You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Self-Portrait’ category.
“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” Henry Ford
Sitting on the banks of the Muddy Fraser – one of our favorite spots in the Fraser Canyon, enjoying our Anniversary weekend to the fullest. This fella really does bring out the best in me . . . and I believe that I bring out the best in him. And we just don’t get tired of spending time together – we are each other’s cheering section! Do we fight?? You bet! Do we make up? Yessiree! And we have fun while we’re at it. Because I believe in him and he believe’s in me. We’re safe in sharing our truth with each other. I’m looking forward to many more years in our journey together.
127-365
“Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.” David Frost
I learned this lesson a bit late in life. I spent my first 40+ years doing what I believed I was supposed to do – what was expected of me. I never believed I had permission, or the right, (in fact it never even occurred to me it was ok) to steer my own course. I married at age 19, two weeks out of high school. He was a good man, good husband, good father, good provider. He did not want me to work – in fact he used to joke that he just wanted to keep me barefoot and pregnant. So I was a stay-at-home mom until my kids were older. Two children and 15 years later I was starting to feel like something was missing in my life – even tho I had a good life and I was very involved and busy, working and taking care of my family. Still, I believed I had no right to feel the way I was feeling. I carried this with me for another 10 years until not only was I struggling mentally, but physically I was falling apart. Even then – I could not show the world what was going on inside me. Especially since to the world, I was happy and my life was “perfect”.
Fast forward another 15 years when I experienced a complete physical and emotional breakdown, divorced my husband, and moved back to my roots. In 2003 I married the man I believe I was destined to be with. This year I am 60 years old and still finding my way, but with a vision that connects me with my true inner self. I’m a work in progress, but I know what is important to me and that is where I focus my energy. I cherish every moment of my life because each second of experience has crafted the person I am today. I truly feel the energy I put out (negative or positive) comes back to me in spades. So my focus is to be a positive influence in the lives of those around me, including my kids, step kids, grandkids, the Father of my Children, the Mother of my Step Son’s, extended family and friends.
Therein, I believe, lies the secret to success. Live your truth. Live your passion
126-365
“A human act once set in motion flows on forever to the great account. Our deathlessness is in what we do, not in what we are.” George Meredith
While spending time at the Lake for our Anniversary, I was studying video’s on HDR and trying out different types of shots for my 365. this day we spent in the boat going around and around in circles trying to capture motion and a sense of blurring when you do panning shots. Not so successful with the panning . . . but I like this one of motion . . . so processed it in HDR. My second attempt. I think it’s a bit oversaturated . . . so I have a bit more work to do! It’s a process right?? I’ve also included the original for reference.
125-365
125-365 original
“One may have a blazing hearth in one’s soul and yet no one ever come to sit by it. Passersby see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on the way.” Vincent Van Gogh
My husband and I have gone away to the Lake for a few days for our Anniversary. It’s up in the Interior of BC, about a six hour drive from where we live in the Greater Vancouver area. It’s incredibly peaceful and lovely. This time of year however, it is still a bit cold out . . . hitting around Zero Celsius overnight. We even had a sprinkling of snow this morning. Thus a fire in the hearth was quite mandatory! I processed this photo in HDR using Photomatix, Lightroom, and Photoshop. I’m following tutorials by Trey Ratcliff of Stuck in Customs. I have a lot to learn . . . but practice makes perfect.
I’m quite determined to learn as much as possible about my Passion – Photography. I may be sixty years old, but my mind is ready and willing to soak up all it can. Like the quote above . . . if I just sit idly by I will get no where and wonder why no one notices. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be to stretch my creativity . . . because I’ve lived with some pretty set boundaries and expectations all my life. Boundaries and expectations that have kept me safe, and close to the hearth. I’m working on changing that . . . although it is a nice comfy place to rest from time to time!
124-365
“Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” Napoleon Hill
I planted Evergreen Clematis along the front fence two years ago (Spring 2010). Last Spring, there was no life . . . it seems all but one of the vines died in the very cold winter we had. I never got around to removing the old “dead” plants. Imagine my surprise this Spring as I’m doing my spring yard cleanup when I discover all five of the supposedly dead vines are sprouting new growth! What a great example of never giving up! Just when all hope was gone and I was ready to start fresh with new plants . . . those tough little guys showed me that they are not done yet! I can’t wait to see them flourish and produce their beautiful white flowers . . . I will certainly post pictures when they do.
Never give up! Maybe we need a break now and then, a rest to regain our energy and motivation . . . and then come back stronger and better than ever!
123-365
“My wish isn’t to mean everything to everyone but something to someone.” Anonymous
I was trying so hard to get a shot of the little fluffs floating in the air after I blew them off the stem. I just could not get the timing right! But I did make my wish . . .
122-365
“For future reference, Harry, it is raspberry…although of course, if I were a Death Eater, I would have been sure to research my own jam preferences before impersonating myself.” J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Checking on my raspberry bushes . . . we’ve expanded the row to 50 feet and staked them up to provide support. I’m expecting a bumper crop this year . . . nothing like raspberries fresh picked!
121-365
“Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.” Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy
I like clean. I like tidy. I like order. Our weather has not been very co-operative in allowing much time to get the yard in shape. This weekend, however, was gorgeous! So I took advantage of the opportunity to get some pressure washing done. I just love the feeling of clean! Too bad I didn’t find any gold . . .
120-365
“Gag me with a spoon!” Moon Unit Zappa
I’ve been collecting spoons since a young age . . . still have my baby spoon! Nothing special today – just my reflection in the spoon case I got this past Christmas. It’s full already . . . and I only collect spoons from places I have physically been. I have one more case just like this . . . I hope to collect many more from around the world in the coming years. I’ve not been off the North American continent (except for Hawaii). Lots of adventures to come!
119-365
“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.” Allen Ginsberg
The Super Moon was at it’s best this May 5th. This photo is a composite created in Photoshop with my own original photos. I thought it would be fun to sit in the tree tops lookin’ at the moon!
118-365
Nurture Self 365 