Wednesday, June 23, 2010

waterlilies as coping mechanism

in the midst of all of the ratrace of life - running the child to school, picking her up, going to work, running to meetings, learning resisting how things are done in a new company, a new town, a new house, finding a vet for the horse's vaccinations, keeping the horse in carrots and horse treats (who knew they had to have treats?), trying to convince the cat to venture outside, weeding the garden, hoping the elderflowers hurry up before we leave, using up what's in the refrigerator, packing, last minute sewing, running to the post office - i am very happy to have moments of serenity on our new property. the house may be falling down, but the location itself is absolute heaven. who wouldn't feel calm and peaceful with waterlilies like these?






where do you go to find a bit of shelter from the cruel world?

20 comments:

Jill C. said...

My bit of shelter from the cruel world is the nook in my kitchen. The sun shines through the stained glass artwork hanging in the window in summer, which also allows my plants to thrive. In the winter, the warm/soothing color of the walls is comforting. It's my favorite place to read, work, study, contemplate, relax.

Lisa-Marie said...

Can I come and live with you? Those are beautiful.

It might sound odd, but even though we live in a fairly rough area in a city, I sit on my windowseat, with a book my sketchpad and some tea, and a blanket in the winter. It never fails. Otherwise, i find the nearest gallery/museum and walk around in the quiet, absorbing things. I love the church-like reverence people have in them, and the fact that if I want to look at something for half an hour, no-one will hurry me.

Elizabeth said...

I'll visit you and sit at the pond.

Have a lovely Sankt Hans-aften.

xo e.

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

I love the post title :)

My haven is by the ocean, but I haven't been there yet because of the cold weather. Summer is finally starting though, I think, so I will go to the beach soon and just look at the waves.

I also love to travel and my recent trip to Paris was very, very good for the soul!

Lisa at lil fish studios said...

That first photo especially makes me want to slip into that water and float.

Finding time alone here is not something that happens easily, but when I really, really need some solace I sneak off through our back woods and walk until I can't hear anything except the wind in the trees. It takes a while for the noise in my head to die down and then I can return. (though I often stop and peek through the trees at my home and wonder if I have to go back quite yet...)

Unknown said...

It has and always will be the ocean. The sounds of the sea living and moving, plus the smell and the life happening around really allow me to focus in on me.

Being landlocked for the first time in my life makes that a challenge but I am blessed to be surrounded by so many lakes.

Thus I have to include any body of water from my mothers ponds to the large lakes that disappear in the horizon around me.

And yes I love your water lilies, reminds me of my mother's ponds.

Namaste.

Delena said...

I do live in "serenity now". With all the rain we have had though sometimes "soggy now" comes to mind.

will said...

.. "a bit of shelter from the cruel world?"

Wherever it is, please send coordinates.

Gwen said...

Oh, infinitely preferable to Claude's.

My shelter changes. Some times it's excellent sushi with a friend. Other moments three minutes with my Paris Review and a good song will do it. Running and yoga, though, are probably my most consistent world survival mechanisms. The other things--unexpected laughter, a view of a fox family from my terrace, a breath of air on my arms--those are just gravy.

Anonymous said...

OMG, these are beautiful. Thanks for posting :) My shelter from the cruel world? The shore of Lake Superior.

Unknown said...

I like to shelter on one of the porches, or in my watercolor, or between the pages of a good book. Sometimes I even go to the beach and just walk a little.

Numinosity said...

When I'm in Arizona I like to walk about the stands of ocotillos that reach skyward , They give me a feeling of serenity and spirit.
Here in Alaska I lounge in the sun on my hanging chair and look at the mountains, and maybe puff on a little cigar :)
We have a deck on the upper story of our garage that affords some shelter from the prevalent wind and absorbs heat with even a better view.

Kim

kristina - no penny for them said...

oh my. i'm glad you found such a wonderful place for you and your family.

Joanna Jenkins said...

My bit of shelter is the beach-- the Pacific Ocean. Even with the occasional too many people in one place all at the same time, the beach is so calming. But if I had a lily pond-- it would definitely give the beach a run to the money!

Yours is gorgeous.

Enjoy, jj

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos! The place I prefer to escape to is the beach - any beach where there are waves and water. Second is just for a hike through the woods and along the creek near our house.

The Queens Table said...

Wonderful, wonderful photos! My place of serenity is mountain views. I can look out our kitchen windows and thank God for the beauty they provide along with the setting sunlight.

Bee said...

I felt very calm contemplating those water lilies, but your schedule sounds CRAZY.

So WHEN did you find the time to do this blog redesign? You are a wonder.

Sammi said...

If I need to get away from the world, I tend to walk down through Bembury Lane and lay across the bench by the river, and I let my dog wander around as he pleases.

And occasionally, I'll just run a bath, and afterwards pull all the blinds in my room and sit there until I want to see the world again.

mrs mediocrity said...

Gorgeous. My garden, most definitely. In between the pages of a good book. And I know you don't want to hear it, but running. :)

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

I need to find a shelter, seems I do not have enough 'down' time. Oregon was lovely, except for the family drama...I need to post my photos before the 'aura' fades