Just as you awake...

Just as you awake..., originally uploaded by Lily-Wren.

This was taken whilst on the road travelling through Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Taken early one morning as the sun was rising. I just loved the silhouettes of the street lights and signs and the contrasts of lines with these and the traffic lights.

I had to be quick though as we were driving and had no time to stop!

The Jetty at Dawn

The Jetty at Dawn, originally uploaded by Lily-Wren.

Another photograph of a beautiful sunrise taken on a recent trip to Minnesota.

First Light

First Light, originally uploaded by Lily-Wren.

The same morning as the previous shot, however, this was a few moments earlier. The photograph and colours are practically 'as was' and had to be seen to be believed! The Autumn Minnesota sunrise is just so stunning.

Unfortunately my lens isn't big enough to get a closer shot of the single Loon bobbing along on the water. I love these birds, so much so, I bought a really tacky cuddly toy that makes the haunting Loon call - never thought I would become such a 'tourist'!!

Sunrise

Sunrise, originally uploaded by Lily-Wren.

Beautiful sunrise captured over Jack-the-Horse Lake, Minnesota. One of my favourite photographs taken over the last couple of weeks....

The Orange Girl by Jostein Gaarder

The Orange Girl by Jostein Gaarder
Publisher: Pheonix
Date: 7th July 2005 (New edition)
ISBN:0753819929

Well, it has been many years since I read a book, cover to cover, over the course of a day or two. The Orange Girl has restored my faith in my ability to do just this. I have found that every book I have read of Gaarder's has held me captivated and I love the way in which not one word is wasted nor is it skimmed over (on my part!). This book is no exception.

The Orange Girl's main focus is on Georg, his deceased father and his father's love and obsession with the 'Orange Girl'. Georg's father died when he was nearly 4 and 11 years later he his handed a large, unopened envelope from his grandmother. The envelope holds his father's story of the Orange Girl. Written just before his death, Georg's father writes to the 'older' Georg about the girl and the events leading up to them meeting. On receiving the envelope, Georg hides himself away for an evening to read the story.

Gaarder brings his wonderful use of a 'story within story' in to play. We are with Georg all the way as he reads his father's tale and we also witness Georg's feelings and views throughout the book. We are, in effect, seeing Georg growing up in the course of a few hours. We are able to see him getting to know a father who died long before he was old enough to get to know him in life.

It was within the early part of the book I felt I had discovered the 'mystery', however, this did not make the book any less enchanting. In fact it made the story all the more bittersweet, poignant and touching. I found the Orange Girl to be a wonderful book about love, loss, life and making the most of what you have before it has gone.

Often with Gaarder's books I find that I stop myself for a few minutes, remove myself from the daily drudgery of work, bed, work, and see life for what it is! Precious, short and not to be spent being too serious about things for any length of time! The Orange Girl made me do this once again, even if for a short time, before the world of work, stress and earning money beckons!

Psychedelic Renegades: With Photographs of Syd Barrett by Mick Rock

Psychedelic Renegades: With Photographs of Syd Barrett by Mick Rock
Plexus Publishing Ltd
Date: Oct 2007
ISBN: 0859654176

A beautiful book and a must have for Syd Barrett fans and those interested in photography alike, fortunately of which I am both.

Rock presents as insightful a book as any I have seen about Barrett documenting his time through the late 60's/early 70's. I have read several biographies relating to Barrett and have found Rock's photography, prose and interview the most poignant. At the beginning of the book Rock writes, briefly, about his time with Syd in the late 60's, creating a wonderful atmosphere and context within which the photographs and further prose follows.





Rock also offers insights into his early photography experience in how certain photographs were shot. A definite plus for those interested in photography. Interestingly, the early shots of Syd were among the first he took as a professional photographer and he is able to provide us with glimpses and flashes of a mad cap in the making.

The later shots of Syd, in his mother's garden in the early 70's, are amongst the most beautiful and striking photographs. They show a fragile person yet, at times, give us glimpses of hope and smiles. In between photograph's, Rock provides us with information about the times he knew Syd and also the time spent that day in Syd's mother's garden.







A wonderful book and a must have for any fan of Barrett, Rock and photography.

A Good Ole Rant!

I have to get this off my (rather ample I have to say..) chest! I may sound like a grumpy old woman but, so be it. No-one may be reading but, again, so be it. I just have to rant at something, someone..anywhere!! I shall try and not swear, I promise, but it will be hard.

LITTER.

Again I shall even shout it out...

LITTER!!!!!!!!!!!

Phew, that feels better.. Warning, there may be a few more exclamation marks, it is a RANT after all.

Now I know in the grand scheme of things it isn't important. Wars, distruction, poverty, illness and a rather strange Government in place but still, I am fed up with it. I have, in the words of my dear boss, 'reached the end of my lollipop'. I have (almost) reached the point to where I will, with big bloody bin bags in hand and pink marigolds on, go all around the streets where I live and pick up every frikken piece of bloomin, sodding, soon to be rat infested, smelly, careless strewn litter there is. It may take some time.

Granted, where I live is not a 'posh' area, in fact it is quite deprived, but does that give people an excuse to make it look even more like a second rubbish dump??? What is it with people who just carelessly toss that KFC box, Maccy Ds bag, crisp packet out of their car window?? Is their car such a precious item that they cannot KEEP HOLD of these items and get rid of them once home? Or, if yer like me, have a few bags full of rubbish in the car that I keep forgetting to put in my bin *blush* But, at least it is in my car, and not tossed along the street or road.

I was walking in town the other day, I just happened to glance a person just finished their crisps and throw the bag in the road. It wasn't like an accidental drop, or even a PRETEND accidental drop (of which when I am younger I am sure I did *blush again*), it was a throw. Driving along I was behind someone who just threw a carton out of the window.... I saw a bloke blow his nose and throw a tissue into the road..it goes on and on and on. And my blood pressure rises and rises. 'Calm down dear, it's just a bit of litter' I hear Michael Winner tell me! But it just builds up!

Why do people just seem to toss aside an empty drinks can, a crisps packet or fag packet on the street and then walk a few metres up their path into their bloody house? Do they have no bin inside? Do they not have one of those godforsaken wheelie bins??

My theory was that the bins of such careless minded folks must be completely empty... but then this theory was blown out of the water after Fridays rubbish collection day. Even the bloody bin collectors are at it. The street gets even worse after they have emptied the wheelie bins. WHY?? Surely the rubbish is supposed to go in the truck??

*deep breaths*

Sorry, sad aren't I? Or am I? Does this litter throwing community represent something more? Something to do with beliefs, values, apathy, ignorance? I don't know. But what I do know is..

IT GETS ON MY BLOODY WICK!!!

*sighs*

Right I shall go now and promise next time to be lighter and free from litter stress. I intend to do something I haven't done before... attend the next meeting for this area at the council, it may help my sanity then again people may just look at me and think 'blimey what with all that is going on in the world she moans about this??'

I shall leave it for you to decide... Incidently I went out to take photographs in the street and back street where I live. When I was in the backstreet someone actually passed in their car, reversed and asked WHY I was taking photographs as they lived round there, I felt like saying I am taking photographs of the bloody litter. But I just said I lived round there too...unfortunately.