summer lovin'

Life has handed me a glorious opportunity this year.
I have been able to take the summer off.

There were a couple of days here and there to which I had committed but for the most part, me and the Summer were gonna make out in the tall grass. We were gonna frolic in the sand, exchange salty kisses in the ocean.

Winter was like a bad long-term relationship and once we finally broke up, I flirted with Spring, but really, Spring is just a fling... but Summer.. oh we had something special.
We had plans.

It couldn't have been simpler . There were only 2 things on the list:

1. Swim

2. Write


I swam

1 out of 2 ain't bad.


Sorry, Unfinished Novel, perhaps you and I will snuggle when it gets a bit cooler.  But Summer and I still have a lot of hot dates.

happy solstice

Five months ago I sat here in this cottage by the sea while another winter storm beat at the windows.

Today sit on in the garden, listening to birds in the trees, frogs in the pond and the waves saying hello to the shore.

Today the sun seems to stand still. It is the longest day of the year.

We've come through the darkness.

Hello Summer.

life

deliciously obvious metaphor 

at the feet of giants

For me, the most moving monuments in Washington were the Lincoln Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Here were two men, fighting the same cause, 100 years between them. And both men were killed  for what they believed. 

I found it very humbling to stand there at the feet of these great men of principle. 

Also impressive is the memorial to Thomas Jefferson, who opposed slavery and whose eloquent words helped shape a nation...

I am always amazed at those giants who have left their mark splashed across history's pages

and there it was

Spring came in a breath.
It flew in. Or rather, I flew in to Spring.
And it was as lovely as I had hoped.

Washington DC played host to millions of people for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

It truly is a wonderful city. The last two times I have been in DC I've didn't have a chance to explore and appreciate it as I did this time. It is so wonderful to see in person the monuments and landmarks that appear in so many movies, television shows and photographs. And history.

And seeing it through the blossoms of thousands of cherry trees made it even better.
It was a photog's dream.

Everywhere was a cloud of pink and white. 

The majority of the trees are around the Tidal Basin, accented with the sight of many familiar landmarks and monuments. 

nothing says spring like blossoms bursting around a great phallic symbol 

millions come to see the blossoms.. I believe they were all there on this day

It was so uplifting to be where everything was growing 

When I left Halifax there was three feet of ice. A few hours later it was soft spring perfectly popping pinks.

Instantly joyous. 

springing spring

a real snow bird

This morning it snowed. Again.

It started in January and it hasn't stopped. 

Piles and banks of snow.

And this morning it snowed again. 

Many Nova Scotians woke up bitter at the sight.

As for me,  I've done what I've done for the last two months- I've decided to see the beauty in it.
And then I take photos. 

even the birds be like "what the f-??"

But there is another reason I'm not bitter about the weather. 

Tomorrow I won't have to worry about the snow. 

Tomorrow I will see Spring. 

Tomorrow I will head to Washington, DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival. 

I realize I may sound smug. That is not my intent. 

We've all hated those people hitting the tanning beds for trips to Cuba, DR or Jamaica this winter.
I don't mean to rub it in. 

But at this point it is every snowman for himself.
It's not about a Caribbean vacation, it's about seeing something bloom. 

Although I've been to DC before, I have never been during cherry blossom time and I look forward to taking so many many pictures.

not my picture, but I hope to take lots more like it

The last time I was there I lost all my photos of the monuments so I look forward to getting those shots again.  But mostly, I'm looking forward to the smell. The fragrance of grass and mud and blossoms. The smell of Spring. 

I'm also looking forward to not wearing boots. Or coats. Or layers of clothing.
And temperatures above 0 °C

um.. I'll take the one on the right please... my right.. 

So Spring, if you won't come to me, I will come to you.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow it will be Spring. 

want to spring ahead but keep falling back

This is the winter that doesn't end.

Today is the first day of Spring, and yet here in Halifax we are still digging out from a series of colossal snow storms. We are now called Snova Scotia.

It's interesting to see the effect that winter has on the psyche- the psyche of people and of place.
It is apparent in how people act, speak, move.

this bus stop ad doubles as instructions.. climb the other side? YOU climb the other side- I'm done

you don't say

The heavy snowfall and bad weather take tolls on our moods as well. Personally, I have noticed a sadness, a discontent, a crankiness and a fatigue that I know is climate induced. We live part of the year in winter, so I try to embrace it as much as I can. Photography helps see the beauty in it. But even that can only go so far

yes, yes, it is pretty..

Now I am tired.

I am tired of boots and coats and layers of clothing. I am weary of feeling weighted down in body, mind and spirit. The urge to hibernate, to stay in bed or in the house is so strong. But that only breeds more sadness. Even I know that too much time spent in my own head is not good. Even my solitary nature  says ENOUGH.


I want to feel grass. I want to wear sandals and feel the air on my feet, to see my pink painted toenails peeking up at me. I long to hear sounds that are not the sliding of car tires spinning in snow and on ice. Or the scraping of the snow plow shovels hitting pavement. I long to feel light, not claustrophobic to the point of panic.

yes, yes, it can be inspiring..

In two weeks time I will take a trip. This is not to a tropical place, but a more moderate one.
Washington DC will be treated to nearly 4000 cherry trees in blossom, and I'm going to be there. I'm going to feel warm spring and smell fragrant air and leave my coat and boots and baggage behind.







But for the next two weeks I will try to breathe and think warm thoughts and hope it is enough to melt the snow.