365 Days

The sun rising - viewed through my window.
Actually I started just after the new year but I have posted more than 365 photos. Here are a few statistics.
I have had almost 5000 visits to my blog (that one shocked me).
Official count from ClusterMaps

Statistics updated 31 Dec 2009@09:16GMT: 4,962 visits
Total since 7 Jan 2009: 4,962.

That includes visits from 6 continents (none from Antarctica!) and hits from over 70 countries. I imagine many were surprised by what they found - not at all what they were looking for.

My photos on Flickr have been viewed over 8000 times.

A photo I took at the request of Tim for his brother's 50th birthday has been visited over 700 times!

I have had comments on almost all my posts - most from my wonderfully supportive followers whose input certainly kept me going.

Some comments that I received included:
I posted a photograph of a stained glass piece from my house - I had a note from the artist's son.
I posted photograph of the Hurtubise House - a had a note from someone who said her aunt was involved in saving the house from demolition.
I posted a photograph of the Russel dry bridge - I was contacted by CBC who wanted to use the photograph in a documentary - I didn't see it - but understand I got credit for it.

But those are just the statistics - I have connected with other photographers / bloggers and have so enjoyed visiting their blogs, learning from them and with them. Can I stop this? Not a chance - I'll continue, with less intensity, but the photographs and stories will keep coming.

And now - I'll go downstairs and lift a glass to the year that is passing - to the incredible trip this photo journey has been, to the virtual friends I have made. Then on to the future and the next leg of the journey.

Day 364: The Forum

Day 365: The Forum, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Once the home of the famed "Canadiens" the old Montreal forum has been transformed. It houses a multiplex movie theatre, shops, restaurants and sports bars. Little remains of the original structure. Scattered here and there are some of the original seats reminding us of what was once there.

So much of our past has been torn down to make way for the new. It is nice when buildings are put to new uses. This is not one of the more successful transformations as there is not much to remind us of what was here before. The exterior is changed as has the interior. No echoes of its former glory; I find this new rendition soul-less.

Day 363: Fabric

Day 363: Fabric, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Back to Aux Délices for more food and friendship. We stopped in at Maison Calico which is attached to the cafe (it's actually the cafe that is attached to the old building which houses the quilt shop. I love the many colours, shades and patterns on the fabric.

The building itself is over 250 years old. It once served as an inn. The broad wood floors creak a bit, reminding us of their age. It is fittting that this old building houses a craft that was so prevalent at the time of its construction. Quilting was a time for women to gather together to share their stories and their lives. The building still brings people together, for food, for quilting, for connections.

Day 362: Lonely Bench

Day 362: Lonely Bench, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The cold air has chased away the bench sitters. Even the homeless search for warmer spots to rest. No more lunch time tete-a-tetes over a sandwich while the birds hover hoping for crumbs. No more stopping to catch a few minutes of sunshine. This bench sits, snow-covered waiting for spring.

Day 361: Relaxing

Day 361: Relaxing, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A favourite for an evening of relaxation is to do the crossword (NY Times Sunday crossword a week later in our newspaper). My spouse and I sit down, pencil sharpened. We zigzag around, finding the clues that we can easily solve and then go back to try and fill in the blank spots. I admit we resort to help at times. My laptop comes to the rescue as we check out a few answers (neither of us are up on popular culture, so help is sometimes essential). Years ago I used to haul out dictionaries, atlases, whatever I needed. Now the Internet makes life so much easier.

We solved this week's without too much intervention and solved some of the other puzzles on the page. Neither of us feels ready to tackle the cryptic crossword. Our minds just don't seem to work the way the puzzle writer's does.

Day 360: Icicles

Day 360: Icicles, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Freeze and thaw - so typical of Montreal winters, causing havoc on the roads as water enters the cracks and pries them open as it freezes. My icicles come and go as the water drips and freezes. Then all comes crashing down when the thaws take hold.

As a child we delighted in breaking off icicles and sucking on them. Now, in our sanitized society we think only of the possibilities for transmission of dirt and disease. Sometimes I think we overfill ourselves with fears of strangers, of answering doors, or dirt, of viruses. I will try to recapture the carefree feeling of childhood when possibilities were to be explored not avoided.

Day 359: Christmas Lights

Day 359: Christmas Lights, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Lights, lights everywhere. Chasing away the winter's darkness. They flicker, they shine. Web-like they wrap around trees. They herald the Christmas season - a time that speaks of peace.

If only... we could each be a little more aware of those around us who have less, we could think beyond our own borders, whether those borders surround our neighbourhood, our city, or our country. Peace comes when all have what they need - food, water, shelter, health care, education and possibilities. I've given two microloans to Kiva to help people trying to be self-reliant. It is but a small gesture. But many small gestures together become big. Just ask Greg Mortenson who collects pennies for the schools he is building and staffing in remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. May we all find ways to make this a more peaceful world. Merry Christmas.

Day 358: The Market

Day 358: The Market, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Atwater Market the day before Christmas was a bustling place. I, too, was getting my last minute delicacies for the holiday table. I had already been to Les Délices du Marché earlier in the week. There you can find any kind of oil, vinegar, spice, rice, you name it. It is owned by a couple of men who always have a smile and a suggestion of what to buy. My first stop this time was to the Fromagerie du Marché Atwater. My spouse eats a lot of goat cheese and I stocked up on some new varieties from creamy, flavourful to a hard, cheddar. Here too, service is friendly and informative. I don't know how they can know so much about so many cheeses.

I next went to the organic butcher for a turkey. The upstairs of the market is lined with butcher shops, some with meat, others with many varieties of sausages. I had already filled my refrigerator with vegetables, but made a stop at one of the flower stalls - two bright red cyclamen to liven up the table.

Finally a stop at the liquor store for just the right wine to go with the turkey.

I don't know why shopping at the market doesn't feel like work, but shopping at a supermarket does. Perhaps it is the fact that you actually deal with people who help with decisions, who remember you from previous visits and who greet you with a smile. Perhaps it is the variety of colours and possibilities - no rows of similar boxes with prepackaged foods. Or maybe it is the constant seasonal changes. Whatever, I smile as I go through the market, enjoying the atmosphere.

Day 357: Dancing Lights

Day 357: Dancing Lights, originally uploaded by susanvg.

On my way home from a many stop shopping trip I noticed this home with its Christmas lights. It seemed like the epitome of peace. When I uploaded the photo I saw all the reflected splotches dancing off my car windshield. They seemed to match my bleary eyes. I've come down with a cold. Aside from an evening of dozing cuddled up with my cats (always an excellent remedy for whatever ails you) and regular doses of ColdFX, I refuse to give in. So with wads of tissues filling my purse, I'll go out and finish the holiday preparations.

Day 356: White on White

Day 356: White on White, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Snow covers rooftops like marshmallow frosting turning this suburban area into a vanilla town. So many houses here have white or cream coloured siding - homes that were erected all at the same time. I'm a city girl. I love the diverse architecture found in a city as the decades wrote their stories on the buildings. Here in Casselman there is little diversity, not in the homes and not in the inhabitants.

I spend time here because my spouse works in Ottawa and as this is part way to Montreal he rented a place here so our travel time is cut down. Finding something to photograph here is often a challenge as the landmarks are those of anywhere in Canada - Macdonald's, Tim Horton's and Canadian Tire. Some small towns have a unique look; they have preserved the flavour of their beginnings. While there are some buildings that date back to other times, most in Casselman are of this homogenized architecture providing homes with little personality.

Day 355: Caroller

Day 355: Caroller, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I love to go to the market any time of year. Each season has its charms. In spring it overflows with flowers for planting. The riot of colours and variety of flowers always make me linger longer. In summer the local produce appears with mouth-watering possibilities. Refreshing offerings to compliment the heat of summer. Autumn brings still more treasures. Pumpkins piled high in every shade of orange and barrels of apples of every variety.

And now, with Christmas almost here, there are stands of trees "growing" out of the snow. The air is scented like an evergreen forest. Poinsettias, wreaths and boughs are available to bring the festive feel to any home. And these whimsical characters add a touch of humour, reminding us that this is a time for joy and laughter.

Day 354: Marché de Noël

Day 354: Marché de Noël, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Flutissimo played another concert, this time in Vieux Longueuil as part of the Marché de Noël. Little cabins surround Parc St-Marc, housing stalls selling all variety of crafts from food to toys to other gift items. It's nice to see the unique items - not the mass-produced "Made in China" items found in most stores.

There is a variety of festivities which take place both outdoors and indoors from dancing to train rides for children to concerts. This is patterned on an open air Christmas market which is held each year in Strasbourg, France. It can be quite cold, but there were small fireplaces set up where people could warm themselves. Looked like fun, but I was lugging all my instruments, so there was no time to really look around.

Day 352: Frosty Ferns

Day 352: Frosty Ferns, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A cold snap. Once more my window is painted with feathery ferns. Nature, the artist, delights with her ephemeral creations. The crisp air outside holds little moisture. The snow squeaks as I walk. Icy weather brings bright blue skies drawn on by the chimneys' smoky breath.

Day 351: Inuit Sculpture

Day 351: Inuit Sculpture, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The Copenhagen talks are going on about climate change. Politicians are haggling about carbon credits. Instead of taking a leading role, our prime minister prefers to be a follower, reducing targets to those of the US to accommodate the oil sands - the dirtiest process for extracting oil.

This is an Inuit sculpture of a polar bear. How long will these majestic creatures be able to exist if the arctic seas open up? How long will the Inuit people be able to live in the lifestyle of their ancestors?

I had a tshirt which had the Native American proverb, ""We do not inherit the earth from out parents. We borrow it from our children." printed on it. We are stealing our children's future by making decisions based on short term gain - propping up the economy. What kind of Earth will we be giving our children?

We cannot wait to act. Each and every one of us has to be willing to change our lifestyles, even if in only small ways, to become better caretakers of the Earth so we can look honestly in our children's eyes and say that we have cherished and nurtured the planet they entrusted us with.

Day 350: Place Ville Marie

Day 350: Place Ville Marie, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Place Ville Marie, built in a cruciform shape is Montreal's first really tall building, and the first to build an underground shopping mall. Now the downtown buildings and malls are connected through underground passageways. This is particularly appreciated when the mercury dips down and the winds crank up.

I walked about ten minutes from my house to the nearest metro station. From there I was able to take the metro to Bonaventure and walked underground to Place du Canada where I had a meeting. I chose to walk outside to my next destination (hence the photograph), but could have walked the few blocks to Place Ville Marie underground. There are over 30 km (20 mi) of climate-controlled tunnels - bright, often lined with shops - so that weather does not have to limit shoppers, movie-goers, museum lovers, diners.... I still prefer the above ground routes, but have appreciated this underground alternative on many occasions.

For a map of the Underground City

Day 349: Not a Poinsettia

Day 349: Not a Poinsettia, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I love to look closely at flowers. The incredible detail fascinates me and I start to wonder why they have evolved the way they have. This gerbera seems to have a bull's eye, letting insects know exactly where to come to collect its pollen. It is the vibrant colours that make gerbera so spectacular.

When I photograph flowers, I often think of Georgia O'Keefe's paintings. Her flowers were so sensual and intimate and often full of passion. I can only capture what I see; she could capture the emotional component too.

Day 348: Meeting Friends

Day 348: Meeting Friends, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Sometimes we get so caught up in work and the myriad of things to do in our lives we forget to set aside time for friends. A colleague and two former colleagues of mine have made a point of meeting a few times a year for lunch as friends. Today we met in Aux Délices, a small restaurant located in a building over 250 years old.

I first discovered this building when I had gone to Pointe Claire Village and, being early for an appointment, wandered around. My eye caught sight of a quilt in the window all blues, purples and turquoise - truly magnificent. I had to go in and look more closely. The building housed a quilting store with fabrics on the main level and room for classes upstairs. I enrolled in a quilting class and learned to painstakingly create templates, trace them onto fabric, cut and then piece the shapes together to create a sampler of quilt squares. I naively planned for a queen-sized quilt for my daughter. Five years later I still have the 15 squares I made, waiting to be pieced together. I keep planning to get back to it, but....

I used to say that about friends. When I have time we'll get together. But as I get older, I realize you have to carve out time for what is important. And there is nothing more important than people. My friends and I have already planned our next meeting, this time a supper. Together we piece together the fabrics of our lives and sew our lives together in a friendship quilt.

Day 347: Winter Lights

Day 347: Winter Lights, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I played a concert in a museum that used to be a church - an interesting conversion. Snow had started falling as we went in and when we came out the magic was complete. It was really a winter wonderland with Christmas lights dancing on the snow.

There is silence in a snowy world as the sound gets muffled. There is nothing quite like a walk on a snowy evening; the world is pristine and everything sparkles.

Day 346: Holiday of Lights

Day 346: Holiday of Lights, originally uploaded by susanvg.

As the days get shorter and darkness comes early, I crave light. I don't think it is a coincidence that so many religions have festivals / holidays that embrace light as part of the festivities. While I appreciate the historical symbolism of the lights on the menorah, I also appreciate the warm glow the candles cast.

Hannukah commemorates the retaking of the temple from the Assyrians after years of subjugation and then the resanctifying of the space. As the story goes, there was only enough oil to burn for one day, but it burned for eight giving the Jews enough time to make new oil. To me it is also a celebration of the freedom of worship, to allow diversity in religious practices, or for that matter, to practice no religion. What is important that one way is not imposed on others. So whatever holiday you celebrate: Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, or no holiday, find warmth in the lights of the season and in the friends and family who gather with you.

Day 345: Flash

Day 345: Flash, originally uploaded by susanvg.

There are days when you just know you are not going to get that photo or find that story. I have a large mirror which the sunlight hits in the afternoon sending rainbows off its bevelled edges.I liked the way this one seemed to streak out of the radiator like a flash of lightning.
I admire Sheherezade ever more with her ability to weave her stories each night for 1001 nights. Now she had strong motivation; my motivation to photograph and write is self-imposed. I suppose the flashes of ideas would be fleshed out and the need to find suitable subjects would push me no matter how tired I was if I were under the threat of execution.