Category Archives: weekly photo challenge

Frame of Mind

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aging… change… inevitable.
cracks, moss, peeling paint…

we could fill the cracks, kill the moss,
slap on a fresh coat of paint…
and pretend it’s new again.

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we could let it succumb…
to deteriorate into a heap of
rotted wood and crumbled stone…
and pretend it’s dead,
even though it’s not.

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we could let it age with dignity,
maintaining – as best we can –
the structural foundation,
while letting the history of
weathered storms, myriad encounters,
passing years…

tell it’s stories with grace, honesty and pride –
even if for nothing other than the fact that
it is still standing.

My vote is for dignity.

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Photos taken at the historic Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks in Vancouver, WA USA. Established in the 1840s as Camp Vancouver, this American military post remained active for more than 150 years.

Daily Post weekly photo challenge: State of Mind

Life Echoes Life

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“Life imitates art.” That’s the theme for this week’s Daily Post photo challenge.

Hmmm. I thought of a great photo op for this topic but, alas, it would involve two other people who are not available today, a drive to a city park where the art is located, and getting wet in the rain…  Maybe next time. Or later in the week, at least.

In the meantime, here’s my take on life imitating art imitating life. Or something like that.

It starts with a photo of my daughters playing the piano:

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which I used to create this painting:

 

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“Girls at Piano” by me.

 

And now my daughters are grown, and my granddaughter, while not “imitating” her mom and aunt or the painting of them, is nonetheless creating her own version of the theme:

 

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I’m not sure how the dog fits into all this, but I’m sure that — with my granddaughter’s tutoring —  he’ll be playing in no time at all.

Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Life Imitates Art

Dog Imitates Art

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The theme for this week’s Daily Post photo challenge is “Life Imitates Art.”

When I created the “Canid” panel (pictured below), I had a fox in mind. Some folks commented that it looked like my American Eskimo dog, except for the coloring of course.

I’ve been thinking about tweaking the design to make a similar panel to represent my Eskie. Might have to add that to the queue of projects.

In the meantime, enjoy my entry for the “life imitates art” challenge:

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Chules, my America Eskimo dog

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“Canid” stained glass panel by Maggie C.

Where the Grass is Greener

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It rains a lot where I live. And the landscapes are very green here. At times I get a bit gloomy about so much rain, but I always appreciate the lush greenery.

green

For me, green is the color of optimism.

I also appreciate “green” environmentalism and sustainability efforts. While I don’t go around hugging trees (well, sometimes I do, but only ones that I know really well), the fact that there are people committed to helping nature survive our negative impacts makes me feel optimistic about the future of this planet. And that same responsible and farsighted commitment makes me optimistic about the nature of humankind.

I try to steer away from politically controversial topics on this blog, but nature isn’t a political entity. It has no hidden agenda. Nature does not discriminate against anyone or anything on any basis whatsoever.

Nature holds no ill will, covets nothing and demands nothing. Yet it gives us life. We owe nature some serious respect, and the most conscientious, careful and caring guardianship we can give.

Each spring when I see new growth on the trees around me, I feel renewed hope. For me, green is the color of optimism.

Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Optimistic

Weighty Lessons

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Sometimes
history can weigh us down.
Remorse, regret, convenient revisions…
and at times
rage and resentment
over transgressions against
our ancestors.

 

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Sometimes
history can lift us up.
Inspire, validate, educate…
and at times
impress upon us
the value in celebrating and learning
from our past.

 

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Dates, names, places, events…
all factual information.
Yet history will always be
defined
by the lens through which
each one of us
perceives.

 

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These photos were taken at the Garden of Surging Waves, a city park in Astoria, Oregon, which was built to honor and celebrate the Chinese heritage of that area. The Story Screen in these photos is an iron structure that includes the entry gate, and these large panels that tell about the hardships, struggles and contributions of some of the Chinese immigrants in Astoria as well as their descendants who remained in the area and who continue to be vital components in the fabric of the community.

 

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Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge:  Weight(less)