Over the last few years, I’ve somehow established a pattern of waking between 5 and 5:30 a.m., sometimes even earlier. I’d love to get a bit more sleep, but as compensation for the open eyelids, I do get to watch daybreak. Sometimes it happens very quietly, in shades of grey and textures of mist, but sometimes, as this past week, it goes for full chromatic drama. High contrast of dark against emerging light, shapes silhouetted against a fiery background. I can’t imagine ever tiring of it. For these photos, it was still dark enough that I set my Nikon down on the deck railing, then down on one of the beach chairs, to keep the camera steady during the full 1/4 to 1/3 second that the shutter was open, letting that still weak morning light through to form an image… In fact, at one point, I set for an even slower speed (in the photo at the bottom, I believe), so that I could capture some of the gentle wave action in a very slight blur. . . Fun to be playing so early in the morning. If you can’t be sleeping . . .
I’m off to Vancouver where I’ll be hanging out with my favourite seven-year old, running with my sister, perhaps even checking out some of the spring offerings beginning to fill the shops. A girl can look, right?
Meanwhile, though, I’ve collected a few links to share with you. These are my Friday Five:
Two from Drew Myron’s lovely blog, Off the Page
1. Her short not-quite poem (her words, not mine), a To Do list, “Because Life Is Full,” resonated deeply with me, making me think about what would be on my own list. “Watch daybreak in wonder” might. . .
2. And she recently featured another poet who, at 85, thinks she should do more, now that she’s had her first book of poetry published. Inspiring!
3. After my recent post on running, I came across this link that nicely explains why I almost never run with earbuds, preferring the sounds of silence. The article addresses exercise in general rather than focusing specifically on running, so I believe it’s of broad interest. I’d be curious to know what you think after reading it. Do you prefer to exercise to sounds (music, audio-book, podcast) or to silence? Or do you like to mix it up, depending on mood and circumstance?
4. My friend Alison’s plein air classes in the Lot (Midi-Pyrenees) region of France are full, I believe (although double-check with her if you’re interested), but she still has a few spots in herParis sketching and painting class this September (scroll down the page). Check out her website and dream. . . and don’t imagine you need to be an accomplished or even intermediate artist to join in. She and Kelly are wonderfully patient instructors, and the classes are always small enough that someone like me, putting first tentative brushstrokes or pencil lines on paper, gets all the guidance and encouragement she needs.
5.And finally, a link to my Reading Blog, where you’ll find a guest post by a reader whose name you’ll recognise because she often comments here as well. If you’re a reader, or even just interested in knowing what the reading buzz is these days, you’ll likely have heard of Elana Ferrante’s Neapolitan 4-volume series. We’ve chatted a bit about these books, over on my other blog, as I’ve read my way through them, although I haven’t (yet) written a unified dedicated post about them. What Georgia has written, though, is a great introduction to Ferrante’s backlist, her earlier books, making links between themes and motifs in them and in the Neapolitan novels. And Georgia also gives us a brief introduction to herself which is delightful for me. Such a great community here — what a privilege to facilitate one of the venues for bringing it together.
Now I’d better move quickly, decide what to throw into that backpack, and get walking to my ferry. As it happens, I shocked myself by sleeping until 7 this morning (Pater’s already in Vanc’r, or he’d have been shocked as well), so I’m running behind. May your Friday go well, and may you get started on a lovely weekend. Thank you in advance for your very welcome comments. (the conversation on running has been fun and instructive, and I’m doing my best to keep up with responding).
One of my favourite activities at the Adriatic is to stay late on the beach in the afternoon and to watch sunset.
I get up around 7 in the morning, so
nice to see what's going on during a daybreak âş
Have a beautiful weekend
Dottoresss
Sunset is obviously quite wonderful as well, and not all of us are early-birds, so I'm happy to share my sunrises with you đ
Oh, I was awake at 4:30 this morning because I was moving accommodation. At home, that early time is "me time". I enjoyed Drew Myron's writing. I just finished
"Plan B" by Anne Lamott and many of her essays had to do with acceptance of self and of others. Enjoy your weekend!
Hope your move has gone smoothly by now, and you can sleep a bit more restfully, a bit longer in the morning.
I haven't read Lamott's "Plan B," but her writing is so often both centering and inspiring. You have a good weekend as well!
Thank you for this post. I've only recently found your blog and the NewYearNewDreams blog. Both of you are an encouragement and inspiration to travel solo this year. I, like Madame La-bas, love traveling but my husband does not. I dug out my expired passport and, today, sent it out for renewal. I also just sent an email to your artist friend, Alison, to find out more about her September classes in France. Thank you for this inspiration and information. Charlene
p/s smiling as I type and realize how many forward steps I am accomplishing!
Charlene, how exciting! (and welcome — so glad you found your way here). Very cool that you're taking steps to some big adventures in your life. This internet community provides us company in our dreams and interests when our immediate circle sometimes can't or doesn't do that (our near and dear ones support us in so many ways, reaffirming what they love in us, but sometimes it's tough for them to see the parts of us that need to stretch or to know how to help us do that).
You must keep us posted on this as you begin making plans for whatever path you end up on, even if you only take a few small steps along it at first. And keep that smile! đ
Once again, I find your words encouraging and insightful…"when our immediate circle sometimes can't or doesn't do that…" I have read and re-read your comment. Thank you so very, very much. Yes, indeed, holding onto a smile. đ charlene
Well, what a nice surprise to find my blog on your blog. đ Thank you for the kind words and for the share.
Thank YOU for the inspiration. and for popping in to say hello…
Sunrise is a lovely time and makes me feel as though I have the world to myself. Even when I'm driving along the motorway to work…
Oops, sorry. . . yes, true enough, many of you with little time for skygazing in the morning.
My commute to work always put the sunrise behind my back — my bedroom faces North-East, looking across the water to the coast of the mainland, and I had to cross our island to catch the ferry on the west side, then keep heading west to my campus on "the bigger island." A big perk of retirement, being able to linger with my cup of tea as day breaks. I'll think of you, driving to work . . .
Err – full disclosure: I'm a part timer with only one day a week in the lecture room, the rest of the time I work at home. And my route takes me over a long suspension bridge over a tidal estuary which offers the most spectacular views whatever the weather. So – whisper it – my commute's a bit of a treat.
I have put in my time at draughty bus stops and in soul sapping queues of tail lights over the years so my sympathies are with those who are even now gearing themselves up for tomorrow morning.
Honesty and sympathy — good qualities! No wonder you've been rewarded with a treat of a commute đ
Those dawn shots are wonderful. I've been thinking of buying myself a better camera, to be able to fiddle and experiment with photography, maybe even take a class. One of the wonderful things about blogging is how many doors it opens, doors that allow us to make such interesting connections with people we might otherwise never have met. With women of like minds and sometimes of unlike minds. Our daily "in person" conversation is so often utilitarian: what to make for supper, who will pick up the groceries, when is your appointment etc etc. Lovely to sit on a Saturday morning and "talk" to someone about their dreams… ala Charlene's comment and your reply.Thanks for the great links. Now I'm off to your book blog.
It's true! I doubt I would ever have invested as much time and interest in photography were it not for the blog (nor would I have been likely to bother learning the ins and outs of various social media platforms). And you're right — getting to stretch beyond our immediate circle sometimes lets us bring out to play the various selves who are more shy to show themselves in front of those who tend to see us as we've always tended to be. Charlene's a great example.
I, too, am an earlier morning riser. For me it is best to get all the "have to's" done first thing in the morning. Both you and Susan (High Heels in the Wilderness) have been great examples of physically moving no matter the weather. I really enjoy how both of you report back on your exercise schedules. I live in Arizona and try to get outside as much as possible but admittedly, July through September is pretty wicked hot.
Me too. There are some things I can do with my afternoon energies, but some things are only likely to happen if I do them early. I rarely run if it doesn't happen by 10 a.m.. . . and I have to say, I'd never run in Arizona, unless it happens to be below 20 (Celsius) when it's already light in the morning. Outside of that window, it probably wouldn't happen. I don't do heat well! Thanks for commenting that you enjoy the exercise reports — I do wonder what works on the blog and what doesn't.
Soooo envious Frances …in a good way though đ definitely worth getting out of bed for. Your photos are beautiful and I can imagine how peaceful and still everything is at that time. Apart from perhaps the local wildlife.
I was the opposite to you last night ..couldn't get to sleep until around 5am …so only a few hours sleep! Not sure why ….had a great day yesterday, a beautiful walk….some fun present shopping and felt full of energy all day. Unfortunately that feeling continued once I was in bed!
Hope you're having a good weekend.
Rosie
Ugh! Insomnia is the worst! Do you stay in bed and toss and turn, or is there a point at which you give in, get up, and go read or knit or whatever? It always seems that the harder you try to sleep, the less likely that it will happen, so I generally tend to get up and read, making up the lost zzzz's in a nap, if I can, the next afternoon. Of course, then I have to take care not to set up problems for the next night's sleep…
Hope you're all caught up by now, though, and that the weekend was a good one.
I've been having trouble getting comments to post, but am hoping this one goes through. Lovely, lovely colors! I especially like the softness of that last image, and the blurred waves. Another early riser here, love being up before the sun.
I usually wake at 5. Odd, I never rose that early when I was working, but for a few years dawn was my sanctuary. Apparently my body and soul don't want to let go. Love your photographs.