What is your favourite thing to do that is your “silence” where time can just feel like it stands still?
For me, its my camera, in nature. Especially macro. With macro, its more than what you see when you initially look around, it goes deeper, its the details that are often missed.
This past week our family was rocked, a legend who will be dearly missed passed yesterday and already his presence is deeply missed. The irony, but nothing is a coincidence, passing on September 9th. 9-9-2025 – which this year is also a 9 year. 9 being a year of completion, ending of cycles in numerology. He actually passed on 999!
Its incredible the energy that can surround death, massively mixed emotions of incredible happy memories, and then the realization that he wont be around anymore or the heart wrenching reminder that upon his arrival in Heaven he would also be greeted by my brother, who we lost back in November. I think honestly that’s been one of the hardest parts of this. Losing someone who Ive known my entire life, who we as a family spent a lot of time with growing up, and who knew my husband before I did (well he did, my cousin, my dad, my brother LOL). Who we had a blast with through the racing and hockey years. He will be dearly, dearly missed on so many levels.
Its almost like I could hear my brothers voice, welcoming him with them in Heaven. It is like warm hug knowing our loved ones aren’t alone, but, yes of course there is a but, but they aren’t here with us. And as I typed that I heard nope we are. Humans cannot see the spirits, but when we allow ourselves to be open to the spiritual side… magic can happen. Even through the heart break!
As a beautiful reminder, from a man who truly LIVED and LOVED what he was doing. Through all the things! Something we all need to remember and embrace!
I love the magic this lens can do with macro images.
The wordpress challenge theme of the week is ‘Quiet Moments’. One thing that brings me pure joy and 9.99% of the time is in quiet moments, is when my camera is in my hands.
Lets continue this theme for the week from a beautiful silent Sunday shoot to share for Macro Monday.
When I feel big emotions, having my camera in my hand offers me a tangible way to get my attention, to also redirect my focus to something creative to allow my mind peace and serenity. I looked at my husband after we watched a movie Sunday after brunch, and said, take me for a drive. He knew exactly what I needed and why, I went and grabbed my camera and a couple lenses.
In all the images that I captured, this was the best connection. This little bee just hung out on the flower for a few minutes allowing me to get close and capture its true beauty!
When we first pulled over, we did for the various colours of flowers – pink, blue and yellow. As I began to photograph the blue flowers I was suddenly aware of the faint buzzing around me. I knelt silently, as I looked around and saw multiple bee’s flying amongst the wild flowers. Can you buy seeds for wild flowers like this along the side of the roads? They are all so unique and beautiful, weeds or not. Big gratitude to this bee for hanging out with me. I felt the trust and said thank you multiple times. I love photographing nature!
I will share more of my silent Sunday with you over the week. Its within these quiet moments I have even deeper gratitude for photography, so very much.
For my fellow photographers, these were shot with my Canon R6MII camera with my Canon RF 85mm f2.0 STM Macro lens. I closed down my aperture, to get more of the flower and/or bee in focus. I am so grateful I did, I am used to shooting wide open with my normal lenses and can nail the focus, when I stop down the aperture I can trust my macro shots will shine!
This weeks WordPress Challenge theme for Lens-Artists is “Quiet moment”. I knew I had a recent one, on my phone that would also be deserving of its own…
“Where is your serene sanctuary? Is it the warm comfort of sipping your morning coffee as the world gently comes to life around you? Perhaps it’s the peaceful moments spent doing yoga by yourself. This week’s challenge is “story-driven” adventure, encouraging you to explore and connect with your own experiences and emotions – “quiet moment”. ” An excerpt from her post.
A well loved family member has not been well, someone who has been a prominent person in my, our lives for many years.
Friday when we got the news that it wasn’t looking well, I honestly wanted to just allow myself time to cry… we had plans to golf and the sensitive emotional person that I am I couldn’t think beyond what looked like an impending loss. I wanted to cancel and just be home. My husband knew better and said unless it was raining, we weren’t cancelling. I called the course and was told its clear.
Golfing with my husband, when it wasn’t busy was exactly what I needed. This shot with my cell phone, also for Cell Pic Sunday ;)
It was a crisp, cool evening, warmer in the sun. My golf shots were not great at all, well I had the odd great one, my mind was consumed and I have a hard time separating myself from heart ache. As I could feel myself getting frustrated at the first hole, I took a very deep breath and said, you’re out here for exercise, walk, move, hit the ball and whatever happens, happens. Its incredible what that little pep talk did for me, even though I was still very much conscious of reality, I was able to get myself to a relaxation level that I needed. I wasn’t even half way through my drink and I looked at my husband puzzled, I suddenly felt, how can I describe, like the best happiest buzz ever, and yet I still had half my can left, of my first drink. Im grateful he didn’t let me quit on the game, or myself.
As part of my own conscious healing, one thing is being present WITH the things or modalities or people or silence that I KNOW helps me. With various emotional traumas Ive been hit with over the years, I can now see how I would completely self sabotage on myself. Keep moving forward, thats what we are supposed to do, don’t dwell in that feeling, just keep moving. Our parents and grandparents generations many very much of the mind that you don’t do anything and goodness you do not talk about it, just keep moving forward.
I can see how I was put here, why perhaps, because it ends with me. Ive finally allowed myself permission to BE that sensitive soul that I am. After talking with my dad on Friday at a job site, and as many days go, talking work and family, I was upset hearing what he was saying about a loved one, I left the site and went back to my vehicle in tears. As I was sitting there, trying to compose myself to drive, I looked over and a vehicle a few away from me had 444 on the license plate. When we arrived at Pike Lake, my husband pulled into the parking lot and there at the other end was what looked like the same van my brother drove for the refrigeration company he worked for, a van I had only ever seen when he began working for them. When we left the course, the van was still there. It felt like a sign to me, my brother was making his presence known. At the same time I was feeling all the emotions about our family member.
Yesterday afternoon, we had eaten and were getting ready for friends to join us later. I looked out the front window and saw a wee bee flying around. I no longer put myself on the side burner, my feelings matter, how I feel matters, even as mom I need to allow myself that permission to take the breaks… and grab my camera.
When I grab my camera, the quiet moment is instant. I am in MY own world.
To just BE…
This morning began early with beautiful soft warm light, that called to me to get out with my camera. I am grateful I did, as its been raining off and on since. Also, fitting.
If you want to know more about the Lens-Artists challenge, please click here.
This week Anne shared with us to find specific images. I felt more challenged with this one at first, and then as I allowed myself to open up to it, I had a vision! Check out her suggestions…
Something with Wavy Lines
Something with a Camera
Something with a Wheel
Something with a Cool Shadow
Something with a Smooth Texture
Zig Zag Lines
Something with Green Eyes
Some Cool Jewelry
Something Rectangular
Something with a Design
Something with a Pattern
Something with a Bumpy Texture
Something with a Soft Texture
Something with Water in it
A set of Keys
Something Glass
A Zipper
Shoelaces
Art Supplies
Truthfully, I glanced over this on the weekend and then well I was off line most of the weekend, which I loved. I was very present. Didn’t have my watch or phone with me at all times which felt so freeing! I also felt like I possibly ‘missed the opportunity’ to get the shots over the weekend.
This evening hubby and I took a drive and I knew exactly where to grab some of these shots… all taken with my cell phone! I felt my creativity open up and come alive!
A cool shadow – me and the structure!
Something with a bumpy texture. Old concrete mixer, well weathered.
Something with wavy lines. Oh my look at that, even the sun rays are wavy! I was enjoying the pattern of the pipe and how the lines wrap around. Nature is so cool!
Something with a smooth texture and rectangle! The concrete joints are rough, and in between is smooth!
Something with a pattern. I can feel the texture of these bricks too. Looks like there are bricks for days!
This past weekend was my birthday. My heart was so filled with joy with our long weekend. The golf course, home, beach, macro back road tour.
I took a lot of photos of family, which I love, it reminds me of the photos I cherish of our kids growing up. The pure innocence of children is like a breath of fresh air. The toddler negotiations, when those happen, ah takes me right back ;) But I don’t share those publicly, I did snap this one which I love. The geese are gathering at the point and someone enjoys the sunshine on the sand down the beach.
It was a beautiful fall weekend, cool evenings and warm days.
This afternoon I had mentioned to my husband that I would like to go on a photo tour. Sometimes I just need that little bit of a reset and that does the creative boost just right.
With each “thing” we celebrate or embrace, its one of those firsts, reminders of what will never be. Previous communication, meaning everything and especially the here and now. Capturing, the moments, for one day they will be memories.
I said it to him, and then didn’t act on it. Continued to sit on the couch on the deck. My legs were beginning to feel restless, got up and walked around, didn’t calm them. Finally I grabbed my camera and said lets go.
Just when I was beginning to feel frustrated that the beautiful roadside wild flowers were gone, we opened up to this.
“Spiritually, bees symbolize hard work, community, fertility, and prosperity, representing wisdom and a connection to the divine or universal spirit. They are often seen as messengers between worlds and serve as a reminder to embrace change, focus on collective well-being, and harness one’s inner strengths for personal growth and transformation.” Google
When we were golfing the other night, a beautiful fox ran up the course beside us and through to the next hole. I had thought to bring my camera, and unfortunately ignored that desire, so I have the joy of a mental memory of its beauty.
“A fox crossing your path spiritually signifies the importance of wisdom, resourcefulness, and adapting to change. It serves as a guide to trust your instincts and intuition when facing decisions or complex projects, encouraging clever thinking and a new perspective on your current circumstances. The appearance of a fox can also be a warning to be aware of deceptive people or situations, or an invitation to embrace your playful, wild nature and find harmony between work and play.” Google
I have noticed, when I am creative in the morning, my mental health gets an incredible boost and the day flows magnificently!
Within an 8 week course I have been doing, she has challenged us to do something creative, that we haven’t done before that will also stretch us. I of course gravitated to photography, thats my wheelhouse, my home, my comfort, but that’s not enough. I then grabbed my sketch book and thought ok Ive had the odd urge to get back to this. No, its not this.
This morning, after I posted my Lens-Artists Photo Challenge blog for this week, I felt that flow and I knew what my creative project would be.
Start my day blogging, whether its just writing, images or whatever. Allow my creativity to flow. Truthfully, I am hoping this will also help dissipate some deep anger and frustration – creativity and artistic abilities is much more free flowing than the resistance and roughness of anger and frustration. Here is the reality, no amount of bitching or complaining about the current “free” system will change anything. Making the choice to step into an even more empowered stance, that yes will have an energetic and monetary exchange for this to happen, feels much more aligned with my soul.
I began writing this blog a couple days ago, at lunch on Wednesday as I was sitting in my back yard with my dog, we were both in our own little world for a bit and things shifted in such a big way. Blogging has helped me immensely, it takes me back to when my passion for photography really blossomed, my true authentic soul feel. I began writing, in a form I hadn’t in awhile. I even could feel my ego beginning to step in, I had to say stop outloud, when I re-read what I wrote yesterday at lunch, after work, the words hit my soul. A true connection that also wrapped around and immersed within our creative challenge to share next week. This was just the beginning. I have one more step before I complete it. What I do know is when you choose to step into your full truth, everything around you IS forced to either shift with you, or away. Especially choosing to step into it, with confidence regardless of who else is involved and regardless of their status. Never be afraid to speak up, even with someone who appears to have a higher education.
As soon as I saw this theme, my heart took me to my kids in hockey. Our daughter about to enter her final year of minor hockey! Wild where the time has gone. I enjoy taking photos of anything and all that our kids are into or do.
Our family was also involved with the local Jr C team for years, our kids were quite young when we began and what is truly heart warming, is our son naturally gravitated to the same team helping with equipment and training etc – very cool! If you can find the smallest in this photo, thats our boy back in 2012.
To this last fall, taken with my cell phone. I just realized also under our family company sign, hits the heart even more!
This was the biggest part for us, the family being involved. The kids helping Cherie. If we were at the arena, our kids were typically with us!
About 10 years later… through the nets and glass! Above mentioned son, also at the glass.
My absolute favourite to watch is my kids. Our son played hockey all his childhood, and finished a year ago. Our daughter did for a year then back to figure skating and then took a leap and went back to hockey at the beginning of U18! We were so proud of her!
Our son’s final year, was our daughters first year of being back in hockey, so many weekends were split if there were over lapping games. It was always so heart filling to me to get to any and all of our kids games. Especially knowing it doesn’t last long, while you are IN it, it feels like an eternity, now that we are on the other side, holy crap where did the time go!!!
This game below, was our daughters first game after we experienced a big loss in our family, my brother, her uncle passed. Within the first 3 min of the game, she scored! Over the couple years it was incredible watching her growth.
Our boy was given the C – Captain, for his final year of Minor Hockey. It truly was heart warming, he took that C to heart and was a true honor. He was also one of the tallest on the team, so he literally ‘watched over’ them.
Going through this challenge was a good reminder for me to get more of the kids sports up on Flickr into albums!
Fishing, our kids fav thing to do at a family cottage!
