After three weeks off
What is harder in life ?
.
And wondering this evening
Why do I blog ?
Why do I continue
To pour my heart out
In these pages ?
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Did I think it might lead to changes ?
Or is it purely a diversion ?
Dreaming of other possible worlds
Other possible lives ?
.
Do I write and travel and photograph
Entirely out of dissatisfaction ?
Dissatisfaction with a world running amuck ?
With a human race multiplying like rabbits ?
Dreaming that I may one day
Find myself leading a simpler life
Living in a dream house
Like this one ?
.
.
Even simpler when seen from the side . . .
.
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And if one were to find oneself
Living in a dream house
One would need a dream car
To get around in . . .
Here's a beauty . . .
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But up at the end of a gloomy lane
A dark car is sitting by the roadside
Menacing, something sinister there
Though invisible
There are wraiths within
Dark spirits thinking darker thoughts
Barring the path
Don't take that road
There must be another way
Flee the fog and muffling mist
Return to the sun
And the land of bright dreams . . .
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Posts
32 comments:
Your dream house could use more windows, don't you think? Are you looking to be a hermit?
Hi Susan... you get the early bird award ! Umm, I guess windows can always be added to a place like this... just need to find a saw...
:-)
I love your posts. I think that you found my dream house! The daisies make it everything one could possibly want!
Did I just see the ghost of Walker Evans heading 'round the back of that old house? I coulda sworn I saw that guy's phantom...
Don't you do it because it feels so good to put those photos cheek by jowl with those images? Doesn't it just light you up all by itself?
Nice work, Owen.
Would you be so kind and let me know the adress of this house?
To be honest, as currently there seems to be a "no where to go" - it was this a place where one can remain throughout night and darken day, finding always a bit of magic light. Thank you for that - one only hopes that it will remain for a long time to come.
Please have a wonderful Wednesday.
I live in a dream house, Owen. I love my house. I live a simple life. And I am going to have to leave it all behind. It is not perfect. It is lacking. It is lonely. It is not maintainable in and of itself.
What is harder than returning to work after 3 weeks away? Perhaps having no job to return to.
I do understand the pain of living in the midst of the fear generated by a world seemingly running amok. With nature in seeming rebellion against humankind.
I know the dark stranger lurking in the fog at the end of the shadowed lane. And every day I try to find enough courage to shine the light of hope--vain, improbable hope--into that murky, stagnant place.
What you share of yourself through your blog brings me a bright and happy point in my day. I am richer for it. I cherish the brief exchanges we share like treasures kept in a handcarved box.
If you were to fold up your tent and declare the Magic Lantern Show over, many would be sad. But that is not your responsibility and should not be your concern. But it seems you are an artist at heart and art is meant to be shared. This place provides a forum, a gallery, a sounding board, a communion hall for you to send your thoughts and visions and experiences out into the larger world. I, for one, am very happy that you do.
However, it should bring joy to you as well, and not become a burden or a responsibilty. I'm sure you have enough of that to carry in the "real" world.
There is much to question about the worth and place of blogging. What it brings, what it disguises, what it allows one to avoid, what fantasy lives it encourages, what escapism it engenders.
1700 photos, Owen. And what to do with them all?
(BTW: my favourite picture of this post is the last one, with the menacing dark car in the muffling mist)
Bises,
Lynne
If it's any consolation, I don't think I've ever had three weeks off from work.
And I agree with the previious comment; I like them all but the last shot is just wonderful!
I love the top and bottom photos. I'm curious where your dream house will be?
Very beautiful, I have always loved old and simple, walks down lanes and wonderful finds like these. beautiful.
What is worse about returning to work after 3 weeks is the fact that after merely one day it will feel like you have never been away...
Going to a job everyday that you hate sucks. It's like a work release prison sentence. But creating art from those sad feelings is best. Nothing comes from nothing. Keep "Shaking the bush" Owen.
And I for one am glad that your poetic soul is blogging for us all to share! :)
You blog because coming to your page makes us feel happier - it's your duty, Owen.
Hi L., That's it... the daisies tip the balance ! Thanks so much...
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Dear Pliers... this may have been Walker Evans vacation house for all I know... with a darkroom in the small side room. And yes, the light does come from within, from the act of crafting a message, visual and verbal... and then the message goes in the blog bottle, cast out on the blog sea, to see what echoes may return. And echoes from good people like you make it worthwhile, make the light shine brighter... A bientôt j'espère...
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Hi Robert... the address was lost long ago, it is better that way, the "nowhere to go" allows us only the option of a dream house somewhere in a bright corner of our imaginations... You are always so perceptive, right on the mark, finding the underlying philosophical reflections that force us to think just a little bit harder still... thank you...
Ah Big Sister Lynne, as always you are a light shining like a lighthouse on the coast of a distant shore, a beacon of security and hope to sailors out at sea in the night, in the fog. I cannot but simply thank you for your company over these past months, and not to worry, there will still be some more treasures coming to put in the carved box...
And may you fare well in whatever changes are coming...
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-K-, hey there, it's been a little while... well, the vacation issue was one of the reasons I moved to France, they are alot more human about time off to rest up, and the economy here doesn't seem to be the worse for it...
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Hi James, good question, I'm still looking for just the right one... I'll know it when I see it I guess... or maybe I'll never stop looking ?
:-)
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Cinner, many, many thanks, for me, back country lanes, especially when unpaved, are irresistable invitations...
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Steve, you are so right... it happened like that yesterday. I think I must have dreamed the trip to an island... what is that tune they drummed into our little heads long ago... Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream ???
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Hi Stickup, it's not that I hate my work, it's just that I'd rather be photographing and writing full time... but for now that's not going to pay any bills... maybe someday, eh, after the blog goes viral... (I'm dreaming again...)
;-)
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Hi Jessie... many thanks, then I guess I'll go on a while...
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Dear FF, thank you for clarifying that... I shall most certainly continue then, I would not wish to be accused of dereliction of duty...
;-)))
Lynne's comment made me stop dead. She's right, everywhere.
You are useful, Owen. You give a little bit of yourself to lots of people every day, and that little bit is a pleasure, and a day-brightener and a possibility to learn something, and sometimes it's just a laugh. There's nothing better than being useful, it seems to me.
nah!.. you blog because you, like the rest of us, love to waffle!.. pure and simple :-D..
and I am extremely glad you do!
I'm always fascinated to see images that I myself would never have taken… and yet I wish I would. I rarely shoot exteriors but they often offer up something completely unique – like the ones of your dream home here. I'll try and rethink my approach now and again, for sure.
Hi Owen, I could do the simple house. But living out so far from town I would need a way to get some groceries! Car? One better than the two in the pics!!
Great post Owen! Why do we do the things we do? To feel connected, to feel loved? Satisfaction or passing the time? You'll have that simple life, nothing is impossible. Keep dreaming and striving! I certainly appreciate it!
:)
Owen. You Blog because you are curious. And because it makes you think and reflect.
And because it makes you understand more of the world and those around you.
And because that, in itself, is reward enough.
Warm hugs and quiches from Kitty
Again, Owen! You've done it again!!! Your dream house is my writer's den... See? But that twist of darkness in the end... why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we revel in darkness... and then flee it to find the brighter path? Your black and whites always give me goosebumps and send my thoughts spinning.
And, oh... don't you dare be philosophizing about life to yourself and get blogging in your thoughts... 'cause I know how that goes. We stop to wonder why we blog... and what's the point... and where does it all lead... and are we wasting our time... and isn't it crazy all this going back and forth with people we've never even met... and isn't it absurd that we sometimes pour out our most intimate feelings for literally the entire world to read... and aren't we just such a strange lot? Hey, Owen... I've been there with the thoughts... have them all the time... don't you go doing anything wacky like disappearing from the internet or anything like that. I've had a couple of my favorite bloggers do that lately and then come back and give me a peekaboo. If you're going to disappear, you'd best ask me first. I mean that! But I know you won't... you enjoy this too much, and you know we all worship at the feet of your words and pix. Right, Owen?
Nevine
I agree with Lynne, every word. (Trust me, it's easier that way)
Loved this post very much, and as I have been away from here working I found you a few dream houses which I must get round to posting up! xx I too am all the more richer for our exchanges and the wonderful insights into your wee corner of the world, can never thank you enough. Strange twist of fate really, as if you didn't happen to have the same name as one of my real brothers I am not sure how I would have found your blog!! (Thanks for reading Steve's)
Hi Owen!
Your dream house is adorable... but my favourites are the cars...
Your photos always take me to magic places... Thank you!! I really need to travel in my mind these days...
Warmest hugs
Hi Deborah... will continue then, trying to be of some use...
:-)
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Dear H2O Cats,
That's it, that's it exactly, except in musical domaines I believe we could call it "noodling", and I just love to noodle around... so, keep on noodling !
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Hey Tom,
I'm really pleased if some of these photos have you thinking and re-thinking certain perspectives and potential subject matter... I think it is always good to be out looking at other folks' work, to see what is possible, and see other ways of looking at things... believe me, I've been getting some inspiration from your pages of late...
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TechnoB, maybe a bicycle could suffice ?
:-)
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Hi Rain, thanks so much, for sure will keep dreaming, it is second nature by now, an incorrigible dreamer...
Hi Kitty, it's been a little while, hope all is well out in Brittany ! Sorry to see that problems on your blog are stopping posting... maybe you could start a new one, by invitation only ? Just be sure to invite us...
In any case, yes, it is a large element of curiosity... and many thanks for the hugs, and the quiches ! I'm sure they are delicious...
:-)
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Ah Nevine, your words are balm to this traveller's back... so, I promise to ask your permission before disappearing... and yes, you are right, there is a strong element of pleasure in sharing the work of these past years, and the sense of risk taking has not diminished with time... each new post goes up with apprehension... and if they sometimes produce goosebumps for some readers, that is ample reward then... how lucky I am to have a reader like you...
:-)
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Dearest Saj, of course, you wouldn't want to disagree with Lynne, now would you... can you imagine the consequences ?!?!? Can't wait to see your dream houses from South Island ! And so lucky to happen to share a name with your other brother O.
I mean, if I'd been called Ferdinand or Harold or something, we might never have met, eh ?
:-)
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Hi Lena,
So happy to be able to provide some vicarious travelling pleasure then... and many thanks for the warm hugs, one can never get enough of those !
:-)
Hi Owen...Lynne said it all. I so hope that you keep blogging..sharing your passion.
THANK YOU.
i just want to say how much i love these images, even the cars seem to be a part of a distant, magical world... and asking myself the same questions as you do, about blogging, about ways that might be or not, about the land of bright dreams...
but no, we are not going away from here, even if we can't find answers to these questions - are we? a huge hug for you, dear Owen...
Ann, you are so very kind, I thank you, and yes, I think the blog will go on, hope springs eternal...
Ah, Dear Roxana...
You are up so very late in the night, visiting this land of dreams... this distant, magical world, where everyone, even the two cats (mother and daughter) are slumbering, except for me...
Yes, you are right, we are not going away from here; for this virtual hallway where many pictures hang, where many doors open into unimagined new worlds, has not given up all its secrets yet, I think there is much still to be discovered... so yes, onward down the hall, onward through the fog... where hugs from passing strangers work wonders... yes, there is still magic in the air in this place...
Bonne nuit to you, doux rêves..
I love this post, that last car reminds me of my first car.
A mon avis, ce n'est pas la maison qui te convient...
pas assez de fenêtres ouvertes sur le monde et les gens qui t'entourent, Owen....
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