Tonight I launched my THIRD blog, in honour of a new adventure that I will embark on next May.
Come by and visit.
There will be much less of this……
walking on the beach…..
and much more of this…..
trying new adventures…..
I was flipping through old photos and found this shot, from September, 2012, which reminds me of the title block for one of my favourite blogs, Raising My Rainbow.
The writer of this blog, Lori Duron, has just been published and her book, of the same name as her blog, is about her son, C.J., and, as she says, the “adventures in raising a fabulous, gender creative son”. I have recommended this blog in the past and I also recommend her book. Although the book is specifically about raising C.J., it is more generally about how to be an amazing human being and parent.
On August 19, 2011, I created this blog and today, well, it’s my 300th post.
I decided to reflect back and pick one or more of my favourite shots. It took me but a moment to realize I could not pick. So instead, I decided to use two photos I haven’t posted yet – one of my “best work” – my children – and another photo taken by my son, of me and my sweetie. We met 32 years ago this month so that is yet another thing to celebrate.
I finished a book yesterday called Bone and Bread and the final line was….”And the work of getting closer, of loving harder, is the work of a whole life”. I love that line.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage – Lao Tzu
Thank you to everyone for stopping by and sharing the adventure of my blog. I look forward to what lies ahead. Whatever that is!
Lily….on my phone
Often, there is a debate around phone cameras and the quality of the photos. Without question, I feel that my DSLR takes better quality photos. (I also feel that I could take better pictures with my DSLR if I spent more time playing with the features, but that’s a WHOLE other story.)
Yet, if I am out and about, with photography not being the purpose of my being out and about, I don’t want to miss a beautiful lily, for instance, that I come across. And that is why I am including this photo – I know that it is not the best photo of a lily of ever taken, but it is a good picture of a lily.
This signals a change in my blog, too – lately I have started posting pictures that are not necessarily “picture perfect” (or as picture perfect as my abilities allow) but ones that depict life. Not to say that taking photos solely for the joy of photos will not continue to be the primary focus of the blog – it’s just an expansion of the parameters that I’m considering pursuing.
Joy
This photo of my daughter and her boyfriend says it all – summer time is here.
I have been away from blogging for several months. Lots of reasons, no excuses.
I was declared excess at my school and had to find a new position for next year. Due to seniority, I would have been placed at a school had I not been successful in finding something on my own. Yet, I wanted to have some semblance of control in a situation that was somewhat uncontrollable. I went on a total of 8 interviews and had 4 offers, which was a true luxury. That process took several weeks to accomplish.
I also was very intensely training for a long distance ride. I participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer which takes place over two days, covering 200 km. I loved the feeling of accomplishment, not just as I crossed the finish line, but as I got to the top of each of the MANY hills. I was so touched by the support of my donors, as we collectively fundraised over $3200.
The finish line – wearing my hubby’s shirt from his 2012 ride.
Another big time issue for me was putting together the yearbook at my present school, the school I have had to leave. This was a great deal of work, but so worth it. Yet, it was hard to do because it just made me realize, again and again, how much I love my little community school. The school is a few blocks from home – it was my children’s school and therefore I have been going into that building on and off for 19 years. There is something undefinable about the school – perhaps it’s just that I feel so comfortable there, like going to work is like coming home every day. I will miss being there and the amazing people I was so lucky to work with for the past several years.
And finally, I was busy planning a surprise for my sweetie. We celebrated our 30th anniversary in May, but I wanted to surprise him with a party all about him. Our daughter goes to school in B.C. and was attending summer school this year, so I had to wait until late June to have the party. And bringing her home was another layer of the surprise. It was really hard to keep the secret of her homecoming, along with hiding all the party items and ensuring people kept the secret. It almost all fell apart a few days before the actual event when my hubby announced he was not going to go away for a few days – the few days leading up to the party, when I was going to get everything in place and my daughter was going to arrive. In the end, he went away and the party went off without a hitch. The first part of the surprise was the party, the second part was when my daughter and her boyfriend snuck up and surprised him!
Sneaking up to surprise Dad
Now, summer is here and taking photos should again be happening. Glad to be back.
I’ve been posting somewhat less regularly on this blog as I’ve been focussing on returning to work after my summer layoff period.
As well, I have been working on a 30 Day Blog Challenge on my writing blog, If You Would Not Be Forgotten. The Challenge is really adding to my writing but perhaps has thrown the balance off from here. There are some photo opportunities coming up this weekend so perhaps things will even out next week!
On my writing blog, I posted a letter I sent to members of our provincial government today. Apparently, this was the day I hit my limit regarding the negative press the education sector is facing on a daily basis as the new school year approaches.
Reading other people’s blogs, taking photos, cycling, walking….those are the ways around letting “hitting the limit” ruin your day! Thanks to everyone who comes by…..
Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life – Pablo Picasso
I was trying hard to figure out why losing the use of my camera for (possibly) a couple of months felt so harsh. I read the above quote this morning and realized that taking pictures – my little bit of art – does wash away the dust of everyday life. It also helps me to focus on new interests and look at the world differently and slow down. It is something I look forward to that is solely dependent on me.
I also love to blog – which explains why I have both a writing and a photo blog. Perhaps this summer of no camera will encourage me to focus on getting the writing one more established. Hmmm…
I had an opportunity to spend time with my son by taking pictures of some of his ants eating seeds (technically the elaiosome on the seeds…but I digress). Fortunately, I have an extremely generous neighbour who let me borrow her camera for that – and for this weekend. It’s given me a moment to think about that next step.
On the weekend my camera began giving me trouble and tonight I found out that it will take 3-8 weeks to repair. I told the clerk at the store that not having my camera was like losing a part of me…which is dramatic I know. Yet I had great plans for my photography in this my summer of no commitments.
One of the challenges will be keeping my blog going. I will ponder this wrinkle and decide the way forward.
Stay tuned!
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase” Martin Luther King
I have been pondering the next step. One thing that is looming up ahead is my first summer without commitments. I am fortunate to have been able to spend every summer for the last 22 years enjoying time with my children. Without question, it has been amazing.
So, I looked at a wide range of possibilities and I have settled on, well, not making any commitments. Breathing in the space.
That being said, I want to pursue some things that I love. I want to do a photography project on street art. And photograph all my hubby’s design projects. And buy a hammock and read. A lot.
And I’ve also decided to have a second blog. Just for writing. A bit. Or a lot. Whatever strikes me.
So, here is the link to the new blog, If you would not be forgotten.
I chose the name from a quote by Benjamin Franklin: If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
Now that sounds like a summer plan!
writing in the (mom)ent 