Thomas Merton. Wise!

I am currently reading Thomas Merton's "No Man Is An Island". The way he phrases the most simplest of ideas is so incredibly beautiful. They stop me in brief, fragments of time...pondering about how effective I am as a person, how loving I am, and how forgiving I've become. The following is one of my favourite clusters of sentences thus far (even though I'm not very deep into the book yet!): "If He (God) is good, and if my intelligence is His gift, then I must show my trust in His goodness by making use of my intelligence. I must let faith elevate, heal, and transform the light of my mind. If He is merciful, and if my freedom is a gift of His mercy, I must show my trust in His mercy by making use of my free will. I must let hope and charity purify and strengthen my human liberty and raise me to the glorious autonomy of a son of God."

There's quite a lot to tug at in your soul after digesting some of the stuff he writes. Too good.

AND too much thinking at 1:26 AM! Wow. But all this thinking has been fruitful (it produced my second post within one week!) Progress!

Go to sleep, Anna.

Dumpster Diving in Winnipeg (Pt. 1)

A couple of weeks ago my roomie and I found this magnificent drawer-less dresser next to an alley dumpster here in Wolseley. We proceeded to drag/push it all the way back to our apartment, and hauled it up a flight of stairs. The icy Westminster sidewalks made for perfect sliding conditions, although it scuffed up the beautiful burgundy paint quite intensely! I actually like it better this way. Since the poor thing is missing its drawers...I may convert it into a nice writing desk, which will make a lovely perch for my sweet desk lamp I found at a nearby Salvation Army thrift shop. Finding treasures in other's discard can be an extremely satisfying way of recycling. Why buy new when, clearly, dumpsters may hold a plethora of awesome finds... We've actually furnished our entire apartment thus far on maybe $20? Not bad. I believe if you humbly receive when others offer, gladly give away when others need it the most, you'll more than likely feel very taken care of. It blows my mind how little we can actually live on. I don't mean starving ourselves in pursuit of "self-denial" or anything, I just mean we don't need a lot of "stuff". Yes, it's nice to feel cozy and warm in your home, making it your own and such, but, let's all just take a look at what we have. Appreciate it. Know that another person had to make it (most likely for a disturbingly low wage). Take care of what you have. Sweep your floors, make your bed, do the dishes, clean your toilet...because if you're reading this right now, you are probably pretty blessed!

Also, here is a little J. Tillman for your soul on this cold, winter's night. His vocal chords of smooth, dark chocolate washed down with a rich Carménère, make the cold hours here somewhat less...uh...COLD. He is my new favourite. Enjoy!

Warming Huts!

I'm so excited to see these at The Forks!

Winterpeg? Not really...

When moving to a new city, reality usually sets in once you keep forgetting what your new postal code is every time someone asks...even if all you need is a new library card. Also, for me, reality in Winnipeg is knowing all but two people here, both of them being my room mates, and not yet experiencing the -40 degree weather like I assumed I would. Reality for me in Winnipeg is the little "surprise!" in the unexpected...it's the strangely mild temperatures, the subtle charm of this little neighbourhood that I find myself in, and the bagpiping landlord living beneath us! I live in Wolseley, where the trees grow tall and the houses have years of stories hidden inside of them... I live here, in this little quaint house: Ummm...not the best photograph ever. Night shots are not always the best, especially when daylight here in Winnipeg is quite beautiful, with its shiny snow and frost covered branches... I said to myself that I wouldn't apologize for things so much in 2010, but I'm really sorry about my poopy, shakey point-and-shoot Sony Cybershot camera. It's my only means of photography at the moment since my Nikon is at home in Ontario with my mom, and I won't get it back until April. Soooo...Cybershot. Basically, the scorching heat of India '07 screwed up the view finder, so I don't really know what I'm capturing until I see the uploads (haha!) I blindly aim, point, shoot (and hope for the best). Really, I am grateful for at least having a camera with me here. Really, I am...but I miss you, Nikon... This winter may be a little long without you.

WHIM vs WINDS of Time!

Good-bye, y'all. Tomorrow I board a Greyhound westward to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where I'll start an entirely new life! *GASP*! So far I have a place to live, along with a small, and instant, community. Beyond that...I have no idea! However, I do know that today's weather forecast for Winnipeg had me all tickled and excited... -22 degrees with the wind chill at -36...uhhhhhhhhh....(WOOLEN EVERYTHING!!!) At least I have a wicked wool cowl that my sister-in-law knitted just for me.

What will 2010 bring to YOU, my friend? Huh? Huh? (Please note: I'm writing this silly blog post at pretty much 3am, hyped up on black, honest-to-goodness fair trade coffee because I still need to stuff the good 'ol Woods pack with warm sweaters and long johns for the Winterpeg ahead!)

Panama!

World Nomads...

I was shortlisted for the World Nomad Travel Photography Scholarship to Antarctica! Uhhh...this doesn't mean I won. I wish. But I surfaced to the top 30, which means that the dude from National Geographic reviewed my portfolio! The title of this blog links to the site...scroll down the site to us "shortlisted ones" to find my name and to view my photographs (as well as some pretty fantastic applicants!) I was SO close to exploring Antarctica. They're killing me.

Pacific...specifics.

Turbulents, lost baggage, and annoying airplane passengers... I need excessive sleep and I have too many itchy mosquito bites to concentrate properly. Once I'm convinced that I DON'T have Dengue fever, I'll hit ya with some travel stories thus far and perhaps some pretty photographs.

Uhhh...happy Halloween?

A Conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall...

My brother, Brad, interviewed the amazing Dr. Jane Goodall for a recent National Post article in Toronto. My sister-in-law, Tanya, illustrated... Check it out: the title of this blog links to the article. B & T are like some sort of creative superpower. Unreal. How inspiring, that Jane Goodall. She makes me want Africa all over again...
In other exciting news, I've been quite pensive. Basically, I'm in transition and leaving for Panama City via Houston in less than two weeks. I'm eager to take off again, but I also get all moody and reflective and stuff before I travel. You know, I don't want to dive into a culture without knowing anything. I never want to be that "white, privileged Canadian girl" that can't even say, "No se hablar espanol" properly without sounding completely lame altogether. I also get all moody when I think about the poverty I will see but can't change, maybe only in the small ways that end up feeling like nothing at all. Anyways, I've been visiting my friend, The Blue Heron Lake, a heck of a lot more these days to clear my head of these jumbles and knots. It's one of my most favorite spots around these parts, and the sunsets there deliver every time. I've never enjoyed the time between 6:30pm and 8:00pm so much in my entire life. God seems to rock the skies between those times...and I love it. "Then the new Heavens and Earth shall be where righteousness shall dwell indeed; There shall be no more blight, nor need, nor barrier of the sea; No sun and moon alternating, for God shall be the Light thereof; No sorrow more, no death, no sting, for God Who reigns is Love." -Christina Rossetti.

And my heart goes...boom!

Conversio Passiva

Not-to-have-God and not-to-wish-to-have-God is like a turning away from the undeniable, eternal pull...the force that I've heard even Atheists and Agnostics acknowledge. It's like a reluctance of the creature to be drawn to God, a resistance against grace itself. Without this grace, how on earth could I see these sweet, fleeting moments of my life? It would be like death. These tiny moments, either captured in photographs or just purely remembered, constantly convert me over and over again. God is real and is so very present in all things. Convince me otherwise, and I'd be deeply shocked. Does this sound narrow-minded? To a lot of people, probably so. Many might stop reading after the opening sentence of this little rant. Honestly though, and maybe it's just because I'm in transition and appreciating life a hell of a lot more these days, but look around you. Seriously. (Blowing my mind...) Yes, there are many disturbing things happening in this world that are confusing and gut-wrenching, yet, pain only endures for a time. Its role is to purge us and to make us know ourselves, ultimately becoming stronger for these dark and ugly times. "Surely, then, God's will is set to wither the tentacles of my unkindness, when they are twisted round my neighbor's throat." (Austin Farrer, 1904-1968) Seeing the beauty in each other, regardless of differing world views or religion, can certainly help us to love one another more and untangle the fear, jealousy, anger, timidity, egocentricity, and unforgiveness that has the power to divide us and hold us all back...from...

LOVE (and everything else we were created for).

Amen.

Ooo, ooo, child...

This afternoon I was stressssssssed until my niece, Cleah, handed me a special, folded letter... Just for me. When children start to write down their thoughts for you, especially with messy Crayola markers, it's pretty much the most amazing feeling ever. It's like traveling down a secret passage way that leads inside their sweet, little baby soul. It's probably the purest soul that we, as human beings, could ever encounter. So darling and so incredibly honest. This is just soooo soooo soooo Cleah! I love this child! Never grow old! Or, at least, stay just as bright-eyed and curious as ever...

Geez Magazine

If you're a subscriber to GEEZ, which you probably aren't, than turn with me to page 34. There you'll find my brief, awkward excerpt entitled, "Gangly, somber and sickly". It's my subtle attempt to raise awareness about thoughtless word choices in our society. The excerpt is published in the Summer '09 issue sent out only to subscribers, but you can check out the Winnipeg-based magazine online (I've linked the site under my "Things I Like" column). You should subscribe and support a good, thought-provoking, independent press. Or, better yet, let's go out for coffee because I have an extra copy! Just a little bit of shameless self-promotion since it's the only thing I've got going on, unless you consider gross amounts of psych research something worth talking about...

Nancy Johns Gallery

I now have a little summer contract with Nancy Johns Gallery! A few new pieces are up now through September 4th.

4755 Wyandotte Street E.
945.2222
(just east of Pillette in the New Pillette Village!)

National Geographic!

Ooooo! Follow the link above!

F.A.M. Fest + Windsor Women = !!!!!!!!

From April 1-30, eight of us local women photographers are joining forces with F.A.M. Fest and showcasing our stuff at:

MILK Coffee Bar
68 University Ave W
519.256.1414


Everything is cash & carry, so come out and support some local goodness!

Ah, Spring. Bring it!

Regardless of how rainy and chilly Spring has been thus far, the sun randomly shows up every couple of days. There's been just enough warmth for me to snap some shots to prove that Canada actually isn't a frozen wasteland...


Oh, and I kidnapped my brother, Luke, for a few of these shots.






P.S.- Dear month of June, please come soon!

When you got it...

This song makes me want to hug somebody. The best part: I can't find the lyrics anywhere!

I'm listening too...

Ahhhhhhh...nothing like a boy and his guitar. The Great Fiction is rocking my eardrums right now!

(Cold).

Thank the good Lord above for fingerless mittens!

hot earth . . .

I'm back from the south! Mmmm...toes in the sand, salt water on the skin, and the undeniable remedies of the sun! The hot earth, and the swishing of the Atlantic against the shoreline, quietly reminded me to be still. I doubt sometimes whether a quiet and unagitated life would have suited me- yet I often long for it...















ALSO, here's a couple of shots of my friend Heather and I...incognito! These were displayed in our friend Tara's recent Windsor photo exhibit.

'Eddie, King of the Animals"

My friend Aaron is making this film... Brilliant!

Stuff...

My brother, Brad Frenette, from The National Post, interviewed Windsor/Toronto's ELLIOTT BROOD. Good sound!

OH and I pretty much love this guy!!

"Check Out This Sprawl"

A few of my photographs will be shown in the exhibition, “Check Out This Sprawl”, an unjuried photo installation by Windsor-Essex & Detroit artists and community members of the Citizen's Environmental Alliance. This event is part of Smogfest 2008...so come and support us!!!

Happy Earth Day!

"In the Eyes of Kolkata"

Check out my article linked above, "In the Eyes of Kolkata"

Epilogue this Sunday!

Come and hear wonderful stories from India! We've entitled this event, "Epilogue", and we want you to sip chai with us... There will be sitar magic by Chris Hale of Aradhna at St. Andrews to kick it all off, then we will proceed to The Walmer Theatre for other traveling interpretations. If you have no idea what this all means, than that's probably a sign that you should come this Sunday. And to those of you who actually read this blog, I want you to especially be there. If you can, that is. If it fits. Love.

India: I miss you.

...And I love you. Even though at times you didn't love me back.

The Womb Tree

I found a tree with a little tiny womb! Doesn't the trunk of this tree remind you of a child in the womb? I didn't even notice it until I was reviewing some random photographs that I took on a Sunday afternoon walk. It really is beautiful... Life can be found absolutely everywhere! Discoveries like these, regardless of how small they really are, keep me in awe of the enormity of creation. I am reminded of my gorgeous friend, Melanie, who is pregnant with her first child. Oh, how she glows... All because of the little life kept cozy and warm inside of her. Carpe diem! I wish I could seize every day and see the intrinsic beauty detailed in each moment, in and between each heart beat, and realize that life just isn't so bad afterall. It seems quite difficult to really "seize" a day, when each day is so fragmented and messy and the pieces of it can never be kept together long enough for me to make sense of it all.

I found a tree with a little tiny womb and it has inspired me to look closer at the life around me.

Oliver: Sifting Secrets in the Sand.

I met a little boy named Oliver this afternoon at a nearby park. He was an extremely special little boy with eyes as blue as sapphires, and a peace that rested in his tiny face. When I met Oliver, he was completely involved with his task at hand (examining the sand granules in the sandbox!!) He seemed completely intrigued by the way the sand fell from his gritty palms, the precise way it blew towards him in the subtle September breeze, and how it fell in small piles upon his toes. Perhaps he loved the way that it felt between his fingertips. Oliver looked up at me only once throughout the entire thirty minutes I was sitting next to him in that sandbox. So, I made small talk with his grandparents. We talked about the warmth of the day and how there were not enough swings to accomodate the clusters of children scampering about. We talked and talked. Oliver sifted through the sand. I smiled at him. He repeatedly grasped more sand, clenched it tightly, and let it go with the wind. He seemed content and happy in his own simple world.

I'm pretty sure Oliver was autistic...

Which made him even more beautiful to me.

Oliver's peace with the world inspired me greatly today. I will probably think about him every time I bury my toes in the sand, on some beach or at some park, somewhere... And I'll know that I can find solace there too.

Back from India, back to Earth.

I feel as though I've slowly drifted back to Earth. During the last few months, I felt like I was living on another planet, or perhaps, in another century is a better way to describe it . India was intense, beautifully insane, and it definately initiated some sort of spark inside of me. I walked upon stretches of sacred ground, where I met a lot of incredibly beautiful people. The people I met in India taught me how to observe, to look on with compassion, and to be disgusted with the judgemental stares from the west. India helped me realize that there are a lot areas in my life that will remain an enigma. I've accepted the fact that there are some things that I will never figure out simply because I am a human. As much as my insides scream out for concrete answers to all of the concerning questions in my head, I know that I have to find peace, or I will go ridiculously insane! God brings me peace, my family and my friends bring me peace, and knowing that I am truly LOVED brings me peace. Can we celebrate life more often? I am here. You are here. And love can rest between us.


Being back in Toronto brings me a sense of restlessness. This is when I try to remember the Darjeeling mist that I experienced while in India. There was just something about the mist at the foothills of the Himalayas that made me want to cry. I still can't explain it. The clouds seemed to almost breathe there, inhaling and exhaling over the Darjeeling tea bushes, bringing a stillness in my heart that I hadn't felt in a long time. Now I'm home, and this stillness has disappeared. It seems like North America has that effect on me. However, I do know that it's not where I am that becomes too noisy, it's the noise in my heart that deafens the ears and dulls the mind. I need to quiet my heart. I need to practice silence in such a busy world... How did Mother Teresa do it? How did she master the silence of the heart with the constant chaos of Kolkata all around her? I'm very glad that at least I have a shot at finding peace, since God does leave us with it afterall... And in all of God's mercy, He never forsakes me.