evergreens, lakes, sideways light... and finding peace.

the time between thanksgiving and christmas has been non-existant as far as i'm concerned - or is it just me? with all seriousness, i'm stunned as to how fast the world seems to spin sometimes... i've been busy to say the least.

when i'm in the midst of craziness i have to remind myself to stop. take a breath. and look around. i was able to sneak out to a gorgeous place near syracuse called green lakes for a quick hike the other day. that's where the following shots were taken.

the thing that's so wonderful about living someplace with actual seasons is experiencing joy in simply witnessing a complete transformation of your landscape. now that fall's vibrant colors have faded, there is a whole new palate out there - equally gorgeous. bare branches give way to stunning silhouettes, evergreens stand regally alone, and sideways light never looked so good against a blank canvas. taking a minute to look at things brings me peace, which is truly the best gift you can give yourself - especially this time of year. and so, in the words of ferris buller:

{ life moves pretty fast. if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. }

* may you find peace this holiday season...and in the new year to follow! *