Jardino

i carry your heart... in my heart — e.e. cummings

2011-08-26T16:44:00.002+02:00

reach for something pure

2011-08-20T19:56:00.004+02:00

Since I'm inundated with work and studies these days, I wanted to give you something inspirational as a kind of peace offering for being so absent around here. This desktop wallpaper* is the perfect motivator for me right now - reminding me to always aim for the good and pure in all I do. Please feel free to enjoy it too...

Extra wide: 1600x900 (S) 1366x768 (M) 1920x1080 (L) 2560x1440 (XL)

Standard: 1280x800 (S) 1440x900 (M) 1680x1050 (L) 1920x1200 (XL)

Other: 1024x768 (S) 1280x1024 (M)

* For personal use only. Copyright Janine Joles. Etc, etc.

things that make me happy.now

2011-08-13T16:35:00.002+02:00

1. My new haircut, which confirms that shorter is sexier.
2. This weekend's duvet weather.
3. Winter root vegetables roasting in the oven.
4. My new copy of African Interiors, by Taschen.
5. Discovering the awesomeness that is my iPad 2.
6. What a Wonderful World, by Eva Cassidy.
7. Playing tag inside with Bacco dog.
8. Saying the words "my husband" together in a sentence.
9. Remembering good times with an old friend.
10. And these be.you(tiful) words by Kosho Uchiyama,

"Enable the flower of your life to bloom."

when two hearts become ONE

2011-07-25T22:36:00.003+02:00

(Photos: Janine & Guido)

Last Friday the 22nd of July, I married my heart's ONE true love - Guido - in a discreet and intimate ceremony before our parents, my sister and the Italian Consul at the Consolato d' Italia in Cape Town. Afterwards we were joined by a few close friends for a lunchtime feast at 95 Keerom. I wish I could describe to you just how true and deep it feels... xo

(a reason to) smile

2011-07-09T22:41:00.002+02:00

*Please be patient. This animated .gif needs a moment to load to be fully appreciated :-)

Smile Haiku
By Shekhar Kapur

my smile
caught
in it’s own smile

winterscapes

2011-07-04T17:08:00.005+02:00

(Photos: Janine Joles)

While hiking Suikerbossie yesterday morning we were caught by surprise in a hail storm, fortunately after a quick dash we found shelter beneath some trees lining Myberg's ravine. Stuck literally between a rock and a hard place we had no choice but to wait. Once open paths soon turned into gushing streams, as ice quickly pooled along the grassy banks. When the temperature started to fall we huddled still closer with Bacco-dog hiding between our legs. In our silent waiting we marveled at the sight and sound of the storm pummeling Table Mountain's southern face. Breathtaking, raw and all encompassing, it passed over the mountain (and through our reverie) in a way that was refreshing to say the least!

Later that evening the sky was something else, and I couldn't resist capturing it's ethereal beauty to share here with you. Both these images are free to download as desktop wallpaper. To get yours simply click the image you like, then follow the download prompt to save. Enjoy... and please pass on if you're that way inclined :)

purple rain

2011-06-27T17:15:00.001+02:00

(Images © Janine Joles)

The phrase "the map is not the territory" by Alfred Korzybski, became a personal mantra of mine after I used it to introduce my final year Bachelor thesis, The Zen Process of Jasper Johns. Divinely stated, it constantly reminds me that life's an illusion - an enchanting play of light and shadow, day and night, truth and fantasy.

Recently I've been meditating on reasons, and why we need them to make, validate, even breach our most important decisions. Are our reasons really our own, or are they tainted by the rhythm of those which our families, societies and peers have sung to us since day one?

Unfortunately they all too often are. Sometimes when I must decide, the reasons of others play back like a familiar chorus from the recesses of my memory. But I've never been one to do something because 'it's the right thing'. In my opinion - there isn't a yard stick big enough to measure the right thing. The right thing to do, should be what's right for you. It's your life, your path, and you have to walk it. Best you enjoy the journey, the way you see it :)

the invitation

2011-06-24T17:42:00.006+02:00

(Images © Janine Joles)

Dear friends,

how are you? It's been far too long since I last wrote, and I'm deeply ashamed about it. Life's simply happening, and for me that's about all I'm capable of focusing on at the moment.

Our second trip to Italy was amazing by the way! As you might remember, my honey and I stayed in Riva Del Garda where we spent most of our time familiarizing ourselves with the local area we plan to live in. It's beautiful. Really, seriously beautiful. Sheer snow capped mountains rise from deep blue waters, as endless trails crisscross the timeless landscape. Lake Garda is our opportunity to embrace the outdoors like never before. This magnificent paradise is our future, and it's promise of adventure our dream.

Thinking about it now makes me feel awfully nostalgic for a time that's yet to come. I wish that I could just fast forward, so that we would safely be there in that rosy place. Realistically speaking however, we'll only move to Italy once we sell our home here in South Africa and unfortunately these hard economic times don't care much for our plans, never mind our dreams. Some day soon the tide will turn, and we'll be there waiting, ready to launch our maiden voyage together...

As for life here, now, all goes well. I'm making tremendous progress with the Italian lessons and I'm proud to announce that I passed my second exam just yesterday! Learning to speak a foreign language is an enlightening experience. Through the process I've come to discover just how much we take for granted in our moment to moment, day to day lives.

One exercise teaches us to describe in Italian our typical day. Repeating over and over that I wake up early in the morning, brush my teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, then start work, really sounded silly at first. Whereas I'm used to conducting more complex conversation, talking like this made me feel like a child again. That's the very beauty of it! Repeatedly describing my most basic daily routines, and the order in which I perform them, soon became a lesson in meditation which has caused me to see and appreciate my time in a whole new light.

Life is a series of events. A series of related, and sometimes unrelated, events. Actions precede other actions. Thoughts lead to new thoughts. For a moment today try to step outside this endless chain of events. Simply acknowledge, and thereby meditate on, the individual parts that form the whole. It's not easy as it takes repeated effort, repeated practice. I invite you to give it a try. Eventually it will become clear, as you learn to stop doing and start being. Trust me on this - it's a much deeper, richer and more rewarding experience...

With love.

Yours truly,

Janine

night

2011-03-25T18:05:00.001+02:00

(Photos: Janine Joles)

noon

2011-03-25T18:04:00.000+02:00

(Photos: Janine Joles)

morning

2011-03-25T17:54:00.001+02:00

(Photos: Janine Joles)

where the sweet peas run wild

2011-03-17T14:44:00.000+02:00

(Photo credit: Janine Joles)

Our veggie garden has been so good to us over this past summer. Bottles and bottles of tomato sauce with herbs and pesto now lie preserved in our freezer ready for the long winter months ahead. Another awesome display of vital goodness came from our sweet pea lined fence. What an intoxicating fragrance for such a small flower, and the colours - an ultra feminine array of pale pink, deep burgundy, violet, coral and cream. I wish they'd last forever...

into the unknown

2011-03-13T15:57:00.000+02:00

(Images © Janine Joles)

There is a very obvious element of "unknown" in the air at the moment. The past few days have been the hardest for many, and my sincerest thoughts are with those of you who are affected by Japan's most recent tragedy.

I believe that it's in times like these that we are reminded of this precious gift we call life, and I feel the following words by Anthony J. D'Angelo sum it up quite nicely, "The most important things in life aren't things."

just a note...

2011-02-28T15:10:00.000+02:00

Just a note to stay in touch, because you're on my mind so much — and although I've nothing special to say, just know I thought of you today.

the grass is greener

2011-02-22T18:55:00.000+02:00

(Click to enlarge. © Janine Joles)

Hello everyone. Hope your week's got off to a good start! I'm busy spring cleaning, even though it's the middle of summer. Everything looks great after the "cleansing", and my house feels once again like a home. Tonight we're celebrating with homemade pizza, which Guido and I prepare from scratch. Maybe someday I'll share our recipe and technique with you. All we really need now to perfect the process, is a wood oven! Here's hoping...

big shot, big difference

2011-02-17T16:01:00.000+02:00

(Click to enlarge. © Janine Joles)

In some cases you just have to agree — bigger IS better! Bigger simply means you're able to dive more freely into a picture, swim about, enjoy some love-stroke, until finally that point of visual satiation is blissfully reached.

I hope that today's "big shots" will give you the chance to put these thoughts to the trial. Incidentally, you may notice that I don't regularly give detailed descriptions of the photos published here. For that little extra, and often sporadic, information I recommend that you click on the image you like to follow the link through to my Flickr stream. There you'll find all sorts of location and other trivia particulars related to the images.

Happy explorations, and have a wonderful weekend!

the secret

2011-02-09T16:51:00.000+02:00

(Click to enlarge. © Janine Joles)

Remember my big secret? Well I'll be sharing it with you today, because I'm so excited and honestly can't think of anything else!

Drum roll please... I'll be visiting Italy again for the month of April — and lucky me — I'll also be in London for a week! Now perhaps some of you are wondering why so soon? The reason is quite simple. My big secret is really that Guido and I are moving to Italy!

I know. It's a huge moment for us. Right now I'm still trying to get my head (all the organizing), heart (the fact that I'll be saying goodbye to my family and friends) and tongue (the Italian language lessons have commenced) around this amazing opportunity.

Despite the inevitable challenges of moving countries, we are pushing through with the decision, and look forward to starting our new future together in Italy come the end of this year. Since that's still some time away, I will have to literally keep you posted on our progress, so that you can also share in our happiness :)

Hope you're having a blissful week, xo Janine

a birthday perspective

2011-02-01T11:44:00.003+02:00

(Click on images to enlarge. © Janine Joles)

Hello friends. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for not posting as often as I usually do. I'm just really busy at the moment, and the work won't ease off for another two months.

Despite these obligations, I couldn't resist popping in to tell you that it's my birthday! I'm 31 today - still a baby as my aunt so kindly put it into perspective. I feel quite strongly that this year will be the one I will always remember... but more of my big secret another time!

As for today's post, I hope you will like this series of images from Italy. I wanted to revisit my fine art roots with their monotones. Would you believe me if I told you that my final year exhibition (2001) was exclusively black and white? For ze proof, you can view ze images HERE :)

I also wanted to thank you again for the awesome support you show me through your comments and emails. I love hearing from each of you, and I treasure making these connections. Your friendships enrich my life, and give me reason to bloom. Thank you. Thank you so much.

gather ye rosebuds

2011-01-26T22:19:00.000+02:00

Because it's been a long week (work, plan, work), and since I'm really tired (I ran my first half marathon this morning), I'm going to keep this short and sweet with these sobering words by Robert Herrick from To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time:

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying:

And this same flower that smiles to-day

To-morrow will be dying.

pleasure-seeker

2011-01-21T08:49:00.003+02:00

Wishing you a pleasurable weekend! Hope it's full of natural beauty and adventurous pursuit. Enjoy, xo Janine

------
Thanks to Miss Moss' brilliant suggestion, I'm now offering this image as a desktop wallpaper download. To get your free copy, simply click **HERE**

autumn's warm palette

2011-01-19T16:38:00.000+02:00

Sometimes I secretly wonder whether you're all bored to death of my photos from Italy. It's just that I have SO many, and each time I go through them I find yet another group that works really well together! Since no one's complaining I'll safely assume that you're happy, and continue to ~~spam~~ delight you with my holiday pics :)

Today's golden yellow and bronzed set tells the story of Italy in Autumn, which was rich and inviting. I wonder now... what will the Spring be like?

one fine day

2011-01-14T22:24:00.001+02:00

There really are no words to describe how I felt that first morning in Italy standing on the shoreline looking across the sparkling waters of Lago di Garda. I remember thinking to myself, "I've died and gone to heaven." The weather was fine, the air crisp and clear. With my heart wide open, I felt an unforgettable sense of peace and pure contentment. I'll go as far as saying, it was the happiest moment of my life.

in-between tangerine

2011-01-12T17:19:00.000+02:00

the picture of happiness

2011-01-07T13:14:00.002+02:00

This past Sunday January 2nd 2011, my family and I celebrated the marriage of my sweet sister Michelle to her other half Clint. Although my greatest strength doesn't lie in wedding photography, I was nonetheless asked to take some photos of the ceremony and the couple on their wedding day. I'm glad I did. It was simply magic...

Held at Peer's Hill (as part of Table Mountain National Park), my sister was escorted arm-in-arm by her two sons to the ceremony on top of the sand dune. Thankfully the weather was perfect for it - not too hot, with signs of a forgiving breeze.

Bathed in warm afternoon light, and looking ever SO beautiful together, the couple shared their vows and sealed it with a kiss, thereby consummating the wedding before their loved ones, including their pooch Taz! There were lots of tears, hoots, yelps and laughter... still it was a moment we shall always remember.

After the wedding party moved on to the reception, I made haste of the fading light to capture these fun photos of the couple. One thing's for sure, and I think this series speaks for itself, Michelle and Clint have plenty of HEART 'N SOUL! I'm so pleased for them both, and hope that their lives together is the picture of happiness they shared on their magical wedding day!

20 eleven : bumper session

2011-01-04T17:54:00.000+02:00

Happy Twenty Eleven! I'm glad to finally be back after thoroughly enjoying a short, relaxing break over the holiday season. To celebrate the start of this new year, I want to spoil you to a "bumper session" of photos from my trip to Italy. So here you have it - 20 new images for your perusing pleasure! Anyhoo, I hope that you are all very well and feeling really optimistic about the year that lies ahead. What are your hopes, dreams and goals?