V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #33: Upside-Down

January 28, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Strong-minded, I am not easily swayed. In fact, I like to say that life has to hit me over the head with a frying pan in order to get me to pay attention. Another analogy I use is that I have to be tied around the ankles, dragged to the fire and hung upside-down – […]

Inspiration Evokes Stillness

January 27, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Days slow down as physical challenges demand. I am so blessed to be in this place, water just steps from our door. The Great Blue Heron remains a constant companion. He is a master of stillness, a quality I have challenged myself to achieve this week. I have brought out the paints again, as too […]

Contrasts

January 26, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

New to photography and art, the concept of contrasts (opposites on the colour wheel) is an eye-opener. I had to search through my archives, and recent pics, to discover something fitting. It is easy to see how contrasts add humour to this Hallowe’en costume – colour, shapes and sizes contrasted. (A sad selfie). Contrasts – […]

Black and White: CFFC

January 25, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Springtime, and daffodils –in variations of yellow –memories now, coloursfaded to black and white. Yet, beauty lingers – the softedges of a perched dove,her mourning song still echoesa lulling, welcoming coo. And white retains brillianceagainst a backdrop of darkness,in stillness magnifies, beauty’sexuberance refusing to lay dormant. (For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Black and White. Also […]

Delectable

January 24, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Pops of red entice,punctuate wintry scene –Spring around corner. (For Cee’s Flower of the Day.)

Surrendering to Breakthrough

January 24, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

Pain has claimed left side of body – shards of glass shredding upper arm, wrenching rib cage. It’s been days now and I am worn down by its relentlessness, so I lie down; will my prone body to surrender to the bed, envision the hand of a more gracious force cradling, soothing. I breathe, consciously […]

Imbibing

January 23, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Winged creaturessip sweetness, inhale yellow –intoxication. (For Cee’s Flower of the Day.)

A Heart Full of Gratitude

January 23, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

On the occasion of Ric’s birthday, it’s difficult not to feel deep gratitude for this dear man I’ve had the pleasure of sharing life with these past sixteen years. From those first witty exchanges online to our initial meetings, I was intrigued: here was a man with intelligence and passion that listened and responded, encouraging […]

Beach Blooms

January 22, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Coarseness of gravel,spikes of hollowed reeds – yellowboldly intervenes. (For Cee’s FOTD)

One Bottle, Two Crabs, and A Whole Lot of Fun

January 22, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

“I left my fishing gear at home,” Ric confesses when we meet up with friends from home, who happen to be staying just up the road. “Thought we’d be wintering in Arizona.” It’s his birthday coming up, so I suggest he gets new gear. We are surrounded by water here and the opportunities are endless. […]

Is This War?

“War is hell. You can’t photograph a flying bullet, but you can capture genuine fear.”– unknown The bomb has droppedcontrol slips from our grasp We pray for a parachutefor someone to pull the cord numbers escalate,lives plummet We offer encouragementisolated voices faltering moment of impact imminentthe implosion inevitable impact reverberatesresponsibility moot. ( Image my own.)

Promises

Imagine

If we could lift understandingto indigenous teachingsexpand our loveto earth, sky, and seaMake personal gain tabooand Ancients a weigh point If we could witness the mountainsslow floating across the skyand touch the dolphin’s soulanxiously swimmingwhere tuna are netted Would we cower at our insignificanceor move forward, learning to acceptthat all of life is deeply woveninto […]