Summary

Susan Alison shares her experiences and challenges from a week of photography, art, and personal loss, including the discovery of a pom-pom tree, technical difficulties with a book cover, and the death of a friend, while participating in the Photo-a-Day Challenge to cope with the pandemic blues.

Abstract

Susan Alison's week is a tapestry of creativity, frustration, and personal grief. She encounters a mysterious pom-pom tree in her neighborhood, which adds a splash of color to the street, though its purpose remains unknown. Her artistic endeavors are interrupted by a series of disruptions, including the accidental saving of a book cover file in the wrong format, which she eventually resolves. Amidst these challenges, she grapples with the sudden death of a friend, finding solace in John Masefield's poem "Sea-Fever." Despite the tumultuous week, Susan remains hopeful, echoing the poem's longing for the sea as a metaphor for her own resilience and the therapeutic nature of the Photo-a-Day Challenge.

Opinions

Susan expresses a mix of wonder and curiosity about the pom-pom tree, appreciating its aesthetic contribution to the neighborhood.
She admits to a chaotic week, filled with interruptions, yet she aspires to maintain a calm and light-hearted reaction to all adversities.
The accidental loss of her book cover work prompts a moment of panic, followed by relief upon finding a solution to recover the file.
Susan's repeated affirmation of her calmness suggests a personal mantra to cope with stress.
The death of a friend deeply affects her, and she turns to poetry as a means of expression and comfort.
She views the Photo-a-Day Challenge as a beneficial activity, initiated by Dennett, to help participants navigate the emotional challenges of the pandemic.
Susan acknowledges the community of storytellers and photographers who participate in the challenge, offering a sense of connection and shared experience.

PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE

A Pom-Pom Tree!

Berries, Lost File, ‘Sea Fever’

Rushing around the block with Doggo to get stuff posted, we spotted this pom-pom tree (above).

I haven’t a clue why someone has gone to the trouble of making all those pom-poms and attaching them to that tree. I’ve been unable — so far — to find out what that’s about. But it’s certainly added some colour to that street!

I had started to take pics of berries I’ve been finding in the neighbourhood for this feature, but everything has been side-lined this week.

It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve been unable to get a clear run at anything. As soon as I start something, something else comes along and disrupts my progress.

I am trying to convince myself that I ‘react calmly and lightly to everything’. And I will convince myself.

I have, however, given up saying that to people I know — they have a disconcerting tendency to fall about in hysterical laughter at the very idea.

I react calmly and lightly to everything. I do!

Photo of unfinished book cover by Susan Alison

Well — except when I’ve done hours and hours of work on a cover for a colouring book (above) (not finished) and then get called away to something else — and save the work as the wrong sort of file!!! And then I can’t get it open again! Arrghhh!!!

I really thought I’d lost all the work. Oh, Dog. What a nightmare to have to do alllllll that work over again!

With no hope at all that there would be an answer, I Googled and found one! I pass it on here in case it’s of use to anyone. If you do accidentally save your file — (at least in Photoshop) — in the wrong format then go to your ‘File Explorer’ and change the extension on there — in this case to ‘.psd’.

Oh! The relief!

I started this doggo hiding in the flower bed, but he got dropped as well — hopefully he will get finished this week …

“… the lonely sea and the sky …” painting by Susan Alison

‘Sea-Fever’ by John Masefield

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

And then, terrible news about a friend who has died suddenly and far, far too early. Hence, this poem. It’s kind-of my go-to poem.

(It is out of copyright and in the public domain.)

This week is going to be better.

I react calmly and lightly to everything.

Last year, Dennett started the Photo-a-Day Challenge to help combat the pandemic blues. She takes photos every day and chooses the best ones, adding a one-word descriptor, sometimes some narrative, to share her week with us.

Other practitioners of this form of story-telling:

Erika Burkhalter/Eileen Vorbach Collins/Anne Bonfert/Sasha Meyer/Tracy Aston/Lisa Bolin/Juan O. Aguilera/David Wade Chambers/June Nguyen/Mia Verita/Susan Alison/LensAfield/Barbara Radisavljevic/Diana Lotti/Barbara Dalton/Kim Zuch/K. Barrett/Penny Grubb/Ellie Jacobson/Shruthi Sundaram

(If your name should be on this list — or, indeed, should not be on this list, please let me know.)

Last week:

Where Did that Cat Go? and Ricciarelli — Italian Almond Cookies

Chilean Lantern Tree, Communing with the Moon Paintings, and Orchids

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The week before last:

You Malign Me — I am Not Drooling over Next Door’s Rabbits!

Enthusiastic Fuchsias, Colouring Book Day, and Bronze Water Lilies with the Most Amazing Verdigris

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The week before the week before last:

Door to a Mystical Land, Sour Grapes, and ‘Trust Me, I’m a Corgi’

Red geraniums, blue hydrangeas and white lilies

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