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Category Archives: Personal

Monday, January 20, 2020

Kayla and Mark

My cousin Kayla… I used to look after her when she was really little. And the thing that stood out to me the most, even back then, was how brave she was. She would fearlessly jump off of things. She was a little fireball of happy energy. And really, nothing has changed. This girl knows how to live a full life. When she’s not working as an ER nurse, she’s fighting forest fires or giving her time and expertise to Search and Rescue. Or she’s traveling to far away countries to help the most vulnerable. Basically, she handles everyone else’s catastrophes. Last year, when she suffered a major health setback (due to a tree falling on her) she decided that she needed a goal to get her through this difficult time.. her plan was to climb Mount Kilimanjaro by year’s end. And she did it! But she didn’t do it alone.. in fact, she doesn’t do most of these things alone. Right by her side is this amazing guy, who works alongside her, and climbs up mountains with her and understands her better than almost anyone… and probably makes her laugh… I know he makes me laugh! In fact, I couldn’t stop laughing through this entire photo session! These two have something ultra special. And I couldn’t be happier for both of them.. for finding each other and building a crazy adventurous life together. Oh, the stories they will tell their grandkids. Congratulations, Kayla and Mark, on your engagement. You awe and inspire me to reach for the things I really want… even the scary things. Much love to you both. xo

Friday, April 14, 2017

Nesting

It appears as though my easter egg hunt has already begun! They are not of the sugary or chocolate variety.. but can these count? I did hunt for them…. although, I won’t tell you where I found them. No birds were harmed in the making of this photograph. *wink* Although, a little boy was curious and observant as his mother let me borrow his beloved swing for a few minutes. And what a delicious swing.. it hangs from a tree in the corner of their yard, nestled right up against the sidewalk. It has been there so long, the lichen can’t tell the swing from the tree anymore! It’s just sublime. The child in me wanted to run barefoot across their lawn and swing so high as to see over the treetops! There must be something in the spring air that infuses one with a sense of earthly delight and sweet nostalgia. And just wait until the lilacs come out…

2 comments

Gyneth Turner - Now I want to go play outside! Thanks Jaime!ReplyCancel
Alison - Oh, so wonderful! I love it!!!ReplyCancel

Friday, April 7, 2017

So Good to See You Again

There’s this one little magnolia tree in Oak Bay that I visit every spring. It is remarkable because the tree itself is quite small… But the flowers that bloom, once they open completely, are almost the size of volleyballs! How can those wee, delicate branches hold up so much beauty? This year, I was a little early… because last year I was a little late. Magnolias are a fleeting phenomenon, it seems. They bud and bloom into perfect exquisiteness and then they are gone in a matter of days. So it’s hard to time it just right, especially when I don’t live in the area. But I just can’t get over this tree. It’s one of those things I wait for all year and savour it all the more because it’s a once a year event… like tasting fresh berries in June, or spotting that first house to turn on the Christmas lights. Oh, and the baby lambs that leap and twist in the daffodil fields. And the insulating quiet of winter’s first snowfall. It’s a different kind of quiet, isn’t it? … I could go on and on. There’s something reassuring about the cyclical nature of things, and the looking forward to those things that manifest in their own time. All is well in the world when this little tree expresses its love for spring. And once the petals fall, I know I will be back in twelve months to take it all in once again.

3 comments

Gyneth - I love magnolia blossoms! Thanks Jaime, I needed a little reminder about the beauty of springtime renewal, and savouring the gifts of the season!ReplyCancel
Sarah - Beautiful colors, so soft. I had a magnolia bush in the yard where I grew up. I wonder if my parents still have it…ReplyCancel
Dawne - Beautiful shots and words honey…can’t figure out if your a better photographer or writer both your talents leave me breathless….xxoooReplyCancel

Friday, January 20, 2017

Where the Wild Things Are

I feel a constant pull… there is a place on this planet that draws me in like a very strong magnet. It’s always there, though sometimes I feel it more prominently than other times. I wander up to Long Beach any time I am given the opportunity…. but this time I went alone. I have never done that before. And now that I have experienced that kind of exquisite solitude, the pull has only become stronger. I know now that solo trips to Tofino will become a yearly ritual. I stood in the incoming tide until my boots filled with the sudden rush of seawater. I listened to the deep breathing of the breaking waves. I felt the thundering vibration of a large swell colliding with the rocky shoreline and inhaled the salty misty air. I was moved to tears as I felt the power of this place. As I took in the rugged beauty all around me, I felt at times that there was nowhere I would rather be than in that exact spot in place and time… my feet sinking deeper into the wet sand, my eye drawn to the way the winter sun illuminated the layers of rolling surf in a gentle glow. Although, the west coast in winter is anything but gentle. It’s my favourite place. It’s where a part of my soul stays behind and waits for my return. I came home only four days ago, and I’m already thinking about my next trip.

2 comments

Kathryn - Incredibly special, I felt every ounce of this post.ReplyCancel
Dawne - Beautiful shots honey…I think the crow (first one is my fav…but not sure) i can hear the surf on the Wickaninnish open Ocean shot.. row of sand dollars very sweet and the lone sandpiper…..love it all. Good work for the show too. xoxoReplyCancel

Friday, January 6, 2017

Halley and Havoc

This is my beautiful cousin Halley and her magnificent best friend, Havoc. He’s actually not as much Great Dane as he is a small horse. But despite his name, he’s actually quite remarkable. Graceful even. Halley brought him up to spend Christmas with us at the old ski chalet, and even though the main floor was usually crowded with people and tables and other various pieces of furniture, I watched as he seemed to glide right through it all without knocking a single thing over. He’s a big dog who seems to know where he is in space… and he handles tight spaces with surprising ease! He even ventured under the Christmas tree a few times to find an alternate route through the chaos.. and not one ornament fell from that tree! Even more remarkable… he was at nose level with the appie and food table, and though I know he was tempted to steal a quick bite, he never touched a morsel! I don’t know, Halley… he doesn’t seem to raise havoc.. he raises a lot of eyebrows though, I bet. When he is around me, I can’t seem to take my eyes off of him. He’s just so huge! Huge and graceful. And patient with us as we Christmassed him up for photos.

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Christmas at Manning

It was a Christmas my family will never forget… although most of us would prefer to forget it. The setting was so perfect… a rustic old ski chalet in the mountains, nestled amongst towering firs and deep snow. A winter wonderland. A most magical Christmas setting. We all arrived in the evening, and came together with such love.. hugs and laughter and togetherness. On the first day, many took a trip up the ski hill to ride the slopes while I stayed back and worked on a project. I knitted a tiny scarf, and made a little toque and set out with my cousin Halley to make a mini snowman. I took pictures of the sugar frosted beauty around me, as well as a few pics of my sweet little snow-nymph nieces. All was well.. until later that evening. One by one, seemingly by the hour, my family members started falling ill with a violent and aggressive flu… within 24 hours, almost everyone was down. All night, the house was like an angry bee hive… it felt surreal as I listened with angst behind my closed door. Those who didn’t get it that first night, were hit the following day with a lesser form of the bug. I was one of those lucky few who had only mild symptoms. But I have to say, even though it was hard to watch my loved ones in such a vulnerable state, there was beauty in the madness. One incredible person, (we all know who you are, Z) who had already dealt with this bug, stayed up all night and took such loving care of everyone.. moving from room to room giving fluids and medicine and comfort to anyone who needed it. He didn’t sleep a wink that night, and went so far as to help get my frail grandmother out of that house in the wee hours of the morning to protect her from the storm. In the end, 26 out of 29 people experienced some form of this flu. Thank goodness, it was a 24 hour bug, and by Christmas night, most were up and back to their cheery selves. It was beautiful to see everyone come together again, hugging each other, checking in to make sure everyone was ok, sharing stories of their ordeal. We weren’t going to let a bug take away everything… we closed the night with a fun round of secret santa, and let off fireworks in the cold clear night sky. We left the next day a little battle-weary, but with a deeper awareness of how much love and caring there is amongst us. So perhaps we might like to forget some of the ugly parts… but I think we will still hold close the beauty of being together.

1 comment

Lisa - Oh goodness! Trust you to find a positive side to a challenging situation. All the best for 2017!ReplyCancel

Friday, October 28, 2016

Creatures of the Forest Floor

Mysterious little beings, they are… mushrooms. They seem to secretly sprout from the ground under the cover of fallen leaf, seemingly overnight. Then they pop open like miniature umbrellas providing a rainy day respite for tiny creatures that dwell in the moss. I sometimes wish I was small enough to stand under one. Within days, they flare out and then implode… and just like that, they are gone. I feel like a child who has discovered a hidden easter egg when I find one. They are one of my favourite subjects to capture in nature. My macro lens helps me suspend my disbelief as it reveals to me a bug’s eye view and makes me forget temporarily that I am a giant in this realm, dwarfed only by the trees. Tiny toadstools… spore-shooters… conjurors of fairy ring. I am enchanted and forever fascinated by them.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Autumn, I Will Sing You a Love Song

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Is it just me, or does fall seem shorter than the other seasons? It seems to flutter in like a restless leaf before it detaches from the branch, and then it blows out in a November storm, headed straight into the arms of winter. (But let’s not talk of November just yet…) Maybe it’s because I love it so, that it feels so fleeting. I mean, what’s not to love? Tea tastes better when the warmth of the mug snuggles up to cold hands. And what about the delicious crunch of leaves underfoot, or the even more delicious taste of apple crisp with a healthy dollop of vanilla ice cream melting on top? Sweaters and boots feel like warm hugs to the body. And who can resist the excitement of an approaching wind storm or the more gentle lull of raindrops on the windowpane as we drift into sleep? Each season has its own sensory delights that make us feel comforted and nostalgic.. but there’s something about fall that makes me wish it lasted twice as long.

Monday, January 25, 2016

A New Blog ~ And Some Snow!

I’m very excited to have a shiny sparkling new website for my little photography business. And with a new site comes a new blog! I thought I would open this new blog space with some pictures I took of my family (mostly my nieces) this past Christmas. We played in the snow and walked on a beautiful frozen lake. I have to admit though, it was a little unsettling when I heard the ice crackle beneath my feet, but I was reassured that the ice was very thick and the crackling was just warm surface ice. I’m still here to tell the tale, so all went well… even when we all stood in one spot for a group family photo… we didn’t sink!

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