100 days of summer :: day 7

“This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready to break my heart
as the sun rises, as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

-Mary Oliver 

We hold class in one of the parks down by the bay this week. We all bring food to share for lunch, and gather around in small groups getting to know each other. Some are long time friends, who welcome us newcomers with open arms. I breathe in the ocean air and allow myself to relax, taking in the offer of friendship and not overthinking it all too much.

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100 days of summer :: day6

“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at,
then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”

— Don McCullin

six days into this project and this is what I have learned…
I shoot the same things over and over, causing my images to lose a lot of the depth and meaning
I need to try some new things, because truth be told, I am a bit bored
I have to get out of my yard! into the woods, down to the water, out in public,
I need to stop with the excuses and get a bit bold, and go out after dark
I want to look for things that break my heart open, and shoot what I feel
I need to fine tune my camera settings by slowing down and not shooting just to shoot
I need to study images that move me and try and figure out why
I need to maybe change all these needs into wants, and give it a go.

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100 days of summer :: day 5

A night out. Dinner, and the theater to see my favorite music group! They did not disappoint!

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100 days of summer ::day 4

The deer are leaving the irises alone this year, but just in case they change their mind, I go out early each morning and cut a few.
Percy was in the house today, and the kitchen window is full of tiny bouquets. His energy level was sky high and I am worn out when we drop him off. There was chili in the instant pot when we got home and, a tiny glass of hard cider to drink with it.

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100 days of summer :: day 3

drinking my morning coffee while watering the garden this morning
how we tackled pruning the old lilac tree together without getting testy!
talking family, photography (and our gear) with a good friend who gets it,
the way Brandon sends dinner photos most days and how they make my mouth water
how a deer walked right through our pruning session without blinking
and, how surprised I was to have it come so close
the way it felt like summer today

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100 days of summer :: day 2

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.
Gardening is an instrument of grace.”

― May Sarton

100 days of summer day 2 :: tuesday
watching him run through the park without a care in the world, hollering for me to follow
happy that the bug study is still going on, and hoping he let the lady bug go after I left,
coming home to find that all eight dahlias are up, along with the green beans and the potatoes,
rhubarb ready to pick and scanning cookbooks for recipes,
listening to myself as I suggest I might want to slow down a bit, and get out of my head.

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100 days of summer :: day 1

“Wander a whole summer if you can. Time will not be taken from the sum of life.
Instead of shortening, it will definitely lengthen it and make you truly immortal.”
— John Muir

It was a long winter here in the PNW, and my depression often kicked into overdrive during those long rainy days. I was board, lonely, and a bit unhappy. But, the one thing I did most days was pick up my camera and search for something that brought me joy. It was such a relief when early spring came and the earth started to wake up. It gave me hope that I might be able to move out from under that long winter funk and wake up a bit too. I decided I wanted a bit of direction, and commitment and have started today, Memorial Day, off with a new project. I hope to make it through to Labor Day. I would love for you to follow along, or even leave me a message in the hello/contact section to let me know how summer is unfolding for you.

day 1 :: monday
peonies just about to open,
bees doing their thing in the garden,
him offering to clean up some of the yard art,
being able to let go of things that are not my business,
morning toast with almond butter and jam,
sun breaks through out the day,
a long phone conversation with a close friend,
watching the squirrels teasing the dog.

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