infraordinary

Have you heard the term infraordninary? Coined by French philosopher Georges Perec in 1973, it’s based on the idea that some things become so familiar, that we actually stop seeing them at all. The are so invisible they are below the ordinary—or infraordinary.  Worn invisible by daily use, we no longer see what we are habituated to. This is the sphere of daily existence that lies beneath notice or comment. Today we use the terms sleep-walking or autopilot to describe this state of being. Perec believed that by paying attention to these ordinary experiences, we could find meaning and richness in our daily lives. I agree with him.  STILL, for me, became the practice I use to snap myself out of this state, into the present moment with all it’s wondrous detail. And on the days when I find to most mundane, the least promising, the most infra-ordinary subjects, and make something interesting with them. These are my most rewarding STILL days.

*This is the point in winter that most of the stems still standing have been bent by wet snow, and wind whipped into tatters. They line our road sides. Our parking lot edges, our boulevards and medians. They are everywhere. And yet we hardly notice them. But starting now, I am quite certain, you will :-)

winter tall grass stems (bluestem? switchgrass?)

partly sunny

I had dinner guests coming at 5 PM tonight. We have started a tradition of Friday night pizza and hot sauce. Our local low-brow frozen pizza is called Heggie’s. So Friday night is Heggie’s and Hot Sauce at our house. It’s stupid good. And word has gotten out…so we usually have guests. At 4 PM, I sat down to write this post. At 4:05 PM an old friend from college called. Now it is 10 PM, which is a good hour past my witching time. So, this is all I got by way of words today. I do like my circle of hydrangea florets though. So at least there’s that.

winter hydrangea florets

shhhh

After yesterday’s riot, I needed a little quiet.

three beach rocks

spring summer winter fall

This is a montage I made as a possibility for the STILL book. We didn’t end up using it. So I am sharing it here with you. It’s suppose to be a seasonal montage going from spring at the top to winter at the bottom. In the end, it felt a little too busy, and not very STILL-like. I’ll be curious if you agree.

patchwork of winter colors

Ahhh, the colors of winter: understated. earthy, tranquil. My fav. I am going to try and put this flat-lay off to the side, and keep adding to it. It needs some willow, for instance.  But making it, was a little like playing pick-up-sticks as a kid. Each time I added a new patch of colored twigs, the others wanted to roll away or go all kitty wampus on me.  It will be a labor of love. But I am hear for it.

winter stems