My Photos for Sale through Instacanvas!

I’m thrilled to announce that a good number of my photographs are now available to buy as canvas prints through Instacanvas.

The square canvasses come in three sizes: 12”, 16” or 20”.  Shipping is very reasonable if you live in the States, a bit pricier if you live elsewhere; but the folk at Instacanvas are currently working to bring down the price of international postage, so don’t despair!

I will be so happy if you click onto the site and take a look; and turning cartwheels if you actually choose to buy.  Something inside me skips when I see one of my pictures going into the world to grace someone’s wall or put a smile on someone’s face.

Any queries re the pictures themselves, feel free to contact me.  Any queries re the buying process, contact Instacanvas.

P.S. And if you care to like, tweet, pin or otherwise spread the word, I will be so grateful!  Thank you.

Goodbye, Picnik!

The ants have invaded and the Picnik is over – my favourite online photo editing site shuts up shop today.

I couldn’t let it disappear, though, without saying a big thank you.  It was Picnik that first got me editing pictures with its fun and straightforward format.  Many, many of the images on this site were edited in Picnik….and most of the collages I’ve put together over the years were created there.  This little corner of the blogosphere would not look the way it does today if it were not for Picnik’s help.  So…thank you, thank you, thank you!

The good news is that some of the Picnikers have set up shop over at PicMonkey.  And there’s an ever increasing variety of other online editing options for those who don’t want to find their way around Photoshop.  I’ve been experimenting with both Snapseed and Pixlr Express lately.

Most of my editing these days, however, is done with apps.  Yet there are some things for which I still automatically turn to Picnik.  And I’ll miss it.

I put together one last collage (above) with pictures taken on my birthday walk in the woods on Monday.  And now that’s it.

Goodbye, familiar friend.  It was a great Picnik!

Changing Places: Tracy Bakkelokken on Norway

What are you willing to dare?  Are you wiling to risk all for love?

These were some of the big questions I asked myself twelve years ago when I fell in love with a Norwegian man, who also happened to be my friend. Before I knew it he'd asked me to come be with him, be his love, get married, and live in Norway. Much whirlwind and packing up of my worldly goods (mostly books!) followed. I made my way across the Atlantic, far from life in the USA, away from the state of Pennsylvania where I came from. And away from my family and friends there, who were incredulous over my decision!

I was at a big crossroads in my life when I met Terje, my soon-to-be husband. A crossroads personally, spiritually, creatively--every level. I'd never travelled much. And I'd never even been on an airplane! And never before had I dared myself so much for love or life. I took a chance that love would change my life, that love would grace my days and follow me, wherever I went.

Living abroad twelve years now, leaping into the unknown of establishing myself in another country, learning another language, fitting in among a new set of people with cultural mores, and more... I have grown so much by living in Norway. During the years I have found:

* home--wherever I am is home, I'm a citizen of the world
* self-acceptance--I am a work in progress
* perseverance--walking my talk and the honesty in that
* freedom--there is much freedom in taking a big chance, to be brave enough to try something else
* tolerance--of other people and myself
* generosity--much received, as well as much given in return
* mindfulness--practicing mindfulness enriches my journey
* trust--that all will be well
* compassion--for myself and others
* beauty--the beautiful nature of Norway always inspires me
* flexibility--especially the mental kind!
* happiness--it is a choice
* voice--found my creative voice, my visual voice
* cultural experience/knowledge--opportunities to meet people from different nations, religions, etc.
* expanded horizons--inner & outer
* personal power--I can learn another language and have fun learning it!
* gratitude--thankful for all the good that flows through my life here
* technology--grateful that technology makes it possible for me to keep in touch with family & friends far away daily
* growth--dare to let dreams & ideas flourish
* courage--to keep taking risks!
* love--the more love I give & experience, the more I receive

As the years flow, these qualities deepen, and especially as I enter midlife now. The novelty of living abroad has not worn off. It has taught me to see with eyes wide open and to drink from the well of abundance that is life and love. Though I've lived here for some many years, I still feel a sense of wonder and excitement in my life unfolding, and gratitude that I allowed myself to take a leap into the arms of love and a new life.

Tracy lives in the south of Norway, not far from the ancient, rocky beach at Mølen (pictured).  Her lovely online home is at PranaLight.

Changing Places is a guest post series about the power of place to change us.  You’ll find other stories in this series here.  If you’d like to share your own story, please contact  me for submission details.

More

It’s a kind of vision board.  A sort of declaration.  Or maybe more of an invitation.

When you want to make changes to your diet, the simplest way is to focus on the stuff you want to add in and let the stuff you want to let go of take care of itself.  Well, I figure that when you want to make shifts in your life, the same principle applies. 

Yesterday was my birthday – and birthdays always carry that new year mojo which prompts evaluation of the year gone and dreaming about the year ahead.  This time, however, instead of making plans or setting goals, I just made a simple list of the things I’d like to see more of in my life.  I wrote it down (‘cause writing things down is powerful).  And then I put some of the things onto a picture so I could share them with you.

Want to join in?  What would you like to see more of in your life?

Monday Meditation (11)

‘Red is the ultimate cure for sadness.’

Bill Blass