todayphoto

“One of the pleasantest things for those of us who write or paint is to have the daily miracle."

2008-11-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

Last year on the 12th of November, Alec and I went for a walk on a glorious fall day. As often happens with us, talk turned to the topic of creativity. That day, Alec had just sent me an article called "How to Be Interesting." Here, Russell Davies offered many excellent suggestions. Alec and I took him up on his first suggestion:

1. Take at least one picture everyday. Post it to flickr.

By the end of the walk, TodayPhoto was born and it’s been a tremendous honour and opportunity to do this with Alec. It’s been a wonderful and wacky year for a number of reasons and TodayPhoto has been a nice way to document it, think it through and make it last.

Last week I was in Chicago and went to a great exhibit at the Art Institute called “Henri Cartier Bresson and the Art and Photography of Paris.” Here I ran into a quotation from Gertrude Stein that has been with me all week: “One of the pleasantest things for those of us who write or paint is to have the daily miracle.” What I have liked most about TodayPhoto is that it has made me take a moment to document that daily miracle, to pin it down, to hold it, and to share it. On the days where I have thought myself too busy to stop, TodayPhoto has made me see that I need to stop and notice daily miracles. And, this year, at a particularly difficult time when it seemed like there were no daily miracles to be found, TodayPhoto made me look for them.

I think Stein’s quotation has stayed with me this week since it reminded me that I’ve been neglecting some other creative outlets this past year. And so, after discussions with Alec, I think we’ve decided to put TodayPhoto away, perhaps temporarily, perhaps not. I’ve been struggling to take and post the 500th and final photo. Alec suggested we end this with a favourite post and here is mine (along with the comment made).

I can’t quite bring this to a close but I'd like to thank everyone near and far who tuned into TodayPhoto over the past year. I'd also like to thank Alec for only not being my partner in crime in this project but also fantastic friend. I now turn this over to Alec. He who had the first word, should also have the last.

Well, perhaps not the last word but a gesture towards a new beginning. It's been great to see our experiment turn into something larger, a place to acknowledge those daily miracles and chronicle them, even in this ephemeral medium. I know both of us won't stop now and, who knows? begin to explore other themes and forums. One thing's for sure, I have been blessed to share this space with Heidi and will always welcome the chance to collaborate with her in the future.

Sandbox

2008-11-07T18:29:00.000-08:00

A Brighter Day

2008-11-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

"It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America."
Barack Obama, November 4, 2008

In her lifetime, Frances E.W. Harper (1825 - 1911) was an abolitionist, activist, speaker, essayist, poet and novelist. If she did not play a direct role in the Underground Railroad herself, she knew people who did. As I walked beside the river on this very bright day, I looked across the river that many fugitive slaves crossed from the US into Canada. I was reminded of a letter Harper wrote in 1867: "... it is well for us to look hopefully to the future-for the shadows bear the promise of a brighter coming day." I'm not sure Harper could have imagined exactly how bright that day would be.

Got Hope.

2008-11-04T06:22:00.000-08:00

This morning is unseasonably warm and gloriously sunny. On the way into work, sunlight danced on the river while Springsteen sang
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight

Got Hope? You better believe it.

Chicago 3

2008-11-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

Chicago 2

2008-11-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Chicago 1

2008-11-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Autumn

2008-10-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

A fiercely beautiful autumn day. The trees in the laneway and across the street were magnificent in the wind. The forecast calls for snow tomorrow.

6:05 PM

2008-10-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

For six days in a row, I've had reason to say, "Wow. I have amazing friends." Today, I said it of he who had accurately guessed this would be a perfect book for me. Just as I was thinking about my nice friends, the magic hour crept over the trees outside my office window. Lovely. All of it.

Five Days: Five Photos

2008-10-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

I have just solved the mystery of why my newish camera batteries had only been holding a charge for 3 or 4 minutes. It turns out that these past few weeks, the old ones have been impersonating the new ones, while the new ones lounged innocently in someone's wireless keyboard. I shall say nothing more. Except maybe this: "ahem."
It's been all about details and small things recently. Today I bring you five small things that have brought me no small amount of joy over a busy few days.

Wednesday: "Nerding out" over ink

2008-10-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Wednesday I received my four tiny trial vials of ink. According to a source close to me, I'm "really nerding out over ink." True.

Thursday: Cupcake Mints from SH

2008-10-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Friday: Tea Cups

2008-10-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

Tea cups were made for nights like Friday's gathering

Saturday: Shoes

2008-10-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

Last year, I feared I'd never be able to wear these again but I can. If my physiotherapist happens to find this, I am being good. Really. Mostly. Usually.

Sunday: Working Myself Out of Writer's Block

2008-10-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

Work in Progress

2008-10-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

At the Pet Shop

2008-10-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

This little chap was hanging out in the local pet supplies shop, along with several accomplices. They need homes so this is a chance for them to get used to people and perhaps charm some soft-hearted customers.

Dinner

2008-10-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Mushroom and Tomato Flatbread Topped with Fresh Arugula

Physalis alkekengi

2008-10-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Or 'Chinese Lantern'

15 minutes at lunch

2008-10-20T15:54:00.001-07:00

And three minutes of battery life

Books at Night

2008-10-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

Orchid

2008-10-19T14:09:00.001-07:00

When in doubt...

2008-10-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

The answer to my long-standing question of what to wear next Saturday: the winter version of the little black dress, the longer black velvet dress.

Watering Can

2008-10-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

A groovy watering can, I guess.

Simple Twist of Fate

2008-10-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

This park bench made me think of that great Dylan song.

Ennui 2.0

2008-10-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering, I do see the irony of voicing my tech ennui through a digital photo posted on a blog.

"Serenity now...!"

2008-10-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Amidst the craziness of fall, my portulaca and purple salvia seize the day.

For John W: "Campus, I suppose..."

2008-10-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Raucity

2008-10-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

Part of a raucous murder chasing a perhaps hawk.

Relax

2008-10-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

Field Trip: Trip to Field

2008-10-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving: Sunny with cloudy periods. High 27. UV index 5 or moderate.

2008-10-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

Two Trees

2008-10-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

Lake Erie

2008-10-11T16:08:00.001-07:00

Walk at lunch time

2008-10-10T11:20:00.001-07:00

A splashy fountain, a lovely day and thoughts of my missed pal.

Alpha Dogs

2008-10-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

These guys may be short on heightitude, but they've got the attitude.

Star Wars

2008-10-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Star Wars snow walker destroyer machine thing in the lobby of the cheap downtown cinema. Actually kind of awesome.

Chop chop: I am in a valley

2008-10-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

The thing I like about TodayPhoto is that it makes me take a moment each day to take a photograph. The thing I dislike about it is that sometimes I end up taking and posting pictures like the last half dozen. Like someone told me while I was writing my dissertation, "it's all about peaks and valleys Heidi, peaks and valleys." Clearly I've been in a valley lately. But, I proceed under the premise that something is better than nothing and thus plod forward taking photos of things on my cutting board. Like pretty leeks and radiant apricots. Hopefully tomorrow someone will drag me out of my office to take in some fresh air and some more interesting photos. And yes, Miss Sushi, I'm talking to you.

Chop

2008-10-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Just as it was jarring 3 weeks ago to be pulled from a maelstrom of activity and plunked into a full work stoppage, it's disorienting to be back. The first moment I had to think was while chopping leeks for dinner. It feels good to be busy again.

Gracie Bug

2008-10-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

Best Friends

2008-10-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

These two are the best of friends. Caelie is a year old terrier/poodle mix and a loving and devoted companion to her family. Scout is a beloved eight month Norwegian Elkhound who can run forever. (Sorry for the poor photo-the dog park is a hectic place).

Increasing cloudiness late this afternoon. High 15. UV index 5 or moderate.

2008-10-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

"The strange thing about life is that though the nature of it must have been apparent to everyone for hundreds of years, no one has left any adequate account of it" Virginia Woolf (Jacob's Room 82).

Day 18: photo forthcoming...

2008-10-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

Camera glitch... stay tuned.

Day 17: Things I am Grateful For

2008-10-03T23:46:00.000-07:00

Having "trim ratification ballots" as one of my afternoon's tasks. We have a tentative agreement!!

Day 16: What Batgirl is Grateful For on Day 16

2008-10-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?

Bears in the City

2008-10-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Rest is Noise

2008-10-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

I have many things to be grateful for as well, not least being Heidi's patience with her distracted photo partner.
The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross is one of those books that you might take out of the library and then realize you don't want to give back, so this is my new copy. He has created a brilliant adendum to the text with brief recordings of the works discussed.

Day 15: Things I am Grateful For

2008-10-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

My gym membership, my public library, and beautiful books like this one.

Day 14: Batgirl is also on work stoppage.

2008-09-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago we were told to "take everything you might need from your office." I took a couple of books and, for reasons I still don't understand, Batgirl. Here she is helping us make a lasagna. Meanwhile, as the rain pours down, I have the Four Tops cranked to help me forget this is Day 14.

Day 13: sigh.

2008-09-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

A photo from yesterday (which was a much more interesting day than today).

Day 12: Things I am Grateful For

2008-09-28T16:22:00.001-07:00

Mascot Madness Day

Watching Gary gunning for his 500th career HR

Centerfielders named Curtis

Rightfielders named Magglio

Beautiful days like this and the lump in my throat as I left the park.

Day 11: More sage advice from inanimate objects

2008-09-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Normally, I'm the worst lawn mower operator on the block. Maybe it's because I'm usually rushing to avoid heatstroke or sunburns. Or perhaps it's that I treat the mower as if it were a vacuum with blades. Or maybe I'm the worst on the block because I'm surrounded by retirees. At any rate, today I was blessed with time and a cool, overcast morning and did a pretty splendid job if I dare say so myself. Taking my time allowed to me to note this helpful advice from my lawn mower: 'Avoid serious injury or death.' Will do.

Walk

2008-09-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

Walking with a happy young dog.

Day 10: Things I am Grateful For

2008-09-26T14:49:00.001-07:00

Day 9: Things I am Grateful For

2008-09-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

Enough time to cook (rather than order, forage or heat) and evenings that are getting cool enough to warrant making an apple crisp.

Border Collies

2008-09-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Border Collies with sheep outside the neighbourhood public library.

Day 8: Things I am Grateful For: Semblance of Normalcy

2008-09-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

This past week certainly lands in the top five of my heretofore non-existent "Surreal Weeks I Have Had" list. Crossing the border last night, D and I were both wondering what we were doing going to a baseball game. By the time the starting lineups were announced, I knew why we were there. The park was as empty as it used to be and we had a row to ourselves. As the golden hour crept over the park, I reminded myself to take it all in.

PS: Here's a video for a cold day in February when spring will seem about as likely as finding a leprechaun feeding a carrot to a unicorn in my backyard (which, now that I think about it, would be a pretty cool thing to find. I'll add it to my list).

Animals in the City

2008-09-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

Animals in the city by the magical K.

Day 7: Look to the cookie

2008-09-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

Tonight's fortune cookie offers its sage advice to those having a long, difficult week.

Day 6: What's good

2008-09-22T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mailbox

2008-09-22T17:57:00.000-07:00

It would be great to have a renaissance of mailing beautiful things,
and then a visit to the mailbox wouldn't have the dread of finding
bills but the excitement of finding something new.

Downtown

2008-09-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

An interesting art project on this downtown site.

Day 5: Thistledown

2008-09-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

I finally slew the dragon that was the Heidi-sized thistle. It's still sort of lovely in a fluffy prickly kind of way.

Day 4: No picket duty

2008-09-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

And so off to the Belle Isle Conservatory...

Day 3: Rally (with cowbell)

2008-09-19T17:28:00.001-07:00

I went to support; I had no idea how much I needed to feel supported until I was stunned by the strength of the support I felt.

Dismount Begins

2008-09-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

Day 2: Golden Hour AM and PM

2008-09-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

7:45 AM

6:54 PM

Paper on the Grass

2008-09-17T21:04:00.001-07:00

Windows

2008-09-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

I like the almost time lapse reveal look of these window spaces in an old building undergoing a very slow renovation.

Facebook update: Heidi regrets that her thoughts about strikes are no longer of the baseball variety

2008-09-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

My shadow leaving work, astonished

2008-09-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

I had a very hard time leaving my office today not knowing when we'd return. As I was leaving, the golden hour settled into campus and it looked magnificent. For some reason, I was reminded of Edmund Burke (of whom, I should add, I am rarely reminded): "The passion caused by the great and sublime in nature . . . is Astonishment; and astonishment is that state of the soul, in which all its motions are suspended, with some degree of horror. In this case the mind is so entirely filled with its object, that it cannot entertain any other."

Sky. Hope.

2008-09-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

The relief of rain

2008-09-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Last month was the driest August on record for our fair city with a mere 9 mm of rain. Yesterday we received 75.2 mm. I'm loving the sound of the rain and the return of green.

Rainy day in Detroit

2008-09-13T14:00:00.001-07:00

Grey

2008-09-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

After a long week, there's something soothing about the grey misty sky and some migrating waterfowl.

In the Rain

2008-09-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

In the rain on the way home from the market.

Windows

2008-09-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

This is just to say

2008-09-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

that some of us might be listening to this CD a lot next week

This is just to say

2008-09-10T15:23:00.001-07:00

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

William Carlos Williams

PS: thanks to JG and PZ for sending this along. :)

Hey now, hey now...

2008-09-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

There was a bit of heartbreak in Mudville tonight. But it was a gorgeous night and a good game. I smiled as I realized the song they played as we left the park was Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over."

Black Walnut

2008-09-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

The Black Walnut is one of those extraordinary gifts of nature. Its wood is prized by designers
and the nuts are nutritious (and particularly beneficial for women). If I ever have some land I will plant a forest of them. This one was dropped by a squirrel in a hurry.
Arboretum America: A Philosophy of the Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger.
It's also the name of a superb bakery/cafe in London.

Colour A28: Del Rio

2008-09-08T01:07:00.000-07:00

Asteraceae

2008-09-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

While weeding a few months ago, it struck me-- a Canadian of Scots descent-- as metaphorically wrong to be uprooting small maple trees and thistles. I now have two thistles that tower over me and too many tiny maple trees to count. Although the thistles' spikes are rather menacing, there's something quite lovely about their purple flowers and fluffy white thistledown. I fear my neighbours may not see my impulse in the same nationalistically sentimental way when my thistles' seeds start to wander lonely as a cloud over their fence.

This has been a week of perfect afternoons

2008-09-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, we were back to Fort Malden to see Ron (and these historic dudes) and to sip some lovely wines with M and S by the water.

Seed pod

2008-09-05T19:46:00.001-07:00

Or space pod...?

Afternoon and Evening

2008-09-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Even though the Tigers lost depressingly (Curtis did get a HR though!), I still love being able to turn overtime into an afternoon at the ballpark.

An equally lovely evening was spent at the Shores of Erie seeing Ron.

Giardino

2008-09-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

A reproduction of a reproduction, etc, of a work by the brilliant Italian artist Giardino. Tina copied this for the comics display at Leddy Library and then it showed up in my office at UWO. I wonder where it will be next. Pace Benjamin, for me it is becoming more vital and interesting over time.

Calm before the storm...

2008-09-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Sitting in my very quiet office at 8 AM, I note the last moments of a silent quad. It is nice to have everyone back though.

Expand Your Mind

2008-09-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

A message from an anonymous public transit sage.

How D's drycleaners made me feel inadequate this afternoon

2008-09-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

My caring pales in a really big way.

Theme Three: Subway Lines

2008-09-01T15:36:00.001-07:00

Theme Two: Water Lines

2008-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Theme One: Concrete Lines

2008-09-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

Farmer's Market

2008-08-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

A wonderful farmer's market on the #4 highway to Port Stanley.

Frog & Toad

2008-08-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

Frog & Toad together in a hat, from K.

Augest 28, 2008

2008-08-28T19:24:00.001-07:00

Tonight at the ballpark

2008-08-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight was one of those perfect late summer nights at the ballpark when the beauty had to come from somewhere else other than the scorecard.

This fan sign made me smile. We could use some coolness in our rumoured election. Maybe I'll just write in "Curtis." That's change I could certainly believe in.

Lavender

2008-08-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

When I planted three lavender plants a few years ago, I imagined a night like tonight when the scent of lavender would fill the late summer air. Mmmmmm.... I picked a few sprigs tonight remembering how useful they were last February.

Carpe Summer

2008-08-25T16:32:00.001-07:00

The muggy heat broke and today S and I had lovely crisp weather for our afternoon constitutional. Seeing the pony sculpture that I love reminded me of a day months ago. Being reminded of that day in turn reminded me to marvel in the warmth and sun of a lovely day and a good friend.

400

2008-08-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

The London Short Film Showcase on Saturday was a great afternoon of new films, shown at the Rainbow cinema. The Dandy Dwarves have created some amazing stuff, including the brilliant (ly-deranged) Love Hurts.
ps 400 posts! that's pretty amazing.