SecondSeason

I’m incredibly fortunate to have two wonderful daughters that are amazing Mom’s and a lovely daughter in law that is going to be a Mom late Fall!  We enjoy opportunities to celebrate life together and did so by having side by side pedicures at a local spa on Friday followed by a yummy dinner out.  

Today, Mother’s Day, all our hubby’s and kids/grandkids joined together in celebrating us as Mom’s.  Even though I am a Mother and will always be a Mom, I am not actively ‘mothering’ anymore and so enjoy honouring my girls.  Here’s a glimpse into our very chill day.  The weather was amazing to boot!

Okay.  I get to brag a bit.  My son and daughter in law make really sweet music together.  I mean like, really nice.  Talk about a match made in heaven.  Together, they form ‘Coalmont’.  They have a number of gigs coming up this spring and last weekend played a local coffee shop called La Casa Coffee.  It’s always a good time when these 2 play and sing and the crowd that showed up was great!  

Check out the Coalmont site including a free download titled “The Most Humble Man”.  Their EP “Chronicles” is receiving the finishing touches and should be available for purchase in June.  Dates and locations of other local shows available on their website.  Thanks for your support of this dynamic duo! 

My good friend Joyce and I took a drive out to Deep Cove last week.  Deep Cove is a quaint little village approximately 13kms from downtown Vancouver on the North Shore.  This charming location draws those who enjoy ocean sports, parks, trails and quick access to the mountains.  It’s complete with heritage, theatre, organic foods, music, family get-togethers and lots of day dreaming.  We could’ve easily wiled away the time sitting on one of the many benches overlooking the water, but unfortunately it was a bit of a wet day.  Not to be deterred, we did explore a few trails and eat outside on the patio under a large umbrella at Arms Reach Bistro.  Two thumbs up!  

The sights to see and places to go in Vancouver are endless!  Having grown up in the city I can’t say I appreciated the beauty and cultures in the same way I do now.  In fact I’ve always said I’d never want to live there, but recent trips and capturing it through my lens have altered my perspective.  After spending time at Granville Island last week and taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the market, I surprised myself with the thought I could potentially be a city girl after all.  Who would’ve thought?

 © 2012 Darryl Rademaker

© 2012 Darryl Rademaker

I celebrated a birthday this week and one of the gifts I received from a friend, was a day in Vancouver including all my favourite things.  Photography, shopping, eating, drinking and taking in the sights.  A fantastic day!  I realized that as much as I love capturing beauty in nature, there’s also something I love about the concrete jungle.  The challenge of photographing architecture, signage and looking for easily missed details when surrounded by towering buildings and pavement, fueled and energized me.  I also thought I’d stick with my nifty fifty for the entire day and am so pleased with the results.  Such a fun day! 

 © 2012 Darryl Rademaker 

Picked another fabulous day weather wise to head out on an adventure up into the Fraser Canyon.  The historic town of Yale was originally established in 1848 as a trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company and grew up to 15,000 in population during the gold rush.  This quiet beautiful community is situated in the heart of the canyon and is rich with history.  The Anglican Church of St John the Divine built in 1863, is said to be the oldest church in BC.  The Pioneer Cemetery aptly named for all the settlers who travelled from near and far, occupies those that died in the gold rush or construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.  Many of those buried, heralded from far off places on the East Coast and United Kingdom.  Some of the history involving those that rest there is horrid and locals tell legends of tragedy and the poisonous greed that took the lives of many.  Sad to read how many died seemingly before their time.  

We discovered the Spirit Caves and hiked part of the trail but since we weren’t sure how long it was and where the actual caves were, we thought it best to save it for another day.  The Fraser River was still fairly low as snow run off is just beginning which made for stellar views and shots.  All in all, another fabulolous day in beautiful BC!

*Pics of me taken by Darryl Rademaker.  Thanks!  You’re a good picture taker. :)

Even though it didn’t look like it would be the most promising photog day yesterday, in between rain showers we were able to capture some really great moments.  The sky was amazing with the clouds dark and stormy, and when the sun came out I instinctively turned my face towards it.  A perfect day.

My photog buddy and I headed into Vancouver to revisit a few of my old stomping grounds.  First stop, Queen Elizabeth Park.  ‘Special’ as it’s where hubby and I had our wedding photos taken 35 1/2 years ago.  The park grounds were still as beautiful as ever, and seemed to be anxiously awaiting for Spring to make her full appearance.  A few flowers had timidly peeked out from their green sleeves and magnolia’s and daffodils were just awaiting their long kiss from the sun.  In a few weeks this park will be stunning! 

From there we headed down to Gastown and managed to snap just a few pictures before the rain began again.  Last stop, we were fortunate enough to catch the sunset at English Bay.  Man do I love where I live! 

So grateful yet again for another amazing day. 

Photo credit Darryl Rademaker 

I went for a drive today in search of a cemetery and found one in the small community of Mt Lehman.  I enjoy walking through graveyards reading headstones and wonder about former lives lived.  When I was young I lived near a large cemetery in Vancouver and I would often cross the road so I wouldn’t have to walk the path adjacent to where all the ‘dead people’ were.  It gave me the creeps!  Ironically, it’s a peaceful place for me now and as I said I like to read the headstones, curious as to what parting memorable phrase has been etched into someone’s grave marker.  I also am interested in seeing who has the most flowers and then wonder why.  Of course the saddest ones for me are when the time between the date of birth and death are close together.  A young life cut short.  So, morbid to some as this may be, it’s a lovely way to spend an hour for this ponderer. 

A recent photo outing to us to opposite sides of the Fraser Valley…the north and the south.  We started driving initially looking for the light :), and ended up heading towards Mission and the beautiful Westminster Abbey.  It wasn’t snowing when we left but by the time we got to our destination with it’s higher elevation, we were back in a winter wonderland.  As much as I’m desperate for spring, finding myself transported to this enchanting place mere minutes from home is surreal.  There’s something about snow that brings a hush…a silence…peace, that I love and long for.  So…all that to say, it was beautiful!

I always try to have a few locales on my ‘photo outing day trip’ list that are indoors if the weather’s too wet.  One place I thought would be fun and challenging to try and capture is Granny & Grumpa’s Antiques.  This is a farm in the heart of the Fraser Valley on Sumas Prarie that houses probably the largest single private collection of antiques in the entire province of British Columbia!  Literally…barns full of stuff!  If you’re an antique lover it’s a must see.  It’s very well organized into categories and rooms.  The doll room is downright creepy with all those eyes!  And yes, everything’s for sale - or so they say - depending on whether you talk to Granny or Grumpa.

Had some fun this week with a beautiful (borrowed) macro lens!  Macrophotography is close-up photography, usually of very small subjects.  Yet another approach to photography.  

What things are around us that often go unnoticed or unseen because we’re not looking.  French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson said “In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject.”   My goal this week was to look for things I’d generally not see looking through my big lens.  Capturing the small.