(Day 92) The habit

Or perhaps better described as - the 'addiction'. My taste in coffee has run the gamut from instant coffee (yeah, remember that ??) to drip coffee to cappuccino and now on to one cup brewers. I think the theme throughout all the years has been - 'the stronger, the better' (not, the bitter).

I'm not sure who the world's greatest consumers of coffee are, but I'll bet the Dutch rank right up there. I was introduced to my latest favourite coffee during a trip to Holland a couple of years ago. It was a brand named Senseo, made by Douwe Egberts. When I returned to Canada I had to have that, only to discover that it wasn't available here! Not in Canada ? Pity! The internet's a wonderful equalizer and I soon found a machine and supply of coffee from our good neighbours to the south.

Today I can order the coffee from a Canadian distributor who orders it from Holland. So now I order 2 cases of coffee pods at a time (over 700 cups of coffee!). I started out with dark roast but have since discovered that they make extra dark roast - that's for me!

I think the Dutch add an ingredient that makes it very addictive!! Not sure - just saying.

(60mm  f5.6  1.6 sec  ISO400)

(Day 91) Faded - maybe; forgotten - never!

Many beautiful flower arrangements were sent by thoughtful people in memory of and as a tribute to someone who was close to them in some way. They were a stark contrast to the otherwise drab scene. Perhaps flowers at a funeral symbolize the living.

One arrangement made the long journey home with us. Some of its flowers have started to fade, just as some of our memories will no doubt fade. However, life will go forward and memories of her will always remain.

Thank you again to everyone for their kind words of support.

(18-55mm  f20  20 sec ISO400)

(Day 90) After the storm

People sometimes compare events in life to a storm. Storms usually have a build-up - sometimes that can be gradual but at other times they can rear up very quickly. Then there is the storm itself - of short or long duration but usually having some degree of violence or out-of-the-ordinary happenings. And, after the storm, there is peace, although there can also be 'mopping up' required. Things usually aren't as they were before the storm.

Our storm has now passed us by. It is by no means forgotten and there will be 'mopping up'. But we'll be looking for that peace, and especially that 'peace that passes all understanding.

Note: although I followed the ABC principle, circumstances prevented me from using my camera for the past couple of days; hopefully I'll be back behind the lens shortly. In the meantime I'm relying on my archives.

(70-200mm  f8  1/500 sec  ISO200)

(Day 89) The wheels of time

We've been through a whirlwind of emotions over this past week. There have been times of great sadness and sense of loss, but also of happiness and joy. There have been times of solitude and reflection and times of shared laughter among family and friends - many opportunities to provide and receive support.

As I looked around the hall after the memorial service today it struck me that I was seeing the wheels of time moving relentlessly forward. I saw before me the older generation, those of my mother-in-law's age, who will likely also not outlive this new decade. Then there was the next generation - those whose children were now adults themselves and some of them who in turn were now having children. As time takes the older generation, a new generation is being ushered in.

As I thought about this I knew which photo I needed to find in my archives.

Note: although I followed the ABC principle, circumstances prevented me from using my camera for the past couple of days; hopefully I'll be back behind the lens shortly. In the meantime I'm relying on my archives.

(60mm  f11  2 sec  ISO200)

(Day 88) A new day

For the first time since I began this 365 project I'm having to take both a mental and physical break from shooting a daily photo so I can put my focus on being supportive during this time. I'm reaching into my archives to find a photo to post.

This one I took very early one morning from our front yard, as a new day dawned. I find it symbolic of today, the first day where we who remain behind move on without a loved one present, and the first that she who has left this earth has experienced without pain and suffering.

(18-55mm  f11  1/40 sec  ISO200)