Imagine the Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith. Once upon a time I did a photo shoot to capture moments of historical figures. She was a jazz singer in the 1920s and 30s.

(Model: Alexandra Harper)

Fall colors! Patterns and textures all make me appreciate the changes in seasons.

Sometimes just watching the Creator

Not just art.

This year I stretched my creativity when it came to eating.

I used a food delivery service that taught me some really good recipes. It showed me that I can expand my thoughts and ideas on food. I can create new fun places to sit and eat.

One of the best things I did was a black bean quesadilla with onions and bell peppers. I surprised myself.

When I was a kid, the lady next door would always make a pot of beans. I remember the smell and taste of those beans. As a kid, I did not like them. As an adult, it takes me to a warm memory.

This year I stopped at the barbecue place in East Texas. Those beans took me back to the memory of the lady next door who made a pot of beans.

Travel in teams. Groups. With someone else.

It may seem like you are all alone. You are not. This is a view of Lake Michigan.

It is during the times of dark clouds and choppy water that we realize how resilient we are. If it were always sunshine and blue skies we would never know what we could do.

Lake Michigan is one of five great lakes and about 12 million people get water from it. This is the calm.

In August, what is normally a hot month, lets focus on water ways. I have not always lived by water, so I find it refreshing.  This image is Lake Michigan with the city of Chicago in the background at sunset.