Your Life As Art Photography by Pam
Artist & Intuitive | Pamela Zmija
I was recently reminded the importance of being authentic within your own life.
The only one you hurt by self sabotaging is you!
As I write this, after publishing my weekly Lens-Artists Challenge, I took time oiling up with my essential oils that support my physical and emotional health and am investing in relaxation and calming for my soul.
Times in life get our attention, to realign.
Tina introduces this weeks challenge theme with the word Ephemeral.
She introduces the challenge with an invitation to really open your mind…
“The more fondly we imagine something will last forever, the more ephemeral it often proves to be.”
Iain M. Banks
“I will start this week’s challenge with the dictionary’s short and simple definition of the word ephemeral – “lasting for a very short time“. To me, the perfect example of the concept is Kiawah’s lovely autumn sweetgrass. Some images from this season’s crop are featured in the image above, which, with any luck, will be with us until mid-November. Much more short-lived, the image that follows features yet another ephemeral element of life here on Kiawah – a magical layer of heavy fog.” Tina
The other morning I looked out after feeding the dog and saw the soft sparkle across the grass of early morning frost in the sunlight.
Fallen leaves, resting for a moment on the evergreen.
A brief stop on some berries.
Fall Harvest, in the country fields around us, feels like that time just flew by!
Gorgeous sunbursts and sunflares, a fleeting moment to capture!
At our aunt and uncles cottage this summer, a fleeting moment of this loon family floating by us, who allowed us for 5 or more minutes to stay close by capturing their essence.
The same weekend, I love nature, when you show them who you are, they will trust and put on a beautiful ‘show’.
Its MY turn – you can wait.
Mist over the lake early in the morning, I was grateful I woke when I did, as not long later it had dissipated.
A true real life, everyday Ephemeral example is our pup, who is over a year and a half now, however for anyone who knows what its like owning a dog, they grow through these stages so darn fast!
Above May 31, 2024 Day 2 with his new family.
Below October 31, 2025 at just over 18 months he’s very much full grown!
Much like how fast kids grow, my goodness dogs – when you don’t have littles in the house – grow so.much.faster!!! LOL their doggy ‘toddler’ moments are much more apparent as well ;)
From earlier this year, during snowmobile season – we were grateful with plentiful snow this past winter, however there are times when snowmobile season is even more shorter!
The winter here is typically sometime in Nov until March – even into April and yet for some family members, that isn’t long enough…
This also shows his true size just over 1 yr old!
Thank you for joining me in this weeks Lens-Artists Challenge ‘Ephemeral’ and my take on it. I appreciate those who commented on my last weeks challenge posting.
Interested in learning more about the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here .
This challenge took me a brief moment to figure out where the outing would be to fill this creative challenge, Sunday’s gorgeous sunny, chilly weather was perfect.
This weeks challenge, Ritva inspires us with the theme Street Details, with a beautiful collection of images on her blog. Did you catch her shot of the abandoned toilet?
This week my take on this challenge is ‘country street details’ and all the various signs, turns etc that you will come across driving in our rural area. Something that is calming to my nervous system and I can capture the immense beauty, a creative win for me. I was speaking with someone last week and they asked me to confirm my address, its a country address, she asked me if it was a real address even after saying it to her.
The various signs you encounter on country roads, could be vehicles, ATV/UTV, horse and buggy, pedal bikes, walkers, joggers… and the signs for the roads. I shared with my husband what the theme was, of course a drive was in order! What better way for a creative outlet, than to get out IN nature and photograph the signs!
I just love that our towns are surrounded by vast open farm lands.
Its touching to see these signs. Adopt a road in the name of a loved one.
Stay left to follow the road, and right for off roading! Lift your feet please!
My heart, my orbs… nothing better than natures beauty!
Well, reliving it in my photography is pretty next level actually!
Hmmmm… there is a few bridges around that are closed!
No Winter Maintenance roads, many become snowmobile trails in the winter!
Country street views looking up (above)…
From here… (below)
The sunburst is interesting in this one!
I love my RF 24-240mm lens when on trips like this!
Bins are out for pick up tomorrow…
I love our bin system within the township we live in.
Also having the mail box. Wont comment on how often lately its been used.
Follow the signs to enjoy lunch at a local spot, way out in the country!
Country road weights for trucks.
One of the most unique country “fences” we have seen!
Just up the road from this weight sign.
I hope you enjoyed my creative spin on Street Views. If you are interested in participating in the challenge be sure to tag “Lens-Artists” and see here for more information!
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There is so much goodness that comes from raising kids, even through the challenging times, you forget in that moment, it truly is short lived.
As I watched our daughters final high school basketball game, I got teary at the end. They didn’t win, they weren’t that team that won all the games, but they were the team that tried with their hearts and I loved watching them!
Not long after arriving to their game, I saw my girl set up into the perfect layup and caught on camera! Its little moments like these, that when she looked up, and we smiled at each other, knowing I captured her moment, forever frozen in time!
A beautiful end to her high school basketball. I am so pleased I was there to see her!
Sofia introduces this weeks challenge theme of ancient. When I heard the theme, I knew where we would be headed to capture some photos.
From Sofia’s post, “This week I’m looking for anything that has had an existence of many years. It can be like my examples, ancient buildings or places, unchangeable landscapes. It can also be traditions, whose origins are lost in time, or obsolete objects of everyday life. Your imagination is as much the limit as age… Remember to tag Lens-Artists and to link back to this post so we can all easily find you.”
Even within my own lifetime I think of the changes that I have experienced myself, our first family computer back in 1995 for Christmas, the landline phones with the long cords so we could ‘talk in private in the hall’, the “Wish Book” from Sears that every single child waited for to circle their wishes, or the phone book that had everyones numbers in the book for various towns and cities, getting a cell phone in my late teens, smart phone after having my kids (their video’s are on cd/dvd’s), listening to the radio and “taping” the radio with a cassette tape, having to pause and press record at record times, our parents not having any way to contact us unless we were at a friends house. Interesting times considering how our kids grew up!
As the year anniversary draws closer of my brothers passing, for this challenge, and on a dreary darker day, to head to the cemetery to capture photos of our older family members stones is the perfect way to depict “Ancient”. Although mother nature had other plans for us, we wouldn’t get out on Sunday.
I asked my husband to take me on a tour, we have spent a lot of time driving through the cemetery in the past year, and yet I am someone who has more spiritual beliefs than religious. I know the spirits of people aren’t buried, their physical body is. However spirits are able to roam. I couldn’t have picked a better time, honestly, our Sunday plans didn’t work, had no pull to go out (beyond the deck), it rained all day, literally did not stop. This evening, the sun was perfect and… I was joined by so many orbs, which absolutely warmed my heart!
The first photo, the one above, I took 3 and they all turned out the same, my camera would not focus, regardless of where I aimed or the settings I used, I went with it and look at the orbs that came through! <3
First I went looking for some family stones, the one below dating back to the 1800’s. My great grandfather is also on this stone, I was blessed to have him in my life until I was 10, he was born in 1900!
So many unique stones and the sun kissing them, was the icing on top!
Of all the stones, this one below held the most orbs… I could feel them all with me!
As my husband said, this is like a game looking to find various family members stones, I later returned with my mom to find her grandparents stone.
I really enjoyed this challenge, I honestly never used to understand why people frequented the cemetery so much, even though I don’t necessarily stop to talk to my brother, or other family, there is a feeling of such quiet and peace there. Spiritually, we can talk to our loved ones all the time, I truly love when I am connected in, it feels surreal, yet also so very cool, sad, happy, longing, all the emotions.
The irony that we couldn’t get out yesterday and it flowed perfectly this evening, on my late aunts birthday.
Ann-Christine prompted us last week with the theme Dreamy, to pull forward in however this represents in your own life. Personally this was my macro photography and the dreaminess in the images. Next week it will be Ritva’s turn to host, Saturday 25th October.
If you’d like to know more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here
I could spent so much time immersed in the trees, the silence and sounds of nature, the colours. Delicous, especially to a photographer!
If you are a local snowmobiler, you may recognize this trail ;)
“You’re just like a little kid you are so excited”... my husband to me when he stopped next to a tree and noticed something I would love to photograph with my macro lens! I was visibly excited to see this bright caterpillar on the tree.
Anytime we can get out in to nature, we do. Its a reset, and reminder that even though today is a reminder of when our world came crashing down, literally. It was about this time I got a call, my husband had fallen off a roof. Our lives have been very different since then. This blog post, I will forewarn, could be a trigger for some, however its a refection of this date which shifted our lives <3
Ive been looking for a book for almost a week, looked everywhere, knew I had it when we were away, however I emptied my suitcase, I checked everywhere it could be and even places it wouldn’t be. I mentioned this to my husband last night and within minutes, the book was found. This was a reminder to me, how we can be going through life and there will be times we wont be fully present and conscious. I looked for this book for days, couldn’t find it. I knew I felt off, I was. A numbers person, dates are a permanent reminder of both the good and bad things in life. I knew this date was coming up, obviously, it hadn’t truly sunk in until yesterday when my husband named the date. Then it suddenly made sense, how tense I was feeling suddenly and I was having a hard time naming it. As soon as he mentioned it, my body took a deep breath. It truly is so much easier on us to name it, just name what you are feeling, in whatever way feels most comfortable to you. However what I will say, the more people share their story, the more they reach out to others and also embrace others stories with compassion, the better for everyone, especially your own healing. Healing that is unique and different for everyone!
Having a husband in pain all the time, doing what I can to help him, the past 5 years has been interesting, is probably the best way to put it. I have not and I do not know if I will ever fully forgive our government and medical system. I probably wont as today is a stark reminder of sitting for over 4 hours bawling to see my husband and finally many hours later being “given” 15 minutes before I wouldn’t see him for almost a week… As I type this, the word Trauma is circling in my mind. Trauma for us both! Also forgiveness, I should perhaps make my way toward, yet how can anyone forgive when people were purposely kept apart and the emotional outcome of that is torturous.
At a time when I was already in a mind space that wasn’t healthy, our kids were being yanked in and out of school and being an essential business we both had to be working. Throw this into the mess of things and it completely felt like a disaster. Compounded with the disrespect from almost a lot of the nurses and and some doctors – Im not sure if I will ever be able to forget this.
Today is a stark reminder, sadly our medical system is only slightly better – they have stopped harassing you if you want someone with you! You MUST advocate for yourself and your loved ones, if you don’t, you are merely a number and your family doctor is always getting paid to just be your doctor, without even seeing you. Which is sad. For me, being in a small town, I used to be the one who would pump up anything and everything about a small town, these days, my heart has never been more scorned going to the hospital after my husbands accident and asking questions and being ignored by the nurses – until I asked when they would be coming to look after him… “you will have to pick him up and look after him” with a side eyed look, oh good thank you you can show respect to his wife after an accident and answer her questions. Or being told it wasn’t safe to be with him – B*tch we live in the same house, sleep in the same bed, step back with your non-sense fuking “rules”! Only for all CV rules to be retracted because… oh nothing made sense! A time in our life when we experienced medical abuse from the system. When he fell and they “gave” me 15 minutes to then not see him for 6 days. On the 6th day when I brought him home – for that they “allowed” me to enter the f’ing hospital – because people were busy to bring him down. Or when the local doctor couldn’t read the x-ray and he walked on a broken leg/broken medical grade metal for over a week and ended up in surgery again, that complaint was “justified” because the doctor was busy… we all make mistakes. Still doesn’t sit well with me. Or when I had to be trained for wound care because home care couldn’t do this. Or when after his 2nd surgery and waiting to figure out if a 3rd would be needed – it was – we couldn’t go in to see him after days in the hospital, but he could come outside to see us… ahhhh the logic, seriously. Such a mind fuk!
Someone without medical background. I was banned from entering the hospital all 3 times my husband had surgery, but yes ma’am we will “train” you to do his wound care for ALL surgeries (3)… AND train to do the IV treatments for the infection… cool – cause that all makes sense – much like the “rules”. But here’s the thing… I DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE. I had to be ALL THE THINGS FOR EVERYONE. I had to step up and do the wound care because if I didn’t no one else was coming. Which I think at the time, was the heaviest, no one else is coming. The person I rely on, is now relying on me for almost everything. A reality I am truly grateful was not worse, because oh my goodness, I simmered in that for a while, I sank.
It was years of living in fight or flight that began in March 2020 with my kids being yanked in and out of school and the fear p*rn being spread by … same who made the rules and locked me out of the hospital. Years of more fear being intensified by that phone call, with more bad news. It was during this time I couldn’t even deal with hearing my phone ring, it went on silent. My watch was the only thing that made a sound, however I was attached to both. If I didn’t have my phone, I wouldn’t know when something happened.
Its really opened my eyes to how I was feeling, the many previous triggers in life – we all have them – and how so much can compound to then make you feel that much worse. The phone ringing, 9 years ago when our co-worker was killed, I got the call from the police… someone I had known my whole life, I will never forget that evening as news like that shifts you. Last year loosing my brother, and everything up and down in between. It shifts us, it compounds and well I feel that heaviness in my body.
Having a husband in pain all day everyday, regardless of what he is doing, can really shift your life and marriage. My patience level has truly been tested, much like how young kids can, its even more challenging when you have a normally able bodied man, unable to do things. It has taken us through the ringer. Above all though, something like this could have broken us, it should have, especially given that we spent a ton of time together in the 2 yrs after his accident. Which then consecutively rolled into our sons medical issues and not the wife, but mama doing his wound care… Its been a time!
These 5 years have been hard, very hard at times, on my knees hard, not just because of the accident, but it feels compounded at times. Above all, its strengthened us, to our core – my husband and I, but also us as a family. A time that could have broken us, I am so proud of us. Proud that we are closer than we ever were, instead of allowing an outside force take us down, we stand side by side, proud. Like true best friends. Especially this past year, its not been easy, at times Ive felt much lower, and he has been the best support and person there for me.
Alas… our get away is in our side by side – this is how we get to experience nature and I am GRATEFUL for that as without it, our life wouldn’t be as full as it is now, it would be much different. Drastically!
So today, I acknowledge the sh*t we’ve been through, individually and together. I pray continually for healing and peace within. Also honoring our bodies, this has deeply taught us (all) the importance of listening to your body, which my husband did and does if he experiences more pain. I am very grateful for that. Nature is a beautiful reset, the sounds of nature, just being there can shift my soul. Taking photos, when I see them, I remember the exact moment, whether its of people, a location or somewhere in nature.
The trails you see in the spring, look nothing like in the fall – so lush and gorgeous it doesn’t even look like the trails go through many crossings! As someone who only knows the trail in the winter and with markings, I was honestly impressed at how my husband could see a patch of gorgeous tall colourful weeds and know it goes right through there into the forest. Deep gratitude to the land owners who provide their land to run the snowmobile trails through. As a rider, I love the feeling of being in nature, in the middle of a forest.
‘The popular quote is “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail,” attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson.’
‘A similar sentiment is also expressed by Muriel Strode, who wrote, “I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail”. ‘
On this 5 year anniversary, we continue to strive for gratitude in whatever situation, reaching for each other in appreciation and knowing, we did it. We have survived some of the hardest years of our life. When I told my husband last night, we could have easily failed, some may have said we should, solidifies our life together even more. In this life time and many, many more!
