Collage Diva

Do you have a bee in your bonnet?

When my photo buddy Claudia and I go to Portsmouth for a day of snapping photos, we end our outing at this German cafe called, "Kaffee Vonsolln." We rest our feet, warm up with coffee, and maybe indulge in a little treat.

My sweet tooth seems to be gravitating to lemon these days. The intense lemon flavor sends me whirling. I'm not bashful about enjoying my food. The other night I was savoring the most heavenly lemon meringue and well, let's just say I gave those around me a "Harry Met Sally" moment. I didn't bang my hands on the table as the character Sally did. The other difference with Sally and me is I don't fake it! Nope, I tell it like it is. Life is just too sweet not to savor it, don't you think?

As you enter the kaffeehaus one is greeted by this mural. I'm not familiar with the story behind this girl with a pensive look. I suppose I would be looking rather serious if I was surrounded by bees. 

I was thinking about this mural and the bees while on my morning walk. It dawned on me that I keep myself really busy with BIG projects. I think it is better to be busy like a busy bee for it keeps the bees from getting stuck in one's bonnet.

How about you? Do you have any bees in your bonnet? How do you keep from getting stung?

Hmmmm a little lemon and honey sounds like a good treat and will power me through my long creative "get to do" list.

I hope you have a sweet day.

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Funky Door

Now how cool is this door?

I remember passing this door a year earlier and feeling dismayed by the awful heavy colors.

I love how it looks all scratched up. I'm sure this is just their "messy middle" and a fresh coat of paint will be making an appearance.

 I'm so happy I caught this stage!

There are hints and evidence of what color this door has been. Look at that blue! Oh wow and the yellow, red... what color would you paint this door?

Cheers to a colorful week!

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Do I have your number?

On my walk around Portsmouth I snapped a few shots of the numbers marking the age of buildings...

...or a house number.

Ah the number 9, this is a dear number. When I taught graphic design at a high school I was in room 9, but my students and I referred to the space as studio 9. Later when I left my teaching post and started a web design business I called it Studio 9 Design. The name carried such fond memories of those two short years of teaching.

62, now this is a good number and a good age. It is interesting to note that many of my favorite peeps are 15 - 20 years older than me. 

I've been cruising on a couple of online dating sites in the last three or so weeks. It has been an interesting experience and I've read profiles of a wide range of characters. It is clear that many of the guys out there are looking for something different than I am or our interests and lifestyles are not a match. Quite simply they don't have my number. I'm not dismayed. There are a couple of interesting prospects who look promising. I'm finding with each interaction I am learning more about myself and gaining more clarity as to what is important to me. Nothing is wasted on me - I'm gleaning lots and I'm grateful for every a-ha, ha ha, and oh yeah.

So how about you? What numbers do you see in your environment? Do you have a lucky number? Do you have a special someone who has your number?

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

An Awesome Awning

While walking down one of the streets in Portsmouth, this awesome awning grabbed my attention. I think it merited a stop and few clicks of the camera, don't you?

I moved in on the subject.

I moved in a little closer.

I walked underneath and fell in love with the shadows adding an organic pattern to the geometric forms of the awning.

It is a delight to share my finds with you dear reader. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to say, "hi." I love it even more when I hear from you.

Until tomorrow...

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Window Finds & Delights

I don't always think to photograph what I see in store windows. Last weekend while hanging out in Portsmouth, I snapped a few window shots.

A darling shop called "Serendipity" is filled with fun, affordable gifts.

Some stylish ladies caught my eye in another shop window.

I wonder what she is thinking?

"Do I have to sit here all day looking at this same spot?"

Such is the life of a mannequin.

"But darling" this mannequin implored, "you look absolutely divine."

"Don't think about it so much" this one yapped.

It was nearing time for me to rest my weary feet.

Two more shots before I go...

...today I'll leave you with this thought, "I use to think I needed to be asked to dance."

Well, if you still feel you need someone to ask you, I'll ask.

Won't you dance? Come on now, Dance! Crank up some funky music and get your groove on!

It is the best way to start your week.

Until tomorrow,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Laundry Time

I spied some laundry on my walk around Portsmouth.

This person hung up a nice collection of blues and pink. My laundry line would be full of black clothes with an occasional striped shirt.

Speaking of which, it is time to go throw in another load.

Have a lovely day!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Lobstah Buoys

This delightful sign is so very New England...

...as is this wall of weathered and worn "lobstah" buoys. (click photo to see enlarged)

When I took these photos, I thought of the people who visit my blog who live in one of 75 different countries and of the people who live in different states around the US. This my readers is a classic New England seaside scene.

The lobster buoys are brightly colored when they are used so the fishermen can find their traps.

It is fun to share images from where I live and visit for others who may never venture this way. (click photo to see enlarged)

Enjoy!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Embracing the Cracks

Maybe you'll think I'm cracked for loving these shutters. They are old, worn, and full of character. My dad would look at them and think, neglected and flawed. He is the guy who was the uber perfectionist and super critical. I remember showing him some gorgeous handmade paper and he regarded the fibers as defects and pulled out a piece of copy paper and heralded it as an example of perfection. 

It was that moment that I stepped back in my mind and realized that my dad didn't know everything and had a very different view than I did. Neither one of us is wrong, just different. I think I was in high school when I had this a-ha moment. Now look at the detailed shot of the shutter pictured above - how could one not look at this and think, "cooooool!"

As a young girl trying to win my dad's approval was tough, especially when my nature is to gravitate to things old and cracked, funky and expressionistic. I would describe myself as a recovering perfectionist. In the last 8 years especially I have LET GO of striving for something that really, basically doesn't matter. My time in Colorado really helped to mellow me out. Returning here to the East Coast, I sense a cultural difference. I'm not caught up on material things and "looking perfect" as I see so many people here do. I was chatting with my chiropractor last night. We are fairly close in age and both grew up here in NH and lived out west for a number of years and have returned. We chatted about the cultural difference. "What makes us different?" I asked him. "We seem more laid back and we laugh more." He noted that our priorities are different, we are not caught up on the material stuff.

I see the beauty in our flaws, our cracks, our vulnerability. Rather than striving for perfection I would much rather embrace the cracks and crack up while doing it.

Well, I think that is enough rambling about imperfections. Now when my dad passes judgement, I respond playfully. It is great to no longer feel injured or offended when someone doesn't see things as I do.

How about you dear readers? Have you embraced your own cracks? I hope today you'll find lots of moments to crack up. Life is so much more fun when we are laughing.

Cheers,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

The Color of Curry

A walk around Portsmouth, NH and you can't help but notice the colors of the old houses. This curry colored house grabbed my heart. I love the "primary color scheme" in this shot: yellow, red, and blue. The contrast of the yellow and blue is striking.

It was fun poking around the different side streets.

This color reminds me of the first Nepali restaurant that I experienced. I was living in Boulder, Colorado. The walls inside the little restaurant were this color. I'll never forget the food coma I experienced that day. Ooooh the smells and tastes and that feeling of calm and contentment - it was truly a heavenly moment.

Perhaps it is this association that draws me to this color? I remember frequenting the restaurant 2-3 times a week. It was cheap, delicious eats and I couldn't get enough of it. When I knew that I was going to move back to the mountains (Steamboat Springs) my first reaction was a panic. Could I live without a regular diet of Nepali food? On a whim I stopped in a kitchen store downtown and found a little cookbook called, The Kopan Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from a Tibetan Monastery. I went home and practiced making momos, a savory dumpling. I was struggling with how to fold them and decided to go to the restaurant and order some to study them. When I asked the waiter for some tips about folding them he asked me to wait. He left and shortly came back and said the ladies in the kitchen have invited me to come back when I was done with my meal and they would show me how to fold the momos. I couldn't wait to finish that meal! When I went back into the kitchen two women were sitting on stools hunched over a stack of wrappers. Their fingers looked stiff with arthritis but agile as they whipped up these little delicacies. I tried my hand at them after they showed me. We all giggled and chuckled as I fumbled. I felt like a kindergarten child first learning to write. I may have been clumsy with my hands, but my heart felt a grace. I could see that I brought into their little kitchen the same warmth and sunshine as this curry colored house pictured above.

I recently stopped at a local Indian spice market and collected the spices needed to make my own "house masala", a blend that is the basis of all the recipes in the cookbook. This weekend, I'll find some time to blend up a batch of masala and try my hand out again at momo making. It has been over 8 years since I embraced this cooking. It is high time to get back to it!

On Saturday, I stopped into a local Nepali restaurant called, Cafe Momo to pick up some food to bring to a dear friend of mine who is struggling with cancer. I wanted my friend Don and his wife to feel the healing effects of the Gundruk soup, the delight of munching on little momos, and the freshness of Rama's cooking. There is nothing like good food, good company, and good conversation. It was a wonderful afternoon.

Pictured above are some photos and a collage I had created for Cafe Momo years ago. If you are near Southern NH, I urge you to visit Bhola and his aunt and uncle at this charming little restaurant. The food will nourish your body, mind, and soul.

To find Cafe Momo visit their website: www.cafemomonh.com

Namaste!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Dancing in the Shadows and Peppermint Breezes

One of my favorite subjects is a crisp white building against a blue bird sky. It is visually refreshing like the cool minty taste of a York Peppermint Patty ---- oooooooh.

This is precisely the sound I made when I photographed this subject. I oooh and ahhh, and I get very excited when I have my camera in hand. My heart gets beating fast and you'll hear me say to Claudia when I get like this that there is a river dance happening inside my chest.

Of course I couldn't resist this shot - cracked paint, achromatic color scheme, interesting shadows, and well the subject - now who doesn't love windows and doors?

The bright sun and cool crisp day were the perfect ingredients for catching shadows. Check out the impression left by a gorgeous tree.

There are the branches on the tree reaching over to tickle the solid form of the tree on the right - love it!

With all of the looking up I did that day, I also remembered to look down and captured this self-portrait. 

Claudia and I stopped for a moment to attempt some shadow puppets. Mine (the one on the left) resembles a llama sporting a fat goiter and Claudia managed some bunny ears.

I feel so much PASSION and JOY when I go on outings like this and even when I relive the moments posting my photos here onto this blog. Did you catch my latest True North Arts post on passion and joy? I introduce some of the cool people I met this last year while out on my outings who bubble over with their own passions. I also share some ideas and resources that will help you to hone in on your own passion and living your best possible life.

I have many more cool photos to share from this outing.  Be sure to visit me again tomorrow.

Until then, you'll find me dancing in the shadows. Won't you join me?

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva