August 7, 2015
“When we say that ecstasy is like the drop melting back into the ocean, it must be made clear that we are the drop and the ocean at the same time, just on different levels.” – Deepak Chopra: Path to Love
July 10, 2015
As a child growing up in the rural area of Massachusetts’ Northshore, my family grew our own vegetables as so many rural families did in the 1950’s and 1960’s. There were also many small farm stands around the area, and by the time I was in high school in the early 1970’s a few of the local farms were starting to go by the wayside.
The farm policy had changed drastically during the Nixon administration thanks to Earl Butz, who was Nixon’s Secretary of the USDA. Many small farmers found it difficult to stay afloat without the subsidies they were accustomed to receiving from the federal government. The documentary King Corn, is a very informative film about how Butz’s policies shaped factory farming and growing corn as a the number one staple in processed food.
Very few working family farms remain in the Newburyport area that were working farms when I was a child. Most of the smaller farms of my childhood days are gone with the land being sold off for housing and commercial development. A few small farms continue to grow their own and sell their produce and meats at their farm-stand businesses. However, two newer, more enterprising larger farms in the area also carry other local and non-local produce and products as well as their own locally grown vegetables and fruits.
On a late spring afternoon in mid-June, I decided to take a drive along the backroads of the Newburyport area to take stock of the local farm stands and what they have to offer. Newburyport also has a vibrant Farmer’s Market on Sunday mornings at the Tannery on Water Street, but locavores in the area also rely on local farm stands for fresh vegetables and fruits in season as well as grass fed meats and free-range poultry. (more…)
Related Images:
July 6, 2015
I recently completed a website for Amesbury artist Luke Lepore:
Luke was looking for a clean, simple design for his website. He wanted something that would not distract visitors to the website from his paintings. In the world of digital communication, images speak as loudly as words. Luke’s fabulous art work speaks for itself.
I setup Luke’s website with WordPress and I used the WordPress template Gridsby to create the layout. Gridsby is a great theme that is very flexible, highly responsive and has many built-in options for fonts and colors.
It was a pleasure working with Luke on his website. Contact me here about creating you new website!
Related Images:
June 15, 2015
The Boston Globe names Crane Beach in Ipswich one of New England’s Best Beaches. It is great to see this local beach made the list:
We happen to love Crane Beach, with its undulating dunes and secret maritime forest, and so do the folks at NationalGeographic.com. They hailed it as one of the Top 10 US Family Beaches. “Calm waters, warm tidal pools, and on-site amenities such as a snack bar . . . make this an ideal destination for families,” they noted. Not to mention the pure powdery-softness of the sand, and the cool views of the Great House, rising over the beach.
I know Crane Beach is a fabulous beach for the reasons the Boston Globe cites, warm tidal pools and powdery soft sands but for me there is a beach that rises above the cut of all of New England’s Best Beaches and that beach has a view of Crane Beach. (more…)
Related Images:
May 12, 2015
Our path is always changing, as is the scenery. One day we find ourselves heading in a completely different direction then we had planned. What happened, we ask ourselves, how did my life change so suddenly without my approval of the plan? Lessons appear in our lives when we least expect them. These life lessons are our opportunities to rise above the adversities in our lives and become more than we were when the lessons presented themselves. How we handle those lessons determines whether we learn from the lessons or stay stuck, wallowing in despair.
Life can be harsh and life can be filled with wonder and joy. It is up to each of us to make the best of what we are presented with each and every day. Each day, I re-mind myself to find even the smallest sliver gratitude, joy and happiness. Even in the midst of the most profound grief and sorrow, we can all find something to be grateful for each day. Gratitude matters. When we strive to live in the moment we begin to transcend the difficulties placed in the midst of our path.
Related Images:
March 10, 2015
There are times in our lives when we just know things will turn out the way we planned, and there are other times when we are not so certain about things or ourselves. Self-doubt is this niggling, nagging line of thinking that tugs at us like a fish on a line, struggling to get free from the hook. But self-doubt is ego driven and it is the hook that keeps us from moving forward at times when we need to release our self-doubt and flourish in the opportunities present in our lives.
Today, I remind myself that I am stronger than my self-doubt. I take a deep breath, I close my eyes and visualize my strength as a powerful river flowing from one source to another. I acknowledge that I have within all the strength I need to succeed. I affirm that I can free myself from the hook of my ego and let go of the negative self-doubt that holds me captive, like a fish on a line. I am stronger than the hook. My life flows like the river.
Namaste… Pamela
Photo: Sunset on the Merrimack River at Point Shore, Amesbury, MA ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey
Related Images:
To Purchase Pamela Leavey’s Photography
If you are interested in purchasing photography on this website please use Menu links to my Photography Shop or use the Contact Page to inquire about the availability of a particular image that you are interested in.
Include the link to the page that the image is on, and type “Photography Purchase” in the subject line of your message.
Prints are available for most of the photos on the website that are watermarked “Pamela J Leavey” or “Pamela Leavey.”
Google Search
Custom Search
