. . . Do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
– Robert Lewis Stevenson

It’s easy for me to get caught up in wanting everything fancy, just like I think everyone else has it.

But of course, very few have everything fancy. For most of us, we have to cook and wash dishes, do laundry, clean, and take care of our children and / or pets.

There’s a joy in it – in the routine of scrubbing pots, folding clothes or sweeping floors. There’s a joy in the pleasure of a dog when you’ve bent over next to them to put on your shoes and they can look up at you and wag their tail.

Joy is everywhere, but we have to remind ourselves to seek it and be aware of it in the little things in our lives. To not let daily living overwhelm the sweet little things of our everyday actions.

For your amusement, below is the original and some experiments. I like the one that includes the “worn brick” texture and really found it hard to choose between it and the one I finally used. Both look good, but for different reasons.

Original Photo of the Visitors Center at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, Virginia

Post processing prior to using Topaz filters. Taken at the Visitors Center at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, Virginia

Includes “Worn Brick” Texture from on1. Taken at the Visitors Center at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, Virginia

Final Photo. Post processed with Topaz Clarity “Sunny Days” and Topaz Impressions using Van Gogh 1. Border is on1 “Thin Mint”. Visitors Center at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, Virginia

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