a photo a day: December 3rd

I'm sharing a photo a day for the month of December- some of my favorites from 2014- if you have a favorite photo you'd like to share please leave a link in the comments- I'd love to see your 2014 faves!

a photo a day: December 2

This photo makes me feel like joy is bubbling up from within- what a blessing to have such happy, silly, beautiful, children. And it's back lit- And, yes, she's wearing pajamas outside on the slide-0 the joys of being 2 and living in the country. I love this photo so much I might put in our Christmas cards, (though her big sister is scandalized by the idea, while not being immune to the funny of the photo- we were both laughing hysterically when we saw it).

Lately

Well hello there...I've been thinking of you. Things have been busy, and hectic, and I've been caught up in trying to make things cozy and just right for winter, and taking a course on reduction lino printing, and making clay stuff, and getting into the rhythm of school, and being outraged at Jian Ghomeshi, and Steven Harper, and, well, things, you know. During it all I've been wondering about this space- and it's purpose, and if I need it, or if I add anything to this excellent internet community, or just what is it all for anyhow.

I've realized lately that "what is it for?" is one of those negative mantras of mine, one of those things that crops up in my head and puts a stop to any positive creative energy. My creative center will say- "how about this?" and my serious side will say "what is it for?" and the creative center just shrinks down and shrugs, while backing away. It's not helpful, and even though I know what it's for - creative expression, joy, beauty, chronicling my experience in the hopes that it relates to someone, I still get hung up on that "what is it for?". The reality is that I create things all the time, it's part of who I am, I can't help it, and even when those things are utilitarian- I still make use of creativity to do it differently, or better, or prettier, or even, not much better or prettier- but much more complicated.

And so maybe "what is it for?" is not the best way to approach the blog- but rather- "how does it serve me?" or better yet "how does it serve those of you who actually read it?". I think that I am not a writer, I can write- passably some days- but actually it's not my strong suit, I do love taking photographs- but often I find my camera is just not there when I need it, The garden is worth documenting- but it's a bit boring probably for all of you. The Monday Inspiration posts are successful in that it really does serve me- as I get to expand my knowledge, and you- dear reader- as you find it interesting- (I presume).

So there's one aspect to keep. The photos of the kids is again tricky- because as N grows I feel that she sort of outgrows the space, and I wonder how she'll feel about it as an older kid, and A is honestly hard to capture on film, not being the camera hound that N is. But I do love documenting them this way- I love that the images are there for friends and family far away, and that people get a sense of our days here, not just annual Holiday photos. Possibly a photo journal mentality would be best then- not too much info and quicker for me. A record of our days, so maybe a weekly photo heavy post would be best there- 'this week', or 'lately', or something along those lines.

The other thing I'd love to document here is the studio work in studio season, and the garden in garden season, that's a bit tough as sometimes other things get in the way and I've got nothing new to show you- but as the kids get older I hope to get more of a routine going. I also hope to open up an online store soon, errr... maybe soon, and it might be nice to have it connected here so you could see a piece get worked through right to the end.

So that means- 'Monday Inspiration', then a 'Lately' post with photos of our week, then a weekly garden/studio post too. Okay- I think that's sorted out. If you're still reading this unspeakably boring brainstorm- thanks for being a sounding board- let me know what you think.

In the Garden: September 14

Some of these photos are old- I'm a bit behind here, school, and birthdays and colds et al. but these are photos of our barley harvest- not much after the deer came and had their fill- but some enough for christmas pudding, and to increase our seeds next year. The zinnias I planted are all blooming and really lovely- it's a giant cactus mix, an a state fair mix I think- the colours are just awesome, coral and pink and orange and red and gold, they make an effortless arrangement. I've also figured out how to show them best- with short stems in a short vase so that you can look down on the flower tops, for years I've been trying to cut long stems and putting them in tall vases- and then getting annoyed because all you see is the underside of the flower- this way they make perfect little round flower
puffs- adorable.

My passionflower vine flowered too- so wonderful looking- an exotic flower for sure! It's set to come inside now along with my other special plants because we've got a frost warning here- so it's all hands on deck for harvest. This year we seem to be more relaxed about it- I think we've learned what can tolerate frost and what we'll bother covering or not. We just picked the sauce and drying tomatoes green and brought them inside- then covered some of the eating tomatoes. We brought in the pumpkins too- they look lovely and big- though must be tasty enough that most were eaten by something before we got to them. We had grown them in a patch that's surrounded by longish grass- which is just too easy for woodchucks of other rodents to get to.  I know pumpkins often get left out till the last and the vines are dead- but we never do- frost makes them spoil, and then they won't keep, of course taking them in early is tricky too- but if you're careful, and cure them well- they'll keep into February or March even.

The dry beans are starting to harden now- so hopefully it'll stay dry for them (and for the farmers- it's been a wet fall- so they're just starting to get things off the field- it's late and damp and no good generally). We've planted the strawberry transplants- in one long row hopefully that will help keep the weeds down and allow us to space the runners out to the sides of the main row which will make it easier to keep tack of, I'm amazed by how awesome plants that renew themselves are- the runners we placed in pots had taken off so well that the roots were growing out the bottom of some of them!

I think this will be the last official garden update- though I'll post about the new tomatoes we grew this year, and a few other photos of course- it's time to switch gears into the kitchen and clay studio...

First Snow

Ack! these photos have been on my camera for a couple of weeks now- (or maybe just a week? is that possible? what day is it anyhow?) This snow is long gone now- and it's been a completely awesome fall, no need for mittens on Halloween!? unheard of in these parts. I wanted to share them even though they feel totally out of date. The morning the snow fell N woke up and ran downstairs saying "it's the first day of winter!" I remember that feeling of awe at the first snow- so precious.

Fall Leaves and Root Vegetables

I love Fall, it's one of the big things I love about he prairies, a crisp bright fall. When I lived in B.C. it was always warm, well, warmish I guess, but it rained all the time. Really, truly I have never experienced such gray dreary days as the fall in British Columbia. I can only remember things as darkly grey in the morning, then sort of lighter grey in the afternoon, then pitch black at night- because the clouds hide the stars and moon, so you don't even have that- not that you'd look up anyways because you'd get rain in your eyes.

Anyhow- when I decided to live here in Manitoba permanently lots of people were surprised, but I'd trade that horrible rainy fall and winter for our bright -40 days any time. Plus we get real honest to goodness fall here- crackly leaves and blue sky, apple and pumpkin harvests, frost in the morning and warm afternoons for a couple of months at least. Winter is early here- I always laugh on the first day of winter because it's already been winter here for months by then- it feels like the rest of the world is late. But all in all I'll take that long winter because at least we get Fall.

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N: working in her laboratory outside (the potting bench- with a big bucket of semi-frozen rainwater standing in as the 'potion'. Numerous (and probably annoying) warnings about not drinking it were heard from me). She's also picked the bright orange hunter's toque as her favorite this year- it's ridiculous- but at least we can find her easily.

A: just happy to wander around and explore outside- this was a nice warm day- one of the last- so the mitts were off, and the sand shovel was put to good use.

Lately...again