Sunset by the footballfield

It was nice to have a clear day for a change. The sky was open and the Sun was going down when I was walking to football training with my son. If you live in the city with the children, the outdoor hobbies are playing an important role of burning energy, meeting new friends and learning some healthy, sporty habits. And it is sometimes nice for me to be there too and look at the kids...they are so enthusiastic. 

I of course had my Camera with me and got excited about this winter sunset. Walking around and taking photos kept me warm and the sport field with it's surroundings was actually quite an inspiring spot to see the Nature too....and a little bit of football:).

After an hour photo session and a coffee at the club house the evening was getting dark. The next group of boys came to play on the bright green grass. The last clicks on our way back. Beauty of the normal basic life and routines after a long holiday. We are fit for the weekend!

The Olympic Stadion

Why GREEN UP CAM ?

Before I will start writing again my weekly posts this year, I want to pay a little bit attention to the message of my blog and what the words "GREEN", "UP" and "CAM" mean to me. 

Oulujärvi, Finland

The first impression that you get based on the name of my blog and the word combination "GreenUP Cam" will differ from the individual point of view. The personal background, education and profession might have a great influence how you interpret these words and the meaning behind it. Because of the name, there might be some expectations what sort of texts there should be. No one does not own these words and everybody has a right to write about things from their point of view. We all have right to enjoy the "green" around us, we all have a right to add something more to our life: lifting and pointing UP some positive meanings&things, we all have the right to take photo's and save our memories. 

The Harbour of Hamburg

Writing a blog is sharing something from your knowledge & interests, your personal experiences + views and how you see things. Writing as a process might help to make things clearer for you and there might hopefully be some feedback and interaction between you and your readers when publishing a blog. For me is easier to write things down than speak and one picture can tell the whole story. It is typical  for me to express my feelings and thoughts by combining the text and the pictures. Then I have time to think and put my message in order.  There are sometimes too many things at the same time in my head and it is good to make sense out of that chaos. After that it's also easier to speak out those thoughts. Picking up the most meaningful moments, the strongest emotions or something beautiful you have seen. Also the deepest moments and lowest points are important. From those you often learn the most about yourself and see the beauty of the dark days too. 
  
GREEN:

When I go outside and see the green shades of the Nature..it wakes me up and gives me a kick. In my eyes the Green colour represents the life and the vitality. The growth of the plants, even the smell of the ground and touching the different textures of the nature gives me strenght and helps me focus on important things. I feel alive and balanced when the green around us is part of my daily life. That gives me a new perspective and I want to add more of that green power in my life. Writing about it and taking the pictures reminds me all the time how I have to take care of myself & other people, appreciate the life and the Environment.

UP:

I want to look up and be positive. I want to be able to look things from up, have the perspective of the bird. This means also seeing the bigger picture and not just seeing the details. Seeing the sky and seeing the whole landscape. At the same time it means I want more and I want to develop as a person. I want to bring more of the green and the Nature in our life and encourage to notice the big impact it has on us. I want to show you my photos and what I have seen.

CAM: 

I love watching photos and the Camera itself is like a third eye to me. I have always been keen on taking photos, but I am not a very technically orientaded person. I would like to learn all the tricks and ways to take good photos, but I like more the simplicity than gloria. I am not the one who plans a lot how and where to take pictures. The Camera is like a notebook to me and I often have it with me. It is faster than writing, but it helps me later to go back to that moment and to see some hidden and deeper meaning on things and natural scenes. For me it is like a poetry, not focused just on facts...more like capturing the poetry of the moment. I know I should also learn more of the technique and I will try to do it step by step.

With these words I will be happy to continue my personal journey this year and share it with you! With best Wishes, Erja

Oud en Nieuw - Old and New

I wish you a Happy New Year! I did not have any time to write lately, but tomorrow the first empty paper of the year 2016 will be waiting for us. There will be time to write again and see everything in a new light. Days will be getting longer and brighter. The outdoor living will be blooming again sooner as we think. This is a funny winter, I already see some little flowers at the park...the winter really never seems to come. I would like to see some snow, but for that I would have to travel back to North Europe to my hoods or to the Alps.

Our dinner has been in the oven for hours and I can hear the fireworks at the park already. It is hardly 5pm and it sounds like midnight. Our quests for this evening are here. Time to have some fun and say goodbye to this year. 

Once more Happy and Healthy new year 2016!

Starting the eve with little salty snacks and some wine...and as usual playing games with our friends.

Toast for this year and thank you for reading my blog! 

Walk with me

I love the dutch countryside and the green fields with the open view. On the second Christmas day I went for a walk in East Holland, in the province of Overijssel. It is a nice contrast to spent some time in a peaceful village compared to busy Amsterdam. I enjoy it a lot every time. It did not feel like winter. The grass was so green and the weather so mild. This time I let the pictures tell the story. I had a quiet walk and I just concentrated watching around, breathing, listening, moving and taking photos. The best way to relax after all the holiday action. So, let's walk.

Green holiday greetings, Erja

Ice & Fire + some seasonal thoughts

This candle collage was burning yesterday on our living room table when I started to write this post. The movement of the flames, the smell of the rosemary candle and the warmth of the colours: like a fireplace on a plate. We had a nice weekend:

We went skating on saturday with our friends at the museum square. It was a nostalgic feeling when trying to skate again after a long time. Like trying to learn to walk again. Finding the balance on the ice, which was extremely slippery and wet in this warm weather.  

Drinking a "glühwein" (hot spiced wine) and eating a bread with currysausage. Watching the crowded arena of skaters under the sparkling lights. This could be any year, maybe even 50 years before. The joy of the movement and a smile on a face, everyone at the same moment and sharing the experience.

A magical moment under the lights. Protected from the black and too much reality. Seeing all the children skating, falling and continuing the fun until it has to stop. Too late, time to go home.

Still wanting to believe in Santa Claus. Only four days until the christmas eve. Traditions: baking spiced cookies, decorating the christmas tree, cleaning the house a bit, listening the favourite songs and some memories from the childhood popping in my mind again.

Did we buy a christmas tree or not?? We did, on sunday from the local flower shop, transported home with the longboard. The creative idea of my son. All this for the children and also for the child who still lives inside me and hopefully in every adult person. Hoping the best for us and for the others!

Dreaming of the tree!

The dream came true!

I decorated the tree with my children. We used almost all the old deco's we had. But the good thing is..it still doesn't look too crowded. I don't like it when there is too much glitter...then you don't see the tree anymore. Maybe not so eco to buy a tree, but this  tradition is too strong and we love the smell of the tree in our house. 

A wooden star made by my son.

The final countdown for the peaceful christmas, time to think and relax. I will take part in "the intuitive writing challenge" during the holiday. There will be some tasks and questions I have to try to answer. Every day I have to think a little bit my own life and  what happened during the year and what are my dreams. Looking forward to it!

Black ink - reflections on the water

If the trees could write, what would be the story? 

I was walking by the water and went to the edge of the canal. I saw something that reminded me of ink, like a leakage of black fluid or something oily on the surface of the water. This reflection came from the leafless, curvy trees beside the canal. This spot is normally so covered with green bushes and trees, that I would maybe leave this place alone in the summertime. Now it is easy to reach some normally hidden corners of the park and get a new perspective, more open and dramatic. This view was so strong & still, but the movement of the water created the illusion of an extra dimension. It almost looked like a gate to another reality...like a poem, painting or a story made by the trees. 

I really like the patterns of these pictures. These would look good also printed on a fabric. The Nature can always surprise and give some ideas and thoughts that you would not get otherwise. We should let the nature give the influence and the healthy effect on our lives. And on the other side: we have to take care of the Nature.

Maybe and hopefully the papers and agreements made in the Paris conference on climate change 2015 are going to lead some worldwide results as soon as possible. Also the individual level is important: our own micro environment including the people around us. What kind of effect or attitude we have. Is there hope and some positive energy to keep on going and really change something to reach the goal and stop the climate change. 

A new houseboat transported at Sloterkade.

After my walk I saw this new home transported by the Sloterkade. I saw steps going under the water level inside the house. Sleeping under the waterline maybe and enjoying the reflections next day from your living room window. Just to show you one way of living in a city. I don't know if I would like it as a permanent home. The water is unfortunately not very clean in the canals.

Lisää kuvateksti

To lighten the day, a picture with the power of growth and some visual vitamin for the mind!!