Of Life and Growth

All flowers have to slowly
push their way through the ground and leaf litter,
reach for the sky,
learn to stand up,
and then,
burst into colour.


Even you and me.
Another day unlike any other that has
or will ever be.


Let's do it well.

I only had a few moments after work

I only had a few moments after work

I walked over and looked out to sea to see what was different
Somber grays and no brilliant sunset glow setting the sky aflame
No riotous colours.


But that's ok


The clouds make their own pattern of wonder in the sky
The lower light requests a slightly longer exposure
There is a tugboat waiting as a gravel barge is being loaded
and greatest of all?


a transient piece of driftwood
the rootball of a tree
has made its way to the ocean and this shoreline
a long journey through time and place
to casually drift through the scene


I only had a few moments after work


but this moment will last forever

Koi in Space

the galaxy is a reflection of the wonder we find all around,
inside and out, outside and in,
may we know and grow a little more each day
as we make our way on,
to be what we will become,
and become what we will be..

Sun and Cloud: The Creative Struggle

Like Sun and cloud, our creative struggles, challenges, and success, are all the better for the combination.



I live in a rainforest. Unlike many of my fellow temperate coastal forest people I readily acknowledge the fact that the weather patterns will continue to bring rain here off of the ocean as they have for millenia, and that I have a choice of living locations. I could live in a desert arid climate, or the prairies where the fields run off into the distance. I've spent a bit of time in both those climates and, while I can appreciate the differences and beauty to them, I love the giant green forest, plethora of plants and mosses, and deep goodness in the woods along the sea.

So we have sun, and we have rain, and we have many many clouds, often.

I can tell you from personal experience that the sun and blue sky look absolutely brilliant when they peek through the clouds after a few days of being overcast. And the colours!! At sunset and sunrise, or other random moments through the day, you can find all sorts of weird and wonderful light making it's way through those clouds.

As for creative struggles? Well.. they're very similar. The passion and inspiration to germinate an idea, like a flash of brilliant sunlight. The striding forth in that light to start creating, to take pictures, lay words on paper, or pluck strings to make tunes. And then the struggle of choosing how to display that, how to share it, how to arrange it, how to quantify it, how to risk making it real, and tangible, and putting it out there.

There is a challenge and a struggle in that darkness.



And then there is the sun. Rising once more over the waters, over the hills, through the fog. A new day dawns and we stand there with our completed work for all to see. We have succeeded. We celebrate, and then strike out to see what this new day will bring, how it will inspire, how it will make us muse.

So know that you're not alone in that struggle, in that journey, in that quest. Though it is uniquely unique to you, it is also a generally shared experience to many, and we're cheering you on even though you must walk the steps yourself, we're hooting and hollering and waving banners, though you must ache and strive to continue.

Please do, for in watching you struggle and succeed you also cheer me on. So thank you.
Thank you and go well :)

Jordan Oram
The Maplemusketeer

ps You never know how sharing your muse and action will inspire others. To you something may seem small, but the ripples it casts will go on into until at least lunch time, possibly eternity ;)

Thanks to Paulissa Kipp who's comments to me this morning on Google Plus inspired this post, and to Jake Easley for his sharing of awesome and timeliness. ;)

Sechelt Sunset

The sunset seen over Vancouver Island from Sechelt, British Columbia.


Sunsets are one of those things that makes photographers late for dinner. Good light will do that. Sunrise, sunset, sun being filtered through clouds, all set the photographic heart atizzy. Because in one picture is immortality. A connection and link is formed in that moment that will last for us as long as we live. In the focus of that impassioned moment, other commitments disappear and fade away behind the glory of that glowing goodness.

Some will understand. Some won't. It is a link between those who chase their passion and find themselves at the whim of their muse.

So what? What does this mean? Well..
A) Enjoy sunsets. They're awesome. ;)
B) Hopefully we can develop some compassion and understanding for others when they get caught up in their passions, even when they aren't OUR passions. Oh heck. Hopefully we can all relax a bit and realize that people get caught up in things, and if it's something they love and are passionate about, then that's awesome! I want to support people living passionately and powerfully, chasing dreams and discovering wonders. So be it reading, writing, playing an instrument, carving wood, knitting, or whatever, let me know that I may cheer you on!

Because what the world can use, is more people living passionate and purposeful lives of awesome ;)

Lets do it :D

Crossing Howe Sound in the Winter

Crossing Howe Sound in the Winter, a photo by maplemusketeer on Flickr.

I met a fellow on the ferry crossing who called it the world's cheapest/most scenic cruise. The 45minute sailing from Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal (on the outskirts of Vancouver) to the Langdale Ferry Terminal (on the Sunshine Coast) costs about $13 as a walk on passenger and you only have to pay the fare one way as the return trip back to Vancouver is free.

In the foreground is Gambier Island and in the background is the mainland en route up Howe Sound to Squamish and further still to Whistler. In the distance can be seen the top of Mt.Garabaldi.

I've been riding this route since I was in the womb. I still watch in awe during the voyage. :)