August 2025 • First Edition Whispered Messages and Hidden Gold
Dear Reader,
A beautiful August to you, friend! Welcome to the very first edition of Notes from the Bower. I've been reflecting on thebeauty of transition, and the blessingsthat can come in unexpected ways. I hope you find something here that uplifts you and brings a smile to your face.
Up close with a variegated fritillary enjoying the marigolds.
Notes from Nature: Whispered Messages
August always seems to bring change so quickly. In July, everything is so thick and lush—the deep heart of summer. Life feels full and vibrant, the days long and warm, and I can feel the energy of growth all around.
Then suddenly, August arrives, and I begin noticing a yellowing leaf here, a few blossoms dropping there. They remind me that change is always coming. Though there’s still plenty of life and light, I find myself growing more aware that summer’s days are numbered. The vibrancy dims a bit, and an occasional morning of cool crispness slips in.
Something I’ve always loved is experiencing all four seasons. Each one holds its own beauty—as well as its own challenges—and in that time of transition, the seasons always intermingle. The ever-changing rhythms of God’s creation have taught me powerful lessons. When I slow down and pay attention, they help me better appreciate the now—to notice what I have right herewh, in this day. While there are days when I want to hold on to what is just a bit longer, there are also days when I look forward to the new and different beauty that lies ahead, and the still-hidden gifts that those future days will bring.
So I encourage you, my friend, to step outside each day if possible—even if only literally for a minute—and open your senses to whatever nature is offering you in that moment. Just be with it. Enjoy it for what it is. And maybe, as you listen closely, you’ll hear a message meant just for you—words from the Divine, whispered straight to your heart.
Not able to step outside? I have an idea for you. See "Notes of Joy: "Nature Gazing" below!
“
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
— Albert Einstein
Backyard view of storm clouds at sunset.
Notes of Joy: "Nature Gazing"
One of the gifts I'm most grateful for in this life is nature. I love practicing what I call “nature gazing”—slowing down for a moment, looking intentionally at the beauty of the natural world around me, and just being. My state of mind and heart are always better after time spent in the open air.
While most of us are aware nature is good for us, and although nothing compares to experiencing it in person, did you know that research shows even looking at a picture of nature can bring real benefits to our minds and moods?
So, why not give it a try? Take a minute to gaze at the photo above (or the butterfly and marigold at the top). Imagine yourself there—seeing it in front of you, breathing it all in, taking in every detail.
I hope you enjoy nature gazing as much as I do, and that you experience the real peace and joy it can bring. Whether you step outside or stay indoors and sit with a photo, each moment we spend with beauty is never wasted!
Notes from the Studio: Hidden Gold
For me, there’s always been something especially captivating about the use of gold in artwork. The first time I recall truly being impressed by it was in the paintings of Gustav Klimt during my high school years (and yes, I did have a poster of The Kiss hanging in my college dorm room!). I couldn’t have explained it at the time, but now I’m certain—it’s the luminous quality that gold gives to a subject. It’s almost as though we’re getting a glimpse of the divine, a hint of the mystical side of the world hidden from our eyes in the ordinary flow of day-to-day life. Through art, a hidden truth is revealed.
Only recently have I begun experimenting with gold (paint) myself. I decided to start simply—using it as the underpainting, the very first layer covering the canvas. One of the beautiful things about trying something new in art is that you never truly know how it will turn out. There are always surprises.
This time, the surprise came in how movement and light transformed the finished piece. From one perspective, no gold was visible. But take a step to the side, and gold suddenly flashed through. Move again, and the colors and light shifted once more. My vase of peonies—a seemingly ordinary subject—wasn’t so ordinary anymore. It was revealing its secret splendor and life. I was genuinely delighted, and grateful for the gift it gave me. A very happy “accident” indeed.
I couldn’t help thinking—that’s so often the way God works. Many times in my life, I’ve had an idea in mind, but God had something much fuller and richer planned. And His plan is always better than mine. He can surprise us in the most beautiful of ways. And for that, I’m grateful.
Above: "Luminous Peonies"; Top: work in progress, tools of the studio, a completed "golden" work
Thanks so much for being here!
It's been a joy to share with you. If something in today’s notes spoke to your heart—or if you tried a little nature gazing—the outside or the inside version—I’d love to hear about it. Just hit “reply” and share with me!
The next edition ofNotes from the Boweris scheduled to arrive in your inbox September 10th. I’m looking forward to meeting you here again. Until then, wishing you much peace, joy, and beauty!
