Day 31- Finale

I can hardly believe January is gone already! 

Since I started photographing more seriously, I have noticed that I am always scanning my surroundings for stuff  that needs to be photographed, so in that way I have been mindful for quite a while. But the added depth of writing something down too has been an amazing journey. I was invited to join The River Of Stones by Laura Hegfield at Creativity IS a Spiritual Practice, and I will be forever grateful that she sent me that invitation. (I recommend that you check out her blog as it is so wonderful!) 

I have met new bloggers with brilliant blogs, and I have had so many kind and wonderful comments on my small stones. Thank you so much, all of you!

I am writing this in the lobby of the W Hotel in Barcelona, Spain. This hotel is so visually amazing that I could write many small stones here, but not now. In a few minutes we will grab a taxi and board the MSC Fantasia. For the next 11 days I won't have much internet access, and I haven't for the last 3 days either, so there are some blogs that I am not up to date on commenting on. I'll get back to you :-) 

A small stone for:

Day 30 - Because I deserve it?

30 000 feet below me people are living and working, going about their daily lives. I sit here, 30 000 feet above them, grateful that for the next 14 days my life will be one without the daily mundanety. I will have all my food prepared and served me. No dirty dishes, no cleaning up, no laundry. My towels will be changed twice daily. My bed will be made every morning, and turned down every night. If I want, I can have my food in bed, or I can go to a top restaurant and choose freely from a menu without prices. I will be entertained every night. I will be sleeping my way to exotic destinations in the comfort of my bed. 

I will be the victim of total luxurious relaxation.

I'm going on a cruise. 

Because I deserve it? 

I choose to think that I do.

A small stone for:

Day 29 - Pluto, the Cat

Pluto, a black and white farm cat, performing his balancing act on the balcony railing, high above the ground. Secure in his own ability to remain steady on the narrow ledge, he keeps a vigilant eye on his kingdom. I feel contentment in the knowledge that he is not mine. Cats make me sneeze.

A small stone for:

Day 28 - Reflected Object

While walking onboard a ferry, I noticed this thing in the water. I just caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye, and my curiosity was triggered. So much that I had to stop and snap a shot of it. I have no idea what it is, or what purpose it has. 

I just liked it. 

The contrasts; one lit side and one shadow side. Hard coarse metal against soft shiny water. Straight lines reflected slightly distorted. Rustic brown against shades of blue, and the darker color of the reflection. I just liked it. 

A small stone for:

Day 27 - Rescued

A pair of black jeans. Old, worn, and faded, but otherwise in good shape. Just a bit frayed along the edges. A bit like me, really... They are comfortable, and fit me so well. Far too good for the bin, or even the thrift store. They just don't look good any more. So I rehem them, on my trusty old sewing machine that has served me so well since 1977. Then a cycle in the washing machine with some black dye, and they'll be as good as new! 

A small stone for:

Day 26 - Another Day, Another Storm

A cacophony of noise.

Fierce winds howling around the house corner.

Trees screaming at the top of their voices.

Creaking and moaning sounds from the house. 

Humming heaters working overtime to keep us warm. 

Nothing unusual, just the latest of
a long row of storms this winter.

A small stone for:

Day 25 - Soaking

I soak in the hot, fragrant water, 

surrounded by candles,

a book and a glass of red wine at hand. 

Thank God for my new bath tub; 

it's so messy to read and drink in the shower!

A small stone for:

Day 24 - The Blue Hour

After a day with glorious sunshine, the sunset was concealed by a bank of fog on the horizon. For a while there was nothing spectacular going on. But then, during the blue hour, the time between sunset and complete darkness, the sky lit up in colored stripes, from the palest yellow to gold, orange and purple, fading into the deep blueness. For a while the sky glowed, and then it gave in to the absence of light.

A small stone for:

Skywatch Friday, Season 5, Episode 29

Himmelsk #69

Ein Stück Himmel #4

Day 23 - Trauma

I sit in this chair, concentrating, breathing in and out to the iPod music in my ears. The prick of a syringe leaves a numbing sensation, and the trauma starts. There is no pain, but my fear of potential pain is overwhelming. Even with the tranquilizers and the anesthesia, my back arches, my feet tremble, my shoulders are up to my ears. I have to really concentrate and remind myself to relax, to breathe and to listen to the music. I hate going to the dentist, but it is truly a moment of total awareness. 

* * * * *

I have no photo from this because my eyes are squeezed shut from the moment I sit down until I leave. And anyway, who thinks of taking pictures at the dentist's office?? But I do have this; it's my jewelry drill with a genuine dentist's drill bit. When a drill bit is too blunt for tooth enamel, it still has a lot of life in it for texturing silver. So instead of throwing them away, my dentist disinfects them and collects them for me :-)

A small stone for:

Day 22 - Transition

Light filters through my curtains, I rise up and watch the morning sun paint the sky pink. Chirping birds are at the feeder. As the night transitions into day, these moments in silence give me energy.

A small stone for:

Saturday Sareenity #3

Day 21 - Icing Sugar

A light snow fall, like a dusting of icing sugar, has turned my immediate world into a fairy tale land. Each branch and each twig is covered, each tree weighed down, even under this gentle load. As I drive among the trees, a draft sends some of the fine powder drifting softly down onto my windshield.

A small stone for:

Day 20 - A Breathtaking Event

The windy force of nature hits me in the back, continues past me and sweeps over the landscape. Rain mixes with the wind and together they create a breathtaking event.

A small stone for:

Day 19 - Orange raincoat

A ferry crew member in an orange raincoat leans against a railing while operating the docking mechanism. I wait for him to finish, and then I drive off into the night.

A small stone for:

Day 18 - Morning Routine

Measuring out the coffee, adding the sweetener, pouring the hot water, stirring. Adding the cream. Looking out of the window at nothing in particular. All parts of a morning routine.

The day has started.

A small stone for:

Day 17 - Cloud Puddle

Is this what it would look like if a giant 

celestial baby jumped in a cloud puddle?

My small stone for:

Day 16 - Tiny wings

Tiny wings, flying to and from the feeder, always on guard. Picking a seed, looking around. Repeating. Suddenly, a sense of insecurity? Flying off with the next seed to enjoy it in the shelter of a nearby tree. Staying out of sight for a while. Coming back, repeating. Hungry all day.

A small stone for:

Day 15 - Blurry

I looked out of the window this morning, before I put in my contacts. The familiar view looked so different. Blurry, distorted, one shape gliding into the next. Unclear outlines, filled in, like with spray paint, no details. The gloomy sky added to the dimness. 

Of course, curiosity soon got the better of me, 

I had to see if everything was normal.

Isn't it wonderful that 

the camera can focus even when I can't?  :-)

A small stone for:

Day 14 - Travel dreams

Cheerful bright colors. City maps, country maps, far away continents, history. Planning where to go, what to do, how to get there, when to go, facts. Folklore, nightlife, wining and dining, museums, parks. Travel tips from experienced travelers, guides to foreign cultures, introductions to exotic languages, useful expressions. Promises of future travels, mementos of past journeys, treasured possessions. 

Page turners.

These are just a few of my travel guide books,
and I have been to all these places. Lucky me! :-)

A small stone for:

Day 13 - Mother-Of-Pearl Clouds

On this rare day, 

when I had dragged myself out of bed 

long before dawn,

I glanced up into the sky

and was left awestruck. 

Shimmering, iridescent patches.

Oil spills? 

Rainbow splashes? 

A color carnival?

Fireworks?

I have seen pictures of this phenomenon,

but never seen it myself.

Mother-of-pearl clouds.

A privilege to observe such a rare occurrence. 

What a way to start the day!

A small stone for:

(Nacreous clouds also known as Mother-Of-Pearl clouds, are rare cloud formations which are composed of ice crystals and form when temperatures are well below the ice frost point which is typically below -83C. The only place where these tempatures exist is in the stratosphere, some 20km (6 miles) above the surface. They are so bright after sunset and before dawn because at those heights they are still sunlit.)

Day 12 - Late Dinner

My late dinner,

lovingly made by my husband.

Colorful,

and full of flavors. 

Seafood, which I love, 

and vegetables.

Juicy, plump pieces

of onions, peppers and leeks,

stir fried,

in real butter.

Spices,

playing on my tongue.

A small stone for:

Day 11 - Gratitude

Today, while doing other chores, I suddenly realized it was time to clean out the lint traps of both my washer and dryer - again. Mundane, boring, but it had to be done. 

As I got on with it, 

I started to feel 

contentment, 

satisfaction 

and 

gratitude. 

I was grateful for  the luxury of having an indoor, automatic washing machine, and a tumble dryer. It's a luxury so many women in the world don't have, and I take them totally for granted. 

So I continued to clean my appliances with loving care. 

Grateful for having them serve me and my family so well. For doing a job that would otherwise take up a lot of time, time I can spend with my loved ones instead. 

Grateful for the ease with which my laundry is done. Sending a thought to those who have to do this job manually, by a river.  

Grateful that my hands are strong and able to wring out a cleaning cloth. Another thing I take for granted.

I finished off the job, and put on a new load of laundry. I made myself a coffee, feeling I deserved a break; one more luxury so many don't have, and went to the computer to write this down.

In doing so, feelings of satisfaction and contentment 

came and joined hands with gratitude.

Satisfaction for a task finished, 

contentment for a job well done, 

and gratitude for my life.

My small stone for: