Community
Times Are Changing Putting the Time in [ by Kaylene Fister ] Atlanta doesn’t see much in the way of snow, so when it happens you take advantage of it. But you have to be quick because it doesn’t hang around for long. While most folks were hiding out in their homes after the most recent snowfall in Georgia, I got up early and drove around taking photos of the transformed landscape. There was very little traffic on the road which was a good thing.
Christmastime
I recently drove past one of the places I photographed that morning - the pretty little lake shown below:
I liked the monochromatic feel of the foreground, with the blue of the shadows in the background. The overhanging tree had prevented a small patch of lake from freezing over, leaving a nice reflection in the water. But when I drove past that same place last week, to my surprise it was gone! The little lake has been drained and a number of earthmovers have taken up temporary residence. I’m sure that whatever takes its place will be lovely, but it made me realise how quickly and easily things change. With that in mind, don’t pass up any opportunity to capture the world and lives around you with your camera. Places change, people grow and all you have left is memories and photographs. That is, if you remember to take them. What was it like when you were newly married, planting a garden, welcoming a new child or pet into your home? What does the home you are growing up in look like? It’s never too early to start and your children’s children will thank you for these precious images one day. My brother has been scanning old photographs into digital format so that he can share them with the family. Earlier this year we were looking through the dusty albums, remembering the times that went with the images and laughing at the goofy ones. Now I thank my Mum for making us all pose for yet another photograph and also the people who took photos of my grandparents and greatgrandparents, extended family and friends. The holiday season is upon us, with friends and family gathering and spending time together. Are you going to get out there and record some memories of people, places and fun times? Because you never know when things are going to change, like ‘my’ little lake.
Kaylene Fister is a professional photographer residing in Cumming, originally from New Zealand. Kaylene is the owner of Southern Kiwi Photography. She may be reached at 404.583.0659. 12 | MY FORSYTH
[ by Shelly Kent ] I am not among the ranks of most of the women I know when it comes to one thing: shopping. I absolutely, unequivocally despise it. Trotting around for a multitude of essentials is a nightmare all on its own, but holiday shopping? Straight out of a Stephen King novel—and maybe because I never feel like I get it right. That “perfect gift” reveals itself for only a few of the many who are on our family’s Christmas list. The rest of the time I wrack my brain trying to come up with something that shows I care…and I most often come up with physical gifts that do not seem to adequately express my sentiments. Having had major surgery a few years back, my recovery was long and arduous—it also extended straight through the holiday season. It was the first year I felt I had permission to let go of the shopping duties, and I think it is one of the best holidays we’ve had. Instead of buying dozens of tchotchke gifts that I would soon thereafter have to purge, dust around, or lament as clutter, I set up a series of family experiences—things we would ideally like enjoy during the year but never carve out enough time to do because the day-to-day minutia gets in the way. We attended a musical and a play, toured the caves in Kentucky, spent the day at a museum, and restaurant hopped at places we’d never been. This year we are following the same blueprint: we printed out the schedules for local theatres like the Cumming Playhouse, the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, and the Fox Theatre along with reviews of restaurants in the vicinity of the production and will let the kids plan evenings throughout the year. Once the family “votes” are in, the tickets will appear under tree and our calendars will become magically blocked. To help the little one participate in the planning and giving, we block early release school days and set up craft stations to make homemade scented soaps, candles, and body scrubs. They are gifts she will take pride in gifting and something the recipients can use and be done with. (Notice the underlying theme to eliminate clutter is to try not to introduce it in the first place.) [ Continued on page 43 ] Shelly Kent is a freelance writer. She may be reached at 404-232-9898 or shellykent@comcast.net.