Hi, my name is Jill, and I discriminate against boring views. I’m addicted to changing scenery and epic locations. Do you also belong to this group for recovering Nature-snobs?
I long for the beauty of walking in the mountains. I’m homesick for the brilliant blue skies and the mysterious fog-bound trees found along the Appalachian Trail. At least give me a beach with crashing waves! I hate the flat farm fields and always overcast skies that have surrounded me in Central Ohio. Such a Nature-snob!
It helps that we recently moved to a small town in a hilly county northeast of Columbus. As I explore local parks and wander trails in nearby forests, I am challenged to change my snooty attitude. There truly IS beauty all around me when I look for it!
“Finding beauty here or there; Finding beauty anywhere!”
The beginning of a new year means it is time to organize the thousands of photos on my computer. This year I found interesting similarities in the views I have captured as I explore Nature-places both “here” in Ohio and “there” on the AT. Take a look… (In the following sets of photographs, the first one is along the AT; the second photo is close to our new home.)
Enjoying early morning light streaming thru the trees: 
Noticing farmland shrouded in fog; waiting for the rising sun to bring crisp, clear views of the hills: 
Walking along a stream, listening to it burbling and gurgling along its merry way:
Stopping to wonder at the roar of rushing, cascading water falling over boulders: 
Looking for small pleasures and tiny bits of beauty: 
Reflecting on the beauty of seasonal changes: 
Taking time to notice the colors of sunset over nightly shelter: 
I’m working hard to stop being a Nature-Snob by “finding beauty anywhere.” What have YOU discovered near you? I would love to see your favorite nature places. Please leave a photo in the comments!
The Big Epic 
I have been a nature snob as well, but when I began focusing on landscape painting, I learned from Jerry Yarnell that most artists paint within a 50 mile radius of where they live –or something incredibly narrow like that. It caused me to refocus on wherever I find myself, instead of always pining to be someplace else. I do travel much more than the average bear, and it’s not always so picturesque –ESPECIALLY if I find myself in a big city– but I’ve learned to look for the little things and I’m often surprised at what I would normally miss. Life is happening right now. Don’t miss it!
I don’t see a way to add a picture here, but here are some of the cool things I’ve found in places that I don’t naturally prefer–my photos (mostly) on a blog I share with my daughter:
https://tootravelled.wordpress.com/
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