Let's talk about Reflections

Although I prefer promoting to look for the time ahead of one, to explore the future possibilities - no matter if they are large or small - I can not, like most people, avoid looking back in this time of the year.

It is December 30 - 2019 and tomorrow night we say goodbye to a year gone by and hello to the blanc canvas of 2020.
Is it just me or do you as well remember the Millennium celebrations like yesterday?
Time flies! That was my first New Year celebration in Friesland after my adventures in Sweden.
And now, 20 years later, the first celebration in my new home in Northern Friesland, even closer to my roots. I am slowly but surely moving towards Scandinavia!

Back to 2019, what a year this was, not just for me but for everyone. Each family, each home collected memories. Good ones, bad ones and in between. A year of new born life and a year of death - so close related. Of illnesses and recoveries. Of separations and new lives together. Of laughter and tears. Of storms and calm seas.
And whatever happened, as long a we are able to discover that it are the little things in life that teach us values, the stones we use to build our base, we know we can conquer another year. Even better, we are allowed to look forward to another year.

For me too, reflection time.
I knew when celebrating the transition from 2018 to 2019 that this was the last time in my old home. And as usual, I was on my own with a book, my favourite classical music and my animals.
I watched the fireworks above the nearby small city and the surrounding villages, particularly above the Wadden Sea, a few kilometres away, praying when ever I was going to sell my house, I could find a cottage close to the sea.
The tiny village I got to know during my Wadden photo shoots. Where I sat on a frozen bench covered by the golden orange sunset sky you only see in Winter time, with only the sound of the birds and the smell of a log fire. The total silence was so comfortable. I remember so well that this was the moment I fell in love with that village.

My only option was renting a house and I knew this was not going to be easy as what ever would be available, would not be available for long. During the photo shoots and my visits to the cosy local Pub, I talked about selling my house and wanting to live in this small fishing village.
My prayers were heard, my patience (not always easy!!) was rewarded. But it was only until 3 weeks before the new owners moved into my old house, that a cottage was available.....

In the meantime I had to keep my little business going, sorting out my belongings, getting ready for another move and hopefully the last one.
This all was only possible with the help of very dear friends who helped me out where ever they could. My gratefulness to them is beyond words, I will never forget what they did for me. And not only their helping hands and muscles but above all their mental support.
Their reward is my happiness; I am so incredible happy where I live now! I feel so much at home.
Not just because I have ancestral roots here but also because the typical Scandinavian characteristics are still so visible amongst the people here. The Vikings did a wonderful job forwarding their fierce genes when they put their stamp on the Friesian coast!

My life changed intense over the past years. Moments that life came to a hold with the clock ticking forwards. Moments that I created a new way of living, starting all over again, like I did 20 years ago.
I have learned throughout my life to look forward, to create, to live. Things my parents taught me, knowing by experience that you need to be prepared for unknown future events.
A strong character is given by birth and developed by believing in the impossible, encouraged by the right people around you. I have been so fortunate to have it all. My credo is well chosen: Fortis et Liber (Strong and Free).

The end of 2019, celebrating in my new home. Not only new for me but also for my animals. With even a new addition to the flock: Willow. An 11 years old very sweet and beautiful 'half' Russian Bleu cat. Unfortunately her owner died December 13 and Willow (her new name which sounds similar to the old one) desperately needed a new home. And she did not cross my path without a reason. Dog Bas and I missed our old cat Kater. For Bas a little furry friend, for Frits a friend to snuggle up with in his basket  and for me the comfort of a purring cat at my lap. And Willow turned out to be the perfect cat in our flock. Yes, she has a character of her own, but she is extremely intelligent, easy going and ever so sweet! She fits in like she has always lived with us. If she reaches the same age as Kater, we have 8 years of mutual friendship to enjoy.

Isn't it wonderful to celebrate new 'things'? A new way of living, feeling, seeing? That every heartbeat is for the future? Every love feeling is free of charge? Every sunrise and sunset available in stunning colours, just at your

Photo: Ike Roelfsema ©

doorstep? Every smile, young and old, is rewarded with a smile? Every unexpected hug a little present?
Meeting new people adding stories to your life? Learning from other people? This happens in real life and in virtual life. Meeting people is possible all over the world. Exchanging stories and likes, discovering new ways of communicating and sharing.

My wish for you my lovely readers, is a healthy as possible 2020, a New Year with exiting possibilities, with love and friendship but above all the power and vision to look for it and to accept it. And when you are open to it and found it, treasure it; the largest gift of it all!

Lots of love,

Helen

Let's talk about Rain

Because it is more common these days than sunshine. And just now you are thinking I am sooooooo fed up with rain, I write about it.
Not to make things worse though! Maybe I can raise some love for it with you.

Rain is not just water. It is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapour and then become heavy enough to fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth (source Wikipedia)
If you are into recycling, well, here is the best example in the world.

Without rain, no life. The bottle of water you tow around walking, sporting or because you are told you  need to drink at least 2 litres per day, is filled with life.
The tea, coffee you drink is made with water. The food you eat needs water to grow. Your flourishing garden, refreshing shower, your bath, swimming in the sea, romantic outings near the lake, fountains, reflections in rain puddles, even your clean cloths or shiny car, it all has to do with water and without rain no water.
A little gratefulness when it is raining is not out of place.

The average human being loves an equal amount of sunshine and rain. So do the farmers.
Many people travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to escape the rain, craving for warmer areas where they can zip their wine near.... yes... the sea.
Unfortunately water is not equally spread around the world. Where we had so much rain the past weeks, other counties suffer from extreme droughts. And no, I am not going to discuss the climate change.

Fortunately there are also people who love rain. They are called 'Pluviophyles', lovers of rain. A pluviophyle is someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.
And I know where I am talking about. Rain gives me a feeling of well being, cosiness and happiness.
This might sound strange to those who dislike rain but let me try to explain.
When it is raining, the sky is usually very dark which creates in my home a 'nestling' atmosphere. Candlelight, a book, or staring out of the windows, fascinated by the ever chancing pattern of running drops on the glass, giving the world at the other side, a totally different look.
The sound of the rain is easing my busy mind, it 'forces' it to a steady thinking rhythm. 

A rainy day can be a boring grey but can also be dramatic, with fierce clouds in 1000 shades of grey and black. Clouds that burst from the sea, that hang around overlooking the world below or floating past blown by the wind. A never boring scenery!

Rain smells, a wonderful lovely smell which fills the air before the rain arrives. And after the rain the smell is even better; a lush green smell of life. Colours are brighter, the grass greener, the soil darker, the sea more blue or silver.
Raindrops on your hair and face. Raindrops near the sea are a bit salty, try and taste. Look at the sky, feel the drops on your eyes, lick them from your lips. And smile! This is life!
Spread your arms and catch the rain, hold it in the palm of your hand and be aware you hold life.

Photo: Ike Roelfsema Photography

Yesterday I stood near the sea and let the rain and strong wind play with me, with my thoughts and feelings. I gave over to the forces of nature and felt so extremely alive!!
I watched the clouds by night, listened to the sound of the tide swallowing the rain, taking advantage of it. Due to the strong wind, the tide rushed in faster then usual. A fascinating site.
Dark clouds guided the tide ashore, covered my little space in this enormous big world in a darkness as beautiful as it could be. The sun was not to be seen other then colouring the rims of the clouds in a subtle orange pink, reflected in the shiny mud where the tide had not taken over yet.
A few spares moments and then the first waves washed ashore. 

And I watched, absorbed....... rain, life, passion, love.....

Helen

Let's talk about the darker days before Christmas

A village near the sea, grey and rainy days, an old renovated fishing cottage, ancestral furniture, dogs, candles. All topped with a fluffy mist....
This is my well being in the darker days before Christmas.

Of course I love light and sunshine, it makes the world so much brighter and we need it, but these darker days...... Every year again I am looking forward to them. I can't wait to lit my candles. To embrace the soft glowing light creating comfortable shadows and giving a warm glow to my furniture, maintained and loved by many generations before me. To listen to Bach, to read a book. To drink hot chocolate or Winter tea.

No, I do not live with ghosts from the pasts. Maybe it has to do with not always feeling comfortable in this modern world although I benefit from technology and improved health care too!
Often I crave for a more quiet world, less distractions, more simple. With more simple I mean more quiet, alone with your thoughts, less white noise. There is so much noise: traffic, plains, machines, radios.....  Living in a quiet village near the sea, is a blessing.

My former house, a renovated small farmhouse, was far more isolated although situated near a drive trough country road. At the back and the front no neighbours, just country views. I loved the house, it was comfortable and cosy. Still... in my new house I feel even more comfortable. More at home.
Last week I talked to my lovely neighbour about our mutual feelings for this village and the beautiful Wadden Sea. She and her husband moved here 35 years ago, she originates from Germany.
Even now she can get emotional talking about how wonderful it is to live here, which caused me 'wet eyes' when I agreed.

One of my ancestors owned a plot of land in a nearby fishing village. With my huge amount of Scandinavian DNA (the Vikings did not only ravaged the Friesian coast but also 'mingled' with members of the local population) it is not surprising that I feel so rooted here.
The current exhibition 'We Vikings' in the Friesian Musem in Leeuwarden is a 'must see' and on top of my list.

My DNA is used to long dark winters full of fires and stories to pass the time. I can imagine myself listening in front of a fire. My fantasy at work about elves, trolls, giant birds...... I love standing in the middle of nature, inhaling the cold air, watching the many stars we still see here, my feet guided by the night when walking the wet lands.
Genetic memories and reality.

Soon the Christmas tree will be up again. I respect our Dutch Sinterklaas but the very first Saturday after this wonderful festivity for children, the tree goes up. And already I am planning which changes I have to make to my sitting room to give it a prominent place. It will stay there for at least 4 weeks, spreading it's soft light. Adding to my home feeling.

Photo: Ike Roelfsema

I am also looking forward to the Christmas illumination of the village. There are so many old and beautiful cottages here. Often built close to the next one to shelter each other for the fierce cold wind from sea.
To hear the church bells in the 800 year old tower, wishing it could speak. Wishing it tells stories about all those Christmases it witnessed. In mostly hard times where people struggled to survive, but also happy times of new marriages, new born children.

The darker days before Christmas: simplicity and soft glows.....

Love,

Helen

Let's talk about Value

Value, a small word of great importance.
It is attached to, in my humble opinion, everything in life. Nature, people, emotions, you name it.
Ah yes, value of money and objects but I do not want to go there. Apart from the money you need for a basic life, money can be a burden, too much and you lose the feeling for real values....
Objects? Nice, enjoy them but enjoy above all the simple side of them, not what they are worth in money.

Maybe I am the incurable optimist but even when life is less attractive, I always find value in little things. Of course, I am blessed with a good health but also know the down side of e.g. fighting Cancer. Even that added more value to my life.
And value in friendships, relationships. Only a very, very few friendships remain which is good, you can not hold on to or depend on others all your life. Or being dependent of what others think of you. Fifty different people have fifty different opinions of you. Let go, be you.  After all you are the base of your own life and from this base you develop and become stronger.
You need to be able to rely on your own base, it lasts until you very last day, broaden it and secure it.... with values.

November is a month where value speaks more often to me. It is a month in which I lost people - who played an important role in my life - through death. Each in their own way; with much love or far less love.
I miss my mother who passed away 11 years ago this month. Maybe it has to do with age but the more people mention I look like her, the more I miss her and getting older I also see the similarities in look more and more. And I am proud of it!

When life is hectic or when my brains are too occupied, I wonder which advice my mother would have given and realize how valuable it is to have had a mother like her. No, she was not a saint, she was a real human being, strict with a touch of stubbornness. But above all loving, sincere and honest.
She taught me the value of all living creatures, the seasons, the basic things and love. That ever so complicated but also simple love of opening your heart to receive and return love. The value of vulnerability of love.
Which on its own, allows you to know the value of grief. You can not grief when you do not know love and the other way round. Yes, love can hurt, so can grief. But grief can heal, so can love.

Everyone inherits good and bad things from both parents, grandparents and so on. Add life experience on top of that and you become that one and only unique you. Value the freedom of being unique and use it to become rich. No, not 'rich as in money' but rich as in being able to make your own choices. To discard what does not make you happy and let grow what does make you happy.
Learn the value of positive energy and stop spending energy on things you can not change or that do not make you happy.

Photo: Ike Roelfsema Photography ©

Learn the value of opening your eyes to see beyond what is immediately in front of you. The value of learning, taking on new things, challenging yourself which level you can reach. The value of expanding your world with new things, this can even be in a small radius around you.
Learn the value of colours, even when it is black and white because there are so many gradations in between!
Or the value of music, even when you can not hear it. Though you can feel it, through your fingers, in your body, your heart. Music is not only the sound of instruments, it can be a voice, a word, the wind, the sun.

Last but not least, learn the value of making mistakes. Without you don't grow.
If a decision you made turned out to be a mistake, do not feel sorry, it happens, it is part of life. Avoid doing it twice but do not feel shame. After all you are very human, how valuable is that!


Love,

Helen

Let's talk about the power of Autumn

Last night I stood on top of the dike near the sea and watched the light house beams kissing the waves. The strong wind embraced me, I felt happy and content.

The people who know me well, know how much I love Autumn.

Ever since I was a child, Autumn has been my friend. A friend that gives me energy, that fires my heart, that feeds me with expectations.

When I was 3 years young, we lived temporarily near the sea and although memories of that time are mostly vague, I still remember the sound of the sea, the scent and the light.
I remember that very day when there was a huge storm and I all of a sudden 'disappeared'.
My parents were devastated, a 3 year old little girl, gone, traceless.

But they knew me of course so well and had a pretty accurate guess of where I could be. A thorough search led to the toddler that walked on the beach, all on her own, in wind force 9 with her hands on her back, in perfect harmony with the elements, not understanding the hassle about her solitude promenade.

And I have not changed much. I still love the elements. I need them like we all need oxygen.
I need views, endless views whether it is near the sea, a lake, the fields or the hills.
I am occasionally called a Child of the North and I have always been proud of that name. My Scandinavian, Baltic and Celtic DNA (half of all my DNA) is so obvious.

I have spent Autumns in Scandinavia where I walked for hours through the forest, along the lakes. Where I sat still to listen.

Where Summer in Scandinavia can be warm and lazy, full of heavy scents of all those flowers blooming at once to celebrate the short period of constant light, Autumn is the time of year in which nature is busy preparing itself for a long dark, magical period called Winter.

The mushrooms flourish, berries turning flaming red, black or deep blue to provide food for animals and humans. The scent of mushrooms mingles with the scent of decaying leaves.
The sound of running mice, climbing squirrels, foraging bears, foxes, lynxes, deer and elks which all know now it is time to eat or store as much as you can.

Birds leave for warmer areas, birds stay or arrive to spend the Winter.

Photo: Ike Roelfsema Photography

The first mist spreading its voile over the lake, changing the forest into a magical place full of white and grey shadows, muffling sounds to whispers. Water drops falling from the trees, sound like little silver bells. These are all early Autumn sounds and so wonderful to listen to.

The first mist that lays its blanket over the sea, fading the transition between water and sky, adding soft pastels, soothing the water and sounds.

Then comes the first night frost which turns the small world into a fairytale with a crisp white layer where the Autumn colours glow underneath.
And nature comes to a hold. Only silence, a very deep silence that speaks more to me than any other sound. A silence I inhale, adopt, treasure.
A silence so close to true love. The love that makes you tremble with expectation, that opens up your heart, makes you mellow and soft. The love that you do not only keep in your heart but also in your hands, to offer it to whom this love is worthy, that very special person.

This special gift of Autumn lifts me up, makes me extremely happy.  I carry it with me, in my heart, my soul, my body.

Autumns other gift is its beautiful promise of Spring, a promise always kept, a promise never failing. Love that promise, hold it close to you, very close.

Love,

Helen

Johan Sebastian Bach: Concerto for 2 harpsichords, string and b.c. in
C minor BWV 1062 'Allegro assai'

Let' talk about an introvert's perspective on landscape photography

Yes, a long title of today's blog but I can not think of an other one.

Gurushots "The World's Greatest Photo Game", I am one of the participants, on and off.
I noticed that taking part for a longer period, many of the challenges are more or less the same and therefore more or less boring. Staying away for several months can refresh my view on the challenges.

Returning after a while helps to notice the trends in photography. Trends are good, they keep it alive and challenging. It moves the boundaries within photography, the way we look at people, objects and landscapes. Even the most conservative photographer may adopt a new view, although......

Introversion "a personality trait characterized by a focus on internal feelings rather than on external sources of stimulation"
Do not misunderstand an introvert, we are not shy and or timid. We might look like hermits, but we are not. We are well aware of the world around us, but we rather observe it than jumping up and down or running around in all it's liveliness, afraid missing something of which we are not aware yet, surrounded by many people.
If we take a photo, we carefully observe the spot and click with our feelings and techniques.
We love often unobserved details but we also love the wide views.
Above all, we love wandering around natures beauty on our own, regaining our energy, enjoying the solitude. Or with a like minded close friend.
I know for instance, that showing a group of photographers my favourite spots, does not add to the quality of my photos. None of my photos show my feelings of what I love, I was too distracted. On the other hand, being with a close friend who understands and uses the beauty of the surrounding, my photos are of a much better quality.

Well, what has Gurushots to do with Introversion.
One of the most persistent trends in landscape photography is people standing in the middle of the lens view, raising their arms and therefore, in my humble opinion, spoiling the view of an otherwise beautiful photo of an even more beautiful landscape.

Photo: Ike Roelfsema Photography

Please do not get me wrong, I do not mind people in landscape photos but only when it adds something like a perspective: a tiny person in a large world. An indication of the dimensions. A mountaineer surrounded by majestic mountains. You know what I mean.
But not dominating the photo. And why with raised arms? Is it to express their appreciation for Mother Nature? For the beauty I can't see because they block my view? Or is it "I made it, I conquered nature, I won!"

These photos are more and more seen on photo sites and oh boy, do I dislike it. To me it is the sound of a radio with music I do not want to hear, a ghetto blaster. An irritating noise. A stain I want to wipe off.
I want to shout "Go away, you spoil my view!!" To me it belongs in the category 'holiday pictures' and not Landscape Photography.
Fortunately technique allows me not to like the photo and to move on to the next. Nobody is forcing me to like it, it is my free choice as is it the free choice of the photographer for this composition.
A composition gaining popularity. So much that I am very curious to know why.
Because "Why???" is the question that remains. "Why on earth do you put someone in front of your lens in the middle of a breath taking view? And why oh why, someone with raised arms?"

Another fast growing trend is sexy half dressed ladies in photos which subjects have nothing to do with artistic nudes. I do not mind an artistic nude, particularly when the photographer understands
the use of light.
Believe me there is a huge difference to this and a half dressed sexy girl distracting your attention of what really matters: the background or original subject. To me it often feels if the only goal is to collect likes with the girl instead of the photographic skills.

I know, I know, I think and act like the Introvert I am. Time to pause from Gurushots when my last challenge ends. Time to explore the Wadden Sea, time to explore solitude.

Love,

Helen

Let's talk about settling

It has been a while since my move from one little village to another.
In my previous blog post I was still sorting all my belongings and packing numerous removal boxes.

I was surprised how many things one can gather over the years. It was a mix of more then one household and what wasn't needed or 'to sort out on short term but it never happened' was boxed and stored in the garage.
Anyone who moved more than once will admit that it is the best opportunity to get rid of what you never missed over the past years, or what you probably will not use in the future. Or more realistic, what does not fit in the new home which is considerably smaller then the previous home.

Apart from taking much to the skip and the charity shop, I was also able to provide friends with nice things. Giving is so much nicer than selling, particularly when a happy face says "Thank you!"
I could not have done otherwise than giving warm hearted because I was surrounded by wonderful people who took the time to help me shifting. One couple even cooked meals for me! And not to forget the moral support from friends all over the world. I know, what ever I gave them, it will never be enough to express how thankful I was and still am.

I will not go deeper into the move other than that it was a logistic nightmare but I survived. The weeks or even months around the move can best be described as a 'tough job with lots of over time'  and a 'full time work out'. And yes, my physical condition definitely improved! (There is always a good side to everything!)

I loved my previous house, I lived there for over 10 years without one day of regret and I felt so sorry for the house that I was not able to maintain it anymore. It deserved new caring owners and that is what it got.
But I also love my new home, a small rental cottage in a fishing village close to the Wadden Sea.
From day one I felt comfortable and at ease. Of course, decorated with precious items which have been in the family for many generations, I had to feel at home. But it is not just that. It is the home it self. Built in 1890 and gently renovated over the past century, it is now up to the modern standards but still with originally features such as beams and wooden floors.

It does not have a garden at the back but a nice cosy patio where I spend more time reading and enjoying the sun than I ever did before.
It is situated in a tiny but very hospitable fishing village with a church with an 800 year old tower where the church bells still ring every 30 minutes to announce the time. I love the sound!
There is a wonderful Pub 'De Kalkman' where they serve several local brewed beers and very tasty food for very reasonable prices.

I also love the sound of the seagulls, geese and all other Wadden birds. I love the smell of the Wad.
I love that special light near the coast which changes every other minute.
A day can not start better than standing on top of the dike watching the clouds, the sun, the tides, an occasional sailing boat spending the night and waiting for high tide to leave again.

A village is only hospitable by to the people living here. They made me feel very welcome, do not

Photo by Ike Roelfsema Photography

hesitate to introduce them selves and to take the time to talk to me. I already received home grown apples, plums and raspberries.
They asked me to participate in the Village Fair by creating an oil painting (first time in my life).
The Fair was so nice although I did not attend the big parties at night. All streets were decorated with colourful small flags and lights and home made artistic creations which have been photographed by the many tourists that enjoy the village and the Wadden Sea.

I love the sunshine but also the rain and are looking forward to the famous sea mist that suddenly appears to cover the village in a mysterious soft grey light. I love the spectacular sunsets and cloud formations.
I do not have to explain my camera being my loyal companion.....

Happiness my dear readers, is all around me and I realize how very fortunate I am.
I share this happiness with you and if you ever want to visit 'my' village drop me a message.

Lots of love,

Helen

Let's talk about moving house

Moving house......... raise your hand if you never moved house.
Uhm, I do see only a very few hands, you probably still live in the house you were born in. That is precious, so many memories.

There are so many reasons to move house. A larger house, down sizing, escaping to the country or back to the city, a different country, following your partner, changing jobs. You name it.
In my case my father liked to change jobs. He loved jobs he could improve and when it was up and running again with big profits, he got bored. It happened more often than not that he came home telling my mother: "I accepted a new job offer, made an appointment for house viewings so start packing the removal boxes!".
And within a month or two, sometimes sooner, we moved to a different city or village. My brother hated it, I didn't. Ironically, after we all left home, he moved far more times than I did before he and his lovely family settled outside The Netherlands where they feel at home.

I have always been some sort of 'loner'. I mean not part of large groups of friends though come from a cosy family where everybody was welcome to share laughter and serious talks.
With only one brother but many friends, the house was never empty and sometimes I escaped to my secret hiding place in the garden to be on my own for a while.
My introversion was well understood by my parents and never discussed, we were raised to be a personality and not a 'go with the flow' child.

With every move my mother told us: "Where ever you go, you always take yourself with you. If you can make your current home a cosy place to be, you can do that in your next home too".
And how true is this. You are the base of your own life, make sure it is a solid base because circumstances in life can change in seconds.

Right now I am in a stage of my life where I do not have sufficient income to maintain a house.
Although I love my (former farm)house and especially the surroundings (fields, farms, the coast) and although I have lovely neighbours, it is time to move on to a rental house to start a new stage in my life.
I do not want to look back, I do not want to be sad about leaving the house. No, I am looking forward to make my new home as cosy as my present. I am not a materialist but I am indeed looking forward surrounding myself with all the lovely things that I inherited from many generations before me.
Things with a history, things I cherish.
Someone once told me: "I don't like it, I want to live in the future and not in the past".
Fortunately I am in the position to live with the past in the future.
It was Dr. Martin Luther king who said "We are not makers of history. We are made by history".
Another appealing quote comes from Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan "He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn".

I am wandering off, so sorry! Back to moving house.
It sounds so easy, you pack your belongings, hire a van, drive to your new house, unload your van and start unpacking. Yes my dear readers, that is all there is to it.
If, or when..... you live with only a very few belongings and I do not.
I need to sort out so much and realize it is time to say goodbye to some of the visible history. I need to learn to understand that things I love need to go to people who will love it too and who maybe pass it on to their relatives or friends so the past will stay present in the future, loved and cherished by others. So that the history of my family goes to other family members. I fully admit that this is not easy for me. Fortunately I was brought up amongst relatives with the same 'problem'.
My first cousin visited me a few weeks ago to collect a 'family cupboard' which stayed with me for a few years and had to move on again. It was a pleasure to meet her husband for the very first time.
He looked around in my house and said: "I can see to which family you belong! You all have the same way of decorating and collecting!"

Speaking of collections (another hot item): books, chamber pots, photo cameras, storage tins, sheep miniatures, embroidery samples.......
Sigh..... or.... help!

Please ask the weather gods for good weather, right now we have heavy rains with lots of strong winds and I need dry weather to park the trailer near the house.
In the meantime I keep filling 'ready for immediate use' and 'ready for the attic' and 'photo props' and 'books' boxes.
With the help of precious friends that is :-)

To be continued.....

Helen

Let's talk about photo cameras

No, don't be afraid nor disappointed, this is not going to be a tutorial for using your camera, neither will it be a technical lecture about photo cameras.
I am a passionate photographer who carries around her camera where ever she goes . I wrote about that before: Let's talk about photography

Today it is more about using different camera's for different occasions and moving on in Mega Pixels.
I still have my very first digital pocket camera, a PENTAX Optio 50L with 5MP which was a miracle at the time. Together with my analogue SRL, it suited me in all situations like quick holiday snapshots.
I loved that you could upload the photo's to your computer and share them in on-line albums (sharing is great!) so relatives and friends all over the world could view them.
For you youngsters it might sound very antique that there was an era without Mega Pixels, DSRL's, web albums or even mobile phones and computers. But believe me there was and we had an equal amount of fun as today.

Anyhow, the first digital pocket camera was a present given to me by my mother and I still cherish it and occasionally I still use it for monochrome photos.
But even I moved on to more MP's and recently received another amazing present; a very dear cousin (thank you so much!!!) made it possible for me to buy a Canon 77D. So, from 5 MP to 24 MP. What a difference!

And in between? A second hand FUJIFILM FinePix S950, 9MP and a great camera! Not a DSRL (still used my analogue) but with great features and an excellent zoom. Unfortunately it developed an annoying and expensive problem with the white balance and had to make way for my first Olympus, the E-400 (also second hand), 10 MP. This was the moment that even my analogue retired (until recently, analogue is hot again! Visit my Polaroid website).

My relationship with Olympus is a very steady one, the E-400 was my loyal companion for a vast amount of years and it is with an aching heart and tears in my eyes that the time is there to sell her.
She was my lecturer in understanding DSRL's, in editing photo's and changing my view on landscapes and objects. We travelled by foot, bicycle, plain, boat, train, car and motor home. Her photos have been uploaded and edited on Windows 98, XP, Vista, 7 and 10.

Dog Bas
Camera: Olympus SP-590UZ
Photo: © Ike Roelfsema

Still I bought a 'brother', a second hand Olympus E-510 - also 10MP, mainly (don't laugh...) for the Live View. And no, it does not have a touchscreen. I particularly like the live view using a tripod. And that is what I do for my Still Life photography (and sunsets).
And slowly but surely, the E-400 made way for the E-510. Though I could not sell her, I kept her and looked after her. At times I even thought her photo's were sharper than those of her 'brother'.

I love Olympus so much that I bought a bridge camera. I never attended to but nearby was an Olympus SP-590UZ for sale for a ridiculous low 'give away' price. It turned out the seller used it only once until it's internal memory was full (!), he did not bother to buy a memory card and it moved to a closet for a while.
I have been playing around with it and was impressed by it's 26x zoom (see the photo of my dog, taken at a distance of 11 metres).
And it is great with Macro too. Well, it may stay.

All Still Live photos are now taken with the E-510 and the E-400 will be put up for sale shortly. Including two lenses, lens hood, memory card, 2 batteries, battery charger and USB cable.
I truly hope she will find a new owner that will respect her for another couple of years.

Besides a Polaroid and analogue collection for own use and for rental purposes, I now have for 'daily' use the Olympus E-510, the 590UZ and my brand new Canon 77D which is an adventure on its own.
I was so much used to my E-510 that I have spent a whole battery on just exploring the 77D.
I watched some interesting video's (check out Jared Polin, Tony & Chelsea Northrup and last but not least Adam Carnacz who is a passionate landscape photographer), I read tutorials, watched photo's and received a lot of interesting advices from my friend Jannie who is also a passionate photographer and who owns a Canon 760D

Guru Pick in Gurushots Challenge "All is Vintage"
Photo: © Ike Roelfsema

I have to admit, I 'miss' my E-510, which means that I have to get used to the 77D but right now our acquaintanceship is running smoothly and I took my very first serious shot yesterday.
And guess what? A Still Life...... Which was successfully rewarded with a Guru Pick in the challenge "All Things Vintage" on Gurushots.

How many different camera's do you use on a regular base? And which one is your favourite?
Love to hear from you, leave your comment below.


Photo hugs,  Ike Helen

Let's talk about ageing....

Whether you are young or whether you are old, each stage in life has it's advantages.
Personally I like getting older. Yes, yes, you might not at all agree, at least not now, maybe at the end of my story.

Your childhood is precious and passes too fast. Impatience is part of the growing up. Particularly when you enter puberty. That stage that you are 13 coming up 30.
Parents talk rubbish, are embarrassing, don't understand you, are old fashioned and above all, extremely meddlesome.
You never sigh so often and so deep as in your teenage life. Neither will you ever roll your eyes as often. After all 'been their, done that', you know it all much better as a modern child of old fashioned parents who - sigh slash eye roll - do not even take the effort to understand you.
Although you consider yourself being an adult, you can't wait to grow up even faster and the proverb 'youth is waisted on the young' isn't meaningful to you.

You rush with big steps into the real life of earning your own money and living in your own apartment or house.
Whilst you overthink this all being that hasty teenager, you completely forget that adult life comes with loads of responsibilities. From doing your own laundry to paying your bills and TAX. From 8 to 5 jobs or being self employed with much longer working hours, to being woken up by impatient children at unearthly hours. And everything in between of which you suddenly realize your parents did it all without you even knowing or caring about it.

Well.... welcome to the world of the grown ups!

My memories of my childhood are care free and full of love, laughter, warm long summers and winters full of ice and snow.
My memories of being a teenager are confusing, upset hormones, heartaches, misunderstandings. Besides love and shelter of course. The proverb  'too large for a serviette and too small for a table cloth' was very appropriate. The one minute I felt confident and the next minute totally unsure.

I could not wait growing up and leaving it all behind me.

I also disliked the institute 'school'. No, I was not stupid and perfectly capable of learning but as I just said, to me it was an institute that locks you up for most of the day. And during my youth, children still went to school on the Saturday mornings as did most people work on the Saturday mornings.
Maybe it has to do with  being an introvert. If I couldn't remember staring out of the windows instead of concentrating on my fellow students and teaching material, the remarks in my reports still tell me.
All I wanted is being somewhere on my own, not surrounded by other people.

I was brought up in a lovely family with one brother but many other young people flocking the house sharing meals and laughter. I liked it at times but also had a small space in the garden where I could hide to enjoy solitude.

It changed when I had a job I truly loved: being a receptionist/telephonist and regularly a hostess on exhibitions. Surrounded by hundreds of people but I loved it. This is where my self-confidence evaluated to normal standards.
And suddenly being the non-official-adopted foster daughter of a Yorkshire couple helped a lot too! Being part of the British way of life made me complete. But this is a different story...

We now arrive in our twenties, a steep learning curve towards our thirties and still it can not go fast enough. You still make mistakes (did I know by then that making mistakes is part of learning and learning is equal to developing and that is what you need to do until your very last breath), you hate making mistakes because you see yourself (finally) as the adult you should be.
Society is demanding, so is making a success of friendships, relationships, your job and last but not least your marriage.

Looking back, these twenties and thirties did not differ much: you have loads of energy to cope with all your plans and mental growth. You learn to cope with the responsibilities you definitely were not aware of in your teens. Loads of energy to make your life successful.

Then come the forties, not for everyone but yes, for me the life changing era.
The end of the marriage, the start of a totally different life with totally different expectations and opportunities. Challenges.
And although the divorce, Cancer and several operations, self employed, part time jobs elsewhere until an 80 hours per week job with travelling within Europe, I still had the necessary amount of energy to live a life like this.

This is also the stage in life you realize that being just you and being at ease with yourself, doing the right things in life and being honest, is the true base of your life. Nothing more and nothing less.
The opinion about me of people who passed by in my life, has never been of much importance to me. I was brought up with the intention to be a nice person and a personality, not the 'go with the flow' and not a 'part of a large group' person. And you will agree that 50 different people have 50 different opinions about you. You can not please them all, that is simply impossible, a waste of energy which can better be spend on those who are close to you with mutual respect.

It is in this stage of life you learn where your priorities are. Or even better: with whom. You have the energy to learn this and paying it attention. You are half way your life (technically spoken) and want it to be good with no worries about things you can not change. You learn to turn the unchangeable nasty things into good things. And slowly you grow towards your fifties......

Photo: Ike Roelfsema Photography

You might not realise it at first (fifty sounds old though, middle aged....) but this is the stage in life you can be just you. You will notice, whatever you do - being silly or seriously, dancing in the streets or jumping in pools getting soaked, or up to your knees in the mud during a refreshing walk - youngsters smile and think "That is a silly person but who cares, she/he is old anyway". Where the elderly people think "I wished I could still do that. And who cares, she/he is still young! Such a blessing!"
With this in mind, make the very best of this stage in your life! Live it to the full and stay responsible.

I am more than happy to say that this feeling is still appropriate at my current age, I can not speak for beyond early sixties. Though I do have lovely close friends beyond seventy who do not only share this view on life but who still 'dance in the street', who are energetic and active, who enjoy being who they are, being alive and kicking. Still discovering new challenges in life....

Ah.... life! It is still a party but it is yóú who has to put up the decorations!

Cheers!!!

Helen

James, my partner in baking and cooking

James...... we met early 2017.
Hard to believe we are together for almost 2 years now, time flies, dear readers!

James and I match so well! We love experimenting, tasting new things, looking for possibilities to make life easier with saving on money.  And we do great!
As soon as I come up with a new idea, James is ready for it and helps me where ever he can.
We never argue on forehand, afterwards we discuss the failures and how to do it better next time.
Although he is very strict in following up my cooking gestures, he also easily adapts when we have to rethink it. Yes, I love James!!!

The only thing that James does not do, is ice making. No matter how hard we think of how and when, it seems impossible. Fortunately I received a second hand ice maker, problem solved.
Right now James and I are in the phase of baking bread, low budget bread to be precise. And without an oven, that is part of the fun.

Photo: Ike Roelfsema Photography

Unfortunately I do not have the luxury of an AGA, preferable with logs. I admit that sometimes I think I would have enjoyed living 2 centuries earlier.   A Yorkshire Range, spreading his warmth, snoring day and night during the cold winter......... a dream.....



I am not an excellent cook, somehow I miss the fantasy to create a tasty and different, delicious meal.
But I love baking! Only till recently, I baked on gas, in a so called (50 years old) 'wonder pan'. These cakes do much better than in an oven. But gas is expensive these days, electricity is much cheaper but ovens use a lot of wattage. Pinching pennies is another hobby which is giving me joy. I am so amazed in how many ways one can cut back on spendings! One of the reasons James arrived is cutting back on money. The other is that where I can not cook, James can and - last but not last - dinner is ready in time!

Back to bead making.
Last week I read a beautiful, touching and very impressive book: 'The Great Alone' by Kristin Hannah. I shed a few tears and could not stop reading.
In this book she writes about a family in Alaska, baking sour dough bread with the starter always available. I talked to James about it and we decided to give it a try. Tonight is the moment, I will tell you more about it in another blog post.
This recipe got me curious to search for yeast free bread and I ended up with the delicious Irish Soda Bread.

Photo: Helen Varras

James and I were thrilled about it, it is so easy to make! No rising and kneading, just a matter of mixing the dry and wet ingredients and baking. I did the mixing and the light kneading and James did the baking, 2,5 hours on high. From 2 hours on I frequently knocked the bread until it sounded hollow.
I am so pleased to say that James and I were very happy with the result. It is tasty, particularly still warm with butter.

You can't keep it for too long unless you allow it to cool down to store it in the freezer.

But it tastes great the next day when you toast it. Want to give it a try? Here is the recipe.
If you prefer to bake it in an oven: preheated 180 C (365F), 30-40 minutes.

Right now we are working on another try out: Kajmak, a delicious creamy cheese from the Balkan. More about this in another blog post.

Ooohhh....... I forgot to tell you that my magnificent, lovely, loyal James is my Slow Cooker......

Love,

Helen