Playing with light

365 Projects

A week or so ago my brother told me about this idea where you challenge yourself to take a photo a day for a year. I was complaining that I hadn't taken any pictures in weeks. At first I doubted that I would want to make such a commitment but then I went onto 365project.org website and felt inspired by the idea of having a photo journal that would document my life for the course of a year.

It is surprisingly difficult to pick one photo to represent the day. So, I thought I would add a few of the photo's that didn't make "the cut". The other photos can be viewed at http://365project.org/tarrynm/365

Pure Bliss

Shongololo

Sunset

Bobby

Kalk Bay Meanderings

On Saturday we headed down to Kalk Bay for some good old fashioned fish and chips and a wonder along the pier to look at the fishing boats. Here are a few photo's.

 

 

How To Be Alone

This is beautiful!

I say, bring on the Summer!

I feel grumpy! My legs and arms have so many bites that I look as though I have some tropical disease or better still, chicken pox! An hour and a half of being outside in New Hampshire, during the spring, will do that to you and the little critters responsible are none other than the 'black flies" which in South Africa we would refer to as "miggies". At least the South African version can't bite!

On a positive note, yesterday was the first day that I got to see a blue sky in what feels like forever. It was a taste of the glorius summer yet to come.

Last weekend I headed down to Cape Cod to visit a friend. It is an incredibly picturesque area with exquisite vista's and quaint towns. I also paid patronage to the South African Restaurant located in Provincetown. Aptly named "Karoo Kafe" it was a little piece of home. I brought the most expensive boerewors roll ever and enjoyed it alongside a peppermint crisp. Yum!

This weekend I head down to New York City to reconnect with a great friend and show her around the city. Hopefully it isn't the blind leading the blind!

Have you been to Harrisville?

It is Saturday morning in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. I am surrounded by exquisite lakes, forests and mountains that beckon to be explored and climbed. The African in me cautions that such activities on your own are potentially dangerous. Hell, I won’t even run down the abandoned road on my own! Who knows what, but in my mind “who”, lies in wait in the vastness of the unknown. It saddens me that I am so cautious of going places on my own but my meandering thoughts have now sidetracked me from the telling of today’s adventure.

“It’s a great little town with a nice place to eat – kind of like the corner store but healthier” were the words my brother used to spark my attention “but I don’t know how you get there, it’s kind of complicated”. Good thing I discovered the GPS in the cubbyhole of the car I have been using. It is my new favourite toy, especially in this vast country with its spidery network of roads.

Armed with my camera, a couple of dollars and a sense of adventure, I plugged 29 Church Street, Harrisville, NH into the GPS and set off in search of the popular “General Store” which boasts of good coffee, scrumptious home-made food and broadband wireless. Halfway there I realised I had left my computer. I guess I won’t be finishing that journal article this weekend.

On Friday I had to go to Hanover to attend a seminar. Google maps said it would take less than an hour. The GPS decided to take me on a rather scenic route through the backcountry of New Hampshire. It took me an hour and a half. So, I wasn’t surprised when I found myself again navigating the back roads of New Hampshire in search of the mystical Harrisville and its popular cafe.

Harrisville claims to be one of the most photographed towns in New England. I can see why! It has this old age industrial feel to it, complete with picturesque streams, trees, houses and of course a lake. Located in the Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire, it is a wonderful example of a well preserved 19^th century mill town with the sawmill and gristmill being built in 1774.

After an hour of rambling around town with my camera, it was time to go in search of some refreshments. The General store was all I imagined and more. The smell of freshly brewed coffee welcomed me as I stepped into a bustling space filled with an assortment of delicious looking food, interesting people and a menu that is somewhat reminiscent of Olympia Cafe in Cape Town. To my delight, it really was a General store where you could buy basic household necessities and I was immediately transported back to South Africa’s Spaza shops although this would be considered a chic, upmarket version.

I can already envision retreating to Harrisville during the summer when I have a few hours to spare and am looking forward to soaking up the sun on the veranda while sipping iced tea and watching the world go by.

The Magic of Windsor Mountain

Windsor Mountain was strutting around like a proud peacock on Friday afternoon as she greeted me with an exquisite crisp blue sky and dazzling sun that bounced shafts of brilliant light off the frozen lake, in a sparkly extravaganza of Windsor Mountain magic.

As I stepped back onto the deck, with the beaded mobiles still glinting in the sun as they hung from the now leafless crab-apple, I felt as though I had “come home”; the six months spent in South Africa quickly melting away into timelessness. It was at that moment, as I was warmly welcomed back by Jake, Kerry, Stella and Cody (who couldn’t wait to drop his ball at my feet) that I realised why staff and campers return again and again. You see, Windsor Mountain is a little crafty; she seeps bit by bit into your very core - into your soul, if you will, and it’s in the leaving that you realise what a special and enchanting place you have had the good fortune to be a part of. And if you are lucky like me; you get to return for what promises to be an epic summer!