More Light Please
Posted in guest quarters March 20th, 2009 by piablog

Dear Winter,
I am grumpy when I have to wake up in the morning and it is still dark out. I’m grumpy when I have to ride my son to school in the rain and I’m not ashamed to tell you I curse you under my breath when I ride. Here in Amsterdam you feel long and the days feel so short, a person could spend a lot of time being grumpy…Or they could take their camera, carefully sheltered from your never ending rain and wait. Wait, as the rain gives way to mist, as branches slowly reveal themselves and light begins to bounce from the water.

One of my two year old’s favorite sayings is “more light please”. Perhaps he means his rabbit nightlight, or the kitchen light, he could mean the headlights on his favorite truck. I always think he’s talking to you, asking for a personal favor, as if light were a lolly pop he justs wants a few more licks of. Now here we are in the middle of march and you have answered our call. This morning our ride to school was in full daylight and the ride home will be as well. We searched out all the new trees that had burst into green, saw the crocus poking up through tree trunks and wore raincoats instead of heavy winter ones.

It seems, Dear winter, that you are in retreat. Before you go I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for your stark beautiful trees against a white sky, thank you for your flocks of birds and dusky shades of grey. Thank you for ushering in the spring slowly so we can savour it and thank you for cultivating a great appreciation for the light.

written by riley salyards.
photographs by riley salyards.


« « « Leave a comment » » »

11 Comments

  1. nadia says

    This is the most beautiful post
    your photographs are stunning!

    March 20th, 2009 | #

  2. josephine says

    what a cutie pie trying to catch the light! that smile is priceless.

    March 20th, 2009 | #

  3. Jennifer says

    Absolutely beautiful. The words, the images, and the toddler!

    March 20th, 2009 | #

  4. Jeffrey says

    I think that “more light please” should be the mission of the new US administration in Washington.

    March 21st, 2009 | #

  5. Riley says

    Thank you for all the lovely and welcoming comments, it is such a pleasure to read them!

    March 22nd, 2009 | #

  6. Devi says

    Love the photos, esp. the big one and those with your son. So atmospheric (or how does it call?)!

    March 22nd, 2009 | #

  7. kiri saftler says

    I love how the universe puts things together. I was on Hwy 34 passing the area the Moffits lived and thinking about the Salyards while listening to a TAPE (remember those?) The tape was Jennifer Reid singing the song about you …..Do you remember there is a song about you in the world? Your son looks a bit like Gage to me in the photo I just looked at. Hope all is well and less than grumpy in your world. Your clothing is fun and I hope very sought after. Kiri

    March 23rd, 2009 | #

  8. Esti says

    Thanks to you too, for the magical pictures and the sweet goodbye to winter.

    March 23rd, 2009 | #

  9. Céline H. says

    Thanks to your dear winter……. for this beautiful winter mist.
    Thanks to you…..for this touching sharing.
    Celine

    March 23rd, 2009 | #

  10. Jessica says

    goodbye grumps…hello green!! miss you and your boy so much. love and light,
    jess

    March 24th, 2009 | #

  11. jennifer says

    I love the idea of winter in retreat. And it is definitely time for more light please! Beautiful tree photos.

    March 26th, 2009 | #


RSS feed for these comments. | TrackBack URI