I zipped out in a pre-heated van (thanks J) with my camera bag and a hot mocha (half coffee & half hot chocolate). I drove and I drove and I drove some more just soaking in the blustery winterscapes all about me. I descended upon a "closed except on Sundays" antique barn. A barking dog greeted me while I snapped this shot of a chandelier hanging from a tree, and I thought how charming things are when they hang from trees...I then made my way back to the grocer's for soup fixin's (because it is freezing outside and I wanted to warm up again!)
I'm doing a couple of photo projects. Both inspired by and hosted by the Shutter Sisters. One is the One Word Project (they put my photo up for today! yay and thank you), the other is the 365 project (a picture a day all year, yes, all year! the flickr group is here). I felt I needed to be challenged and there is nothing I enjoy more than photography (except maybe a good book followed by a nap.) Do join in if you are looking for a photographic adventure this year.
The word for January's One Word Project is create. So I spun a simple spell, requiring only the odd flower, oil, rock or charm. That is one I'll keep to myself, but personally, love the "Strawberry Fields Heartbreak Relief Spell" which I will share here...
*one whole sweet juicy strawberry
*a small paring knife
Contemplate the red ripe strawberry before you. It is vibrant, nutritious, delicious. Using your paring knife, remove the greens and the hull from the beautiful berry. Now slice that berry in half, symbolizing your broken heart. Hold both halves together.
Place the entire fruit in your mouth, imagine while doing this that your heart is whole again.
Repeat these words as you savour the juicy berry: With this fruit I ingest, Let my heartbreak be at rest.
Now compost the hull and the greens to symbolize rejuvenation.
***
After reading an email from a friend who was making pots of delicious hot broccoli & cheddar soup, guess what? I scooted over to my grocer's (post chandelier shoot) and picked up a rather big head of cauliflower & a large green bunch of broccoli to make a soup today. What else do you eat when it is below freezing & so windy that your cheeks sting the minute you walk outside? I can't think of anything better than that.
I can think of one thing actually, shopping for treasures at my friend's new Etsy shoppe. Oh yeah, that goes well with comfort food. (You don't even have to leave your sofa.)
xo
Oh I'm so doing that spell..I just happen to have some strawberries sitting right here!!
Love the shot of the chandelier...who would think to hang that outside, but my gosh it just looks so sparkly, clean and shiny -- I can imagine how it looks with sunlight reflecting off and through it!
Mmm...soup...sounds perfect today. It's totally a warm food, warm drinks (now I want a mocha instead of this green tea!) kind of day...but look, the sun is out!! That makes my heart happy!!
Posted by: Sherry | January 04, 2010 at 02:51 PM
Yes it is out, but do you notice, that the sunny days in winter are coldest? Why is that! Darn mother nature. xo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | January 04, 2010 at 02:59 PM
Love the chandelier shot! And thanks so much for the sweet mention of my Etsy shop! Am off to see your SS pic! Bravo! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | January 04, 2010 at 04:18 PM
That's funny, I have strawberries too ! Not really heart broken though so I will say the spell for someone I love - does that work ?
How yummy cauliflower/brocolli sounds... tomorrow I think !
Happy Monday, Talented One !
Posted by: Kim Mailhot | January 04, 2010 at 04:49 PM
Great job on your photo over at the SS!! Your dreaming press looks great! Love how you embrace change and are always moving forward!
Also, That is my kind of strawberry spell! Beautiful in EVERY respect!
Hugs to you.
Happy Twenty Ten to you and yours!
Love,
Constance
Posted by: Rochambeau | January 04, 2010 at 05:00 PM
Hey I couldn't agree with you more, Gillian!! Making soup on a very cold day, and eating strawberries at the same time, embraces lots of warmtn and succulent love! I spent my Sunday afternoon making curried butternut squash and carrot soup.....yummy!! I ate strawberries while I made the soup, cause it was just too early to start drinking wine!! I have this bad habit of drinking wine while I cook....the strawberries stufficed! And the soup turned out deeeeellliiiicious!!
Posted by: Lorna | January 04, 2010 at 06:12 PM
that would be warmth and sufficed....guess i felt stuffed so stufficed...LOL
Posted by: Lorna | January 04, 2010 at 06:13 PM
Oh my, it's you. Here I was poking around my Flickr contacts' newest offerings and I kept falling in love with The Dreaming Press. Kept thinking, "Oh my! Does she have a blog? I hope she has a blog!" Here I am. And here you are. How silly do I feel?
Posted by: Relyn | January 05, 2010 at 08:23 AM
Lovely friend, helooooo and Happy New Year!!!
Mmmm, soup, i want soup now :) And yes, shopping from the chair is so romantic and cozy, don't you think?
I love things hanging in trees. People come here and wonder, why does this girl have 3 chandeliers and all sorts of things hanging in her trees? But you get it, oh you so get it ;) I love that about you. You get charm.
I hope you have a wonderful New Year. I love that you are going to share a photo a day. I wonder if I can be inspired to do the same? Hmmmmm.... You inspirer you!
Love you to, xoxo
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | January 05, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Oops, I meant to say, "love to you" - I am backwards and inside out today ;)
Either way, as long as you get the love part, all is good. Want to split a potato chip cake?
xoxx
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | January 05, 2010 at 11:35 AM
mmmmmmmm .. I love broccoli and cheese soup. I was thinking that dairy seems to be disagreeing with me and I should try leaving it out for a bit .. but doggone it, now I want that soup. :)
Posted by: elizabeth | January 05, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Love the story of the strawberry. I will never look at one again in quite the same way. Thanks for trolling over to see me at Delights of the Heart.
Posted by: Marilyn | January 05, 2010 at 11:46 PM