Building Boats’ first 12 on 12, a baker’s dozen
February 13, 2010 by alexnberra
Treasures rest above my kitchen sink, inspire and enlight as I wash my hands and think. The day to breathe and find, colors, and sensations to fill my mind. Body and heart, prepare the same way, awake together, set sail from the bay. Pictured is a pine cone top I made, smoothest stones I have ever found, art from one of the most inspiring and powerful teachers in my life, a bowl of crystal and color next to a goat, and a picture of a note my Grandpa wrote for my Grandma many years ago, if you want to know what it says, ask in the comments section.
A while back, neighbors, and fellow bloggers, Bruce and Mary, told me about a popular blog posting theme, a simple concept: on the 12th day of the month tote a camera throughout the day, then, post 12 pictures that capture 12 moments of the 12th day. Bruce and Mary sent me a good reminder last night, resulting in the blog’s first, “12 on 12”. At first, 12 pictures seemed like alot, and now here I am sorting through the 254 pictures I took today. What 12 moments stick in your mind from the 12th day of February?
After breakfast it’s time to pick the marble to join me on the day’s adventure. Who knows when, where, how, and why, though it never hurts to have a marble in your pocket. (the real one actually is to have a hard boiled egg in your pocket) Perhaps used to satisfy or bribe a toll collecting bridge troll. Which one would you choose?
Jacques Cousteau, one part scientist, one part philosopher, one part genius, one part yogi. A little reading to stimulate the brain and set a spark of education, curiosity, and wonder. If you click on the picture to enlarge you can read some more of the amazing text Cousteau has written. At the least, check out the quotations in blue ink. Earth is an ocean planet, and though we live on the land, it is the oceans that affect us the most, and in turn it is the ocean that is most affected by our actions. Life on this planet is vast, rich, and wise. The internet is useful, though something about singular focus of sitting down with one book really feels like learning.
At the end of the day I found picking just 12 pictures from my total a challenge. This shot was taken as my friend Johanna and I arrived in the parking lot on top of Mt. Ashland for some backcountry skiing, an Oregon mountain send-off as she prepares for an epic Chilean adventure! What you can’t see here is that we were the first car at the trailhead, fresh, fresh, fresh.
Animal tracks, 'two by two', what might have made them? I ask you.
Animal tracks, 'two by two', from where did they come, and will they lead to you?
We found an igloo-tree-house to give us some shelter from the wind as we took the skins off the skis for the descent. Quite a nice habitat.
Take that NASA! You may have made it to the moon, but were your butts warm? Flip this button means your butt gonna’ get real toasty, like a sip of warm tea for your arse.
After the ski we made a spontaneous detour, (I guess most detours are inherently spontaneous) to the Tashi Choling Temple in the Colestine Valley. For a fun connection, go to the archives on the right and click on the month of November 2009 and read the post titled, "Sunday Service". Today we spun prayer wheels, admired symbolism and detailed paintings, vibrant colors and fluttering prayer flags, thirty-foot tall Godesses, I found that the offering of a walnut I left in November was still there, and left my marble from the morning, aha! The November post has more pictures from the temple.
Back home, looking north from my kitchen as I prepare some food I noticed a suspicious looking lady in sunglasses and trench coat, walking fast with a strange gait, and followed by another lady with a cell phone to her ear. Moments later, Johnny Law pulls up, the cell phone lady points to the trench-coat lady and turns around. Johnny Law proceeds to question, pat-down, and then arrest trench-coat Lady. This is Ashland.
A bit of nip in the air, and it’s time to put some of my shopping-kart gleaned firewood to use. May the spirit of early man rejoice, fire, warmth, calm, relaxation via combustion is here in my house.
Valentine’s is near. As a child my Parents always surprised us kids with clever, unique, spontaneous little gifts of love on the day. While two of my good friends sweated in Bikram Yoga class in the studio below me I placed some early Valentine’s ready for their arrival. Ginger sweet, words from the heart on the heart, marbles and tea.
The day is done, I’m missing a few marbles and it was well worth it. They say the morning starts with three “s’s”, shit, shower and shave. Then the day ends with three “b’s”, book, bed, and a moment to count blessings. Until next month’s 12 on 12, Aloha!
Nice job on your first 12 of 12! Did you know that Hawaii was the only state to not have snow today. I guess we’re on the same track tonight as I just got an e-mail about your comment on our blog. I’d better go read it now.
Thanks Mary. The stat about the snow is amazing, even Florida had snow?! And Louisiana, that is cool. I don’t know if I can wait another month for 12 on 12, perhaps a 5 on 5 or something.
-Alex
What a great idea! I may have to try this out next month! What did the letter say by the way? So curious.
Cortney,
Yes, 12 0n 12 is a fun way to photo-journal the day, I imagine yours would be pretty cool. I am thinking next time to take a picture at each exact hour for 12 hours of the day. And the note, is a picture of a note my Grandfather wrote on a napkin which he left on the counter for my Grandma, probably some time ago when they were in their 50’s or so? Humor and reality, kind of symbolises the male line of my family, my Dad and self included, it says:
“Good Morning Darling, Remember —- Exercise + egg this morning. Your loving husband, Harold (slave driver)”
Good stuff right there.
-Alex
Hello my sun – THAT’S where you are!
What a curious and wonderful collection of thoughts ‘n things. Did you know that Grandpa Don was a huge fan of Shackelton’s? Think he read just about everything he wrote.
The snow photos are great…what beauty!
Gray here today…Dad losing a few marbles over taxes. Yoga was GREAT this am with Steve who says Hi.
Happy Valentine’s Day
I love you.
Love, Mom
XO
Alex,
I like! very much! I’ll have to give this a go next time around. why the number twelve I wonder? That quilt under the book is rad.
Patrick
Patrick,
Not sure why 12, could just as easily do 11 or 14. Yeah, the quilt is a gem, a custom made beauty from a very good friend, one item I have made sure to carry through my life with me wherever I am living. Will be fun to see your 12 next month!
-Alex
Just for a bit of background, the 12 of 12 was the brainchild of Chad Darnell. It’s a a fun photo project where you post 12 photos from your day, on the 12th of the month each month of the year. You can check out Chad’s website here: http://chaddarnell.typepad.com/
We first learned of it through the podcacher podcast. Lots of geocachers post their sets on that forum: http://www.podcacherforums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=32421#32421
And yes, Alex, some people have taken their twelve photos on the hour. Others have picked themes, like doing all macro shots or emphasizing certain colors, etc.
Then there is the Project 365 where you take one photo a day for a whole year. You can keep it in a collect just for yourself or post it online. For instance, go to Flickr and search for “project 365” and you will find lots of results.
Mary,
Thanks for the info on the posting origins! I looked through all your 12 of 12’s and got some ideas too, I like the one where Bruce focuses on what his hands did all day. The project 365 sounds neat too. Thanks again, happy blogging!
-Alex
[…] from the bee’s eye view. Thanks to Mary and Bruce for the reminder for the month, the last time I did a 12 on 12 was a while ago. Enjoy! If I was a bee this Iris is where I would be, the smell, color, shape, you could just […]