the middle child

Sooooo. Crazy as it sounds, I have yet another blog to share with ya'll. If you go to my website you'll see I have a brand spankin' new splash page with two options. The second being a photo journal. I've been thinking on this awhile, adding a blog to my site. Many of the busy photogs I see online have a blog for clients and lurkers alike and I think it's a good marketing move. This way potential clients have an opportunity to see more than just what's on my site.
The downside? Blogging overload. This makes three. We'll see how it goes, but I may end up dropping a blog or two in the future. It has always been my desire to update my blogs regularly to maintain good web standing with my readers and lookers. And if I find one or more is in the corner collecting dust, I'll want to can it, 'cause otherwise what's the point?

back on the block

The office block that is. A good portion of my holiday was spent in the water. I've come to notice I'm not picky about water temperature for a swim b/c ultimately it's always refreshing. I love a dunk first thing in the morning to wash the cobwebs of sleep and wake me for the day ahead. The coolness of the water feels so amazing on my scalp that I lie back and surf the gentle waves and completely indulge. We had some wonderful lightning storms that allowed us to safely tuck ourselves inside for a game(s) of gin rummy. And yesterday the waves were high and plentiful making it difficult to move far from shore without getting pushed back in. I was watching others around me surfing within the waves and wanting so much to take pictures out there that I've decided my next task will be to find out how to achieve this. Any ideas are appreciated.
I was passed some amazing eye candy this morning that I want to share with you. Check this out. Then click gallery "global summer". After you've oohed and aahed there check out the rest of the site. Bill, I think you'll like some of the urban images. There's also some water images under the gallery "Books" that encourage me further to get a camera out into the water.
Enjoy!

away

Hey guys. I should have mentioned I'm on holidays this week so my appearance here will/has been sparse. But I'll be back to it next week! See you then.

waves, dragonflies and slugs

I had a fabulouso w/e at the cabin. I dove, jumped, splashed and sat in the waves that rocked the shoreline. I settled into the childlike activity of walking around in my bathing trunks scavenging for special treats left by nature and passing sailboats along the bay. On my third return to the sloppy waves, I came across a drifting dragonfly which I eagerly scooped up and brought to shore. I don't know about you, but I've never seen one still and up close. They're rather remarkable looking creatures, so intricate are its wings and eyes that are very big and cartoonish. I allowed it to dry outside and then proceeded to take its picture. I don't have a macro lens, so my attempt at focusing in on any of its detail was in vain. Later on in the day I was lying on a rock reading about a foot away from the water when I noticed a smaller slug like creature shimming across the many crevices of the rock floor looking perhaps for food or shelter. There was a slight breeze that repeatedly knocked this little guy off its foraging path and rolled him many times over. Without a complaint he would upright himself and continue plugging along the rock for what I'm sure amounted to The Badlands for this little guy. If this was not enough of a struggle, the waves crept further up the rock and submerged him under water. Thinking he was for sure a goner, I was happily surprised to find him poking around under water for food, a true testament that nature, although at times life threatening, allows us to adjust to the obstacles put in our path. Having the opportunity to watch the buzz of life around you is indeed humbling. If ever you feel stuck upon the pedestal of your own life, my advice is to get down really low, be still and pay attention to the movement all around you. As big as we may feel, we are yet a fraction of the pulse of life.

rolling thunder

Big old crashing mad thunderstorm here this late evening/early morning. It made me smile to hear it. It felt as though the heavens were raging and from my past few posts, you could say I've felt that same kind of rumble in my belly. I apologize if my posts have been a downer, however these are matters I am experiencing and to write about anything else wouldn't feel right. I have thought about working on my outlook about all of the change ahead. I've always told myself everything happens for a reason, and that I'm better off in the end for it. So I feel I must accept these same principles for the changes happening to the island. Somehow. And I realize that ultimately leaving the island isn't what scares me, it's the process of having to watch it change that hurts the most and what makes me attend meeting after meeting until I want to run screaming into the street. The thunder that woke me last night is symbolic of how I want "all of this" to come to an end. I want the movie ending where in the blink of an eye the antagonists wake up and realize their wrong doings only to make an abrupt 180 degree turn for the greater good of the land. However it plays out, I can still decide to live happily ever after. In the end it is my choice.

p.s. the above image is a stock image, not mine. and I promise to write something more cheerful next time!

L.I.F.E.

What do you value? After x amount of years spent living on this earth, what have you learned about what you value most? I feel I've had some big doors of truth open wide for me within the past three years due to personal and professional relationships. I know they won't stop coming my way, but now more than ever I feel I have been walking an extended treadmill of change, disillusionment and transition. What a test it is to witness how I internally respond to each situation. Am I wanting to flee, fight or sit still and quietly witness? How about a combination of all three?

Death is always present. My current experiences with wind turbines and their impact on my home, familial harmony and friendships are undergoing their own pattern of decay allowing me my own personal rollercoaster ride of emotions with no escape to the past or future to soothe my internal turmoil. My future feels uncertain. What I have always valued in my natural surroundings, my home and community is threatened and it leaves me wondering if there is any burrow or foxhole that feels safe.

So I have to ask myself what I value b/c ultimately bringing these things to myself will have an impact on my overall health and quality of life. I value connection with nature, people, my art and myself. I value conscious thought and attentiveness. I value the ability to be honest with ourselves, (not an easy task), and furthermore, I value the courage it takes to act upon that honesty.

I suppose I'm writing all of this to remind myself to have faith that experiences can be used for our greater good. That death is most certain and needs acceptance. And that ultimately change is the only constant and understanding this can make us so appreciative for what is present and what we are willing to manifest.

As silly as it sounds, it is a shock to find what has always existed for me to come to an abrupt end. This is where I understand the wisdom in the Buddhist concept of Impermenance. Early Buddhism declares that "in this world there is nothing that is fixed and permanent. Every thing is subject to change and alteration." According to the teachings of the Buddha, "life is comparable to a river. It is a progressive moment, a successive series of different moments, joining together to give the impression of one continuous flow. It moves from cause to cause, effect to effect, one point to another, one state of existence to another, giving an outward impression that it is one continuous and unified movement, where as in reality it is not. The river of yesterday is not the same as the river of today. The river of this moment is not going to be the same as the river of the next moment. So does life. It changes continuously, becomes something or the other from moment to moment. It is by becoming aware of it, by observing it and by understanding it, one can find a suitable remedy for the sorrow of human life."

good times

I very much enjoyed this past weekend for its simplicity and ease. Here is a short list of a few things I remember fondly:

* made blueberry muffins (I haven't eaten muffins in years but find myself caught up in the cuteness of muffin wrappers)
* went kayaking on reeds bay with a buddy
* went to a cottage for a b.day celebration, it was a lovely time
* ate antipasto and white pizza (yum!)
* didn't work on the computer at all (yah!)
* went for a lovely long stroll on my bicyclette
* pitched a very cool Polish-made orange and blue tent bought at a yard sale
* weeded one of the gardens in a light rain
* went for a long walk with my girl (my dog)

on the horizon

As many of you know I have been working with WIRE (Wolfe Island Residents for the Environment) for over a year now. As participating members WIRE's main concern with the impending wind turbine project is that our federal and local government put forth best practice when it comes to protecting our nationally designated Important Bird Areas, wetlands and grasslands. It has been a long battle to get correct policy in place. Unfortunately we are facing more personal environmental health concerns as we are learning about LaFarge's plans for creating a cement factory for the turbines. Please take a look and listen here, here and here. The last link shows some images of mine specifically to be used for this video.
It's tough not to get depressed over the impending change, but what makes it that much more worse is the complete lack of transparency and truth a project of this magnitude deserves. Like many others not thrilled with this project, I feel as though the comfort, serenity and support I have always felt from my community environment disintegrating and this leaves me very uncertain about my future home. To say I am distraught with the knowledge and information I have received throughout this long process is not an overstatement. I truly ache for the landscape and habitat that has humbled me time and time again for the past 13 years. If all else fails, perhaps there will be some solace in knowing I tried, we tried very hard.

treasures found

Thursday was a lovely day for me. The shoot I had that morning was postponed until the next day due to rain. I decided to head into town anyway and check out a few things. I'm a rare caffeine drinker, but this particular morning I treated myself to a Paris tea and blueberry scone. For those unfamiliar with Paris tea, I've been told its taste is similar to a Monk's blend. With my creamy, sweet blend in hand, I ventured into this lovely city. The images you see above are from a stop at a favourite antique shop. Years ago I was big into auctions and the occasional antique shop, but eventually the desire petered out until recently. After being at the family cottage I realized I wanted a side table reminiscent of the one that's there. The guy who runs the shop is great for getting into conversations about the history of pieces. I spied the bowl above, (I seem to be a collector of bowls) for an incredible price, so I snatched it up immediately. You can't tell from the image, but it has wonderful age to it. For reasons I don't recall I've had it in my head that I wanted bone handled silverware. I wasn't sure where I would find it until lo and behold the girls in the first image wagged their tails at me from a basket sitting on the floor. Happily, they came home with me too.

From early evening onward I spent a very lovely evening with a buddy on the island. We made a yummy meal, walked into the woods looking for her horse, biked to a swim hole and swam all the while admiring the incredible light on the expansive fields and sky above. To say it felt precious is not an overstatement. I biked home that night feeling incredibly lucky to share in this beautiful evening within this unique setting.

p.s. I added two new images to my website if you care to take a peek. They are the last images in galleries "big kids" and "family". I'm experimenting with new editing techniques that I'm really digging. Hope you like it too!

women in the wild

I've had a bit of an extended long w/e with my sistahs and also b/c of Canada Day (yesterday), so I'm finding it a bit challenging shifting into work gear, including blogging.
This is a montage I made up of my w/e with the girls. Spending time at the cottage with these two lovely women was peaceful and fun. We cruised bob's lake in a rental boat, swam, kayaked, yammered away, laughed, drank and ate VERY well. Even though it rained a lot, it didn't dampen (no pun intended, honestly) our good time. I enjoyed finding new nooks to sit in with every meal and watch the rain hit the lake from the cover of the screened porch. Thanks ladies, you were the perfect company to have at my very special getaway. I look forward to many more sistah times together and what experiences and laughter they will bring!