, my friends!!

@simon0128 Love that!! Thanks, Simon!!
December 18th, 2013  
@roseolivia @susale @fullcircle @kwind @homeschoolmom @claireuk

Thank you kindly, my friends!! So appreciate your comments!!

@jaynspain So appreciate your kind comments and fav, Jayn!!

@taffy Thanks so much for the fave, my friend!!
December 18th, 2013  
Beautiful bling and lovely narrative.
December 18th, 2013  
love the sparkle you captured
December 18th, 2013  
Pretty, pretty sparkle. Fav xx
December 18th, 2013  
Meg
@amandal I so agree!!! Tinkerbell is a brat! Haha! For the longest I couldn't stand her either but my girls love all the fairies, so I sucked it up and now I sit in the floor with the fairy dolls and play Tink all the time.
December 19th, 2013  
@amrita21 @vickisfotos Thanks so much, ladies!!

@psychographer I am a sucker for sparkle. Not a bling kinda girl, but boy do I love it in nature. Thanks, Lisa!!

@megstorey Glad you agree. What kills me are the products with Tink that have her looking all sassy. No way, Jose, will I let my girls have that. We have enough sassy without a role model thank you very much!:)
December 19th, 2013  
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