Winter

 

I came across some pictures I took this past summer today. I looked at them, remembering that I wore shorts and sandals that day, or bought bread from the outdoor famers' market and ate ice cream with my visiting nephew, Will. We turned up the air conditioner and listed to Norah Jones singing as we drove to funky thrift stores.

 

I grew up with long, cold winters, but as a child I didn't feel terribly inconvenienced if I got to go sledding or ice-skating until it got dark or my fingers fell off. When you grow up and forgo the pleasures of sledding and ice-skating, it's a little tougher to meet winter on its own terms. But I've found that winter has its own fragile beauty. It's true, you can't just rush out the door wearing only the shirt on your back, you have to put on all these extra layers. But the things you can see; last year's nature hanging on by a thread, the rich colors and textures of decay encrusted in snow, and stacks of dry, heavy wood ready for a fire. Winter is not the carnival of color and sound that Summer is. She asks that you slow your pace, listen and observe. And you will be glad you did.

Red Barn

I met this barn today in Lancaster, Ohio. We became fast friends and felt like we'd known each other a long time. It didn't say much to me, but it didn't have to. I could see it had many stories to tell and saw a great many things in its day. Don't you just want to play the Cowboy Junkies to it?

B&W

I like how B&W pictures reduce things to simple lines and forms. Your mind isn't influenced by the endless variety of colors. Sometimes life asks to be looked at this way. When you can do this, in your mind, it's like being at a party where you can cut out all the conversations that are happening and listen to just one. I like that.

Dawes Arboretum





I found myself at Dawes Arboretum yesterday. If you live nearby and have never been, do make a visit. This Dawes guy loved trees and collected an awful lot of them suitable to the Ohio climate. He amassed one of the world's largest collection of holly bushes and trees. And pieced together a rather convincing Zen garden. Looking around, you can see that more than a few trees took a hit in a recent wind storm, but there's still plenty to take in. So here are some textures I gathered while there. Enjoy!

One II

I have a secret to tell you. I've been taking ballet classes. For the first time. Ever. "What? At your age?", I can hear you ask. Yes, and I'm twenty years younger than the oldest student in my class. There are some amazing things I've learned, taking ballet. It's hard, very hard. Moving your arms and legs about simultaneously and often in opposite directions, while trying to keep up with an instructor speaking French is hard.  Your mind reels as you try to remember what a Pas de Basque is while keeping your shoulders down, your arms in a perfect graceful curve and your tummy tightened. And sometimes, I do miserably. But I keep going back BECAUSE it is hard, and it feels good to do hard things and feel yourself progress. These things translate nicely to other parts of life. You don't give up just because a thing is hard, you just try harder and keep trying until you get the thing right, because that moment when you really nail a Pas de Basque? There's nothing else like it. And then maybe you too might be tempted to add Modern dance to the mix.

One

You know the type. That person who carries her camera with her everywhere she goes and you can't eat a single bite of whatever it is on your plate until she's recorded that meal and that moment with her camera. And even after you've taken a few bites, there she is, still snapping away. I have been less of that person lately, not from lack of desire, but other things just have to take priority sometimes.

 

But today I was making granola, using my mother's preserves (best in the world, for the record), and I just had to capture this one quiet moment of the sweet taste of home. And sometimes that alone is all you need to make you happy.

DeSantis Florist

I had the honor of doing a mini-shoot at DeSantis Florist yesterday, the oldest florist in Columbus. What a neat experience. I've never been behind the scenes at a florist shop, and it's really something to see a small team working together to make a number of arrangements that meet such a variety of needs. Nothing says, thank you, I'm sorry, condolences, happy birthday or I love you like a cluster of well-chosen flowers. And these dedicated folks are masters at saying what is hard to say with mere words, don't you think?

 

If you want to see more from my shoot, please go here.

Change

When I look at the leaves flaming yellow and red in the trees, I'm amazed that a few short months ago they were yellow-green sprouts. The cicadas and fireflies have faded, and the grass is covered with frost in the morning, but the seasons continue to reveal themselves in new and interesting ways.

I'm going through some major changes of my own, and while this might end one chapter, the book is thick and has many, many pages left to be read. Change can be tough, yes, but when you look at it with fresh eyes it can be a wonderful thing. It can be downright exciting, wondering what the next chapter brings. You look back and realize you've learned a katrillion things and made a few true friends along the way, but the good stuff is far from over. If you stop for a moment, and look around, you might find you have some amazing people around you who've got your back. They've been there all along.

So, what do you do when life throws you a bit of a curve ball? You take up a friend's invitation to do leaf portraits in the dappled autumn light. Rachel's portraits, by the way, are brilliant. She is a genius photographer, artist and storyteller. Visit her here and say hello.

Autumn

Clintonville Farmers' Market

I went on a fun photo shoot with my friend Laura this morning and we found ourselves at the market. The spring fruits and herbs have disappeared and made way for root vegetables and apples. You can still find lots of preserves, fresh bread baked just this morning and lots of flowers. It's a great place to run into new neighbors and old friends you haven't seen for years. And it's a nice place to witness the rhythms of crops, seasons and personal lives.

Cookie Cravings

Last night at our neighborhood happy hour, I met a couple who owns a neat place called Cookie Cravings not far from our neighborhood. Their cookies are simple classics with a twist, careful experiments on recipes that have proven the test of time. Blueberry with goat cheese or white chocolate pistachio with sea salt are among their more unique confections. Their light-filled shop isn't limited to cookies, though. You can get a cup of dark French-press coffee, as well as a savory crepe any time of day. If the warm, welcoming environment makes you want to stay, you can pull up a stool at the bar and enjoy your treat.