On your mark, get set…

Bridge Olympic Rings (Photo credit: Mabacam)

I was up and out early this morning, and on my drive I turned the radio to CBC. Headlines included the Premiers discussions around the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline, and the countdown to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, England. In just 5 hours much of the world will be watching in awe as London unveils what has been held secret for so long.

And, although I’m not an athlete, I couldn’t help but feel the excitement as I listened to some interviews of Londoners who have had this event in their sights for seven years. There’s something about planning, about setting your mind and heart towards the future that catches us all up, grabs our hearts. And issues of commercialism and athlete drugging aside, there’s also something pretty spectacular about the young people that dedicate their lives to being the best they can be. The training, the perseverance, the undivided eyes set on the goal… GOLD. So, we watch, we admire, we are inspired by these ones who embody something most of us can only dream of.

And in the echo of their accomplishment we hear an invitation… to be the best of who we are with the gifts we have been given.

Gifts for today,

311. how a pedestrian walk-way can be a wildlife corridor for a neighbourhood white tailed deer

312. the words and infectious attitude of Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes on CBC Radio One

Clara Hughes (Photo credit: John Biehler)

313. heart-felt greetings and farewells at airports

314. another sunny summer day, projected high of 29 C

315. Tim Hortons drive through server calling me ‘sweetie’… twice

316. Tim Hortons coffee ~ double, double

317. a peaceful porch invitation to pause and consider the naming of gifts once again

318. lime green pool float glowing in sunlight

319. bumble bees blessing Spirea blossoms

320. a bowl full of beach combed seashells

321. plans for blueberry pancakes with the kids

322. anticipating pageantry and excitement of Olympic Opening Ceremonies in just 5 hours

323. that feeling of being in a sweet sweet place, like The Flying Scotsman, Erik Liddell, winner of the men’s 400 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, who said this “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

Olympic Torch for the 2008 Summer Olympics passes through Stratford in London. Stratford will be a major location for the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Olympic torch design secrets revealed (capitalfm.co.ke)
• London set for Olympic opening ceremony (bigpondnews.com)
• Olympic torch relay inspires a new generation (examiner.com)
• Olympic torch heads towards Stratford stadium (independent.co.uk)
• A sneak peak at the London 2012 opening ceremony (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Naming one thousand gifts… day 12

196. family friendly television

197. summertime with the kids

198. time

199. preparing to go

200. two hundred good gifts from God

201. smell of waffles mid morning

202. clean bathrooms, shiny taps

203. sleepovers

204. mystery

205. sun breaking through clouds

206. remembering

Naming one thousands gifts… days 9 and 10

Albert Namatjira refuelling for a trip to Alice Springs. Ampol branding is visible on the car itself as well as the bowser. Dodge B Series pickup truck, made 1948-53. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

138. driving, eyes never tired of new things, fresh tasting the feast

139. Fishtrap Creek and other word combinations

140. ethnic diversity

141. navigation systems

142. crab traps stacked on back a pickup truck

143. ocean inlets

144. wild blackberry bloom in ditch

145. 4 exciting games, no injuries, best scores ever

146. border crossings

147. patriotism, large flags

148. all five of us in the car

149. narrow roads

150. indian paintbrush, daisies, side of interstate 5

151. good radio

152. low cloud

153. husband driving, keeping us safe, getting us there and back

154. weathered barns, clusters of buildings, outbuildings

155. sons that said yes to the journey

156. a daughter who still wants my opinion on clothes

156. American Hershey chocolate tongue melt

And the following guest gifts offered up by my observant husband who wanted to know what I was so busy writing down in my notebook as we drove through the landscape on our way…

157. architecture

158. storage sheds in yard

159. car washes

160. hot days and cold pools

161. railway dome cars

162. flat water for skiing

and back to my personal notes…

163. song lyrics

164. traffic circles organizing flow

165. ‘adopted’ highways kept clean

166. lush grass

167. strawberry fields being harvested by workers

168. ripe raspberries on the bush

More from my observant husband who appears to like this looking…

169. trim cedar hedges

170. white fences and wildflowers

and me…

171. roads without curbs

172. level railway crossings

173. old highways

174. country churches

175. picnics

176. tandem tanker truck carrying milk

177. barns full of Holsteins

178. vernacular language

179. high mountain road, rainbows, double rainbows, sunset like the sky on fire, carrying it all in our minds

Footnote to self:  And in all of these, am I truly grateful, truly receiving all as gift from an abundant, lavishly loving God? Or, am I merely taking notice and making lists? Even then, is the enjoying each for what it is and being on the lookout for more, expectant of beauty and joy and grace, proof enough of a thankful heart? And why must I complicate things with thoughts such as these?

^“Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him?” saith the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

Journeying…

Lesley-Anne

Naming one thousand gifts… day 6

81. car wash patterns of soap bubbled water

82. sharp edge silhouettes against sunset sky glow

83. kids friends hanging around, laughter wafting from other rooms

84. dark not dark at 10 pm.

85. fridge front covered with v.i.p. photographs

86. waking up to first thoughts

87. catching myself smiling

88. buying another copy of my new favourite book, waiting to see who it’s for

89. asking

90. supper prepared, served, eaten, enjoyed

91. anticipation of writing time

92. going home after

93. ospreys stand nest edge

94. muskrat v in the marsh

95. walking and talking with a friend

96. knowing all shall be well

97. fresh

Related articles

• One thousand gifts… my beginning. (buddybreathing.wordpress.com)

Naming one thousand gifts… day 5

68. sounds of new construction hammering the distance

69. Emmy dog curled up by warm rocks in watery sunlight

70. blueberry pancakes griddle brown

71. fixers… vets and docs and dentists and car mechanics

72. tired beauty of tattered curtains in empty farmhouse window

73. Eames designed lime green chair

74. God provided window of opportunity

75. amped up guitar practice next room over

76. reading on the back porch

77. leftovers

78. working out the details, making it work

79. email

80. the millisecond it took for the cyclist going the wrong way on the sidewalk to safely pass my car

Corn Griddle Cakes (Photo credit: ulterior epicure)

Posting photos on WordPress Blogs

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(I will share how to do a slideshow next post… this is just a teaser!)

My Grandfather taught me to see (and introduced me to the rest of my senses as a result)… took me around his two acre patch of paradise garden with him when I was just two years old. And, with hands clasped behind our backs, we toured he taught me Latin names of plants, and the intricate and important task of seeing by paying attention, looking, stopping, staring, considering, discussing, praising, and… wait for it… AWE. So, maybe in hindsight, my Grandfather planted in me the roots that have grown and bloomed into poetry…hmmm…I wonder.

Grandpa’s words were simple enough, “Would you look at that!.”

Anyway, part of looking for me is to capture what I see with words and, after a long time without any equipment, suddenly I have been blessed with a camera (thanks again son) which allows me yet another way to capture moments.

A good friend asked me the other day how to post big and beautiful photos on his blog… so, the primary reason for my blog today is to try to help him with that goal in mind. Posting big and beautiful, drawing attention to, capturing, looking, and yes… seeing… what surrounds us.

Step One:

Take a beautiful photograph. Ansel Adams said, “Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter…” And I believe that to be true. So, take the photo. Divine appointment click!

Step Two:

Download your photos from your camera onto your computer. In my case, I’m Mac gal, so I download/upload (always get the two mixed up!) into iPhoto.

Step Three:

Go to WordPress, prepare to post a blog just as you always do. Just under the title box you will see “Upload/Insert” and there are three icons following … 1 for Media (photos/music/video), 1 for a Poll, and 1 for Custom Form. I’ve never used the last two… but this is about the first. So, click on Media and you will arrive at a page with a little box in the middle that says, “Drop files here or select files.” I always click on select files which then takes me into iPhoto where I select and upload what I want to use.

Step Four:

So, on my computer I have a choice of four options… these are they: (oddly enough, large and full size look identical… who knew???)

Choose thumbnail

Choose medium

Choose large

Choose full size

THEN

WAY DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE YOU WILL SEE MEDIA GALLERY… that is where you will find images from the internet that are recommended relating to your topic. Here is an Ansel Adams photo because I mention him in this post. I have found these images to be helpful at times, but not very large and look a bit borrowed. You will need in each case to set your icon where you want the picture to fall in your text… and that’s all folks… !!!

English: Ansel Adams The Tetons and the Snake River (1942) Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. National Archives and Records Administration, Records of the National Park Service. (79-AAG-1) Français : Ansel Adams. Les Grands Tetons et la rivière Snake (1942). Parc National des Grands Tetons, Wyoming. Archives Nationales des USA, Archives du service des parcs nationaux. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Poetry Friday030

Things I saw while not looking

A lone robin — Spring’s ambassador —
hopping tentatively over the tired snow.

Red-wing blackbirds calling in raucous warbles
from hidden perches in the frozen marsh.

Three tundra swans banking wide white circles
in the valley below us, on our way home from school.

The sun painting my kitchen a watery yellow
through fingerprinted winter windows.

Lesley-Anne Evans
02/03/2009

Photo courtesy of Malcolm Evans

New sight

A few thoughts on ‘seeing’, inspired by my son Malcolm’s new glasses;

Malcolm’s been having headaches for over a year, and immediately we visited the MD, and the Optometrist and had his eyes tested. They were fine a year ago, but when we returned for his annual eye exam, his eyes had changed. Our friend and optometrist Dave Grimes said, “Malcolm, you need glasses.” We were surprised, Malcolm especially, because he didn’t know he needed them. He had no idea that what he saw when he looked around his world was not as it should be.

I’ve been thinking on the things that says to me, and thought I’d share those thoughts with you today;

• We sometimes don’t know our vision is blurred… Malcolm put on his new glasses and immediately said, “Wow, I can’t believe that it was that bad… now I can see details in things that I didn’t know were missing.” My son Graeme said, “But, I thought you’d know if you couldn’t see.” “Nope,” said Malcolm, “I had no idea.” Wow!

• To see means to lift your eyes from the ground or the path and look up at what surrounds you… THAT is perspective. One might have to step back a little to see the big picture, and on a regular basis. I suggest that taking time out for a mountain top view is best. For me that means a time away from everything, and a time to connect with the one with the grand vision… God.

• To continue to see properly, one has to clean one’s glasses. Malcolm does this regularly because he now knows the difference between seeing and not seeing and values his new sight. Daily cleaning is required.

• To see properly can mean the end of headaches, fatigue, frustration…Malcolm’s glasses mean no more Extra Strength Tylenol. I don’t know about you, but I can do without some of those things in my life too.

• Each person sees differently and sees different things… we are blessed by living in relationships with others that help focus our sight by sharing theirs… spouses, families, friends, work associates, faith communities can all do this for us.

• Sometimes we need to be reminded to ‘look’ because we’re human, we get our heads down and work away and forget about the beautiful view. I’m amazed at the number of verses in the Bible that say, “Look and see”, or “Lift up your head”. I need reminding. Even with glasses on, Malcolm still needs to look up.

• Often what I want is to see everything. Who do I think I am… God? Seeing in the moment is really all I can ask for. God sees the rest and takes care of it. He promised he would and he does. I need to believe that to the best of my ability.

• The message on the eye chart to the left says… (can you see it?)… “You can rarely see what is right under your nose.” but I disagree.We have a choice in this… it is within our grasp to change our vision, see clearly, look up, and see amazing things. Can you see it? I catch glimpses and find myself craving more. And the more I focus on God, the better I feel I see. That’s me… what about you?

On the path, trying to keep my eyes on the view,

Lesley-Anne