Thu, March 13, 2014, a photo by bass_id on Flickr.

Today’s CY365 theme is “Irish”. So…what else would I take a picture of? Elliot liked my choice as well.

Considering how little I write (although, apparently yesterday I posted my 100^th post!), and how few pictures I take of myself or people in my life, I don’t know that I reveal “too much” on my blog.  But I don’t feel like I am holding back, at least from the point of view of posting what I feel is appropriate for me right now.  I’m not ready to rant on my blog, although I have very strong views about politics, both in my country (Canada) and in the country just south of us (don’t get me started).  I’m very lucky to be in a job now that I am loving.  This was not true in my last job, but again, I won’t go there.  The people from that old work place who may be reading this know what things were like for me there, and what things are like now for those left behind.  I don’t need to repeat it or dwell on it now.

So, no, I think for now I am revealing just enough of myself to start to feel like I can be more creative, but not so much that I still feel comfortable about what I am posting.

And, btw, I don’t believe in “selfies”, except in so far as:

Today’s CY365 theme is “arrange”. Now let me first say that I did think about arranging something myself, but on my walk today I saw many tidily arranges yards, so here is one, also arranges by me in photoshop.

And for those of you who like to see the unedited version:

10 years from now?  Are you kidding me?  I don’t know what I’ll be doing in 10 years.  I gave up trying to anticipate this a long time ago after about the 5^th time what I thought I would be doing ended up NOT being what I would be doing.  And who knows if blogging will even be around then!  10 years ago I didn’t even take photos.  Here is a picture I took 10 years ago, but I didn’t even own a real camera back then, so to tell you the truth, I’m not completely sure I am the one who took these.  But they are definitely from 10 year ago when we lived in our old how in Regina.

Here is our little girl Bailey (gone now since 2005/6 – it’s terrible that I can’t now remember when she passed away…)

And here is the fabulous dining room window in our old house in Regina.  We loved that window, and I loved the backyard it looked out over!

It was an especially great view in the winter with 10 feet of snow out there.

Tue, March 11, 2014, a photo by bass_id on Flickr.

Today’s CY365 theme is “from down under”. I had meant to take a picture on a walk at lunch, but work got a bit out of hand (long story) and I ended up at home crawling around on the floor changing my perspective. So here is our living room fireplace from down under!

I don’t know that I’ve been blogging long enough to say that it’s “changed my life”.  It has added to it.  I’ve made a few new friends, and I have begun thinking more about my photography and about writing.  I also get up earlier in the morning, well, that’s partly to make sure I do some yoga and pilates and mediation in the morning BEFORE I write for my blog.  But if I wasn’t writing for my blog more, I could sleep in an extra 15-30 minutes.

So, not life-changing activity yet.  Routine-changing, attitude-changing, interest-building, but I think I need to revisit this question in a year to check on the life.

Images like this, however, I believe have changed my life.  Definitely a far cry from the March’s I knew growing up and living in Saskatchewan!

Mon, March 10, 2014, a photo by bass_id on Flickr.

Today’s CY365 theme is “asymmetrical”.

A quick note: do you know how hard it is to find asymmetrical man made things? Everyone loves symmetry it seems. Kind of boring I think. That’s why I love this candle holder.

We need more asymmetry in our lives!

Sun, March 9, 2014, a photo by bass_id on Flickr.

Today’s CY365 theme is “emerging”, and here are the clematis blossoms beginning their emerging. Which means a very cool shot is coming in the near future!

Sat, March 8, 2014, a photo by bass_id on Flickr.

Today’s CY365 theme is “drive”. And this is something I saw on our drive today (yes, the trees have burst into blossom!) Didn’t have my camera with me, but did have the emPhone!

What have you learned about yourself through blogging?

Well, I can keep this short today.  I’ve learned that I do have things to say, I’m just not sure I am ready to say them to the world.  In words.  I’m happy to say them in pictures.

I’ve learned that I’m a bit obsessive compulsive with my blogging.  I need to post something every day.  These days it’s one photo blog post for my CY365 project, and one more writing-based post for this project.  And I don’t want to miss a day.  What will happen?  No one knows.  Could be the Zombie Apocalypse.  I’m not taking any chances!

Now, as I talk about the things I have learned about myself, I need to include some of the things I have learned through actually committing to blogging this year (although none of them probably came as a surprise to me, nor will they surprise you).  I have learned that blogging is not a one-way street.  You blog, you get comments, you read other blogs, you comment on them.  You meet some wonderful people in the blogging world, and learn a lot of interesting things about them and the worlds they live in.  I’ve learned that in this process, not only am I shy about doing a lot of writing, both for myself and because I’m not sure if anyone is really interested in the words, but I am also shy about commenting.  I know I want to comment more on other blogs, but I don’t want to just comment for the sake of saying I Liked something (and I know I am echoing what one whom I am coming to consider a blogging friend posted yesterday – thanks M.R.!).  There is a “Like” button for that.  I want to comment when I actually have something to say that is meaningful.  I’m still working through that, and I think that’s ok.  I’ll figure it out out eventually.

So, these first few months of becoming an active participant (I won’t go so far as calling myself a contributor.  I have seen real contributors in action, and I am not one of them yet!) in the blogging world have been eye-opening for me.  But the eyes are only beginning to open.  I still have a long journey ahead of me.  But I’m looking forward to it – one step at a time!