Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Monday 21 December 2015

Remembering those we have loved

 These beautiful kangaroo paws are flowering in my garden right now in time for Christmas, and I am reminded to take time to see and experience the beauty around us and the joy we can gain from simple things. 

I wish all my dear blogging friends a lovely Christmas season spent in the company of those they love.  Thank you so much for your support this year and for taking the time to stop by and say hi. I really appreciate every one of you. 






It is now just over twelve months in September since my darling father passed away, and coming up to 12 months on 26 December when my dear mother-in-law passed away. I can hardly believe it has been twelve months. It seems like only yesterday when we watched them slip away. I think of them often and about those final days. 

Mourambine church, Western Australia

I have just finished reading "The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George. (2013 Published in Great Britain by Abacus) It is a delightful story about Jean Perdu who runs a bookshop, or a 'literary apothecary' on a restored barge on the Seine in Paris. He has been nursing a broken heart for over 21 years. Events lead him to unmoor his barge and set off down the Seine to Provence in search of his past and his beloved. 

I won't tell you more, as you should read it for yourselves. But I wanted to share this passage from the book, which in a way brought me comfort. If you have lost someone this past year I hope it will bring you comfort too. I have always felt when I visit the graves of my parents that they are not there.  Have you ever felt like that?  I feel closer to them when I walk the fields of their childhood.

In the end I'm only going next door. 
To the end of the corridor, into my favourite room. 
And from there, out into the garden. And there I will become light and go wherever I want.
I sit out there sometimes in the evening, and look at the house we lived in together.
I see you roaming through some rooms.....
You're searching for me.
I'm no longer in the sealed rooms, of course.
Look at me! Out here.
Raise your eyes, I'm here!
Think of me and call my name!
None of this is any less real because I am gone.
Death doesn't matter.
It makes no difference to life.
We will always remain what we were to one another. 


I wrote the poem below just before last Christmas and thought I would share with you again today. I give it to those of you who may have lost a loved one this past year.

A beautiful song - The Spirit of Christmas Past from Enya



The Ghosts of Christmas Past. 


 Christmas comes but once a year
It brings with it joys and tears

As I go through the motions of gift buying, decorations and planning menus..... 

I am thinking of those who will be missing from my table  for the first time this year
They are the ghosts of Christmas past

My father hanging Christmas lights in the pine trees at our front gate

The carol singers under our corner street light
I lay in bed wondering how Father Christmas could possibly come down

our kitchen chimney and through the little doors at the front of our Metters wood Stove.  
But he did – because the carrots and cake were gone in the morning.

The excitement of seeing my new big doll Lucy under the Christmas tree
My mother dishing up the Christmas pudding with the threepences hidden inside  
Her Christmas carols that filled the house.
The long Christmas table at my Aunts With aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents And silly hats

 Summer heat and laughter,  
Playing under the sprinkler on the back lawn,  
And laying on the cool passage lino with a new book
The simple pleasure of humid summer evenings on the back lawn
     looking up at the stars. 

As I hang the special Christmas baubles on my tree
And light the candle of remembrance I look into the eyes of my grandchildren
And I see the ghosts of Christmas past

Jill Harrison
2 December 2014


 And a video of Eva Cassidy singing the beautiful - Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  
This is such a beautiful rendition - it always brings me tears as I remember. 


I wish you peace, contentment and happiness this Christmas season, to those who celebrate, and to those who follow another faith. Let us all remember we are all one people. 
 Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays

Lifestyle Fifty Monday Linkup 
Our World Tuesday

Through My Lens 
Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Worth Casing Wednesday
What's It Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday

The Weekly Postcard

 
You may also like -
St Werburghs Chapel, Mt Barkers, Western Australia
A little bit of Christmas baking
Summer December flowers in Western Australia
The ghosts of Christmas past



24 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post my virtual friend. It was very poignant for me for the loved ones I have lost myself in recent years.

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  2. I am remembering my dear husband who died 3 years ago. We had 37 years together. I am also remembering my dear niece who died at age 36 suddenly, leaving her 3 yr old daughter and husband. Both are always in my thoughts and prayers and I am thankful for my memories.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  3. I love your poem Jill and the quote from The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George which I think I'm just going to have to read now you've suggested it. This is a beautiful post. The music, poems and thoughts make it really poignant and memorable. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and super special New Year and 2016 too. Thank you for ALL the support you've given me and my blogs this year too xxx

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  4. Thank you Jill for reminding me about the meaning of Christmas. We all tend to get so busy in the lead up to Christmas and the commercial side of it rather than dwell on the real meaning. To me that is remembering people who are no longer with us and bringing together families, no matter how fractured we can be sometimes. Lovely quote from the book too. xx

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  5. I think one of the reasons I like traveling at both Thanksgiving (US) and Christmas is that I am far removed from those 'normal' customs and are not reminded of all those who are missing. This post is so lovely you should reprint it every year at this time for all of us to pause, take a deep breath and remember. . . Hugs to you my special friend in the blogosphere! Jackie

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  6. Thank you for the quote from the book, it helps as I am just on my way back home from a funeral.
    Moving post.
    Wren x

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  7. Christmas time looks very different in there, but I think the spirit is the same everywhere. I wish you peaceful and happy Christmas. This is the good time for remember happy times, and make some new things to remember.

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  8. Hello Jill, what a pretty post, songs and lovely images. I think we all have loved ones we will be missing over the holidays. I wish you and your family and very Merry Christmas filled with peace and joy.

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  9. So happy to meet you, Jill. uplifting blog-


    Wishing you peace & joy :-)

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  10. Thanks for linking in with "Through my Lens"

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  11. Oh Jill it is still hard to deal with the loss of my father 18 years ago...like it was just this past year to me...your story and poem were wonderful...thank you! And Merry Christmas to you!

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  12. Your poem is heart warming Jill, my dad's been gone 6 years but I know he's here in spirit. The book sounds like a good read and Eva Cassidy sure does a nice rendition of the song.
    Merry Christmas.

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  13. So sad but also beautiful that your mom passed right after Christmas. "They" say that it really takes 2 years with an uncomplicated loss like yours. So, take it easy on yourself and have a wonderful Christmas!

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  14. What a truly beautiful post! I am so sorry for your losses. That happens it seems often during the holidays. Beautiful thoughts and images.

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  15. So sorry for your losses. A lovely post with glorious shots.

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  16. Festivals do bring back lots of memories. So sorry for your loss.
    The poem is so wonderfully written!
    Merry Christmas to you!

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  17. I love Eva Cassidy. Sad she died so young.
    Thanks for the Christmas wishes and for sharing your photos at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/12/time-for-tune-up.html. I wish you blessings at Christmas and throughout the year to come!

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  18. A simply beautiful post Jill - so very poignant, yet full of hope and appreciation for having shared the lives of special others. It is so important to realise that today is tomorrow's yesterday and to therefore create special memories as we colour each day with our activities and encounters. May you and yours experience a blessed Christmas and I look forward to enjoying more of your photography in 2016 and beyond.

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  19. All just wonderful, such sweet remembrances and I also hold so much of what you shared dear to mine own heart. It is with such sorrow when they go, but we must have faith, that one day we shall see them again. Your poem was so very sweet as was the one you shared as well. I love Enya, always one of my very favorites. Hugs for you and Merry Christmas Jill~

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  20. Gorgeous photos - peace to you this season!

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  21. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  22. May the peace of the season be with you all dear friends.

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  23. What a beautiful post. Wish you a Blessed Christmas!

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