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.

Pocket Full of Love

Blue Jay Feather - July 2015 - NorthernShy

The Mr found a Blue Jay feather while out with the guys playing 18 holes of golf the other day. He gently wrapped it in a golf glove, and tucked it carefully inside a pocket of his golf bag. A few hours later, when he arrived home, he actually remembered that he had it, and he gingerly removed it from where he'd stored it. Lying it across his palm, he smiled, and said: "I've brought you a present".  He does know me.  And that's love, isn't it?  Even though it's strong, and you can soar way up into the sky with it, it's fragile too, and it must be treated carefully. And sometimes, sometimes it must simply be remembered that you have it.

The Magic Box

The Magic Box - May 2015 - NorthernShy

The magic box revealed itself to me when it was ready. I'd been out walking in a town that was not my own, when I grabbed a shot of the streetscape on my iPhone. Didn't even notice the name over the little store on the edge of the frame. Later, playing around with some photo editing apps, I liked the colours and the way everything in the image was blurred, and I put my work away, thinking I was done with it. But I didn't post the image, perhaps aware on some level that something was missing. Now I'm browsing my photos, when suddenly, the words I hadn't even noticed are all I can see on the original. They are practically glowing.  Here we are; there is magic right here; this is why you grabbed that shot, even if you were not really "seeing" it until now. It was a reminder to me to always look for the magic, even if it isn't obvious that there is magic around. Because it is always there somewhere, just waiting for you to notice it, clear away the blur, and give it the prominence it deserves. 

A Shed in the Woods

Morning Sun - April 2015 - NorthernShy

a shed in the woods

a place by the tree

a place to be mine

a place to be me

there'd be lots of red

and orange and rust

in my cozy retreat

a fire is a must

there'd have to be sun

in the window for sure

the warmth on my face

surely always a cure

there'd be paints

and big brushes

inks. pastels. it all gushes

not a mess being made

not a mess.

it's just luscious

there'd be kittens. a cat

little paws in the paint

a companion in art

a critic he ain't

there'd be photos and cameras

lots of books

and some tea

all these things that are needed

all these things

that are me

One Last Petal

Petalicious - March 2015 - NorthernShy

The tulips that I picked up the other day are showing their age; I’m down to one last petal. Puttering with my camera and these faded flowers got my mind wandering about the birthday I had this week.  It was on the very day that a new Physiotherapist was surprised to hear my age. I’ve heard that before, and my initial reaction was: ‘Hurray, I’ve still got it”.  But – got what?  A 30-something aura?  A 40-something sheen? It’s almost too much pressure; how do I keep it up when I don’t know what it is? When will it all come crashing down?  More importantly, why does it matter? I’ve still been able to make some photo magic with what is left of those pretty tulips.  When I’m down to one last petal, and everyone can see it, won’t there still be some use for me too?

Tulip Tiara

Tulip Tiara - March 2015 - NorthernShy

Went to the Saturday Market yesterday & pick up a little bouquet of tulips. I’ve had a great day, photographing them from every angle - and the sun is out and the time has changed and the birds are singing – and I’m ready to throw this tulip tiara on my head and dance down the street throwing the winter cobwebs into the wind.  But it is only 1 degree.  And if I have to do my dance in snow boots instead of bare feet … well, it just wouldn’t be the same would it?  But it’s coming.  Soon spring will be everywhere and not just in my step.  Yay tulips. 

Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever - February 2015 - NorthernShy

Winter. On your bike. Shove off. We’ve had enough of you. Went for a walk the other day and got some shots but everything is still white grey white grey white grey. Everything is jackets & mitts & stumbling over ice & snow. No signs of spring yet with -25 in the forecast & more snow on the way. Staying cozy by the fireplace is not as romantic now as it is in December. Now we have cabin fever. Now we see things in the flames if we stare too long. There's been too much crunching in on ourselves against the cold. Too much bundling up.  With February at the door and March coming up the walkway, we want to shed our layers and stand tall again – breathing deep. We need sunshine & we need colour; kindling for the fire in our souls that has kept us warm these long months but now only smoulders, threatening to burn out. We need that spark to ignite.  We need our white to be white hot. Come on Winter. On your bike.

Night Skaters

Night Skaters - December 2014 - NorthernShy

Watching the night skaters circle around the rink, I’m thinking that 2015 is not starting so well for some in my small circle and not so well for some in the greater world circle either.  When things seem too big – go back to the small.  Live each day & seek out the small acts of kindness, the small feelings of joy, and the small victories.  If all you see is gloom & shadows, look into the corners and find that little bit of light, that little bit of sparkle.  Hang onto those sparkly night lights and skate out of the shadows.  Keep skating until all you see is the sparkle.  Just keep skating until you sparkle again too.

The Bokeh Season

Peace - Christmas 2014 - NorthernShy

A favorite time of the year, no doubt; there is nothing like the lights from the Christmas tree to make you feel all snuggly and warm and hopeful. I may not be feeling the best this year, which means I won’t get to all the things that I normally would, but Christmas should also be a forgiving time and that should include forgiving yourself too.  These ‘rules’ we set for ourselves – that things need to be “just so” and done “just like the last time” – sometimes those rules need to be broken – but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a good Christmas. It just might be a little different.  But there will still be love, happiness, and … bokeh.

DayDreaming

Daydreaming - Summer 2014 - NorthernShy

Frozen Driveways, Frozen Olaf, Frozen Shoulder. Frozen everywhere I turn.  Painful. I’m not ready for the frozen freeze of winter.  Not ready to bundle up. Not sure I can with this frozen appendage.  Not ready.  So I’m daydreaming.  Daydreaming of warm evenings and late summer sun.  So I’m frozen after all. Frozen in time. Sigh.

Everything New is Old Again

Sifton Bog - London, Ontario - NorthernShy 2014

Drove over to the Sifton Bog for a wee hike on the weekend since it was such a beautiful day.  Strikes me that I must drive, but thankful that there is a place, right in the city actually, where you can feel like you are away from the city.  Such a contrast to back home, where you could walk out the door and be steps from the wilderness. Remembering now, my Mom walking to work and coming face-to-face with a black bear that rose up on hind legs, perhaps just as startled as the woman in front of him, frozen in her tracks. I’ve edited my photos of that day in the Sifton Bog, making the bright, colourfull fall photos look aged, and that pleases me somehow.  A nod, perhaps, to those days gone by of wilderness & bears & memories & home.

Reflecting

Fanshawe Lake - London, Ontario - NorthernShy 2014

Reflecting today on the passage of time. Another Fall. Another season change. That old, broken tree trunk down by the lake is catching my attention today. The leaves are starting to change.  Screaming for attention. But that old, broken tree trunk, it speaks to me today. Quietly. And it is beautiful.

Living Cool

Living Cool - NorthernShy Digital Art 2014

Old Black & White Family Photo Layered with Photo of NorthernShy Painting

These Are the Good Old Days.  Black & white photographs of your parents, taken before you were born and while you were still a child.  Who are those people?  Back then, they were just ‘Mom & Dad’, but hey – Dad looks pretty cool in that old photo.  We are so fascinated today with ‘Throwback Thursday’, already looking back to our own yesteryears, anxious to show people ‘this is where I come from - this is how cool I used to be’.  It’s fun to remember when but important to remember now.  Now will be then one day too.  Show everyone your now; live your cool today.

Definition from Wikipedia - Cool - Coolness is an admired aesthetic of attitude, behaviour, comportment, appearance and style, influenced by and a product of the Zeitgeist (spirit of the age or spirit of the time).

Capturing Summer

Summer - Captured - NorthernShy 2014

Summer is over again; and again, much too fast. Can’t beat the cool, crisp air, crunch & colour & coziness to come.  But there is something about summer and the whole feel of it.  Younger, somehow, and more carefree is summer. Shooting out the doors of school into the long, warm days ahead full of promise & adventure & beaches & sand & seashells and not a care.  Oh to capture summer in a jar, to take it out during the long winter nights, breathe it in, and remember.  Remember youth and remember freedom.  Take your jar and smile & remember summer and then cap the jar & put it back on the shelf.  Because fall & winter are always behind summer and we can’t stop them.  But we can smile & we can remember.  And it will warm our old bones again.