Project 365 - January 6, 2021

Shreds

Last week I spent hours and hours in the garage cleaning out a file cabinet. Not very interesting, I know. However, I found decades of papers that I don’t have a clue why I saved them. 

My goal as I think I have already said, is to get rid of that file cabinet. But before I do, I needed to touch each piece of paper and decide, “garbage, scan, shred, keep.”  There was one more choice, mail to someone in case they might want it. But that didn’t happen much. 

Most of the papers were old bills, medical records and brochures from places where I have traveled. 

The process was methodical, tedious and slow. But when I was done with the two drawers I felt quite accomplished. Since I scanned most of the papers that seemed important, the next task was to shred. And I had to stop many time’s because either the shredder had to be dumped or it overheated. 

I decided to use this as my topic for Project 365 because it was an important step in minimizing my life and letting go of things I really don’t need. 

Project 365 - January 5, 2021

Crispy

Every morning I make my way down the stairs, very carefully because Newt weaves through my feet and I don’t want to trip over him. He wants my attention so that I will feed him. 

I walk through the living room and pull open the drapes so that I can have a full view of the back patio and hill outside the house. It makes it feel like the living room is larger. 

This morning, instead of heading to the kitchen for my cup of coffee, I was distracted by the cool, clear, crispy looking sky. So I opened the sliding glass door and stepped outside. 

What a lovely feeling to have that blast of cool air wash over my skin. I admit, I was a little chilly. I am no longer that hardy New Yorker after 43 years of living in the sub-tropics.  I enjoy the warmth of South Florida. But once in a while I do love to feel that cool air. 

So I started looking at the colors of the sun hitting the trees and the deep blue of the cloudless sky. And then as I started snapping, one of the anhinga birds flew into my frame. I love when happy accidents happen. 

And so, I started my Tuesday, happy that I enjoyed a bit of nature before settling into my day’s work.  

Project 365 - January 4, 2021

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

First day back to work since before the holidays. Had an outdoor meeting.  Then over to the cultural center to record our January virtual program “A Taste of Jazz.”

It was lovely to be around artsy people and to actually talk to them in person and not in a tiny square on my computer screen. 

Yes we all remained socially distanced and with our masks on. 

This image shows Kay working one of the cameras while Nicole Yarling was introducing herself and her guitarist. They performed about 30 minutes of jazz music. Nicole has a beautiful voice and plays the violin as well. They began with the perfect song for 2021, Bill Withers “Lean on Me.”

This program will premiere on Facebook in January 20. 

Sometimes work just doesn’t feel like work!

Project 365 - January 3, 2021

 And the Holidays Come to an End

After my morning walk, I was inspired to start taking down the Christmas decorations. I began outside with the lights. After I felt that they were sufficiently packed and ready to be stored in the attic, I had a quick breakfast and watched Sunday Today with Willie Geist and then tackled the decorations in the living room. I gathered everything onto the dining room table before taking the same care in storing these gems for another year. That is when Newt decided that he needed to be part of the action.

Throughout the holiday season, Newt continuously knocked decorations off the tree, off the counters, and under the couch.  In the middle of the night, I could hear him batting the ornaments here and there like he was playing hockey. 

But this very last moment, he looked into my lens almost begging me to leave the decorations around just a bit longer. 

Luckily, cats don't have very long memories. Later in the afternoon, I found him snoozing on the sun-drenched dining room table. 

And so, the holidays have come to an end in the Leshinsky household.

Project 365 - January 2, 2021

 Last Bit of Christmas

The holidays have always been a happy time in the Leshinsky home. Food was always cooking in the kitchen, cookies in containers on the counter, Christmas decorations throughout the house along with the Chanukah menorah and dreidel.

Today, I wandered through the house looking for motivation for today's post. I found it in a bowl sitting on my dining room table. I was able to use my Nikon 16 - 200 mm lens to capture a narrow depth of field with a wonderfully festive bokeh effect from the lights on the tree.

Very little editing in Photoshop, but a bit just to pull out the colors and add a little more contrast. I prefer to show the actual image and not stray from what I meant to shoot. So, there are no filters here and I shot on manual at 400 ISO at 1/20 shutter speed and f5.6. 

Project 365 - January 1, 2021

My New Normal

And it is here . . . 2021.  A new year, a new beginning. A new normal.

This past year has been a nightmare. Not only has there been a pandemic of extraordinary circumstances, but I have also lost my best friend, my partner in life, my true love, my husband of 40 years.

Although it has only been six months, it still feels like yesterday. I suppose it will always remain fresh in my mind because when you know someone for more than half of your life, you can't possibly forget any of it.

Family and friends have been wonderful in helping me through this grieving process. But no one can really understand the true reality of what I am experiencing unless they have gone through this themselves.

However, I remember when Rachel was first born and was just learning how to walk, talk, and eat by herself.  Sometimes there was frustration on my part and Joel would gently remind me that Rachel was only on this Earth for 200 (or so) days.  So when I get frustrated or sad, I do hear Joel's voice reminding me that he has only been gone for 180 days.  It will get easier as I move forward with my life, but I will never forget.

Sometimes, before I go to sleep, I will flip through photos on my phone and smile as I remember what we were doing or saying just before I took that image. Then I am okay to go to sleep and think of those happy memories.

Another way for me to move forward is to keep busy with projects. Not only am I cleaning out closets, the attic, and the garage, but I have learned how to cook and now I am returning to my photography. This too will be a process because I know it takes time, creativity, and discipline.  

When I spoke to Susan to wish her a happy new year, we both made a pact to continue our Project 365 blogs.  Susan is an artist and photographer and she will also be posting daily on Instagram!

So here is my photo for January 1. After a long day of napping on the couch because I stayed up until 2 am and my body was not very happy about it, I took a walk around my neighborhood. I love when I walk through the neighborhood because I never know what I will find. I was watching a bunch of white Ibis flying across the lake, but as I sat down, I realized that this bird was calmly sitting on this branch not more than 10 feet from me and never moved. Almost like she was posing for me. A new year's present for my new Project 365.

I added in a second one to show the Ibis!

Happy New Year! Cheers to our new normal.

Project 365 - April 14, 2018

A New Chapter

Sometimes we all need time to think about our passions. So, I took a very long break from my two Nikon cameras, my passion for the past decade. But today, perhaps, I have begun a new chapter.

Since I last took a serious photo, so much has transpired. First of all, I turned 60. That was quite a wake-up call. Second, not only did I retire from my 35-year public service career, but I began, not only one, but a second new job over the past two years, and soon to be a third. Not sure where my feet will land over the next few weeks to months, but the ride is sure an interesting one!

 Third, my first-born married the love of her life and is happily starting her life. Ok, so it is in another state, but we talk on a daily basis either on my way to work or on the way home.  And there is "No Noah" Wednesday when her husband is rehearsing with the orchestra. Those evenings we usually Skype and have dinner together! I love technology.

And, in a few weeks, my younger daughter will be graduating from college. She still lives at home, but we barely see her. Maybe once or twice a week. So, we do know what it is like to be an empty next. But not quite there yet. Not in a hurry at all. 

Today, after sleeping late, going on a "cleaning out the refrigerator" binge, sitting and watching two Star Wars movies in a row and then going to the gym and running 2.5 miles, I was inspired to pick up my camera.

A bit rusty, I fell in love all over again with the sound of the clicking as I wandered through the neighborhood to see what I could capture. Then after dinner, sorting through the images and using just a touch of Photoshop. These are the result.

Now I have to find that inspiration more often but on my terms.