Photography – Tea & Paper

WQWWC :: Relax

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021Photography, Writing18 Comments

Relax. Pockets of ‘me time’ during the day, sometimes not easy to find room for self-care in the middle of the daily business, but it’s a must to be able to do so. Early ‘me time’ sometimes starts with morning pages and a cup of coffee, other times it starts with a run by the river.

Either way, these are moments for relaxing and organizing my thoughts before getting ready for the day. As an introvert, it isn’t easy to be in contact with people and socializing at the work place. I need down time, to think and recharge.

Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges.
Bryant McGill

My garden is my private paradise. Taking care and admiring the flowers and the vegetables or just sitting down and looking at the sky and feeling the breeze washing over my face and my hair. When at home I make sure I have a garden walk at least 3 times per day, generally after each meal.

Nothing more relaxing than spending a hot summer afternoon with a book and a refreshing drink.

Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.
Jane Austen

Sharing with WQWWC, this week’s theme is Relax. And you? What you do to relax during the summer?

Tree square :: Beautiful surprise

July 20, 2021Photography, Writing10 Comments

Do you know that feeling when you see an unexpected beauty on your way?

Yes, yesterday I had that feeling. This beautiful pear tree was on my way when I stopped by the grocery store. I’ve been many times to that store, but I’ve never seen this tree. Why? Because when I go, I always park closest possible to the entrance, and of course, no trees around.

Yesterday I was driving my hubby’s car, he is very careful with his car, and I didn’t want people scratching it with the shopping carts, so I looked for a distant spot for parking, and voila! This tree caught my attention.

Sometimes changing the routine can bring us beautiful surprises.

Sharing with Becca’s Tree Square.

Tree Squares :: Tree of life

July 17, 2021Photography, Poetry22 Comments

joy
willow
mystery
youth and passion
mixing laugh and tears
underneath the branches
the roots searching for water
orchestration of the branches
leaves caressing faces without shame
the bark is apt to put down fever, aches
following the motion, lightness is dancing
the music is powerful reaching up and down
dreams are alive under the willow tree, forgiveness
the tree of life
a soul mission
ready tho heal
open friendship
grounding, flying,
hearts and bodies

Becca’s squares this month is all about trees! I wrote a syllabic poetry form named Tree of Life here for WQWWC challenge from Marsha, she suggested I also post a Tree of life poem for Becca’s challenge. This poem has a tree outline. I wrote this one inspired by a willow tree in my neighbourhood.

Hope you enjoyed!

WQWWC :: On my way

July 7, 2021Inspirational, Photography27 Comments

On my way to 5K! I’ve been training to run a marathon in October. I wake up early everyday and go out for a run. I love the fresh air and all the beauty I find on my path. Having a goal is important to keep my mind and body synchronized. I’d tried to keep fit many times, but I always let it go. My son run a 20K last year, and I saw many people of all ages running, each one at his/her own speed. Then I talked with my family about it, and they like my idea of joining the marathon.

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.
Tony Robbins

I have a treadmill at home for the snowy months, but nothing compares to the outdoors for exercise. My neighbourhood has many beautiful places to walk/run. I enjoy the view and I always find some excuse to stop and take a photo.

You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S. Lewis

Noticing the little things on my way decreases the stress in my legs and inspires me to keep going. It’s incredible how the mind and the body are connected. As the years go by, I can feel how this connection plays a role in my health.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”
Ashley Smith

This week’s WQWWC is free theme. Terri from Secondwindleisure is hosting the challenge while Marsha is busy getting her new AirB&B ready. I’ve chosen on my way as a theme. Hope you enjoyed it!

Tanka Tuesday :: Longing

July 6, 2021Photography, Poetry24 Comments

Holidays are always tough on me. The memories and dreams are vivid, it’s like I can touch them, the feelings are all over the place, urging to make new memories and at the same time keeping the old ones in the background of my mind.

Tanka Tuesday this week is poet’s choice. So, due to the holidays’ mood I wrote this double Senryu and added this photo that I snapped during in the weekend. I would call it a Haiga, but I’m not sure if a double Senryu can be used for it. Let’s see what Colleen has to say 🙂

Hope you had a great weekend and the holidays weren’t tough on you!

WQWWC :: Freedom

July 1, 2021Photography, Poetry, Writing24 Comments

This week’s theme for WQWWC is Freedom. Well, freedom has many meanings and possibilities. It depends on who is claiming it, who is experiencing moments of freedom or the lack of it.

No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.
Buddha

This sidewalk drawing was on my way this morning. I was running and thinking what should be my take on this prompt. And voila! Freedom was there to be seen! I stopped and couldn’t believe it! That feeling that the universe has my back. I took the pic with a smile on my face.

None but ourselves can free our minds.
Bob Marley

I decided to go simple, a few words to describe Freedom. An acrostic poem is perfect for it.

Fierce as it can be
Resilient upon to the right time
Elusive and inspiring
Emancipation to the needed
Divine in respect
Observant in silence
Meaningful to all

Freedom lies in being bold.
Robert Frost

Tanka Tuesday :: Within

June 22, 2021Photography, Poetry24 Comments

radiance catcher
craving the light and the warmth
hunting for the sun
clouds bathing me with desire
a wish in each step
the sparkle lays within me
my soul smiles sunbeams
when I see her reflection
brightening the wildflowers

Happy Summer! Finally it is here, I’m sure I’ll miss the spring freshness, but I’m ready for all the pleasures of the summer.

It has been cloudy these last few days. I went to a park in the last day of spring, the longest day of the year to see the sunset, but I think the sun wasn’t aware that lots of people were outdoors waiting for its performance that evening. Anyway, it was pleasant to be outdoors in the middle of beautiful flowers. And as Rumi says:

Don’t you know yet?
It is your light that lights the worlds.
Rumi

Tanka Tuesday this week is a theme prompt – Discovery – I didn’t use this word in my poem, but you can feel that it is about discovering the light/energy that lays inside each one of us. I used the form Choka, a new one for me, it contains 9 lines: 5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7-7 and doesn’t need to rhyme.

I hope you enjoy it!

WQWWC :: Heat

June 18, 2021Photography, Writing11 Comments

This week’s theme for WQWWC is “heat”. I decided to go a little bit sideways and post about the heat from the soul, my inside heat that needs to come out in the form of creativity. Not sure if the word heat is the best, “fire” is more appropriate. For many years I’m using paintings and collages as a vessel for expression. Poetry is another form to let out what is in my mind. And of course, I couldn’t forget to mention the journaling practice that is a constant form of expression for me.

Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.
Rumi

Abstraction is my favourite kind of expression, both for my painting and my poetry. Recently I had my poems featured in a poetry book, I’m quite pleased with myself, you can check it here.

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.
Ferdinand Foch

I always write about my feelings before starting any piece of art. I need to check what my soul needs at that moment, what is the fire, the energy igniting my creativity at that moment that I need to put out in the world.

Energy is the key to creativity. Energy is the key to life.
William Shatner

The poem below is one of my favourites when I need to express my feelings through art.

In the heat of heat
The heat is so hot
My body takes control
In the heat of heat
The heat gets so hot
My passion overloads
James Harris III

WQWWC is a challenge that I’ve recently joined, I’m loving to be part of it! Marsha is the host and the prompts are great. Check it out if you want to see nice posts or joining the challenge.

WQWWC :: Summer

June 10, 2021Photography10 Comments

“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.”
Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib

Here, in Canada, we have 9 months of cold weather, so the 3 months of summer are a dream to come true. It is time for gardening and enjoying the outdoors. I like to wake up earlier than usual, generally the birds songs do the job of take me off the bed. I run/walk by the river and parks in my neighborhood, always with my phone to take pictures of the beauty around me.

” Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.”
John Lubbock

Eating healthier is another summer thing for me. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and cutting down on the fat and sugar.

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.”
Beach time is a must too, I go south for a few days to enjoy the ocean, but not last year and not sure if it will be possible this year, we are still in lockdown.
Hope you enjoyed to hear my summer highlights and please share yours in the comments, I’d love to hear it!
Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty

WQWWC – Summer

Tanka Tuesday :: Dwindle

June 8, 2021Photography, Poetry21 Comments

daybreak
veiled gloom of light
infuses my being
in spite of the semidarkness
the rusty and the stain dwindle
when my soul craves to shine
uncertainty
regret

I’m waking up early than usual these days and walking by the river has been a kind of meditation to me, nobody is around, the sun is rising, the water is calm and clear. Sometimes I can see the fish swimming nearby the fence. I’m always attracted by the changes I see on my way. They make me reflect on certain areas of my life and water is constantly changing, so this spot in the photo is one of my favourite places to regroup my thoughts.

The words for this week are dawn and twilight, synonyms only, I’ve chosen daybreak and semidarkness. The form is a Butterfly Cinquain.