Winter Hawk.

 

Saw this hawk yesterday afternoon. I wish I'd had more time to snap some shots, but hawks sometimes aren't on my timetable. I was walking, and I wasn't dressed very appropriately, and it started to snow really hard. Soon, I was covered, head to toe, face and shoes and all, ha. I laughed and said to God, "I am a snowperson!" I was freezing, but it was so fun.

Starting some new work today, and I'm grateful, and somewhat nervous, but I suppose that's normal. Wish me luck. Moving forward slowly, hoping my body heals.

Hope all is well in your world! Sending out love and light, always. Don't understand everything at the moment, but my heart feels full...

Love to you,

C.A. MacConnell

Photo.

 

Last of the shots from yesterday. These turned out pretty cool! Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Night Walk Photos

 
Night Walk

Restaurant

Restaurant 2

Self

Had a lot of fun last night, shooting some things on a night walk. Couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd share, why not. Gonna hunt around for a close piano today, ha. Let's see what I can come up with...

Shout out to Greg Flannery, former editor-in-chief of Article 21 and CityBeat News. One of the best editors I've ever worked with. Also, shout out to Larry Gross, RIP, former editor of CityBeat Living Out Loud. Two of the best troublemakers I've had the pleasure of knowing.

C.A. MacConnell

Stairs.

 

Fun! I just took a night walk...here's one I liked. Never shot at night before. I'll share some more tomorrow. :) <3

C.A. MacConnell

Hot Dawg

 

Something random I just found, ha. Hope you're having a beautiful day, whatever you're doing! Trying to stay positive...doing better at it, but the "old me" still creeps in with a force at times. But what's cool about that is that I can feel/see the change inside of me in real time. Rad. Love to you,

C.A. MacConnell

Hollins Graveyard.

 

Good morning. One of my old hiding places. My life is changing. I've been singing, writing songs, taking photos, getting new work, all sorts of interesting things...feels exciting.

C.A. MacConnell

Photo: Fly

 

Good morning. Something I just wrote on social media that I liked, so I'm reposting it here...

Positive thought for today, for me, for you: "flow" is the word that comes to mind; I embrace all of my feelings. I don't need to "get rid of them immediately," feel shame, or punish myself or others. Rather, I can let the feelings settle and allow them to flow through me. There is a time to act. There is a time to wait. Every feeling is important and so, I can feel it until it changes, and it will change soon.

But if I get stuck on something, I can ask for guidance.

C.A. MacConnell

-- inspired by Melody Beattie's writing. She has been very helpful to me. Hope you have a wonderful day. Love to you, C.A.

Graveyard Sunset.

 

C.A. MacConnell

Straw, Away

 
Straw

Away

C.A. MacConnell

Photo: Self.

 

C.A. MacConnell

Snoopy.

 

This is so rad, if you look a little deeper. :)

C.A. MacConnell

River at Night.

 

Here's one of my mess-ups that I just found. Decided I liked it, ha.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Audience.

This week has been one of the most difficult ones that I've experienced in a long time, chock full of grief, panic, emotional, and physical pain, but I literally walked right through it, and I'm still processing but yesterday, I opened the blinds, peered out the window, and I noticed that there was a formation of branches that looked like a woman singing. Next to her, there was a formation of branches that looked like a man on his side. He appeared to be holding her, his arms wrapped around her. It was the sweetest little vision I’ve seen in a long time, and it honestly comforted me in a time of distress. I began to feel a spark of hope, hope that I knew would roll in at some point, because I've been through such battles before. Nothing quite like this, but similar hardships.

Today, the branches are still there, and they are still beautifully placed in that loving way. Right now, as I type, I'm glancing over at the image.

And I am here, and I feel alive.

And although I'm still wading through some deep grief, I feel a newfound strength. I'm thinking about all of the people I’ve known who never had the chance to use their voices – people that have passed due to emotional pain, neglect, abuse, and the like, countless people who (for whatever reason) never had the chance I have right now, the chance to tell the truth, the chance to break the silence. And I'm thinking about how I can be a voice for all of them.

I am far from alone.

You see, this morning, on the way to the foot doctor, a hawk flew right in front of my car, and I had the awakening that all of them, all of these angels in heaven, or whatever you want to call people who have passed on, all of them are behind me. Suddenly, I felt the presence of a great support, a vast, spiritual hug, if you will.

As difficult as these past two years have been, with all of the grief involved, now I know this:  there is no question in my mind what I am here to do. Because this is war, and I'm here to write and fight for all of us.

And so, I have been for 26 years. And so, I will continue to do so.

Stay tuned,

C.A. MacConnell

P.S. Of course, I need to tear into a Complete Cookie first. 🔥

X

 

Yesterday's story/photo was just random, something that popped into my head...this one shows exactly how I feel...seeking support and love...learning self-care, having every desire to give back.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Photo: Rugby

 

This is Rugby. I rode him a few times, and we had a great time. He was a talented fellow, but he was a total jokester, and he and I had a funny connection. He was at one barn where I worked and then, strangely, he was sold and showed up at another barn where I worked. Oftentimes, when his owner was brushing him, when she turned around, he'd bite the ass of her jeans. Then, he'd look at me to make sure I saw. She'd get so mad, and Rugby and I would be cracking up, looking at each other. Then he'd grab brushes with his teeth, throw them around, that kind of thing. His owner would get furious, and he and I would just be rolling. Yes, I can tell when a horse is laughing, and Rugby consistently played jokes on people and made sure to look over at me to make sure I was seeing it. Hilarious. 

I trained another horse, Johnny, who did similar things...he'd threaten to bite people and such. But neither horse ever did it to me. It was like an inside joke...if they didn't like someone, both of them were like this:  "Well, I could kill you if I wanted to, because you're annoying, but I'd rather have some fun today."

Ha, hope you have a good day. 💪💖😎😘

C.A. MacConnell

See the Light

 

Good morning. Love to you. Resting today. No pop/caffeine, Day One. Wish me luck. :)
C.A. MacConnell

Glove 52.

 

:) C.A. MacConnell

Photo.

 

Good morning. This is one of my favorites...saw it in a window one day while I was walking. I'm having trouble walking right now, actually. Have to rest, as I have a bad foot, among other things, so life is difficult right now. Saw this pic, and it gave me some hope. Perhaps it'll do that for you too...Love to you,

C.A. MacConnell

Glove 51.

 

Lost glove 51. Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

Push

 

C.A. MacConnell