I had no clue and nothing in mind for this

second participation in a monthly challenge, something new for me.

But i must say, i am fond of the theme.

"The nature of things"

So i went a place i thought i would be probably alone
with the snow geese on their way south.

I walked in a village i really like
and it felt good.

Then i went to the river, i knew there
was a pier in a quiet place and i thought nobody would be there,
Saturday being the time where everybody rush too much.

Then, i saw a man at the end of a long pier.
From the shore, he already looked old.
He was fishing, quietly sitting directly on the pier
with his legs crossed under him. I did not want to disturb him.
I decided i was going to stay on the shore.

Then, he noticed my presence. That was my Q.
I asked him, in the distance, do you mind if i also walk on the pier?
He said of course not...
But there was an obstacle to get ON the pier.
Since the last rain, the water levels of all the
rivers has risen. So, the pier was above the usual
anchor point and rather destabilized,
the walking path to reach the pier was submerged, ehm...
BUT, the clever old man used one of the picnic tables around
(Oh Zut!! i should have taken that into photo!!)
and used it as a stepping stone. That was a bit rocky...
He said, come on, walk on the table!
I laughed and i said i was not sure...
He said the only thing you have to be careful with
is that you have to jump quick on the pier because that end
sinks if you just walk on it and it looses balance!
Great i said to myself...not sure at all i want to do this now.
But...for photography, there is not much i would not do...
I followed his advice and i succeeded!
He enjoyed that...
Then i came closer to him, we talked and smiled a lot,
it is in my nature i guess to "connect" with people.
And at one point, he told me that 70 yrs ago bla bla bla.
I said, but... how old are you?
He tipped his hat off, saluted me and said
i am a young 83 mademoiselle!
I laughed and snapped the shot just in time.
There was no red light but... this was a cool moment :).

...i was sitting not exactly on my knees,
but you know,
with my feet behind me...like kids often do
when sitting on the floor.
I felt my camera was less threatening that way...

Then, when came time for me to leave,
after i shook his hand and thanked him
he offered to help me with a star in his eyes...
I said thank you, i think i will manage but
if i need your help, i will shout at you, for sure :).
He smiled again...

He watched me going back doing carefully
in reverse what i had done to get there in the first place.
Then he waved at me and said:
Now the Cirque du Soleil will contact you!!!
And we both laughed...

He was a lively old man
and i am happy i shared that moment with him.
Another bubble of joy.

Beside the last chance for the season i had

to go sailing and enjoying the freedom of

playing with the wind,

Smooth sailing is what i want
in life...
Yes, in the nature of things,
mine.

Il y a des jours
c'est plein vent dans les voiles
et alors
il est permis d'espérer.

(go with the concept ;), beyond the image...)

The idea of sadness

this might inspire

i find

this is an image

of hope and comfort

Autumn is
the season of passages,
wood burning in the fireplace,
kitchen aromas,
books on the coffee table
and long peaceful evenings
enhanced by soft music

A journey into mellifluous rhythms
leaving behind the fast motion of summer.

It is in my nature
to appreciate the different rhythms of
things, people, life
but, i do feel best
when the rhythms are
stable and well balanced

Which is not always possible
for all,
unfortunately
because of circumstances...

p.s. That was my last chance
to walk in the water puddles
barefoot...
Pourquoi pas! ;)

I could not resist
making another picture
you can click next :)

An intricate mix of both sounds and echoes

That i know, deep in my heart,

Exists

Like a secret

Out of nowhere
just there
in the forest

Songs of the wind
over there
Are for sure
the most peaceful on earth

Because at night
it is where the wolves
strengthens their social bonds
and create a ballet of emotions
for the ones who learned
many moons ago
how to honour
the silence of the night
and hear

There are no fears
Just a deep feeling
Of being at the right place

Home
And
Not alone…

One day
I will meet
With my Loup Blanc
* * * * * *
It was an incredible
feeling
to find this windchime
in the heart of a forest
in a mountain
at the end of my
neighbourhood...
* *
It is in my nature
to love words
as much as i love images
so...i write.

A beautiful cold October Saturday,

Towards the end of the afternoon.

What struck me was that beautiful shyness
in her smile, a hint of innocence left in her…
I can only guess because I don’t know enough
I don’t know her story at all.
(she had the cutest "à la Jackie Kennedy" black hat...but difficult to see here)

I met this girl, young woman
on the sidewalk Saturday.
She was with 3 other friends.

When I saw her, I could not resist but
To tell her how beautiful she was.
She blushed a little.

It is funny how we react to “beauty”.
It is not fair, ultimately but, natural, I suppose.

Natural beauty and how a person looks are two
different things. How a person looks can say a lot
about that person but, it does not say all…

Beautiful people have more doors and windows
that easily opens to them.

We are “biased” in favour of beauty due to human nature.
Too often, people judge human beings based on how they look.
This is done automatically and is not always fair.
In some cases, it can even become discrimination.
Are we missing on something? Ultimately, I think so…

As long as there will be people discriminating based on appearances,
people who are not beautiful won’t be able to achieve real success
because of a lack opportunity creating a snowballing negative effect
on their circumstances and having an impact
that we perhaps do not pay enough attention:
shaking their confidence and self-esteem, to a certain degree.

Success in life, on so many levels, in so many instances,
should depend on efforts, talent, intelligence and so much more.
Of course, there is the influence of the milieu you grew up in
that can’t be neglected.

I don’t think this will ever change, this system of unfair treatment
based on appearance. The way beauty is defined is unquestionably
influenced by the media, television, radio and magazines, influencing
our values and how we define beauty. Most of us are not protected
against stereotypes, only the exception are.

Even mother nature plays that seducing game, the flowers with
their vibrant colours and subtle perfumes to attract bees and birds.
People who are not attractive don’t have it easy…
I have very little hope it will ever evolve, but there will be and are
small exceptions… that will make big differences.

That young woman on the sidewalk was just impossible to miss.
Beside being beautiful, she had style, grace and elegance.

Le défi consiste à "voir"
ce qui est beau
alors que c'est invisible
pour la majorité.
C'est son sourire réservé
que j'ai trouvé adorable.

Sometimes, i don’t know what is in the nature of things…

How many of our dreams were we able to live?

So far...

Do we have enough time to still make some of them come true?

Can a dream be lived... on a daily basis?

I think it is possible, rare, but, possible.

Is it just a question of how we see life?

What are dreams made of?
Hope or regrets?

I was touched by the humble notes of his flûte
I did give him some money,
looking in his eyes
where my smile met with his.

He said, thank You princess,
I smiled deeper
saying to myself that was just an automatism.
Maybe he once dreamed of being a prince himself
the charming part having tremendously faded over the years
but...there was some left.