When the sun is setting, between dusk and darkness, there is a moment when the light turns blue. And the world stops for a heartbeat.
Some time back I saw an interesting post about photographing frozen flowers. With some cut sunflowers on their last legs, I decided to throw them in a freezer and give it a try.
Cool idea,with a somewhat lazy execution. Next time, I will need more considered arrangement and better lighting. Trying to take the photos during a break between meetings – just because the sun happened to be shining – only added to the string of poor choices.
But – I think – worth trying again.
Fire is hypnotising.
A long time ago, I had a friend visiting from Hong Kong. She could not tear herself away from our fireplace. Living on the 32nd floor, she had never seen a real flame bigger than a candle flame.
One of the first (and best) things we did when we moved in to the house was to replace the fireplaces iron door with a bigger glass one.
All the wonder, without the smoke.
It’s a guaranteed rabbit hole in any conversation with fellow parents: how many chores should kids do?
We are still at a pretty basic level. We expect the girls to clean up after themselves: to tidy their rooms (and whatever else they have scattered around the house), take their plates away, put their laundry in the basket and clean up the kitchen after making their own snacks or breakfasts.
For bigger jobs, such as raking leaves or cleaning up the garden, we expect them to pitch in for a few hours.
I think the girls are soon ready to take on more responsibility around the house. In fact, we’d probably have insisted on it already, if getting them to do their chores weren’t such an enormous chore for Stuart and me.
I am old enough to admit I love puzzles. I always have. According to my mum, I loved them so much as a 2-year-old that my nursery teachers got worried.
The problem is that when I start one, I get totally obsessed. For two days (sometimes three, if it is during the work week), my fingers constantly itch to get back to it.
Until it’s done, and I am left wanting to start a new one (and resisting because… well… I have a life).
The girls see this and want to be involved. Alanna sits next to me and tells me the story of every character, flower and house in the puzzle. Kiara sits across the table and obsesses over her own puzzles.
I have no green thumb. Stuart even less so. Therefore, we have no potted plants in our house.
Every 5 years or so, I get one from an acquaintance (who does not know me that well) or my mother (who – as all mothers do – keeps believing in me). Every time, I firmly decide this time will be different… until the plant dies for overwatering, underwatering or some mysterious malady caused by a chronic lack of care.
I can still photograph nice plants in other people’s houses.
Post 200.
Still going strong. Even if the photography feels much less exciting now that holidays are over.
I am not a big admirer of minimalism. It looks great in photos, but it just feels impractical – unless you have enormous, hidden closet spaces. But is it then minimalism, or just good cleaning skills?
And while we are talking about this… I never understood the logic behind Marie Kondo. My clutter is exactly those things that bring me joy – little mementos, photos, cool kitchen gadgets, one-too-many scarves, etc. Throwing away my gardening gloves (not a big fan of gardening either) is unlikely to improve my life.
With all this said, with two 8-year-olds in the house, I could do with some less-ism.
Mugs have a mysterious ability to multiply in the cupboad. Years ago, I got tired of million different mugs cluttering the kitchen and donated everything but the matching set that goes with our plates – and, of course, my Moomin mugs. (Every Finn living abroad has at least a few).
Since then the mug situation has stayed pretty much under control. We still have the “adult set” and the Moomins. And a few that are perfect for soup. And my hot chocolate mug (perfect for wrapping both hands around). And the one a dear friend gave me. And the one my colleagues got me when I left. And a few smaller ones for the girls. And…
As I compare my ongoing 365 challenge with the one I did nine years ago, they look quite different.
It strikes me how much more spare time I used to have for trick shots, Photoshop, interesting set-ups and little projects. They have largely been replaced by candid photos of the things we do with the kids.
So one trick shot – to honor my former self and the happy spirit of summer.
Work is busy at the moment. And with the girls on holiday, they tend to require quite a bit more attention in the evenings.
By the time they get to bed, I am usually ready for bed myself – and often, as tonight proved, totally out of ideas for a photo.
So, I gave up and dug out my faithful fork again. You can always take a picture of something in the kitchen.
