Vote for my Book

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

I entered my book Meditations, as seen on the right, for the photography now book contest at Blurb. If anyone has the time or interest it would be great if you could vote for it here.

Leaving Europe

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

Last night we had dinner with friends in the old town of Geneva. We sat out under the stars drinking white wine and discussing ideal places to live all over the world. It's a kind of game which is a lot of fun. You can learn wonderful facts and opinions about exotic places you haven't traveled to as yet. Our friends ideal place to live is South Africa and ours is yet to be determined. After dinner we took a few spins on the ferris wheel which is situated behind the Russian church in the old town. Its temporary and will be removed at the end of October so we were lucky for the ride. Tomorrow we leave for the States. I'm sorry to go but I look forward to seeing my children. Au revoir mes amis, et a' bientot.

Being Alive

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

I was walking down avenue de Champel in Geneva, on my way to the grocery store, when suddenly I became completely aware of being alive. What a wondrous, marvelous, fascinating experience simply to live, to exist. I was pondering the miracle of life itself. The state of being aware, of being awake. I was considering all the amazing things human being have accomplished. In the arts, music, architecture, flying machines and the list goes on. The possibilities for human beings are enormous compared to other species. My father used to say, "life is everything because the alternative is pretty scary". I sometimes think about that, but I don't know that there is much point in contemplating death, especially since we don't know what it is. No one alive truly knows. We don't know if its scary either. So why spend any precious life moments on it. It will simply come one day and I guess we will finally find out what its all about. Until then, lets see what we can accomplish and enjoy the wonder of being alive.

Ahhh July

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

July is usually the best summer month in the north east of the US. It's a month that represents hot days, blue skies, cumulus clouds, back yard barbecues, pool parties, beach parties and ocean swims. What could be better. I took the photo above last July just before I plunged under a wave. I'm in Switzerland now and as beautiful as it is here there is no ocean. There are beautiful lakes and fabulous mountains, but no ocean for a dip. I'll be returning to New York in one weeks time and as soon as I can I will be at the ocean.

Hydrangea's

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

The Hydrangea plant is one of my favorite flowering shrubs and blooms from early spring until late fall. If you travel to any summer resort in the north east of the Us they are usually very abundant. They remind me of summer cottages, sea air, pounding surf and tons of fun. They are surprisingly abundant in Switzerland as well. In Geneva, which is French speaking, they are known as Hortensia. Its quite an amazing flower. In most species the flower heads or balls are white but can run the gamut from pastel to brilliant pink, blue, burgundy, green, yellow and purple. The color depends upon the acidity in the soil. Acidic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce pale, creamy colors and alkaline soils result in pink and purple. You can control the colors by more or less acid in your soil, particularly the presence of aluminum ions. Hydrangeas can grow to very large sizes and live a long time and in the fall they naturally dry and you can bring them indoors for a dried arrangement. If you plant a bush you will be adequately rewarded with very little fuss.

The Rhone and the Rhine Rivers

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

My husband and I were strolling along the Lake of Geneva, better known as Lac Leman here. It is the second largest fresh water lake in Europe and is known for its turbulent currents. The lake has its source in the Swiss Alps, the Rhone Glacier in Valais, at an altitude of 7,100 feet. Its crescent shape was carved as a glacier receded. My husband made the smallest remark which impressed me. He said, "in a few days this water will be in Camargue." I thought about all the many people who must have traveled this river for centuries, just as we travel on a highway today. This was a route to the south of France. The river is wide and beautiful in Avignon in the South of France where Roman life is still quite evident. In Arles Van Gogh painted along its shores and there are beautiful Roman ruins visible there today. Finally the river empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhine River, another very important European river, also has its source in the Swiss Alps. It empties into Lake Constance, my name sake, which lies in the northern alpine region and borders Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The Rhine continues from Lake Constance through Germany, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and finally empties into the North sea. The many castles and prehistoric fortifications that line its shores testify to its importance as a waterway. Two very remarkable rivers, both with their source in the Swiss Alps, carrying along with their currents ancient stories of lives and loves won and lost.

Happy Fourth of July

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

Today is our American Fourth of July celebration. The American International club here in Geneva hosts a night of entertainment and fun. The highlight, of course, are the fire works. So, you are wondering, what in the world do orange bears have to do with anything? I found these bears in front of an art gallery in Paris on the boulevard St. Germaine. They certainly have nothing to do with our Fourth of July but you have to admit they are pretty funny and the color is reminiscent of fireworks. I wish all my American family and friends a very happy Fourth.

Living Life

© 2009 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

There are so many ways to live a life. This thought frequently recurs when I travel. Our planet is so vast containing so many different cultures, customs, and traditions. I imagine all the millions, upon millions of people with their personal stories and saga's. Each individual connected to their family and friends with tales of triumph and defeat, gain and loss. It's like an intricate cob web of energetic connections whether positive or negative. I wonder about the number of people we can actually touch or get to know in our life time. It's really relatively few. If you like making connections I suppose a life in politics, religion, or entertainment would be a good start. 

So what would you choose for your life if you were completely free to do so? Would you choose a remote island life, a big city life, small town life, an adventurous life? No matter what life style one chooses, as human beings we have certain limitations. We are bound by our basic need for food, clothing, shelter and safety. As a result, we will always have some sort of routine. If you become a mother you cannot escape routine. Children bind you to routine whether you enjoy it or find it maddening. What kind of life style or routine appeals most to you? There are always rewards and sacrifices, positives and negatives in whatever we choose. If you travel to a small mountain village here in Switzerland, you will find people content to live out their entire lives in that town or hamlet, with the same routines their parents and grandparents had. I find that amazing. This is our one and only human life here on this planet, (as far as we know). I say, don't play it safe, be conscious of who you are, muster up the courage and follow your heart.