I had an absolutely sublime walk on the beach with my best girl (my dog) and my Hasselblad camera last week. We walked slowly, deliberately and mindfully through the wood chip trail on our way to Big Sandy Bay where upon we soaked in the mild weather and calm waters. I decided I didn't want to be afraid of my Hasselblad any longer and I'm so glad I took her out for a spin! Creating images through it requires mindfulness and so the almost empty beach and my patient walking partner were the perfect pairing to use up a roll of film.

Saturday we ventured to Taste of the County where we tried various wines and some unusual but tasty fair such as wild boar and chiptole and pepper chocolate bark, yum! And Sunday was spent at the cabin picking a honey container full of wild raspberries (can't believe they're still in abundance!), zucchini, tomatoes and squash from the garden and eventually, sitting quietly to soak in the silence, the trees and the exposed flat rock that sits along the perimeter of the island.

Later we returned home only to start watching Season Two of Six Feet Under. A friend lent me her dvd's of this show and we've fast become addicted to watching it every night for the past week. These dvd's are a treat when you're without cable or satellite.

Anything you've become a bit addicted to with the new season?

This week, the official beginning of Fall, I have felt the pace of my life slow right down, which is very welcome. Summer was frenetic all the way to last week and I was starting to feel concerned that perhaps this is what an adult life felt like. That this pace was the reason people feel stress and tension in their lives. I was in the thick of it and it didn't feel normal nor anything I wanted to sustain. But a peacefulness has gently covered this feeling with a long, light, white cotton fabric that allows me to sit more still and take in myself and my thoughts with more ease.

The ferry line up has been shortened substantially by the disappearance of summer only residents and it feels as though the rest of us have the island back to normal, back to ourselves. However this feeling is just a dream now b/c the dump trucks that consume the island gravel roads have stayed and aren't leaving any time soon. You will remember in early summer I was going through an emotional upheaval over the wind turbines that will soon enough be erected here. Since that time I have gone inward with my feelings. I no longer talk about it with anyone. I gave much of my energy and time with a group of concerned individuals (WIRE) to make this project safe and equal for everyone in our community, especially the wetlands and wild life, and although we slowed the process, it feels as though we have hardly made a dent.
Last weekend we drove through Lowville, NY on our way to Boston which has wind turbines that I have seen before. Without warning, the floodgates opened and some of the emotions I've kept under wraps emerged when I realized only too soon would our natural landscape be forever altered by spinning saucers on the horizon. They just kept coming and coming at us with every hill we descended. I felt invaded and had to shield my view as much as I could to keep from feeling nauseous.

When we returned home we had to discuss the possibility of moving off the island. We have no idea where we would go nor where we want to go. This has been our home for 13 years and there isn't anywhere else we want to be. But the fact remains that it just may be something we can't live under. That more than 86 of the largest wind turbines within a 6km radius, some of which will be close to our own backyard, is not how we choose to live in the country. And if and when we do move, it will be a quiet one b/c at some point you stop fighting, you internalize your feelings, and accept what's to be with a quiet sadness.

I went on a road trip to Boston this past w/e. While there I saw Gordon Lightfoot play at Harvard and visited with a buddy in Beverely, Ma. I stuck very close to home this summer so it was good to hit the highway and see some new sights. We stopped off at Lloyd's of Lowville diner in NY State on route which made me wish I had brought my camera along. Perhaps I like to romance the idea, but there is something about greasy spoons that brings out the desire to waitress in me. I left the booth I was sitting in for the last seat at the counter so I could lean back and people watch. It was early morning on a Friday so all the regulars had bellied up to the counter for their coffee, donut, eggs and bacon. The kitchen was entirely run by women and I relished watching the cook throw her eggs and hash browns on the grill while another made sure every old guy who sat down had a cup of joe in their one of a kind, thick Lowville Diner mugs. I sipped my green tea all the while imagining a photo essay on the history, customers and workers of this diner. To drive by you would easily miss it, but inside is a cacophony of smells and sounds that have proven longevity.

It was a beautiful w/e weatherwise and the scenery did not disappoint. I dined on lobster, corn bread and peach cobbler thanks to my buddy who served up a yummy meal in a park along the ocean front. Thanks Ry!
Saturday morning I went for a run in lovely Manchester by the Sea and later played frisbee oceanside on a big lawn/preservation area that was donated by the Coolidge family I believe back in the early 1900's. On the return home I made sure I stopped off at Trader Joe's, (man I wish we had them here!) and vowed to return one day to explore more of the obvious beauty this part of the world has to offer.

Highlights:
the stunning rolling hills and country side
taking the wrong exit and finding ourselves on back roads to discover some incredible old architecture in quaint towns
Lloyd's of Lowville diner!!!
watching Gordon Lightfoot enter the conert hall with a standing O
sitting on the rocks by the ocean
eating great food in a park
meeting new folks
Trader Joe's
lovely early morning run in a new town
fantastic breakfast smoothies made by Linda
listening to my friend Phil's hilarious stories about his experiences
driving alone in my car for a short outing listening to music along winding roads, getting lost and finding my way

I had a wonderful w/e with some friends at the cabin. The cabin's first party so to speak. There was good food from the garden, swimming, dancing, candle lights and a bonfire. We lucked out with an eerily calm day and night despite the rain and wind weather warnings. During the day I had many approach me and ask why not live permanently at the cabin?...It's off the grid, secluded and away from the impending wind turbines. The idea has certainly crossed our minds. I could give up my big old drafty farmhouse even though I do see its potential in every corner, we just don't have the means to renovate any time soon. The cabin is small and efficient and for this gal, it would be a welcome warmth from the clothing layers I tend to wear for half of the year inside my house.

Hmmm lets make a pro/con list shall we?

Pros to living at the cabin

Living amongst the trees

Living on the water

Efficiency - I would be toasty warm without much output

Small living quarters so easy and fast to clean and also renovating projects don't seem to insurmountable b/c of its size

Living off the grid!!!

No neighbours

Cons to living at the cabin

Very secluded on a private island could = loneliness

Would need a boat that could transport on the ice if lake freezes

Longer commute to the city

No neighbours

A 90 acre island could recreationally get a bit dull quickly, ie. no long bike rides or walks

These two lists have merit, but the real guts of the matter reside within me and its more than I can share within this space. The truth is there is nothing I would love more than living amongst the trees and water. When I am in this space, it feels closer to the truth of how I want to live. Collecting water from the lake, listening to the waves hit the shore, feeling a part of the cycle of nature rather than just a witness or a bystander.
Will I leave one island for another? Perhaps. I'll keep you posted.

Enjoy the day friends.

This is part of the kitchen at my friend's place, affectionately known as "the farm". The slight disorderliness of this kitchen is just about how my week has felt. My computer has been very very sick with a nasty virus and I've spent a few nights and most of today nursing it back to health which is why you haven't seen much of me on my photoblog. Thankfully, I think its temperature is back to normal now and hopefully we won't see anymore signs of that nasty bug(s).
How does this image make you feel?

I'm feeling a wee bit emotional about the change in season that is gradually happening before my very eyes and from what my body temperature is telling me. For one, it's dark between 7:30 and 8pm now. sheesh. What am I supposed to do with that? How am I to swim and ride my bike in the pitch dark? Do you have any idea what could be lurking in the water at that time of night?
I started my run this morning with cold hands. Cold hands! It's this impending idea of knowing that in short order my body will once again be covered in goose bumps for most of my day and I just can't look forward to that. I like walking around my house and sleeping sans garb and for the last three nights I've worn pj's b/c I insist on still keeping the windows open and it's a little chilly now at nightime. However, this does instill the notion of wanting a new fall wardrobe and that I can get excited about. I'm dreaming of wooly tights, skirts, soft warm sweaters and a new pair of boots and shoes!

But enough of my whining for now. Last night I made a really nice dish of fresh fava beans from my garden with onion, fennel and pancetta. It was so tasty I thought I would share the recipe. While enjoying this savoury dish, my oral senses were also being satiated with the tunes of this lovely.

Saute of Fresh Fava Beans, Onions, and Fennel

3 lb fresh fava beans shelled
1/3 cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 fresh fennel bulb trimmed, sliced
1 teaspoon fennel seeds coarsely ground with a spice grinder
1 1/3 cup canned low-salt chicken broth more or less
4 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1/2 cup chopped pancetta
1/2 teaspoon dried savory
2 tablespoon fresh lemon juices
alt to taste
Freshly-ground black pepper to taste

1.Cook fava beans in boiling salted water 2 minutes. Drain, cool and peel outer skins.2. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and fennel bulb; saute 5 minutes. Add favas or lima beans and fennel seeds; saute 3 minutes. Add 1 cup broth and 2 tablespoons dill; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors.3. Stir in pancetta and savory, adding more broth if mixture is dry. Simmer until favas are tender, about 15 minutes longer.4. Mix in lemon juice and 2 tablespoons dill. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

**I shelled my fava beans before I boiled them

What do you think could be hiding in such a small package? A phone? sewing kit? tape recorder?
Something so small it fits in your hand. How about this...






Is this not the coolest camera ever? Two things here, I've always wanted a great camera that fits in my pocket and one that also makes me feel like a spy, (I have a secret wish to be a spy). This little number fits the bill only the film is no longer being manufactured, however, I am going in search of perhaps another film type that may produce something inside this special camera.
Bit of history:
Designed by a Swedish engineer Magnus Niell. The Ensignette measures 3 7/8 x 1 7/8 x 3/4 inch when folded, taking negatives of 2 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches. It was the first all metal mass produced British camera and also used an entirely new film size.

From reading other blogs, I found a new interesting place to visit here. Specifically Fanny and Bill and this woman.
Her apartment makes me wonder what mine would look like if I lived alone. Probably not like this, but it's something to aspire to! ;)
Goes to show you you just never know what's happening behind a simple, plain door.

Hi All!
So now it's September, hmmm. Do you have any goals you're setting for the coming new season?
Awhile ago I applied for and recieved a partial grant to create a business plan. I've hired a small business coach and we met for the first time last week. I'm rather excited about meeting my specific targets, especially with someone on my side cheering me on, helping me plan and stay focused. I don't know about you, but I'm not always able to do what I set out to accomplish, especially when I'm not certain of the steps. But having someone who's overcome hurdles herself and come out with a successful consulting business gives me confidence in a positive outcome.
I've been doing lots of journalling to figure out how I can better reveal my true self through my portrait business...if I'm to have a business at all. Yes, it may come to that, but I'm okay with that possible outcome b/c it would mean I've searched deep and come up with the answer that is best for me as an individual and artist. But first, I'm working at going after what and who I really want to shoot and in what fashion. I can already feel it opening up secret locked doors with easy answers behind them. It all comes from me, and that fact is feeling less and less scary.

Have a beautiful day friends!