Three pictures of foxglove from June of this year. I have never seen them so beautifully in bloom before. Amazing!!
Foxgloves
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Author Archives: WendyA
More beads
Learning to make dots on beads. My favourite is the green one. The swirly ones were experiments. They look like tiny planets to me.
Sperm silliness
Another photo from the beach at Tofino. Saw this kelp (or whatever this marine life is called) and it looked just like a sperm. Figured it might have something to say so I drew a thought bubble. Any suggestions?
Morning coffee me-time
For years I have gone for weekend morning coffees with a good friend. But, last summer they started dating someone who lives out-of-town and so our weekend morning trips to the coffee shop have become much less frequent. So, I’ve been “forced” to go on my own. And, while I still do enjoy company, I’ve discovered I quite like going by myself! In fact, it’s now one of my favourite times of the week (and not always limited to the weekend).
I have never really been a “get out of bed and fling myself into the day” kind of a person. When I do that, I kind of resent it and I am grumpy. I like to ease into the day. To slowly piece myself carefully together, reassembling the parts that have dissolved and separated during the unconsciousness of sleep. Constructing myself each day to be who I want to be in the world.
Morning trips to the coffee shop are the perfect way to do that. There is enough bustle and other people to make me feel somewhat part of the world. To offset the emptiness of the apartment where loneliness can lurk, ready to spring on me in the morning like an unwanted house guest. But, the other coffee shop people do their own thing leaving me to do whatever I need to do in order to set my day on the right track.
I often journal, I read the news on my iPad, browsing around to my heart’s content, and I read e-mails and Facebook. Sometimes I update my status. Sometimes I read a book. I text morning hugs to friends and I check in with my sister.
And then, caffeinated and reconstructed, I head out into the world to do what needs to be done that day.
Patience
Two photos from a lovely walk this morning with an old friend. A chance to walk, chat and sit and enjoy the lazy goings on at the pond. I was struck by both the greenness of the frond in the first photo, along with its perfect reflection in the water. In the second photo, there are two turtles sunning themselves on a log. But, they are pretty well camouflaged so you can’t really see them.
The turtles were fun to watch. They both crawled up onto the log, then slowly shifted and moved until they were both balanced on the log to keep it from tipping. Teamwork and patience. Admirable qualities.
Message from the beach
Today’s August Break photo – from the beach in Tofino. “Nuff said!
Sharing the view
I have been trying to take more photos and then to share them more. This picture is taken on the way up a frequently used staircase at work. I am always struck by how beautiful this building is. It replaced a landmark building in Vancouver that was torn down under much controversy. But, I think what they built is wonderful. I love the shape, the colour, the screens and the amazing trees way up in the sky. Part of the building is social housing, too. It’s nice to know we can build something other than expensive glass boxes in Vancouver.
And …. (drum roll please) … I am beyond excited to share that three of my photos I took as part of Susannah Conway’s Unravelling course have been published in an on-line magazine!! Head over to Thumbnail Magazine to check them out and read some great short fiction. My thanks to Michael, the editor, for being supportive of my photos!
BTW, registration opens today for Susannah’s next Unravelling session. Just saying.
Reflections in glass
Today’s photo is of my first attempt at making glass beads. I posted in May about my first class in glass sculpting and about my nervousness and anxiety in trying new things. And, how much I am loving working with glass.
Now, into my second course and contemplating joining the glass studio – me, an artist?! – I can feel myself relaxing into the flow. In the first class, I focused a lot on following directions exactly from the instructor and trying to make each piece perfect. Now, as I get a better feeling for the glass and the colours, I am letting each piece take shape as it wills. More of a partnership between me, the glass and wherever inspiration comes from.
And, I am not worried about the “mistakes”. In fact, one important bead is missing from this photo. I was trying something with a bead and it didn’t work. I shrugged it off and said, “well, that was a failure”, dumped the bead and got ready to start again, feeling kinda proud of myself for not getting upset about the “failure”. My teacher’s take? “It’s not a failure, you learned a lot making that bead.”
I certainly did.
Reigniting the flame …
Today is the first day of participating in Susannah Conway’s August Break – one photo a day each day in August.
Today starts with beauty. Yesterday, I had the crappiest morning. I was deep in the darkness of hopelessness and just wanted to give up. But, I reached out. And, two friends were there to catch me; to talk and listen and remind me of the light and beauty.
Later in the day, I saw this wonderful sunflower. Next to an industrial parking lot. Lifting its face to the sun.
Thanks to those two friends, I was able to see the beauty of this sunflower. I am grateful every day for the loved ones in my life who reignite my inner flame when it feels like there is nothing left but ashes.
Claiming my space
Last night, I climbed into bed after a long day. I was warm and clean from a shower, the sheets were freshly washed; it was lovely. As I set my alarm for the next morning, I braced myself against that feeling I sometimes get right before sleep. That feeling of the space next to me in bed where nobody is. Not feeling a comforting arm slide around my body. That feeling of loneliness.
I wasn’t lonely. I had a great day in the sunshine. A morning walk with a good friend. Some time in the afternoon to get chores done and then relax on the couch with a good book. And then, an evening with more friends and a refreshing dip in a pool.
So why brace myself against that empty space next to me? In fact, why a space next to me at all?!
I always sleep on only one side of the bed. Even though, most nights I sleep alone. Even the occasional one-night stand goes home (a good rule for one-night stands, I find). Who am I saving the space for? It’s my bed and it’s my space.
I read a great interview in Maclean’s magazine a few weeks ago with Michael Cobb, a professor from the University of Toronto who just released a book called Single: Arguments for the Uncoupled. He points out that even though single people outnumber married people, we still live a culture that views being in a couple as the ultimate goal. And, while I didn’t agree with everything he said, this part had me nodding, “being part of a couple is the thing that’s supposed to save you, as it does at the end of almost every single romantic comedy.”
Well, I don’t need saving. And I don’t need to save space in my bed.
So, I claimed that space. My space. I rearranged my pillows (why have two pillows on the bed when I only use one?) and moved myself into the middle of the bed. I stretched out and snuggled into my space. It’s just me right now and I am okay with that.
And yes, I had a great nights sleep!
A Fish and a Bicycle 