No Lust She Feigns

No Lust She Feigns - January 2019

Photo by NorthernShy

Poem by Andrea Dietrich

This dragoness disguised in lace - passion’s flower with angel’s face, precisely picks the time and place each dream to chase, each dream to chase.

Like ink the color red, she stains the hearts of those whose love she drains, and then she leaves when naught remains No lust she feigns; no lust she feigns.

Fall Romance

Fall Romance - November 2018 - NorthernShy

A discarded, dried rose, titled with the word ‘romance’. What is it about something faded and gone that inspired me to call this photograph “Fall Romance”? ‘Romance’ can be another term for ‘romanticize’, to make something seem better or more appealing than it really is. Am I romanticizing when I say I love the fall and the crisp air and the beautiful colours? Yes, fall is the reminder of what is to come as we transition into cold dark nights – but I still do love the fall – as I do love this life that is ever changing and impermanent. So I don’t think I am romanticizing; rather I am enjoying the fall for the actual romance, the feeling of mystery as we turn from one season to another, embracing all that is coming as we leave the beauty of fall behind us. Because it may be behind us, but beauty, even that which is weathered and faded, never really leaves us. It stays within, the glow of memory lighting our eyes & keeping us warm during those long winter nights ahead.

Time is Lost

After the Rain - November 2017 - NorthernShy

rained last night

cold autumn chill

not much light

but sudden thrill

rain drops shine

sparkle like glass

nothing so fine

moment can't pass.

Time is Lost.

But Muse is Found.

Unfurlng

Unfurling - April 2017 - NorthernShy

New tulips, new petals, new beginnings.  I was not planning on taking more tulip photos today, but I saw that new leaf, that delicate little twirl, and I couldn't resist. But then I started to feel a little sad. That lovely little leaf has yet to unfurl, and the flower will not last much longer. Not much longer at all. But I tucked that thought away, and I focused on the little leaf. Because it is beautiful now. Because unfurl it will, and it will bloom and it will be beautiful and it will stretch towards the sunlight in the window like everything is just beginning. Time is slipping away. But I'm going to ignore that. Ignore time. Focus on beginnings. And keep unfurling.

Think of the North

Think of the North - September 2016 - NorthernShy

I think of the North. What it represents to me. Here in the city, when I see the leaves starting to turn, I see the North. When conditions are right and the air is cool and crisp, I smell the North. When people on the street smile and make a brief connection when passing, I feel the North. I don’t have to be there. I don’t have to be in the physical space that is the North. Even though I love that space. I’m here. And I can find the North here. I think of the North and it sets me free.

Three Wishes

Three Wishes - May 2016 - NorthernShy

I’m a saver. Pick up something new & it’ll sit for a while before I wear/use it. Find that special piece that I just know would look good in my art journal but – it is stored away. Rainy day, rainy day, keep it for a rainy day. So would I use those 3 wishes? Would I make everything right; would I ask for more time; would I save the world? Or would I wait. Because that would be me. That would be something I’d do. Perhaps my first wish should be not to be me. But then my wishes still wouldn’t be wished. So I have to stay me and hold onto my three. Save them for that rainy day. And who knows, maybe that day is today. I wish I knew.

if flowers were poems

if flowers were poems - May 2016 - NorthernShy

if flowers were poems

i'd write them all day

a story in colour

till nightfall i'd stay

the garden a notebook

the camera the pen

blooming a sentence

it's spring time again

What I See

Winter Wings - January 2016 - Northernshy

Recognizing patterns & themes in your life can be interesting, and sometimes a little scary too. I’m thinking today about ‘sight'.

I have an Aunt who has not been able to see for quite some time.  She lives alone, far away from us, so that is a worry. More recently, I have an Uncle who is losing his sight. He also lives far away from us. Each are “out of sight”, one might say. Each one is from a different side of the family; genetics covered.

This weekend I experienced a problem with one of my eyes. A trip to the optometrist tells me that what is happening is common for people over 50. However, due to my symptoms, over the next month or so I am at risk of vision loss. 

As someone who takes photographs and creates art – my passion is related to how I see the world. This blog is where I write about how I see the world. 

I did not think until this weekend that I would suddenly be concerned about how I literally “see” the world. Troubling. And then I randomly stumble upon a video, from Quebec Tourism of all places, about the spectacular trip of a blind tourist. Well. If that doesn’t take the cake. Just when I’m worrying about vision loss (in ONE eye) I see this guy who can't see enjoying all the “sights” with such joy. Google it – it is fabulous. And it just goes to show that life really is how you see it – whether you can, or whether you can’t.  

January

January - January 2016 - NorthernShy

January is here, looking at us sharply, with dark, steely eyes, and a cold so cold it’s hot on our skin. What can we do, except look back at it defiantly, finding a warm edge to that hardened gaze, glinting with promises of once-in-awhile sunshine and better things to come.  January is here.

Joy to the World

Joy to the World - December 2015 - NorthernShy

I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday. We got to the mall as it was opening and the crowds were not too thick yet. My first stop was a card shop; upon entering, I heard a clerk talking to a man who was already looking quite frazzled: "Yes, we have wife cards, they are just around the other side. But if you want just love, the love is all right here." I stopped short, and I thanked her. Because it's good to know where the love is kept. At Christmas, and year round. It's good to know where the love is.

FALL-en

FALL-en - October 2015 - NorthernShy

My Friday Off To-Do List

Laundry Still Not Done - Yep

Groceries Still to Get - Yep

House Still to Tidy - Yep

Self Still to Get Ready for Friday Night - Yep

Fabulous Day Crunching in the Leaves in the Backyard with my Camera - Yep

Falling

Too Soon - September 2015 - NorthernShy

My face fell when I saw the yellow leaf that had fallen from the tree. Looking at the calendar, I realized that fall falls on a Wednesday this year – Wednesday of next week. Summer is falling behind fall and fall will soon fall behind winter.  Soon our city of summer dreams and autumn wishes will be felled by the snowfall. As the late summer sun falls upon the fallen leaf, I fall back in my chair and I smile, remembering that even though the calendar on the wall shows that we have so much time, the clock doesn’t always play along. I fall for this little joke every fall.