Variations on a Theme

Sayen Garden, New Jersey

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All images by Rebecca Haegele have been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Click on any image to go to its gallery for purchasing information.

A Day in the Life...

...of a Suburban Girl.

In my first photography class in 1988
the instructor reminded us to take photographs
of everyday things
because everyday things won't always be everyday things.
He was so right.


Library Books 

In my recent life situation
I haven't wanted to pick up the camera.
But every now and then something
catches my eye and I think
maybe I should photograph that.



I Love My Honda - It is 80% Made in America too. 
Yup, I check those things. 

As part of my healing process,
I think I will do a little project on
Everyday Things:
A Day in the Life of a Suburban Girl.


Contemplating Which to Read First 

I have no idea where this will go,
but it is something
to do
to think about
to get back into the groove of life.
Who knows, this could be the only installment...
but I doubt that.

About that large print book on top...no I don't need large print. 

There is a long wait list for that book 

and the large print version had the shortest list 

so large print it is. 

I picked these books off of a recommended list 

for me from goodreads.com

 I can't tell you anything about them yet. 

Have you read any of them? 

Everyday things - library books 

placed on the kitchen table 

just after picking them up. 

It doesn't get more everyday than that.  

No, I don't do Kindle, 

I'm a snobby purist book lover. ;) 

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Discovering Wabi-Sabi

Something clicked.
After 50+ years of living, I've discovered it.
Now I feel defined, emboldened and free.

What is it?
wabi-sabi 
Not to be confused with wasabi 
which I also love.  :)


Be Still My Heart: Cobalt Blue Glass 
iso 1000, 50mm, f 2.8 1/80 sec

It's been there all my life,

but my life had never met wabi-sabi before.

And now, I know what I have loved,

and my love is justified.

What is wabi-sabi?

It is a Japanese world view of 

finding beauty in the imperfect 

and embracing the humble. 

A life where old and battered objects

are preferred over the new and pristine.

Teapot by Hall (USA) Teacup by Copeland-Spode (England) 

iso 1000, 62mm, f 2.8 1/30 sec

This explains why,

when you come to my house for dinner,

I won't have a new, matching dinner set on the table.

Rather,

each place setting will have a unique piece

of {mostly} vintage ironstone transferware

that I searched for and found

one at a time.

(And do you know,

no one has ever commented on this.

Ever.

It is unnoticed. )

Maybe that is why I felt so alone in my wabi-sabi-ing.

Keys to Unknown Doors

iso 500, 70mm, f 2.8 1/4 sec

I have collected my dinner glassware,

French, red, retro,

the same way - although this is a matching set.

A few pieces here,

a few pieces there.

And now, I have enough for a party.

Each glass is special.

I found it and

 it became part of my life.

Vintage Red French Glassware {Luminarc}

iso 1000, 55mm, f 2.8 1/15 sec

I haunt thrift stores, flea markets and the like.

I bring home the old, battered, unloved

and give it a home.

Why?

I like to look at it.

Something about it is special in my eye.

It stimulates my imagination.

How about you?

Do you wabi-sabi?

Good Riddance Martha Stewart

(or More Reading on Wabi-Sabi)

iso 500, 63mm, f 2.8 1/20 sec

Until next time,

wabi-sabi on.

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Burnt Cookies for Christmas

There once was a little redheaded boy
who live a few doors away from his Grandma's home.


Making Burnt Cookies

The wonderful thing about Grandma's home
was the location over top of Grandma's bakery.
Yes, Grandma had a bakery
and little redheaded boy grew up
enjoying the day-old, burnt, or otherwise rejected baked goods.


Mix together:1 Cup Butter, 1 Egg, 1/2 Cup Sugar 

When little redheaded boy married,
his wife burnt some cookies
and like any good wife
she disposed of the burnt cookies.


Add 1 Teaspoon Vanilla & 1 1/2 Cups Flour. Food color optional. 
Mix until well combined. Press through cookie press.

When little redheaded boy saw the burnt cookies in the trash,
he was distraught.
All those delicious cookies gone to waste.
Whatever was wife thinking?


Bake at 400 degrees fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes (for non-burned cookies).
The hardest part is watching them burn. 

And thus wife learned that burnt cookies
are delicious to little redheaded boys
who grew up eating burnt baked goods
from Grandma's bakery.


Little Redheaded Boy will be very happy when he comes home today. 

Wife now burns cookies
just for Little Redheaded Boy
because she loves him.

Here is Little Redheaded Boy 
helping at Grandma's bakery. 

Images edited with Topaz Impression.  
They offer 30 day trials. 
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you can use if you find something you like. 

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