Spring is just around the corner, and I can hardly believe it. Soon, the air will warm, buds will form on the trees, and the grass will turn from winter-brown to the bright, fresh green that’s only found in the spring. There are subtle signs of spring’s imminent arrival already — the arrival of red-winged blackbirds, the days gradually getting longer, the disappearance of the frigid winter air. In my mind, winter is supposed to be a time for taking it slow, for rest and recuperation. I don’t know about you, but for me, this winter has been anything but.
The kitchen at my apartment is currently being renovated, which is great, except I haven’t been able to actually live there in over a month. My partner and I are very lucky to have a place to spend our days in the meantime, but the lack of routine has felt a bit destabilizing. Our wedding is also fast approaching, so we’ve been spending a considerable amount of time and energy working out all of the details and logistics. Not to mention the Unprecedented Times™ we’re living in, which certainly aren’t helping the cause either. Thanks to all of that, I’ve found it quite difficult to focus on pretty much anything outside of what’s absolutely necessary to get by.
Honestly, I kind of feel like Spongebob in that episode where Squidward turns the Krusty Krab into a fine dining establishment. He tells Spongebob to empty his mind of everything except for the principles of fine dining and he does. And later, when he’s commended for his exemplary service and is asked for his name, he totally melts down and it breaks his brain because he emptied his mind to the point where he only knows fine dining and breathing. Replace fine dining and breathing with wedding planning, work, and rigatoni pasta, and that’s my brain right now.
This prolonged bump in the road has put a bit of a damper on my capacity to write more this year. I do realize that it’s only early March and I still have plent of time. I also realize that I am writing more, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Either way, it’s felt a bit frustrating to say the least. There’s also a part of me that, for some reason, believes that if I don’t have something profound or valuable to say on here, it’s not even worth trying to write at all. This, of course, is categorically untrue. Nevertheless, I’m doing my best to remember that I’m not here to write Pulitzer worthy prose and it’s not my job to decide what is and isn’t valuable. I’m simply here to scratch my creative itch. That’s all. And the best way do that is to create—even if it isn’t any good.
Because I don’t have much else to say, I figure I’ll share some photos I’ve taken throughout the season. This is something I used to do on my first blog, and I’ve missed it.
We’ve had an exceptionally snowy winter, at least compared to recent years. This used to be normal. I heard a lot of complaints about it, but I personally was grateful to be spared from experiencing the six months of grey-brown winter that has become the norm here.
Someone I used to know once told me that they liked when it snowed because for better or for worse, it made things interesting. I’m starting to see their point. There are few things in this world more beautiful than a fresh blanket of snow and few things sillier than trying to carry a bunch of heavy bags across your ice-covered driveway.
Back in 2020, I bought a Canon M50 that I’d originally intended to use for capturing video. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, that didn’t happen. However, over the past couple of years, I’ve come to love using it as my “walking around camera” because it’s so much smaller and lighter than the R6 I use for work. The compact size makes me much more likely to throw it in my bag just in case. As they say, the best camera is the one you have with you.
I’ve really loved taking my camera out into the world again. In a way, the act of capturing the small beautiful things around me makes me feel like I’m coming back to myself.
Most, if not all of these photos were taken on the M50.
I’ve spent a lot of time these past few weeks watching the ducks swim. When the world feels chaotic, I’ve found that it helps calm the mind. There are a lot of migratory ducks in my area around this time of year and it’s been a joy to watch them come and go. I recently downloaded Merlin which, if you don’t know, is an app for bird identification. Not sure why I didn’t start using it sooner, since I’ve become moderately enthused by observing birds these past few years. Below is a flock of what I believe are redhead ducks.
Finishing off this collection with a sunset and a self snap. (I’d like to think that when I’m old, I’ll be grateful for having captured myself in my relative youth.)
Anyway, this post has become ‘too long for email,’ whatever that means. So, I suppose it’s about time I wrap it up. I’m still finding my footing with this Substack, so if you enjoy this type of post and also happen to feel compelled to let me know, please do.
I have a few ideas of things I want to write about in the near(ish) future. Maybe once I’m living in my apartment again I’ll be able to get my thoughts in order. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take some time to enjoy the small things.
Despite the chaos that’s unfolding in the world, there is still so much beauty in the mundane. We need only to take the time to look for it.
Until next time,
Hannah