Flower Games

I got a new lens last weekend. A 50mm 1.4. It is now my most favourite lens, and I think the flowers liked it too. I wandered funky neighbourhoods with old colourful houses, and saw many interesting things, but it was the flowers that charmed me this day.

They seemed a bit reckless as they were trying to escape their confining yards. Reaching over fences, sneaking out between the openings, stretching out their limbs as though they were challenging each other to a contest to see who could reach out to the sidewalk the farthest.

A flower riot. That is what it was. Quiet but colourful chaos.

An Open Window

There is an old abandoned shed near my house that I have been watching for quite some time now. I noticed that the house on the property seemed to be vacant, and one day as I was passing by, I saw a man doing some work on an old car there. I approached him and asked if I could come and take some pictures of the crumbling shed. He told me to come soon because the house and surrounding structures were about to be demolished to make way for a new subdivision. The elderly couple that had lived in the house recently passed away, and he was there to take care of the remaining odds and ends.

So I waited some more. I'm not sure why. I think that even though I received a warm welcome to enter the property, some part of me still felt as though I was trespassing. And each day, as I passed by, I felt as though I was going to lose something if I didn't get in there. So, on an overcast afternoon, shyly aware that the neighbours might be eyeing me suspiciously, I gathered up my gear and my courage and went in.

This place was nothing short of fascinating. The roof has completely caved in on one side, and as I peered through the open window, I could see piles of wood and old junk, shelves with old canning jars, and one lonely light bulb hanging from a wire in the center. I wonder what it was used for? I suspect this elderly couple had grandchildren, as there was a rocking horse painted on one outside wall. Maybe the jars were placed there by a little girl playing house, once upon a time.

My favourite though, was the outside. The weathered walls were covered in green....moss and ivy. The paint was peeling and wearing away. And the window...oh, I gasped when I saw the window. It too was blanketed in green, with mossy cobwebs and the most beautiful rusty spiral latch.

I think a lot of love went into creating this place some time ago. And over the years, sadly, it could not be taken care of. A reminder to me that nothing is permanent. That change comes in with the wind, whether we like it or not. And although I am someone who struggles with change, this little shed with its whimsical window latches inspired me to make a change to my blog. And that is why I used it for my header. A window, open and accepting of the natural laws of change and renewal.

And it isn't just the look of my blog that is evolving. My new website is now online. Take a visit and be sure to check out the *paws and whiskers* gallery. I discovered a new love for taking pictures of people's pets!
The look of The Four is also transforming into something beautiful and new. We have moved away from the square picture format, so that we can be more free to express ourselves creatively in other ways. This past post was breathtaking.

I will be sad when they tear down that old shed and build some generic cookie cutter houses in that beautiful space. But I am so glad I wandered in, and was able to absorb a bit of the story of that place before it is lost forever. It was loved in its time. And I will always love the images I captured on that wistful melancholy day.

To Be a Grasshopper

I've been a tree hugger since an early age. My backyard was a forest of pine... old stumps became kitchen sinks, chunks of moss made a velvety carpet under my toes, and blankets and dolls were dragged across the crumbly forest floor as I set up house amongst the towering turrets.

If I wasn't in the trees, I was edging the pond, capturing tadpoles to bring home as pets, anxious to see if tiny legs would sprout and fish would turn to frog.

Oh, and the caterpillars and ladybugs. How I adored these creatures...feeling so protective as I gave them new jar homes and fed them grass and clover...even if the caterpillars never morphed into butterflies before I set them free and the ladybugs eventually flew away...I enjoyed their short stay, and hoped that they appreciated my hospitality.

How comforting it is to know that even now, as a big kid, I can still plant myself in the middle of a meadow and be consumed with my simple surroundings for an hour or more and not realise how much time has passed. My toys might be more expensive, as camera lenses and tripods have replaced Cabbage Patch dolls and plastic dishes. But the time spend in nature, the fueling of the imagination, and the simple bliss of an uncomplicated afternoon makes me feel like a child again.

Wind, Sand and Dance

A little spontaneous magic appeared before me on the beach. This sweet couple just dropped their things in the sand and started dancing...their music of choice, surf and wind...their love for each other was unmistakable.

When you stumble upon moments such as these, when you don't see them coming, and they just quietly present themselves to you, how can you not feel that the beauty in this world is absolutely everywhere, and hopelessly uncontainable? Life is SO BEAUTIFUL.

I can't help but think about my brother when I watch this movie. As an artist, he is always seeking new ways to explore the world around him. He is in the midst of a creative project. He has decided to fall into silence for an unknown period of time and learn to communicate with the people around him in different ways....deeper ways...connecting without the distraction of language. It must be challenging. And he is no doubt learning a great deal about himself in the process.

And even though I am not in silence myself, I find myself noticing how much more there is to connecting that goes so much deeper than simply conversing through words. I watched these two dancing and not only did I get a sense of how they felt for each other, just by the way they were moving with each other...but I could also feel myself connecting to them as I shared this fleeting moment with them on the beach. And if it were possible to actually see connection in a tangible way, I believe I would have seen strings joining this couple to everyone that surrounded them on the beach that day.

How many people strolling the beach paused to watch their graceful twirls? How many smiled and felt a wave of love pass through them? Am I the only one that passed this story along? Who else on the beach was moved by this beauty and felt a subtle rush of seeing something extraordinary?

What a wonderful feeling... to be a part of something... a connection among a beach of strangers.
Not one word spoken. And through this experience I gain some understanding about my brother and why he feels the need to find meaning in the silence. There are as many ways to connect as there are drops in that magnificent ocean...language is only one of them.

Trail Blazing

Never follow someone else's path;
it doesn't work the same way twice for anyone...
the path follows you and rolls up behind you
as you walk, forcing the next person
to find their own way.

~J Michael Straczynski

Ain't that the truth.

I have been away, treading some new paths, busy as a summer bee.
That letter I wrote to Fear gave me my power back, and I feel I have the upper hand...for now.

I have decided to put 100% of my energy towards growing my little photography business. It is time to take a few giant leaps of faith. I have been taking the slow and steady safe route for long enough, with slow and steady success, but I need to come out of my turtle shell and become more known as a photographer. I am ready. And I feel more sure about it than I ever have before. It's quite astounding what can happen in your life when you put fear in its proper place....in a little box on the shelf where it can be seen and acknowledged, but completely contained.

So, I am ferociously working at my computer, any free moment I can capture, while the dishes pile up in the sink and the garden fills up with weeds, and my life becomes a bit unbalanced...for the short term.

And you, my dear dear friends. I think about you all the time, even though I am not visiting much. Please forgive me for being such a stranger. I am a sporadic blogger at the best of times, but during this time, I need to stay focused and on track so I can have everything ready for the spring and summer photography season. I am creating a whole new look for myself...new logo and website... and when it is ready, I can't wait to share it with you! I will try to pop in from time to time to say hi and see what is new and beautiful in your world. I do not want to lose my connections with all of you who keep me inspired and full of love for life.

I haven't been a complete stranger. Earlier this month I was given the opportunity to write a guest post over at Relyn's beautiful blog. What fun! I have never done that before. She is filling the month of April with passions, and if you know this beautiful soul, you know that she is glowing with passion, no matter what she is doing in her life. I just adore her. And I thank her so much for inviting me to share one of my passions.

There is so much to do.... but the excitement inside of me is keeping me going. So I must get back to work, for the path ahead of me is full of unknown twists and turns...but it is looking exceptionally green, I must say.

Much love and well wishes to you all.
I will see you soon.
xoxoxoxoxo