Marja-Leena Rathje

by Marja-Leena

clouds

Yesterday evening after a very hot day, and after a simple supper on the deck, we sat back in our chairs to enjoy the cooling air. I glanced up and looked at the wispy clouds in the sky. Really looked. Nothing unusual, I’ve seen more dramatic clouds, especially from airplanes, but for some reason these gave me a lovely feeling of peace and beauty. Youngest granddaughter then came upstairs with a book and asked me to read it to her as a bedtime story, but first we looked at the clouds together and I took a few photos. A simple yet deeply pleasurable evening.

July 20, 2012 in Nature, Photoworks 11 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

rusty can 2

July 18, 2012 in Found Objects, Photoworks, Textures 4 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

rusty can

Another exciting unearthing in the garden! From the same area as the roots, this rusty and disintegrating metal object (a paint can?) is the kind of find that I love. It is a delight, as well as a challenge to photograph well since I’ve not done any macro shots for a while. I plan to do more of these.

I know, I know, rust objects do occupy a huge place in my photo collection. Here are just a couple amongst many favourites: a rust circle and treasure hunt. And of course, my Fragments series of prints consist of several rusty objects.

July 16, 2012 in Found Objects, Photoworks, Textures 7 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

found art (2)

spotted on my messy potting table outdoors
folded paper, damp, stained, one of the ‘paper tears‘
escaped, blown here and weathered,
art by nature, like a soft dyed silk scarf

Related: the first “found art”

July 14, 2012 in Drawings, Found Objects, Photoworks 4 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

fossil hunting 4

These are the final group of photos taken in the Royal Tyrrell Musum. Now I hope they will bubble and stir and come forth in some future work. Some have already done so in the past.

Should you have missed them, information and more images can be seen in part 1, part 2 and part 3.

July 12, 2012 in Nature, Photoworks, Rocks 8 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

fossil hunting 3

Pareiasaurs: reptile, herbivore, possibly an early relation to turtles

Alligator: Alberta, Canada

A few more photos from that most memorable long ago visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta. If you missed them, please see Part 1 and Part 2 for the background.

July 10, 2012 in Environment, Nature, Photoworks, Rocks 6 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

suddenly, summer

After a miserable spring and the coldest, wettest June ever, climaxing in a terrific downpour a week ago, summer has suddenly arrived with the heatwave from eastern North America. Afternoons are suddenly reaching 30C (86F)! Must. Not. Complain.

July 9, 2012 in Canada and BC, Home 10 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

fossil hunting 2

More photos from that long ago visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta. Unlike most of the photos I’d taken there, two here captured some information – the third photo shows a nothosaur, and the last one a part of a bobastrania. I will have to look them up.

For me, the shapes, lines and textures of these fossils, most fossils, are visually very entrancing and intriguing. The knowledge that these are the remains of very ancient living creatures captured forever in rock touches something in my soul and makes me feel very small.

Added a few hours later: Evidence of earliest animals found in Newfoundland – a fascinating discovery in an already amazing fossil site! There is also a mention of BC’s Burgess Shale fossil site. If I recall correctly the Newfoundland site was featured in one of the episodes of the Geologic Journey series shown on CBC.

July 5, 2012 in Environment, Films, Nature, Photoworks, Rocks 4 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

coffee & cake

Yesterday, we had friends Marianna and Terry come for a visit. The time flew as we talked and talked over coffee and cake in the European tradition, as Marianna wrote, so common to Germans, Swiss, Finns and others. Soon we realized it was nearing dinnertime, and talk was still flowing, so instead of their rushing back to Terry’s cousin’s place over town, we went out to a local Greek taverna for dinner.

Some exciting entertainment was provided by a sudden extreme downpour, thundering like hail but not, and coming down the sloping glass skylights like a waterfall. Have a look at the photos at Marianna’s blog too!

This has been the third get-together for Marianna and I, thanks to meeting via our blogs. Last year the husbands joined us and we’ve cemented a nice friendship. Thanks for the visit, Marianna and Terry, and may we meet again soon!

Oh! and a Happy July 4th to all our American friends and family!

July 4, 2012 in Blogging, Home 6 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

Canada Day weekend

Hope Canadians had a great Canada Day yesterday! It was thankfully a dry, warm and sometimes sunny day around Vancouver for those out to see parades and fireworks or going to backyard pool and BBQ gatherings with family annd friends. Today has been back to cold and wet. I feel sorry for those camping on this long weekend which started with an unusual and beautifully atmospheric fog on Friday evening and overnight – I wish I had captured photos.

We continue to be busy with home projects, especially husband who is also helping youngest daughter fix up her apartment before moving in (and moving out). Work never ends it seems when one is a homeowner yet we take deep pleasure in our home. The garden is a washout though…

We are looking forward to a visit tomorrow from friends whom we have made (and met before) through blogging. I will be baking a cake! More later, must remember to take photos.

July 2, 2012 in Blogging, Canada and BC, Home 11 Comments »

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clouds

rusty can 2

rusty can

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suddenly, summer

fossil hunting 2

coffee & cake

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