jet-lag (days 46 and 47)
~
I had a great time during my week in California, but it has been hard to return to my regular routines. The four-hour time shift left me out of sync. For about ten days after arriving home, I was constantly sleepy, napping at odd times through the day. I also had a hard time regulating my eating and for a few days, breakfast was a three course meal (doesn’t make sense since in California, I would still be sleeping).
~
I slacked off my biking as well and after only two 30 minute sessions in 10 days, I woke one morning to find my knee in pain and almost locked into a bent position. Besides its other benefits, I think the stationary biking keeps my knee flexible and lubricated. I started biking again every two days and now my knee is back to ‘normal’.
~
~
7-46 November 13, 2013 35 minutes 3.0 km (from Port Navas to Constantine)
~
Being able to climb stairs easily is important, especially since I wanted to try out this set of stone stairs along the road in Cornwall …
~
November 21, 2013 ‘stone stair near Constantine’ Jane Tims
~
My experience with jet-lag has shown me how much easier it is to just hop on my stationary bike and see the Cornwall coast via Street View.
~
7-47 November 19, 2013 30 minutes 3.0 km (from Constantine to Mawgan)
~
The route for the last few days of my virtual travel has taken me across the inlets of the Helford River. This is interesting to me since I worked on waterways for so much of my career. I also saw a flock of ducks on the water of the Mawgan Creek, also worthy of a look since Street View captures so little wildlife.
~
~
A short distance farther along, the road crosses another branch of Mawgan Creek. It was a good subject for a watercolour, so I tried to capture the reflections in the water and the contrast between the soft vegetation and the hard stone bridge. In a lazy mood (more jet-lag???), I decided to use a spatter technique to give some interest to the scene. I got a little carried away with the red!
~
November 18, 2013 ‘Mawgan Creek’ Jane Tims
~
I coped so badly with my ‘jet-lag’ experience, I now have renewed admiration for those who must travel constantly because of their work.
~
I’d love to hear about your experiences with ‘jet-lag’.
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
California #3 – the Pacific Ocean
When I went to California, I wanted to do four things: see my brother and my sister-in-law in their new home, drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, see Star Trek Academy (or its eventual location) and stick my toe in the Pacific Ocean. The first three were easy, but seeing the Pacific and touching it were two different things. We saw it almost immediately from the plane. Then we walked along Fishermen’s Wharf, watched the boats bobbing in the quay, walked among the Bay fish at the Aquarium and travelled on the Bay Cruise around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge twice. Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, I experienced some of the power of the Pacific Ocean. As you cross under the Bridge, the water turns very choppy and churns and twists and swells.
~
Once we got to Calistoga, my brother gave us his car for the day and my son and I headed across the winding roads of the Calistoga hills. Thanks to our GPS and my son’s piloting skills, we reached the coast with little problem. The waves were gorgeous – big white breakers on a blue ocean and a blue sky in the background. Surfers were riding the biggest of the waves. However, we couldn’t seem to find a way down to the beach that wouldn’t wreck my knees, so we contented ourselves with the view. Then we ate at the ‘Tides’ restaurant, at a seat near the window directly over the water. It was so close we both felt as though we were moving!
~
Our last stop was at Goat Rock. After a snail’s pace and a harrowing descent of very twisty roads, we reached the beach, but after reading the signs (they said it is the most dangerous beach in California for undertows), we decided to content ourselves with walking in the deep sand. As we turned from the ocean to return to Calistoga, I wondered why I was not disappointed at not getting my feet wet. The answer … I intend to return again and I’ll poke my toes in then!!!!
~
Since my son has all our photos, I will share some photos and my painting of the Atlantic Ocean (Lawrencetown Beach) from my visit this spring with my other brother.
~
~
~
~
November 16, 2013 ‘Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia’ Jane Tims
~
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
California #2 – loving limes
Since I am a botanist, it is no surprise – one of my favorite experiences in California was seeing the vegetation. Lime, orange and lemon trees were everywhere. One of the best lime trees was in my brother’s yard. It had more limes than leaves! It was en route to their new restaurant, 1226 Washington, opening soon in Calistoga.
~
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
getting ready for Christmas #1
For me, November began with a hurried Halloween and a week-long trip to California. Once I returned, I promised myself full attention to getting ready for Christmas. At the risk of behaving like the stores who run Christmas music in November, I am going to share some of my Christmas projects.
~
This activity is fueled somewhat by Pinterest. I discovered it quite recently and find so many creative ideas there!
~
My first project was a paper garland for our entry. Cardinals and white ribbon.
~
~
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
the colour of November #2 – wood for the winter
November in New Brunswick can be bleak. Before the snow is on the ground, the colours are dominated by browns and greys. Like the browns and greys in our woodpiles.
~
We have several woodpiles. These include ranks of large round wood, cut and split into stove lengths, and stored in our shed. We also have spruce and fir kindling, chopped fine to start the fire. In the garage is a pile of smaller round wood, mostly the limbs trimmed from our maple trees. This smaller wood will be the base for our fires, a way for the flames to step from the kindling to the bigger wood.
~
Nov. 14, 2013 ‘wood for winter’ Jane Tims
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
California #1
~
Spent last week in California! The Streets of San Francisco. Trolleys. Wharves. Sight seeing boats. Sight-seeing buses. Alcatraz and the Presidio. The Golden Gate Bridge. Star Fleet Academy -well, the site where it will be built!
~
Then to Calistoga in wine country. Tours of wineries, a cable car, a trip to an African Safari park, giant Redwoods, and The Pacific Ocean! Had lots of fun!
~
My camera ran out of batteries, but my son took lots of photos, so I’ll be sharing these in future …
~
~
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
cornrows
~
~
cornrows
~
at the first rustle
of shadow on skin
I wake beside him
~
I slide from the bed
flip the latch, climb through
the window, he will
be angry
the thought delights me
~
I cross to the cornfield
silken rows of ribbon
higher than my head
an army, khaki-clad
could march here
one row over
and we could all
have solitude
~
I shift rows
suddenly
catch a glimpse
of tassels
chevrons
boot heels
click into the next row
ribbons quiver
~
takes nine minutes
to find a cornrow
north to south
leads back to the house
I cross the yard
pause on the threshold
I hesitate
a stranger
~
the cornstalks whisper
~
I raise my fist
hammer on the door
~
~
Published as: ‘cornrows’, Spring 2013, The Antigonish Review 173
~
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
autumn corn
~
When I think of the fall, I always think about corn – the rustling of the cornstalks in the fields, shucking corn for a corn-boil, eating corn-on-the-cob. In New Brunswick, the corn has been harvested by now, but I thought I’d try a watercolour.
~
On a trip a couple of years ago, we were very impressed by the huge cornfields. I took many photos, including this one …
~
~
At the time, I was doing pencil sketches for my Blog and I did this sketch from the photo …
~
~
This is my watercolour, done a few days ago from the same photo …
~
October 28, 2013 ‘September corn’ Jane Tims
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
the colour of November #1 (Winterberry red)
~
Last week, we went out to our cabin to do some reading and cutting of the ever-growing vegetation. In spite of the mower and the thinning saw and regular prunings, the field seems to grow vegetation behind your back. When you turn around, an alder or a birch tree has filled in a patch you thought was only grass.
~
As we planned a new path across the field, we considered each sapling before we cut. To our surprise, we found another bush of Winterberry Holly (Canada Holly, Ilex verticillata (L.) Gray). Many grow down by the lake, but up in the field by our cabin, we know only of one other.
~
This time of year their leaves are bronzed and brown and their berries are orange-red. The berries will persist on the leafless branches all through the winter.
~
~
The berries of the Winterberry Holly are so much fun to paint. I started with a layer of red, added orange and then layers of white, yellow and red in turn. I finished with a dot of black and a dot of white on the majority of the berries.
~
October 27, 2013 ‘Winterberry red’ Jane Tims
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
stiles and blue stones (day 44 and day 45)
~
How do you get over a fence or a wall if it is too high to step over???
~
You can use a stairway or a stile !!!
~
map showing distance travelled (map from Google Earth)
~
7-44 October 30, 2013 30 minutes 3.0 km (from Mawnan to north of Durgan)
~
Near Durgan, I saw a stone stairway along the road. As I painted, I began to believe that I saw a blue stone among the others (when I look at the photo now, I think it was a trick of the eye!). Can you find the blue stone? (Hint: it is not one of the two blue stones in the bottom course of stones)!
~
inspiration for ‘blue stone’ (image from Street View)
~
October 25, 2013 ‘blue stone’ Jane Tims
~
7-45 November 1, 2013 30 minutes 3.0 km (Durgan to Port Navas)
~
A short way from Durgan, I also saw a stile. I have seen several stiles along my virtual journey, but this is the first stile I have see made entirely of stone. A stile is a structure built in a fence, wall or other barrier to allow people to pass but keep animals in. Stiles were often required in the UK but no standard guidelines to their construction were issued, so many styles of stile are found! Stiles can consist of a ladder, steps, or even a narrow gap in a stone wall.
~
stile near Mawnan (image from Street View)
~
As a kid, I loved to hear about stiles. One of the stories my Mom told me was about the Old Woman who had a Pig who wouldn’t go over the stile. She found a Dog and said ‘Dog, Dog, bite Pig so Pig will go over the stile and I can get home to my supper tonight!’ After talking to many animals, items and people, the woman finally succeeds. ‘The Man began to marry the Maid, the Maid began to milk the Cow, the Cat began to drink the milk, the Cat began to kill the Rat, the Rat began to gnaw the Rope, the Rope began to hang the Butcher, the Butcher began to kill the Ox, the Ox began to drink the Water, the Water began to quench the Fire, the Fire began to burn the Stick, the Stick began to beat the Dog, the Dog began to bite the Pig, the Pig jumped over the stile, and so the Old Woman got home to get her supper’.
~
A rather violent tale for children as many children’s stories are. But as a child, I loved the repetition and the idea of consequence, and the knowledge that the Old Woman got her supper.
~
When we first built our house, we built a stile over the fence by the front gate and it was so much fun to step over!
~
inspiration for ‘stile near Durgan’ (image from Street View)
~
October 26, 2012 ‘stile near Durgan’ Jane Tims
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
