Walking Into the Beautiful Uncertain Horizon

Back to the Start...

2012-01-24T13:43:00.003-06:00

Through our lives we encounter endings constantly, whetherit is just the end of a day or something much larger. We must take the chance to embrace theseendings, they may be something sad… however, in the same sense they can be immenselybeautiful.

Washed Away...

2012-01-16T23:20:00.000-06:00

Life can be as turbulent as the seas on a windy day; strong currents can take you away from familiar shores. In July life currents carried me far away from my home of Mississippi to the beautiful Florida panhandle. I never expected to me washed away so soon, but later this month I will find myself well away from Florida’s Emerald Coast or Mississippi’s familiar trails… I will find myself in North Carolinas piedmont, new territory to explore.

What We Become...

2012-01-07T22:59:00.000-06:00

At some time we look back at what we have left behind a twisted mass of beautiful controlled chaos that is our life. We see the beauty that lies within, the vibrant hues that make us who we are.

From Above

2012-01-05T12:48:00.000-06:00

Looking down, it all seems small and insignificant.

Who are we to claim all of this?

We just borrow it….

We need to respect it.

Before it is taken back from us.

...

2012-01-04T01:22:00.000-06:00

Part of Wordless Wednesday.

My Florida

2012-01-03T19:00:00.003-06:00

This is a view of Florida's Emerald Coast from my eyes through just a few of my favourite photos from 2011.

Sunset

2011-11-26T19:52:00.000-06:00

We often avoid endings we are too afraid at what they represent. However endings can be just as beautiful as the beginnings that are to come.

Primary

2011-11-19T03:56:00.001-06:00

Simple, basic, made up of the same things as every other thing… however totally unique at the same time.

This Pollock-Esque splatter painting was done specifically for postcrossing. I wanted to do something different, and this is something that could never be duplicated exactly.

This is Postcrossing: US-1411258

Shimmering Reflection

2011-11-18T13:35:00.002-06:00

Reflections shimmer in the water adding a touch of magic to all that it captures. These fleeting moments mirrored on the calm abyss distorted as the wind ripples across the surface.

Underneath It All

2011-11-16T16:07:00.000-06:00

Walking along the Blackwater River in Milton, FL you cross underneath the US90 Bridge. This is the side that you don’t always see on bridges that cross water, we tend to keep to the top side of those. However I love the perspective it offers, a glimpse of something different.

Silent Whirl

2011-11-16T13:17:00.000-06:00

Part of Wordless Wednesday.

Carpe Diem

2011-11-15T13:35:00.000-06:00

The world is ours for the taking; we can not just sit by and let life pass us by! We must keep looking bravely forward and walk un-wavering into the uncertain horizon. We must not forget the problems and joys of the past; they are a part off us. However there are new adventures to be had and we must take them all as they come.

Flying High

2011-11-14T23:02:00.002-06:00

Flying solo isn’t as easy as it looks, people watch you soar in amazement. But when their eyes are turned, you come crashing down with a thud… the trick is to dust yourself off, and take back to the clouds.

Figuring It Out

2011-11-13T01:04:00.001-06:00

So, I came across where a stream meets the ocean. Though the sand looked solid through the water, I lifted my pants legs and stepped in to cross. No! the sand and water bogged me to my knees, so I had to backtrack and find another way around. Now I am at the other side a little sandier and wetter... And a bit cold. But I made it. Now to do this on a larger scale.

Find the Color

2011-11-02T00:10:00.000-05:00

The world is filling with color, the leaves are turning and the shades of green are slowly being replaced with different hues. I’m familiar with this cycle, it is one that continues on and on through our lives… and in us as well; we all grow through cycles, some more beautiful than others.

Thunderous Silence

2011-10-26T21:50:00.000-05:00

Part of Wordless Wednesday!

WonderWorks

2011-10-26T21:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes your world is turned on its head, but not always does this mean a bad thing. Every ending is a chance to begin anew, it is up to you to seize the opportunity and make the best of it.

WonderWorks in Panama City Beach is a perfect example of this, the outside is a building turned on its head… but the inside is a place of learning made fun for children everywhere.

A Thing of Beauty

2011-10-11T11:52:00.000-05:00

Things happen for a reason there are times when it looks like you can’t really see the reason… but then you are suddenly face to face with what you’re looking for.

Trail Blazer

2011-10-06T02:54:00.000-05:00

Falling into formation is the easiest thing to do, to do what all the others are doing. It allows for no thought or creativity on your part, you see what others do and you imitate. I refuse to live this way; I believe that it is important to follow your heart. The adventures that you have will make it worth all the uncertainty and fear. If you are unwilling to blaze a new trail, there will be no new trails for people to follow.

Transformation

2011-10-05T16:24:00.000-05:00

We tend to focus on the moment, how bad things always happen to us. We never step back to look and see who we become when we are faced with seeming insurmountable obstacles. We become a thing of beauty, something to be admired.

Ave Maria

2011-10-05T11:12:00.000-05:00

Part of Wordless Wednesday.

The Venezellos

2011-10-04T19:06:00.001-05:00

Sitting in the small seaside town of Apalachicola lays a boat, I am unsure of the history of this boat except its name, the Venezellos. It reminded me of the SS Hurricane Camille, a shrimp boat that washed up in Gulfport, Mississippi during the infamous 1969 storm and lasted until after Katrina when it was removed. Considering the amount of disrepair, I doubt that this boat will remain in the city for much longer, unless someone steps up to save it.

Change of Seasons

2011-10-04T15:32:00.000-05:00

The air grows cooler and the wind changes directions, the leaves on the trees change color and fall from their posts. Fall is definitely in the air and soon the world will become a bit darker and the chill will once again bite to the bone.

In just a few weeks the darkness will become festive as we embrace the things that frighten us and we celebrate moving through the cold and dark to the warmth that comes with spring.

Electric Blue

2011-09-21T22:08:00.001-05:00

As the storms rage in your heart the thunder echoes in your voice the electric blue of the lightning reflects through your eyes.

These images were captured with my Blackberry Curve… yes… with my phone. I have not edited these images as I occasionally do. I took them tonight as I walked west along Panama City Beach. The storms raging in the distance towards Seaside and Destin were bathing my world in a beautiful occasional splash of Electric Blue.

Click Here for More Watery Wednesday Posts.

Silence

2011-09-14T14:03:00.001-05:00

Part of Wordless Wednesday!

Lady Louise

2011-09-14T03:45:00.000-05:00

Ships and boats fascinate me perhaps only second to airplanes. This particular beauty was docked in Apalachicola, FL. I loved her name, the “Lady Louise,” while I am sure she was named for a famous “Louise” such as Lady Louise Windsor; however, Louise is a name often repeated among women in my family… so I immediately associated it with them.

Remember

2011-09-11T23:12:00.000-05:00

September 11, 2001 a day that will forever be remembered as a moment in time where it all changed. Not just for the American people who were attacked during peacetime on their own soil, but for those affected by the repercussions that spread thereafter like ripples in a pond. From New York to London all the way to Kabul, Bagdad and Abbottabad, this chilly morning ten years ago was the moment that everything changed.

Today I remember the heroes that lost their lives, and all the men and women of all nations that continue to fight in the War on Terror. I also thank all the men and women who put their lives on the line everyday to ensure the safety of all of us from firemen to police all the way to EMTs and TSA. Thank you.

My words will forever pale to express the sorrow and horror of that chilly morning ten years ago. I wrote this poem in the aftermath of that fateful day, and ten years later I feel it still expresses my thoughts and feelings. Bless America and her allies.

United

11-September-2001

We will never be the same, they have seen to that.

They have broken our hearts, but not our spirit.

For once again we stand a nation united.

United under God.

United under freedom.

United Under courage.

United under the great banner adorned with stars and stripes.

Forever we will stand one nation indivisible.

They may try, but they can not take that away!

(These photos are from the 9-11 memorial in Panama City, FL. All Images and Words ©2011 J.G.W. Blakeney)

A Rose

2011-09-09T21:42:00.000-05:00

Love is a lot like a rose. So beautiful and sweet, and so fragile that it needs to be kept safe by thorns. Too often we allow our love to be displayed for the world, and soon we are left with just a fragment of the beauty that once was. Perhaps we should keep our love bound to us and safe from the torment that the world can provide… safe just for our own enjoyment… that is the safe way. No… Perhaps I am wrong, maybe the best thing to do is to make it able to stand the tests of time, only then will it forever be just as beautiful as it was the day it first sprouted.

Beat Still

2011-09-07T14:12:00.002-05:00

The wind off the water blows through the trees,

Beat still my heart for we know what is to come.

I sit in the warmth of the sun with the birds flying free,

Beat still my heart for we are waiting for none.

I watch the crabs scurry at the waters edge,

Beat still my heart for you may very well break.

The waves lap at the waters edge enticing,

Beat still my heart for you are not weak.

I see the water stretch as far as the eye can see,

Beat still my heart we will soon be free.

I listen to the sound of the wind in the moss,

Beat still my heart we will know not loss.

Beat still.

Different Prospective

2011-09-06T23:14:00.000-05:00

I like to look at things from a different prospective; I see beauty where others potentially would not. Take this photo for example; many people would take a photo of the pier from the top or side, me I kinda like this view.

Tropical Storm Lee

2011-09-03T19:51:00.000-05:00

Although it is just a tropical storm, Lee is affecting the weather from here all the way back home to Mississippi. The rain has been off and on all day today, leading to me spending a good portion of the day wet. Lee also provided a chance for me to see some massive waves come ashore at the Panama City Beach County Pier. I must say, I am not as brave as the people standing close to the water, these waves can sweep one out to sea in a heartbeat!

Embrace

2011-08-31T23:26:00.001-05:00

When can you hope to be one,

When you forget to be a pawn,

You never know what can come to be,

When you finally realize you are free,

It is then that you can find,

The truth that can be so kind,

In the touch of grace can be found,

The loss of despair that once bound,

Out of the darkness you must trudge,

Into the beauty that only you will embrace.

Standing Tall

2011-08-31T12:08:00.001-05:00

As a social people we tend to have to learn that we often have to stand alone. It is not an easy lesson to learn, the waves crash around us and it can be scary and sometimes we do slip into the turmoil. When this happens we must flight our way back onto our little island and stand as tall and majestic as we possibly can, and stare down at every wave that comes our way.

The Silence

2011-08-31T02:44:00.001-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!!!!

For the Birds

2011-08-30T12:10:00.002-05:00

This Egret and many Gulls feed from the waters where the Gulf of Mexico meets Saint Andrews Bay in the waters between Shell Island and Saint Andrews State Park.

My Salt Life

2011-08-30T00:54:00.002-05:00

Rising from the dunes bordering the Gulf of Mexico lays a city, an impossible city competing with a larger city that shares part of its name. Panama City Beach is the city that I speak of, a city for tourists one would say. This is the city where I have settled a city bordering the emerald colored waters of the gulf that provides the salt water and scents the breeze with the ocean. I am adapting well to the life of the

USA

’s third lesser mentioned coast. The Gulf has become an important part of my life I love to walk in the surf looking for beautiful shells, and I long to swim in the salty water looking at the creatures that call the Gulf of Mexico home…. My home… with my new salty life.

Little Eyes

2011-08-29T19:53:00.001-05:00

The same is true in Florida as it was in Mississippi and is anywhere on Earth… You are never alone. Lurking in the trees, brush, and the water are little eyes. You are always being watched so always be aware of your surroundings.

This Gator was stalking me and other food items at the aptly named “Gator Lake” in Saint Andrews State Park just outside Panama City Beach. I have seen these magnificent creatures in nature many times in the past; they never cease to demand respect and awe.

Basking

2011-08-24T14:17:00.002-05:00

Pelicans rest after a long day of foraging for food in the wild areas of Florida. They overlook Saint Andrews Bay from a pier silently basking in the evening sun. Sometimes I feel like one of these pelicans, no matter what I may go at life alone… I am never really alone. When it is time for me to bask in the sun and reflect, I will do so with those closest to me.

Part of Watery Wednesday.

Silent Thunder

2011-08-11T00:41:00.001-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!!!!

Sunsets

2011-08-09T16:49:00.001-05:00

Sunsets, the end of the day and the beginning of darkness. The time of Limbo where the light is fading and the sky is filled with colors not seen during the bright of day or the darkness of night.

Into the Light

2011-08-08T16:51:00.001-05:00

Life can be full of obstacles and at times it can be difficult to see the light through the darkness. Suddenly, when you least expect it, the sun peaks around and guides you down the path that you were meant to take… the path into the light.

Birth of a Beach Rat!

2011-07-01T18:14:00.004-05:00

There are times when life throws us for a loop and we have to ask ourselves, “is this real.” Well my life has changed dramatically and I am doing everything I can to keep up. I love the change it is something I have been longing to happen for so long. I know new adventures lie before me, so as usual I face them head on!

Cusp

2011-06-28T03:32:00.001-05:00

Here I am on the cusp of a great adventure, an experiment to spread my wings and leave this place behind. I’m unsure if I will ever return to this place other than to visit, I wonder what changes will occur in my absence. I do know that this place continues to shock me with the things that I see and “discover.” But soon this will be a distant place an abstract point on a map… a place of memories.

This is one of those shocking things; this Hindu Temple is located in Flowood, MS right off Old Fannin Road. It is classically Indian and something unique to my normally cookie-cutter area. A funny note: the temple is located right next to the Shady Pines RV Park… I thought this was hilarious.

Babies

2011-06-21T15:50:00.001-05:00

These cute babies are just under my carport. They are not at all camera shy, and as you can see… even pose for photos.

Babies are one of nature’s miracles, they are a sign that things will continue to go forward. Every generation is hopefully an improvement upon the last, and a combination of all that made past generations great.

Silent Shadow

2011-06-14T20:12:00.004-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!!!!

Humble

2011-06-13T10:35:00.000-05:00

As a rule, we tend to forget to look at things from the perspective that we are above it and we are better than most. We tend to do this at times individually and as a people in general. Sometimes we need to individually remind ourselves that in the scheme of things, we are in reality quite small.

Random Igloo of Memories...

2011-06-09T18:45:00.002-05:00

Places are not just places, places hold memories dear and when we see these places the memories are given back to us, as if from a dream.

Yes Mississippi has at least one igloo, and it is a place that holds many memories for me. This is the place that is a treat to go, the best place in the area for catfish. While this is a statement that is opinion, it is an opinion that is shared among many. Birthdays, Random family gatherings, and even just the occasional dinner have been had by me and my loved ones since I was little in this very igloo. I cherish these, and I add to them every time I make my way to the Igloo down on ’49.

Jerry’s Catfish House

Hwy 49 South

Florence, Mississippi 39073

http://www.jerryscatfishhouse.com/

601-845-8860

West Florida

2011-06-08T20:15:00.001-05:00

There isn’t too much that can be said about this photo, since the photo itself says a lot about Old West Florida. Pearl, Mississippi is a few miles within the historical boundary of West Florida, and I have been a resident of what was once West Florida my entire life. This will not change, as in less than a month, I will be a resident of current west Florida and what was considered the eastern boundary of Old West Florida. I have accepted a new opportunity with my company, with my friends and families blessing… I will soon be relocating.

UMMC

2011-06-06T16:58:00.002-05:00

I don’t like hospitals; in fact I detest them with every fiber of my being. However, I do feel the need to write about this one in particular, this is the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. I was born here and so were my mother, and many other members of my family. I have seen too much of this place recently and I feel the need to write about it in hopes that it will appease the powers that be so that the universe rights itself and no one in my life has to enter through it’s doors for a reason other than employment.

So let the appeasement begin.

UMMC is one of the best hospitals in the state of Mississippi, and it is probably the only hospital that I trust. While it isn’t perfect as most hospitals aren’t, but it is a bit different than most others in the area in that it is a teaching hospital. This means that it is not run solely for profit, so it is one of the few hospitals that will work with you and offer reasonably attainable financial aid if you can not afford normal care. (You see the fact that the American Healthcare system is a for-profit industry is something I find morbid and frightening… but that is a rant I’m not going to get into.) This hospital is the only level-1 trauma center in the state of Mississippi and has been the hospital of choice in my family for generations.

I have seen a lot of this hospital recently, as my mother has been in and out of it since March. It has been a long ordeal and we still have a long way to go, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Good Company

2011-06-04T23:47:00.003-05:00

When you travel the road less traveled, do you not get dusty and hit by briars, or covered in poison ivy? Why is it that life seems to want you to travel the road that no one else really seems to want to travel, especially when you seem to be more fitted for the well-traveled road with all the five star hotels? Well I at least seem to be in good company.

Wards

2011-06-04T11:41:00.001-05:00

I have many traditions that I adhere to; most for no reason other than it is just something that I like to do. One of these traditions is that on my way to the coast, I always stop and eat at the Wards in Hattiesburg. Wards is a small chain of restaurants located in Mississippi. It is an enigma to me, because there isn’t one here in Jackson, the largest city in Mississippi. Wards is famous for its “Big One” a burger with secret sauce and chili, it also is known for its homemade root beer. I think the reason I am so fond of this restaurant, is that it is a Mississippi chain, something we can call ours.

http://www.wardsrestaurants.com

We are all but Castles of Sand

2011-06-03T15:48:00.001-05:00

Life can be like a castle of sand; built tall and sturdy and all it takes is one wave and it is over. Yes it can be rebuilt, but not the same. I was walking on Biloxi beach yesterday on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, and occasionally I would come across a bed of barnacle incrusted bricks. It took me a moment to realize that these were what remains of the businesses that once lined Beach Boulevard in Gulfport and Biloxi… all hat remains six years after Hurricane Katrina completely washed them away like they were a tiny sand castle on the beach.

Words Can Fail

2011-06-01T21:06:00.001-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday

2-Days Early... Ribbit!

2011-05-31T16:58:00.000-05:00

My mom surprised me today with an early birthday present; needless to say it is one of the best cakes for my personality. It is vanilla chocolate swirl with butter cream icing. I’d offer a piece, but I can’t guarantee that it would survive being posted.

Alligator mississippiensis

2011-05-29T18:42:00.001-05:00

These creatures haunt our swimming holes and our dreams they are frightening, fascinating, and interesting. The American Alligator is one of the biggest predators in the area, and they are common in my neck of the woods, thank goodness this one was behind the glass at the Mississippi Natural Science Museum.

Stand Out

2011-05-28T18:39:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it is good to stand out and just let yourself shine.

Sometimes it is necessary to do this to feel like you are someone.

Because no matter how you feel, you are someone.

And that is why you are beautiful.

So stand out…

And just be yourself!

In Honor

2011-05-28T10:47:00.001-05:00

Sherman, TX

Monday is Memorial Day, a day to remember those that gave their lives in honor of this country of ours. We must honor them and never forget the sacrifice that they gave us, and we must not forget the men and women currently sacrificing everyday for our country. We do however tend to forget the foreigners that gave their lives for our values, let us also honor the men and women who gave their lives for our country, though it was not their country to serve

These memorials are from different places… though they are all similar they all share a common status, they honor men and women who gave their lives in the armed forces of various different wars and battles.

Meridian, MS

Brandon, MS

Natchez, MS

Weeping Dixie

2011-05-27T13:57:00.000-05:00

Clouds are harbingers of rain and storms and much to often recently in the area I call my home, the southern USA otherwise known as “Dixie,” clouds have been the bringer of Death. Cities like Joplin, MO all the Way to Alabama and many places in between. Even Jackson, MS has been hit by a Tornado this year. It is a very horrific situation that such beautiful clouds can cause so much pain and destruction to so many. My thoughts are with those who have lost homes and loved ones in the Tornados and the current Flooding that is still devastating so many.

If you would like to help, please donate to your local RedCross or in the US text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10.

This beautiful sky was photographed yesterday at Jackson-Evers International Airport (JAN.)

True Wealth

2011-05-26T11:08:00.000-05:00

I am lucky to have people in my life that have been there since the very early days. People say friends come and go, but I have learned that more often than not friends just grow into family. I am very blessed to be able to say this about the people in my life, as I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world to have so many people that were not born into my family but are just as much my family as those that were. That is true wealth.

The photo is one of these friends that I speak of, this is Sharissa Sakcriska, I have known her my entire life.

Silent Walkway

2011-05-24T20:07:00.002-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!!!!

Trolling Along

2011-05-24T03:22:00.000-05:00

At first glance it is ugly, or perhaps a bit scary. On second glance it is something more, something cheerful and even a bit beautiful; perhaps something we could be friends with. We forget these things as we go through our lives, so quick to judge without even a second thought. This is a failing that I admit that I have, do you? It is something that we should all work to fix, after all there is much more to life than what we see at first.

Quiver

2011-05-22T22:12:00.001-05:00

Southern Culture is unique at best, and while it is a bit funny; gizzards and Livers do make me quiver, but not in a good way. Granted I tend to avoid any non pre wrapped foodstuffs sold at gas stations, not just things that make me shudder in mild disgust.

Hotel Art

2011-05-21T10:48:00.001-05:00

Hotels tend to be the depository of most modern art, well the upper scale ones anyway. I always find it interesting when I visit at what I find. This particular sculpture can be found in the Embassy Suites at Highland Colony in Ridgeland. I wonder what the artist had in mind when he created this piece, or what it is supposed to be. I imagine depending on where you are standing it could be many things.

Clouds

2011-05-20T15:40:00.001-05:00

There for just a fleeting moment, beauty from water…

App for That

2011-05-19T11:04:00.001-05:00

Ever have an itch that needed to be scratched and just could not reach it? Well if you ever find yourself in Lucedale, Mississippi, you’ll find that you are in luck… they have an app for that!!!!

Echo Un-Silenced

2011-05-18T19:35:00.001-05:00

The battle of Vicksburg was one of the most important strategic battles of the American Civil War. After the battle, the dead counted; the horrors of war cleaned away, the loss on both ends was staggering. At the urging of the federal government, and the creation of the Vicksburg National Military Park the battlefield became a memorial. Each state that had soldiers lost in the battle commissioned a memorial or memorials, all are grand in scale… but few compare to the Illinois memorial, created to mirror the Parthenon in Greece.

Blink of an Eye

2011-05-18T19:17:00.001-05:00

Goodbye can seem like forever, but in reality it just for the blink of an eye.

Silent Echo

2011-05-17T18:59:00.002-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!!!!

Memories

2011-05-17T11:13:00.001-05:00

When all is said and done, and everyone goes their separate ways we are left with memories. Photos fade or get lost and details may slip into the creases of our minds never to be found, but it is really all that we have. We may think of memories as intangible, but they are as tangible as anything else that we have… and we need to hold onto them for they are worth more than all the money on the planet.

Shining Star

2011-05-16T19:59:00.004-05:00

Every family has a shining star, someone that stands out and works to keep the family together. My family has been lucky to have been blessed with more than one of these stars, and My Great-Aunt Frances Anderson was one of these that shown as bright as the stars in all the sky. She was responsible for so many wonderful gatherings that united immediate and extended family. She was there with my grandmother and me during a dark period in both of our lives, and accepted me no matter who I was. On more than one occasion taught me that people will love me no matter what… or how different I am. My family lost this wonderful person last night, but we each gained another guardian angel. While our hearts grieve for her no longer being here with us, for the games of Phase 10 that will never occur… or the songs sung. We know that she will be in our hearts, in the smiles that we see, and in the love we have for one another. Though she will be missed, we will always feel the love she gave us and we will always love her.

Frances Anderson

1932-2011

Brandon

Frances Eley Anderson, 79, died Monday, May 16, 2011 at Crossgates River Oaks Hospital. Funeral services are 2:00pm Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at Bethel Baptist Church in Brandon with interment in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends 12:00-2:00pm Wednesday at the church.

Mrs. Anderson was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church and the Red Hatters of Pearl, as well as a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, J.W. "Andy" Anderson, Jr.; son, Dale Anderson (Libby); grandchildren, Jennifer Layton O'Neal (David) and Walter Dale Anderson, Jr.; great-grandson, Thomas Maguire; brother, Henry Hawthorne; and sisters, Louise Wixson, Sarah Haskins, Annette Creel, Betty Dulworth, Clara Reid and Margaret Hawthorne. (from: clarionleger.com obits)

Journey

As I look at life so dear,

I know the journey is clear.

For the journey I’m on is like no other,

so I know I must go further.

Do not weep for me my loved ones true,

for I will always be with you.

Although you could not go with me,

now my heart is filled with glee.

But in your hearts I will dwell,

and that will do you well.

And I will see you from above,

not unlike a passing dove.

I hope to see you smile,

as you go another mile.

But to you it may seem odd,

that I am now with my God.

Gothic Tone

2011-05-16T01:22:00.001-05:00

The Lamar building in downtown is one of the more interesting buildings in downtown Jackson. The gargoyles are what make it unique, and add a gothic feel that most buildings in Jackson lack.

For more monochrome fun, click here....

Oh Look, a tree!

2011-05-15T14:08:00.002-05:00

I get made fun of sometimes when I go on my photo taking excursions, or just anytime I have my camera with me. The running joke is that any tree I see I exclaim “Oh Look, a tree… lemmie get my camera!” I have grown to embrace this, as it is somewhat true. I am not sure what exactly it is about trees that fascinate me… but the fascination is there. And second maybe to clouds, they are a favorite subject of mine to photograph.

Free, Like a Butterfly

2011-05-14T22:01:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I wish I was as free as a butterfly,

I wouldn’t know what to do.

Maybe I would glide from flower to flower,

Or bask in the warm sun.

I do not know a reason why,

But sometimes when I am feeling blue.

I wish I had the power,

Away I wish I could run.

Above and beyond without even a try,

To a place that is true.

Above all others I would tower,

Only then my journey done.

Sometimes I wish I was as free as a butterfly,

I wouldn’t know what to do.

Maybe I would glide from flower to flower,

Or bask in the warm sun.

Under the Sea

2011-05-13T19:43:00.001-05:00

These fascinating creatures are made of iron and blown glass; they were part of a display at Boston-Logan Airport (BOS) and captured my eye and imagination. I would never have the patience to come up with something quite like this, but it was very beautiful. It amazes me what people can do when they get the creative urge.

Many creatures reside under the waves, they can be both terrifying and beautiful… sometimes a strange combination of the two. It has been a year since the horrific BP Oil Spill, and while we still have a long way to go before disasters like that can be avoided we still need to remember to care for our oceans and our planet in general. No matter our race, gender, or even our species, we are all on this planet together and we need to take care of each other.

Pearl Flag

2011-05-13T13:42:00.001-05:00

I personally created this flag when I noticed that the current flag for my hometown is not flown prominently. I also wanted to design a flag that was deep in symbolism for the city rather than having a generic city flag with the city seal, this way Pearl, Mississippi can have a flag that rivals that of most cities within the state, one that we can all be proud of. I submitted this for the consideration of the Mayor and the city Council, about a year ago and but have yet to hear anything. Below is further explanation of the symbolism behind the flag.

The colors of the flag are Pearl’s traditional Blue and Gold.

The Canton is based on the Bonnie Blue flag that was one of the early flags flown in Mississippi when it was part of West Florida. The Bonnie Blue Flag was also used as the Canton in the Original, “Magnolia Flag,” that flew over the State of Mississippi until 1894. Its inclusion is showing that the City of Pearl has a foothold in the history of the state. The single gold star on the blue field shows that pearl is definitely a golden point within Mississippi’s history, and Pearl will continue to enrich the state.

I chose the non-traditional stripe pattern Alternating blue, gold, and white to differentiate the flag from both the Mississippi State Flag and the National Flag to show that Pearl is a city making its own future; it does however retain 13-Stripes to honor the original 13 colonies of the Untied States. The striping is also similar to the blue and gold stripes currently in use on Pearl PD police interceptors.

Wordless Art

2011-05-10T21:26:00.000-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!

I was 17 and in high school when I did this Mixed Media art project.

USS Cairo

2011-05-10T13:32:00.002-05:00

The USS Cairo was an ironclad union warship that patrolled the rivers and waters of the confederacy during the American Civil War. The ship was patrolling the waters of the Yazoo River in Mississippi when it struck a confederate mine. The Cairo disappeared below the smooth flowing waters of the Yazoo River with no loss of life. It was rediscovered and recovered in 1965 and later transferred to the National Park Service and put on public display at the Vicksburg National Military Museum for all to see and experience a piece of history first hand.

Higher Love

2011-05-09T23:26:00.002-05:00

I believe, truly there is a higher love,
one that all others can not compare.
I believe it is one that can rise above,
a love that is true and fair.

Higher love will come to me,

perhaps only in a dream.

Either way it will set me free,
and false love it will redeem.

I know in my heart it does exist,

and it is something that I will find.

When I do it I will be unable to resist,

for it will be a love unlike any kind.

So until then I sit and wait,

for a love truly great.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

2011-05-09T12:37:00.002-05:00

When I took this photo, I never expected my little subject to actually pretty much smile at me. I can’t say too much, I am the same way; point a camera at me and I will pose as well.

Rubber Ducky

2011-05-08T14:48:00.002-05:00

I am not too sure what the story behind this display that was in a store window in downtown Natchez yesterday. I just know that it seemed a bit quirky (well quacky) and it caught my eye. I really enjoy things like this; sometimes being quirky is a good thing. Some people might even consider me quirky, but I prefer “eccentric...” I like big words.

Everything Under The Sun

2011-05-07T23:25:00.001-05:00

Darby’s is a cute little shop in downtown Natchez, Mississippi. It is one of those places that you can spend hours sorting through the various nick-knacks looking for gifts for EVERYONE you know. Plus right when you walk in you are tempted with fudge that is just like your grandma would make. It is probably the best of the “cutsie” stores that Mississippi has to offer, and with its fudge and location smack dab in historic Natchez… it really is worth a trip down.

http://www.darbysfudge.com/

410 Main Street
Natchez, MS 39120

800-332-9062 or 601-446-9737

Famous Fudge

Flying High

2011-05-06T12:42:00.000-05:00

When I was little, I always dreamed of flying… much like Peter Pan. I never imagined the real thrill of being in a plane miles above the Earth, looking down at the clouds below you. It is a very surreal experience, and I never get tired of being in a plane, and looking out at the wonder below me.

This photo was taken somewhere between DFW (Dallas, TX) and ORF (Norfolk, VA); the sun was just rising, and the colors from the light hitting the cloud layer was mesmerizing. Somehow, it just isn’t the same when viewed from the ground.

Head to the Horizon

2011-05-05T21:30:00.003-05:00

Something is on the horizon, I can feel it I don’t know what it is but…

“The scent of magic,
the beauty that's been when love was wilder than the wind.”

I know that it is on its way, I can feel it deep down in me all the way into the core.

“Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile.
The precious moments are all lost in the tide”
I know that it is the reason that I am compelled to better myself, but I am sure of exactly what it is, all I know is that I need to do something to prepare for it. Ever have a feeling like that where you know something is on its way, you don’t know what, or When it will arrive, but you going to get ready for it anyway? But as always I arrive to the same conclusion.

“Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see”

And I will wait for whatever it is that is coming, and I will prepare and be ready for it when it does, because something tells me that it will be worth it when it arrives.

(Flashback... Originally Written AUG. 24th,2005 at 9:45 AM)

I thought it would be fun to revisit an old journal entry, when I originally wrote this I had no clue to the adventures that lay before me. Now I know that there are more adventures to be had, some (like the cactus flower above) right in my own back yard. Here is to a bright future! The songs quoted are Roxette "Listen to your Heart," and "Que Sera," written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

The Wind Done Gone...

2011-05-05T14:02:00.003-05:00

Prior to the civil war, and even a bit after the war itself, this was a home. Hard to believe now, as it could easily be from Athens or Rome if only for the columns, but this is in Port Gibson, Mississippi. This state was once full of beautiful homes, seemingly right out of Gone With the Wind, but the reality is that it is just that… gone with the wind.

I took this photo with an actual film using camera many years ago. It was the first time and currently the last time that I saw these iconic columns rising from the surrounding nothingness. I was mesmerized at the size, I had until that point seen just photos and the sheer magnitude of the columns made me wonder how beautiful the house once was.

Randomness

2011-05-04T20:56:00.000-05:00

I don’t remember the name of the city where I took this photo. I just remember that I was about an hour into a 7 and a half hour journey through Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. I remember passing through this small Texan town, and this building caught my eye; not sure why I liked it so much, but I had to take a photo.

Royal

2011-05-03T21:37:00.000-05:00

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!

Pictures of You, Pictures of Me…

2011-05-02T13:39:00.002-05:00

Back on 3 November, 2007 when I first created this blog after being inspired by a friend of mine. I never knew I would still be doing it for so many years, it just never occurred to me. I remember when I was still coming up with the concept for the Uncertain Horizon, I knew I wanted to include photos and make it different from any blog I have maintained in the past. I wanted it to be personal, but I wanted to write about how the photos made me feel… and sometimes the photos make me feel completely different from what is actually in the photo, and in more recent times I have taken to some of the many “Day Meme’s” that exist, and have experimented with them. I also know that from My very first post (3 November, 2007,) all the way to 26 January,2009 my photo’s mostly came from my Samsung Sync phone, and since then it has been maintained with my Sony Cybershot with a sprinkling of photos from my phones since.

This photo was actually taken with my Blackberry Curve; it was of a small photo that I found on the road. I think it really symbolizes the reason that this blog was centered around photos to begin with. You see, when I was about 10 years of age I went to a flea market and found several family photo albums from an estate sale. I had no idea who the people were, but I found it very interesting, these were moments in these people’s lives, moments captured forever. However while it was very sad that a family lost these captured moments, I was inspired to capture my own moments, and from that moment on I loved photos intensely. And while I have no idea how this small piece of a photo found it’s way onto the street, or who the people are in it… or who took it originally… I find it fascinating, and mesmerizing.

Born This Way

2011-04-29T12:40:00.003-05:00

People look within themselves and look at others, and they see things that they do not like, but can not fix. We then focus on these things, and it can become something we fixate on... and we no longer see the beauty that is there. To me, this is like looking at a rose and seeing nothing but the thorns, we never look past and accept what we don’t like. These things make us different, and why we may not like what we see it makes us who we are. We need to accept that we are born the way we are, and love ourselves and each other… and celebrate what makes us different.

Hands

2011-04-28T20:29:00.000-05:00

Hands are what make us unique, yes other creatures have them… but it is uncertain if they hold the same sentiments that humans place in them. They symbolize so many things about us, we use them to grasp and hold onto things that mean so much to us. We place in them the very characteristics of those we love… they become those we love and can be characters unto themselves.

Pine Trees

2011-04-26T15:37:00.001-05:00

I was born in Jackson, Mississippi the largest city in the state, and by far probably the most rural capital or major city in any state. In fact I have heard Jackson referred to as “the city in the woods,” because no matter where you are in the capital city, if you go to the top of the tallest buildings, you will see buildings poking out of the trees for miles.

So needless to say trees make up a great portion of my world and why Mississippi does have a variety of trees, one species is more common than most others. The Pine Tree is found throughout the state and has been a major source of industry in the area since Mississippi was a territory. Pine trees are so imbedded in my mind that it seems alien when I am in a place where these trees are not found.

For a Glance into the world of Others, Visit the My World Tuesday Page!

Water

2011-04-23T10:55:00.001-05:00

I’m always drawn to water; I guess it must be a family trait. My mother and her father going back generations have always been found near water in some shape or form. I see this trait being passed along to my nephew as well, I wonder if it is a learned trait or genetic.

I always find lakes, rivers and streams no matter where I visit, and Lake Waterloo was one of the more recent finds during my visit to Texas. Half of the Lake is manicured and almost looks like a golf course water trap; the other half is wooded, wild, and beautiful. I preferred the wild part, with the beautiful rocks, and trees… as well as the occasional snake swimming amongst the waves.

Reflective Witness

2011-04-19T09:03:00.002-05:00

Places of tranquility often lead to inspiration, this is a rule that I believe many people neglect to follow. Here in Mississippi, just a bit north of Jackson on the

Natchez Trace Parkway

lies what was once a part of the Pearl River. It is marked as a point of interest, not a historical place as most others are, it is the Cypress Swamp. The Pearl river changed its course thousands of years ago, leaving behind a swamp where it once flowed. Over thousands of years Cypress trees majestically grew tall and overtook the swamp, creating a quiet breathtaking place of reflection. I thought of many things as I explored this amazing place, one thing that grabbed my attention were the size of some of the cypress trees, and the knowledge that they could have bore witness to the first explorers to the region, and to the way of life hundreds of years before Europeans discovered this continent... and yet they are alive, to bear witness to me. Small in the scheme of things.

Waterloo

2011-04-18T10:16:00.001-05:00

Some paths appear in front of us, paths that we are meant to take no matter how much we avoid them. We do not always know why we must walk the trail or where the trail will take us… but it is there, and it must be traveled.

I walked this trail last week, and while I was in one situation at the beginning by the end I was in a completely different situation. I wish I could understand what occurred or why it occurred, but it did and I am left with the aftermath. Ironically the trail circles Lake Waterloo in Denison, Texas; part of the Texoma (Oklahoma/Texas) region… I met my “waterloo” at Waterloo Lake, in many ways…

Mended

2011-04-12T17:11:00.004-05:00

I wasn’t ready for you,
But you claimed to be true.
I went the distance to see,
If it was meant to be.

I am used to the loss,
Another marker for me to cross.
It was affection that I did crave,
I’m slammed the much like a wave.

What was shattered will be mended,
And things will be splendid.
The shattered pieces will be whole,
As I pick up the pieces as I go.

Home

2011-04-03T00:17:00.002-05:00

We hold these places to be sacred, for the most part they contain all that is us… our possessions, our photos, and our memories. They are never perfect, they may have cracks, and we may keep the doors locked to keep the bad people or, or us in… as Tim Minchin would put it. But the fact is, it is home.

I often wonder who once lived in homes such as the one shone here. I know someone once found shelter within these collapsing walls, I wonder if they are still around to walk among the ruins of their once sacred place. It is a sad thought, but at the same time there is something beautiful about the circle that is life. What was once someone’s haven is now shelter to the many creatures that roam the forest and need their own place to feel safe.

Inside the Door.

Inside the window.

This abandoned house is located on Airport Road outside Mendenhall, MS.

Reflections

2011-03-08T17:14:00.001-06:00

The sunset creating shadows and colours upon the calm waters of Lake Tom Bailey in Toomsuba, MS.

This reminded me of how important it is to look into ourselves, and reflect upon who we are. We tend not to like to look at our own selves, preferring to look around us, but we must remember to take a glance at the beauty we are, and fix the imperfections we find. To become the best we can be.

The Road Avoided

2011-02-28T11:46:00.001-06:00

The road before isn’t always the easiest road, the bend and tribulations are what make the trip worth while. When we begin the journey, we are one person, and when we arrive at our destination, we become someone completely different.

This is a road I avoided for a long time; it is Airport Road in Mendenhall Mississippi. I am not going to say the reasons I have avoided it, but it took me four years to traverse its beautiful stretches. I made the trip finally, and learned a few things about myself that I had been avoiding, and found what I was looking for.

Now what to do with that?

Always Remember

2011-02-07T16:58:00.003-06:00

I don’t pretend to know why things happen… I don’t know why things turn out the way they do. That is not for me to even worry about, or waste time even entertaining the idea.

I like to pretend that I do understand the way the world works, or even that I know what happened that night. Why I acted the way I did, and I wonder what your thoughts were… what went through your mind… Did you think of me? Was that why you were there? If I had done anything differently…. Would you still be here?

I don’t know…

But you will forever be a part of who I am.

I will never forget you!

Johnny Dixon Brown
1987-2007

Good Life: A Photographic Glimpse at 2010

2011-01-03T14:06:00.002-06:00

This is a view of my world from my eyes through just a few of my favourite photos from 2010.

2010

2011-01-01T15:11:00.000-06:00

Many things happened in 2010 that surprised me, I never thought it was possible. I have had many trials and tribulations that I encountered this year, I don’t really know how to classify this year. I do know that no matter what happened to me, I realize that I have an amazing life. This is why my song for 2010 is “Good Life” by One Republic. It really exemplifies what I feel, and how 2010 affected me.

Here is to continuing the good life into 2011!

“Hopelessly
I feel like there might be something that I'll miss.
Hopelessly,
I feel like the window closes oh so quick.
Hopelessly,
I'm taking a mental picture of you now,
'Cause hopelessly,
The hope is we have so much to feel good about.

Oh, this has gotta be the good life,
This has gotta be the good life,
This could really be a good life, good life.”