A Quiet Place

As I've mentioned before, I'm working through Kim Manely Ort's book Adventures In Seeing with a group of online photographers. The adventure this week had us looking for and capturing the essence of a place. I had a hard time wrapping my mind around that until I read this definition of essence. Essence is the "attribute or set of attributes that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity." The last phrase stuck with me. I began looking at places with the question "if this or that were taken away, would it change what this place is?"

Wandered through an old cemetery, I began to think about it's essence. What makes it what it is? Of course, the obvious is that a cemetery is a place of burial, but the not so obvious is what keeps me interested in early cemeteries. They have characteristics that are not found in modern ones.

As I entered the gates of the cemetery and gazed around, my eyes first noticed the shapes and sizes of the markers. The size usually depends on the wealth and status of the deceased in their community.

I was intrigued by the symbols that had been chosen to be engraved on the markers. Symbols can tell about the person who is buried there. It can tell of their marital status, religious beliefs, whether they are a mother, father or child, and sometimes even their occupation. Clasped hands are very common which can stand for a man holding a woman's hand, indicate marriage, or a symbol of farewell. The mansions in heaven are often depicted showing eternal life. Wreaths speak of victory in death. Three chain links that stand for friendship, love, and truth can be found on markers provided by the Grand United Order of Oddfellows. They provided burial plots and markers for those who could not afford their own. Four-petaled flowers represent the dogwood blooms which means resurrection, sacrifice, and eternal life.

I found grave markers trimmed with simple things such as marbles, rocks, or shells. Other markers were so weathered or covered with lichen that they were impossible to read.

Many graves were outlined with concrete. Sometimes items such as rocks were placed in the concrete or the concrete was carved with names. Some plots, mostly family plots, were enclosed in ornate fences.

There were markers to honor veterans from the War of 1812, the Civil War, and both World Wars.

Wandering through old cemeteries leaves me with a sense of peace. It's quiet. Usually the only sounds I hear are the birds and the rustle of leaves beneath my feet. I can reflect on those who are buried here, the lives they may have lived, the sorrows they endured, and I can whisper a prayer of gratitude for those who served our country.

Beauty In The Small Things

The ordinary . . . the small . . . the insignificant  . . . they are important, too! Every day we see and touch things that we don't even give a second glance. Yet, when given attention, these small things are as important and beautiful as the large things that do catch our eyes. I spent some time this week seeing the ordinary and small in a new way.

Plain brown twine and a cute little pair of scissors please my eye.

I didn't know I had so many colors of straight pins.

My heart swoons when I find a vintage button.

Dinner's on. I see a few carrots in there.

An ordinary spoon on a piece of fabric make a pretty reflection.

Take a moment.

Pick up something ordinary.

Look at it closely.

See the beauty in the small things.

 * * * * *

I'm enjoying following the adventures in Kim Manley Ort's book Adventures In Seeing. This week we looked at small things and celebrated their beauty.

Something New

I can take picture of nature over and over again. I delight in spending time outside discovering the beauties of things like mushrooms, rocks, water, trees, and such. There's always something new each day to discover. But, taking pictures of nature limits my experiences, so I tried something different. Something I have never done. I took my camera to the grocery store and enjoyed the beauty and smells of fruits and veggies.

If you know me very well, you know this is totally NOT ME! I am one of those people that never wants to call attention to myself. I definitely don't want to stand out. Just let me be a wallflower and I will be happy. Taking my camera out in a grocery store and taking pictures was very hard for me to do. I was uncomfortable and slightly nervous. The thought that circled round and round in my head was "what will people think?" There was one lady that looked at me very strange several times, but I just smiled, ducked my head, and kept taking pictures. I honestly expected a call over the store's speaker any moment "security to the produce department!"

After a few pictures I did become more relaxed strolling down the aisle looking for color, shapes, and textures.

I survived the experience. No one confiscated my camera or sent me running for the door. As I walked outside to my car, there was a smile on my face. I'd done it! I'd been brave and I had pictures to prove it! 

Changing up what we normally do, might be scary, (this certainly was for me!) but new experiences can refresh and inspire. That's not only true in photography, but in everyday life. We need to get away from our ordinary and try new experiences. It could be as simple as driving a different way to work or reading a book in a genre that we normally don't read. 

I not only came home with a better attitude about myself and a few pictures, I came home with some delicious looking fruit!  

* * * * *

I'm working through Kim Manley Ort's book Adventures In Seeing. This week's assignment was opening ourselves up to a different type of photography and experience.

Something Smells Good

This month has been filled with overcast skies and rain. I think we may have seen the sun pop out twice! I'm struggling to find something to do inside. I thought a little baking might be just the thing on this dreary day. Baking will also fulfill the latest assignment for a class I'm taking with Kim Manley Ort. Kim has published a book, Adventures In Seeing. There's a group of us working with her through the book, which will take almost the whole year. This week we're concentrating on our senses. Kim suggested cooking and I agree that's a fantastic way to use all five senses.

I have a favorite cookie that I make each winter. Not only are they good, but their old-fashioned aroma fills my home and brings back childhood memories of oatmeal cookies after school.

Before I go on, does anyone recognize the avocado green Tupperware scoop from the early 70's? Yes, I still have some old Tupperware! The scoop set was probably a wedding gift, because the Tupperware I bought was harvest gold!

Back to baking! Let me tell you what delighted my senses as I baked . . .

SEEING colorful ingredient containers, shiny bowls, shapes of utensils, wrinkled raisins, textures of the ingredients, oven light, golden cookie reflections on foil, cookie shadows under the cooling rack, patterns on the kitchen towel, and dirty dishes.

HEARING the grating of sugar against a knife as I leveled off the measuring cup, the plop as flour was dumped in the mixing bowl, the cracking of an eggshell, the whir of the mixer, the crinkle of foil, my squeaky oven door, the oven clicking on and off, and the kitchen timer.

FEELING the textures of the ingredient containers, the coolness of the egg just out of the refrigerator, the smooth handle of a pan, heat as I opened the oven, the rough hot mat, and the warmth of a cookie as I ate it.

SMELLING the raisins simmering, spices, sweet vanilla, and cookies baking.

Last but not least, TASTING delicious Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies and milk.

I wish you were here to delight your senses. I'd gladly share a few with you and we could have a good chat together! They're still warm from the oven. Hurry on over!

What Does The Word Mean - The End

The book is closed.

The last chapter finished.

THE END

The book was opened about a year ago. The reading was slow; only one chapter read a week. The title of the book is Consolations, The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, written by David Whyte. Little did I know when I joined a group of photographers and writers how challenging this project would be or how much I would come to love it. I didn't know that it would take me out of my normal nature photography into a whole new world. A world where I began to look at common, ordinary words in different ways. Whyte's book is broken down into 52 chapters, each one features an ordinary word. I would read his words (many of which I didn't totally agree with and some I didn't even understand), mull his thoughts over in my mind, do a little research, and then decide how I could represent my feelings about the word in a picture. Finally, I had to actually find and take that picture. We have reached the end of the book and here is the last seven words.

* * * * *

Solace

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."

~ Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl

* * * * *

Touch

the warm sunshine on my shoulders

the soft breeze on my face

the wet grass beneath my feet

the rough bark beneath my fingertips

I touch and I am touched by God's creation.

* * * * *

Unconditional

Unconditional means not limited by conditions. Can we love unconditionally? Yes, I think we can. Love is a choice. Unconditional love takes that love even deeper. It means never questioning whether we love someone, even when they are unlovable. As a wife, mother, and grandmother I know what unconditional love is. I know they love me and I love them. It is a constant and it will always be.

"When we make the choice to fill our heart space with unconditional love, our world blossoms into a beauty far greater than we have know."   ~ Rio Godfey

* * * * *

Unrequited

One heart is open, filled with love.

One heart is hidden behind cold, hard doors.

* * * * *

Vulnerability

In her book Daring Greatly Brene' Brown defines vulnerability as "uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure." When the artist painted this mural on the side of a building he was putting his art in a very vulnerable location. He didn't know how long the wall would stand or how long it would be before the paint faded. He probably didn't know it would be attacked by nature. When we honestly put our words, our art, or ourselves out there, we become vulnerable. We risk hurt, rejection, or criticism. It takes strength and courage to let ourselves be seen and be heard.

"To be alive is to be vulnerable."

~ Madeleine L'Engle

* * * * *

Withdrawal

I confess! I withdraw from noise, people, and the busyness of every day life. I don't withdraw to hide, but for inner peace. I must find time each day to withdraw in order to let my thoughts become still.

* * * * *

Work

I read somewhere that "every single thing you do is your life's work." I've tried to do my work with a positive attitude and with joy. Right now, in this stage of my life, my work is to be a loving wife and make our home comfortable and peaceful, to be an example to my children and grandchildren, to help care of my dad who has Alzheimer's, and to pursue my love of photography. My work in photography is to glorify God the Creator of our world and to share the beauty of nature with others.

We have reached the end of the book. The project is finished and I'm proud to say that I didn't miss a week. I am already missing the project and those with whom I've shared part of myself each week. I want to say thank you to Kim Manley Ort for being such a wonderful leader. I'm looking forward to see what she comes up with next!

What Does The Word Mean - Part VIII

This is my eighth post sharing my thoughts and pictures inspired by David Whyte's book Consolations: the solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words. Since I've written an introduction paragraph for this project seven times, I can find nothing new to say. Since words escape me, I'll quote from my last blog post, "We read his thoughts on a word, form our own opinions, and then take or find a picture to illustrate the word."  That's it in a nutshell! So, here's the next five words.

* * * * *

ROBUSTNESS

The dictionary defines robustness as: "strong and healthy, successful or impressive and not likely to fail or weaken." In order that we keep our robust health we must find time to revitalize ourselves. We need to find the calm in the storms of life.

"Robustness strangely, demands we find a calm center in the midst of tumult. The quiet is what enables us to be cheerful in noise, equitable in the face of injustice or calm in the face of attack."   ~ David Whyte

* * * * *

RUNAWAY

There have been times in my life when I wish I could detach myself from what is happening around me and just runaway for a awhile. I would like to find a lovely sailboat and set sail with no destination in mind. I would like to feel the sun, see the drifting clouds, smell the salt water, and let the breeze blow my troubles away. Of course, when I have found the peace that restores me, I will sail right back home!

* * * * *

SELF-KNOWLEDGE

I wish I had the key to fully know myself or even partially understand myself, but try as I might there are parts of me that remain a mystery.

"Sometime in your life you will go on a journey.

It will be longest journey you have ever taken.

It is the journey to find yourself."

Katherine Sharp

* * * * *

SHADOW

The shadow we cast upon others is a pattern of who we are. I try very had to be a positive person. To cast a shadow of encouragement, inspiration, cheerfulness, gladness, and hope.

"Because everything we say and do is the length and shadow of our own souls,

our influence is determined by the quality of our being."

Dale Turner

* * * * *

SHYNESS

David Wythe says "to feel shy is to look five ways at once: to the beckoning new life in front of us, to the line of retreat behind us, to alternative possibilities of escape to left and right, and in really difficult circumstances the hope for a complete and sudden disappearance." Oh yes, I've wanted to retreat, to escape, and just disappear many times rather than going forward into a situation that made me nervous or uncomfortable, even fearful.

* * * * *

SILENCE

There are many kinds of silence. The Cambridge Dictionary defines silence "as a period without any sound: complete quiet." That kind of silence is fearful to me. I would not like complete quiet where I couldn't hear the words of a loved one, the ringing of a bell, the twitter of birds, the wind rustling through leaves, and the water babbling in a brook. I don't yearn for silence, although I do yearn for quietness and stillness.

This project of words and pictures is coming to an end. We have six more words; one more post. I need to begin searching for my next project as they keep me inspired to pick up my camera.

Until next time,

keep on reading and learning!

What Does The Word Mean - Part III

Another group of words from the challenge to photography "the solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words" from David Wythe's book, Consolations.

* * * * *

DESPAIR

In the depths of despair when we feel frozen and do not want to be found or to feel, there is still hope. Hope, that will thaw our despair and allow us to return to joy.

* * * * *

DESTINY

The roads I choose for my life are just that; my choices. I believe spiritual guidance is involved in my choices, but not a force the predestines my life.

* * * * *

DISAPPOINTMENT

"What do you do when disappointment comes

When it weighs on you like a rock.

You can either let it press you down

until you become discouraged, 

even devastated, 

or you can use it as a

stepping-stone to better things."

~ Joyce Meyer

* * * * *

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is a choice. Choosing to forgive brings reconciliation and a fresh start. Forgiveness will help prevent further deterioration of relationships.

* * * * *

FRIENDSHIP

"A friend

knows our difficulties

and shadows

and remains in sight."

~ David Whyte

I'm still enjoying this study of words. I find myself going past the obvious meaning and searching for a more in depth definition. If you'd like to see how I've photographed others words look here and here. Pick a word today, let it mull around in your mind, and even if your not a photographer think about how you could illustrate it. Words are magic! 

"In words are seen the state of mind

and character and disposition

of the speaker."

~ Plutarch