Not long after I posted my last entry, I glimpsed out of the big picture window in my parents' home to see some fiery colours appearing in the sky. I dashed out of the house, camera in hand, to capture the following images. Simply amazing!
Melissa
Friday, August 27, 2010
Another Spectacular Sunset
Hello all,
Not long after I posted my last entry, I glimpsed out of the big picture window in my parents' home to see some fiery colours appearing in the sky. I dashed out of the house, camera in hand, to capture the following images. Simply amazing!
Melissa
Not long after I posted my last entry, I glimpsed out of the big picture window in my parents' home to see some fiery colours appearing in the sky. I dashed out of the house, camera in hand, to capture the following images. Simply amazing!
Melissa
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Northern Greetings
Dear Friends,
It has been a few weeks since I have written. I have been enjoying a long awaited vacation with my family. I usually make a trip once a year to spend time with my mom, dad and brother near the 58th parallel in Northern Alberta. This year, I had the added pleasure of travelling with my brother to British Columbia, where we spent a week enjoying the stunning beauty of the mountains and reliving our childhood in the communities in which we grew up as kids.
One of the more interesting things I have done in this past week was to go on a photo shoot with my über-talented brother, Aaron. The main purpose of the shoot was to get some material for my upcoming CD (photos which shall remain carefully guarded until its release....*smile*), but it also gave Aaron the chance to experiment with some new camera gear he had recently purchased. The new photo at the top of this site is his work, and I couldn't be more amazed with the results, which are raw off of the camera - no Photoshop! So a big kudos goes out to my brother. If you are interested in seeing more of his amazing work, visit his website: http://www.ditarx.com/
Last night I had the opportunity to do one of my favorite things -- something I must do every year when I visit my hometown -- go on a canoe ride with my dad. The river was extraordinarily calm last night, and the northern skies were reflected in perfect detail in the tranquil water. Dad and I were out for about three hours before sunset last night, and within those three hours, I took 125 photos! Seems silly, I know; but it's remarkable how the sky changes literally every few minutes. There is such incredible beauty in the changing light during these "golden" hours before sunset. From misty blue, to golden yellow, to fiery reds and oranges...all in the span of a couple of hours. When the clouds were wispy as they were last night, it often looks as if there are angels spanning the breadth of the sky. On top of it, we are in the middle of migration season up here, so the skies were filled with the sights and sounds of hundreds of Canada Geese and Cranes going for their evening meal in the farmers' fields surrounding us. So, with all of these things combined -- sitting in the canoe on the glassy waters, watching the sun bring all of the trees, clouds and sand to life with amber glow, hearing the haunting cry of the geese and cranes -- what can I say but, it is nothing short of sublime. I drink it in -- the quiet, the raw beauty -- knowing that in a few days I have to return to the noise and traffic of the city. It makes me sad just thinking about it, but I won't destroy my enjoyment by foreboding. One moment at a time.
As my vacation draws to a close, I now have to refocus myself on work, not only the Monday to Friday, pay-the-bills sort, but the music-writing, CD-recording type. The joy of the latter helps me to survive the monotony of the former :-)
Before I bid you adeiu, here are a few photos from last night's expedition.
Until next time,
Melissa
It has been a few weeks since I have written. I have been enjoying a long awaited vacation with my family. I usually make a trip once a year to spend time with my mom, dad and brother near the 58th parallel in Northern Alberta. This year, I had the added pleasure of travelling with my brother to British Columbia, where we spent a week enjoying the stunning beauty of the mountains and reliving our childhood in the communities in which we grew up as kids.
One of the more interesting things I have done in this past week was to go on a photo shoot with my über-talented brother, Aaron. The main purpose of the shoot was to get some material for my upcoming CD (photos which shall remain carefully guarded until its release....*smile*), but it also gave Aaron the chance to experiment with some new camera gear he had recently purchased. The new photo at the top of this site is his work, and I couldn't be more amazed with the results, which are raw off of the camera - no Photoshop! So a big kudos goes out to my brother. If you are interested in seeing more of his amazing work, visit his website: http://www.ditarx.com/
Last night I had the opportunity to do one of my favorite things -- something I must do every year when I visit my hometown -- go on a canoe ride with my dad. The river was extraordinarily calm last night, and the northern skies were reflected in perfect detail in the tranquil water. Dad and I were out for about three hours before sunset last night, and within those three hours, I took 125 photos! Seems silly, I know; but it's remarkable how the sky changes literally every few minutes. There is such incredible beauty in the changing light during these "golden" hours before sunset. From misty blue, to golden yellow, to fiery reds and oranges...all in the span of a couple of hours. When the clouds were wispy as they were last night, it often looks as if there are angels spanning the breadth of the sky. On top of it, we are in the middle of migration season up here, so the skies were filled with the sights and sounds of hundreds of Canada Geese and Cranes going for their evening meal in the farmers' fields surrounding us. So, with all of these things combined -- sitting in the canoe on the glassy waters, watching the sun bring all of the trees, clouds and sand to life with amber glow, hearing the haunting cry of the geese and cranes -- what can I say but, it is nothing short of sublime. I drink it in -- the quiet, the raw beauty -- knowing that in a few days I have to return to the noise and traffic of the city. It makes me sad just thinking about it, but I won't destroy my enjoyment by foreboding. One moment at a time.
As my vacation draws to a close, I now have to refocus myself on work, not only the Monday to Friday, pay-the-bills sort, but the music-writing, CD-recording type. The joy of the latter helps me to survive the monotony of the former :-)
Before I bid you adeiu, here are a few photos from last night's expedition.
Until next time,
Melissa
Monday, August 2, 2010
A Shelter From the Storm
Dear Friends,
It has definitely been an interesting few months in the prairies. From the late spring snowstorms that battered us in April and May, to the torrential rain in June that caused widespread flooding and damage, to the incessant severe thunderstorms this summer that rattle us from our sleep, the weather has certainly commanded our attention. Not only in western Canada, but worldwide, the earth is shaking: catastrophic floods in China and Pakistan; earthquakes in diverse places; intense heat in Russia and Europe; deadly cold (if you can believe it!) in South America. On top of these, we hear about wars and rumours of war coming out of the middle east and North Korea.
Interestingly enough, during the last few days, I have been working on a new song based on Psalm 46. It is a fitting exhortation to put our trust in God during these times of trial:
Melissa
It has definitely been an interesting few months in the prairies. From the late spring snowstorms that battered us in April and May, to the torrential rain in June that caused widespread flooding and damage, to the incessant severe thunderstorms this summer that rattle us from our sleep, the weather has certainly commanded our attention. Not only in western Canada, but worldwide, the earth is shaking: catastrophic floods in China and Pakistan; earthquakes in diverse places; intense heat in Russia and Europe; deadly cold (if you can believe it!) in South America. On top of these, we hear about wars and rumours of war coming out of the middle east and North Korea.
Interestingly enough, during the last few days, I have been working on a new song based on Psalm 46. It is a fitting exhortation to put our trust in God during these times of trial:
"God is our refuge and strength,It is sometimes difficult to see the devastation these types of severe weather events cause. Destroyed property, ruined crops, even tragic loss of lives. And yet, for those of us who believe, there is a haven from the storm. Though everything might one day be taken from us, there remains a place whose walls can never be toppled by wind, whose gates can never be damaged by hail, whose fruit can never be destroyed by drought. We look towards the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem.
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear,
though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging."
Psalm 46:1-3
"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,Thanks be to our God that we are drawing ever nearer to that "break of day," when the Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2). We know not the day or the hour, but we join our hope with the prophets and apostles of old who continually looked for the coming of the great and awesome King. Then we will see the glorious fulfillment of the end of this Messianic Psalm:
the holy place where the Most High Dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at the break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Psalm 46:4-7
"Come and see the works of the Lord,Adonai is making himself known among the nations. One of my favorite scripture verses from Isaiah echoes the closing verses of this Psalm:
the desloations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Psalm 46:8-11
"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;Creation groans, calling out with the Spirit and the Bride, "Come!" Let us be still and know that He is God. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
When your judgements come upon the earth,
the people of the world learn righteousness."
Isaiah 26:8-9
Melissa
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