Observatory of the Quotidian
exists with the purpose of celebrating the often unnoticed beauties of the mundane, glorifying God for his very good creation, and inspiring people (especially in northern climates) to love and interact with their environments.
What's in a name?
quo-'tid-i-an:
–adjective 1. daily. 2. usual or customary. 3. ordinary; commonplace. |
The Origins of the Observatory
I guess you could say the story began sometime in the winter of 2010. It was a long, dark, mushy season, and in January I started suffering from low spirits and the worst cabin fever of my life. I had more than a hunch that my lack of cheerfulness was partly related to being cooped up indoors and lacking natural light. I was confronted again with a question I had grappled with for several winters past: What can I do outside, close to home, and on short time? I considered snowshoeing; not enough snow. Cross-country skiing would have been great, but despite the fact we're the last street to get plowed, there didn't seem to be a convenient space for it. I could, of course, just walk, but I had tried that and discovered that unless I was distracted the biting cold got to me more quickly than I cared to admit. I half-heartedly paced my backyard and strolled the neighborhood and wished there was something of more substance I could do.
Somewhere during the summer of 2010 I began to see the next winter looming. Said I to myself, "I must find a better way BEFORE it comes suddenly upon me." So I began thinking. I continued to draw a blank, but my mother didn't. "Why don't you take up winter photography?" she said in response to my grumbling. "You could even do a photoblog." I pondered the suggestion and found it wise on several scores: it necessitated no travel, no expense, was fun and edifying, and could be done on whatever time I had each day.
The eventual fruits of that conversation were daily 20-30 minute walks, greater cheerfulness, and... this blog. I hope in reading this you too are inspired to embrace the outdoors, love your environment, and get outside.
Somewhere during the summer of 2010 I began to see the next winter looming. Said I to myself, "I must find a better way BEFORE it comes suddenly upon me." So I began thinking. I continued to draw a blank, but my mother didn't. "Why don't you take up winter photography?" she said in response to my grumbling. "You could even do a photoblog." I pondered the suggestion and found it wise on several scores: it necessitated no travel, no expense, was fun and edifying, and could be done on whatever time I had each day.
The eventual fruits of that conversation were daily 20-30 minute walks, greater cheerfulness, and... this blog. I hope in reading this you too are inspired to embrace the outdoors, love your environment, and get outside.
Have you found a creative way to get outside, especially during the winter months? I'd love to hear about it. You can drop me a comment here.