The Way It Is

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change.  But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

William Stafford

I’ve been working with a dear friend on a project involving poetry. It has reminded me how much I used to love reading poetry. I even wrote and published a bit years ago.

My friend has introduced me to some poets whose work moves me profoundly. I feel myself tiptoeing back to poetry.

One of the most creative and prolific of my online friends, Viv Halliwell, who blogs at Within the Frame, has nominated some of us for the Sunshine Award. So to thank you, Viv, here are a couple of sunny images for you from my garden. I call them “the last of the cosmos.”

Viv hails from Somerset in the south of England, and we’ve gotten to know each other through the magic of social media, after taking a course in photographic art from Kim Klassen. (We call ourselves Kim’s “groupies” on Facebook.)

Viv is the type of person who brings people together and promotes community. She is unfailingly encouraging and supportive of her groupies and never ceases to amaze us with the inventive composites and textured art she whips up, often using images from her fascinating travels. Really, it is impossible to keep up with her!

She has come up with 10 questions to answer as part of the rules of this award. So here goes…

1. What is your favourite season?

Thank you for an easy one. Fall for sure. Evidence here.

2.  City or country?

Not so easy. Most of my life I’ve lived in big cities and I enjoy their energy, cultural offerings and diversity. New York is one of my all-time favorite cities in the world. So is Paris. So is Singapore. And unlike many Canadians, I really do like Toronto. Oh and of course, Ottawa, where I lived for 30 years. But now I live in a small town, with countryside all around, and I am totally loving it. Being surrounded by nature is wonderful.

3.  Do you prefer black and white or colour photography?

Again, not an easy one. I am enamoured with and fascinated by colour in general — “colour is a power which directly influences the soul,” Kandinky said — so most of my own images are in colour. I also prefer colour photography when looking at a computer screen. But I really appreciate black and white prints on a wall — cityscapes, portraits, landscapes, street photography — and I am planning to do more in the future. I just saw an exhibition of Ansel Adams’ most famous images up close and was mesmerized by their power and artistry. 

4. Who do you look up to?

Anyone who exudes a sense of peaceful aliveness and embodies compassion, kindness and humility. Anyone who follows their muse to create and contribute from their heart, without worrying about what others think of them. A variety of women writers and artists past and present are on my list. Virginia Woolf, Georgia O’Keeffe, Tina Modotti…to name a few…So are Thich Nhat Hanh and Aung San Suu Kyi.

5.  If you could travel anywhere where would it be?

Oh heavens. I’m with Susan Sontag, who said: “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” I’ve had the good fortune to see more of the world than I thought I would as a child, but there are so many places I still want to travel to. If you had to pin me down, I would say Iceland. I’ve been obsessed with this country for decades. I really should have gone by now.

6.  Tea or coffee ? What is your favourite beverage?

Coffee would have to edge out tea by a hair, especially in the morning, but I like both. And I’m glad to know that they’re both good for you. Coffee has tons of fibre and tea can prevent all sorts of diseases if you don’t drink it with milk.

7.   Do you have a favourite place to visit ? Where is it?

New York City. I’ve been 11 times, and in a few weeks, it will be 12.

8   What is your favourite recipe? Your fallback recipe?

So I just asked my other half this question and he said: “You don’t have a favorite recipe. You always like to make something new.” Then he said a smoothie since I have one almost every morning. Does that count? My fall back recipe would have to be hot crab dip for entertaining. Although I’m getting a bit bored with that.

9.   Christmas fan? or do you love another holiday?

My sister is the Christmas fan in our family. She has been known to put up nine themed trees in her house! I love that Christmas often brings out generosity in people and reminds us to share our good fortune with others. But as for the commercialism and the pressure and the high expectations that too often surround it and make people broke and miserable, I’m not a fan. 

10. Your favourite film?

Mamma Mia for its sheer joie de vivre. Plus, I love the location.

So, now here are my nominations for the Sunshine Award.

I’m nominating you because you and your blog inspire me and bring sunshine to my days. It is a small way to honour that…

Laurie Sriver, Pride in Photos

Diane Schuller

Susan Licht, Licht Years

Lisa Gordon, Lisa Gordon Photography

Laurie MacBride  Eye on Environment

Sandra Byles, Reflections and Nature

Gracie Binoya, Frames and Focus

Sherry Smyth, Charlotte Jane

Nicole Meisters, The Art of Living in Every Moment

Indigo Janson, Delightful Discoveries

If you’d prefer not to accept the award, for whatever reason, no problem.  Maybe the timing is not right….There’s no pressure and no hard feelings.  If you wish to just answer the questions, that’s OK too. But if you do want to join in the fun, here are the “rules”:

1. Include the award logo in a post or on your blog.

2. Link to the person who nominated you.

3. Answer 10 questions about yourself and write 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

Ready and willing? Great stuff. Here are my questions for you:

1. If you could learn one skill that you’ve never had, what would it be, and why? 
   
2. What do you love more taking photographs or writing? 
   
3. Are you an extrovert or an introvert? 
   
4. Do you have a fear that you have not yet conquered?
5. Do you have a dream you’ve suppressed due to life commitments?  
6. Are you a night owl or a morning person?
7. What book has made a huge impact on you? 
   
8. If you could travel to any place in Canada, where would it be? 
   
9. What qualities most touch you in a person? 
   
10. What do you do when inspiration to create leaves you?

Nobody sees a flower — really — it is so small it takes time — we haven’t time — and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.

Georgia O’Keeffe

 Update: Just found out that the ladies of the Focusing on Life collaborative photography blog are hosting a giveaway. Two stunning posters are on offer. You can enter a variety of ways. Why not go on over and check it out for yourself? And while you’re there, why not take the time to browse through the fantastic photography featured on the blog. 

Linking with Sweet Shot Tuesdays.

“Cukes,” my grandfather, the master gardener, called them. And he loved his cukes. He also loved his pickles.

So when I saw the harvest of cucumbers that came in today from the garden, I knew I had to make pickles — my grandfather’s favourite — bread and butter pickles. He also liked icicle pickles and watermelon pickles, but that’s another story.

It helps that these pickles are quick and easy to make.  I had a sense of  his original recipe, but couldn’t remember the exact proportions, so I googled a few and then adapted my final recipe.

I didn’t process this batch since they get eaten up too fast around here. We just keep them in the fridge.

Here are a couple good recipes, should you have a bunch of cukes around your house also.

Smitten Kitchen

Serious Eats

To love beauty is to see light.

Victor Hugo