Craigflower Farm and Remembrance Day
The second installment of Robyn Gosby’s One Four Challenge
A soft focus, vignette and a filter in Perfect Effects gave it a soft water colour and vintage look. Craigflower Farm is a Victoria, BC, Heritage site and is across the road from where I live.
She watched and waited, hoping to see the children walking home from the old school house just over the bridge. It was only a short distance away. She thought wistfully of the summer that would soon arrive and with it all the cotillions, ceilidhs, and socials that had sprung up since the days of the old fort.
The children are late she thought, but at any moment now she would hear their footsteps and laughter. She often thought she heard a long sigh flowing by the farm. She didn’t recognize the exhale of time and so, the old house watched and waited as she always had. ( from my short story Craigflower Farm)
_______________________________
And as my poppies are in keeping with Remembrance Day
The Rankin family- Fare thee well, love
This statue stands at the Vancouver Train Station where so many stood and said goodbye before heading off into the frightening unknown of two world wars. The sculpture was created after World War I to remind us of their sacrifice, and to celebrate the fallen and all who served.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields– John McCrae
In Flanders fields– John McCrae
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget! -R Kipling from Recessional
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
Being fortunate enough to live here in Vancouver, I can’t count the times I’ve stopped to admire that sculpture and contemplate all that it stands for. As a huge fan of the Rankin Family, I was doubly blessed by your submission here, and with your photograph, we made the Triple Header. Thank-you very much for what is almost certainly going to be my favorite Blog of this bright sunny day, so It looks like everything is coming up roses (or poppies in this case). Read you later.
LikeLike
thanks so much db for your wonderful encouragement and support. So glad you enjoyed that post. It has been a fun challenge processing the photo in four ways!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great image for important day!
LikeLike
thanks Indah!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is an interesting perspective. 🙂
LikeLike
thank you Jackie!!
LikeLike
Craigflower Farm sounds amazing…
I also liked very much the sculpture at the Vancouver Train Station. A great reminder and tribute top all those who lost their lives as they paradoxically fought for something better. Beautiful tribute dear Cybele.
All the best to you Aquileana 😀
LikeLike
thank you so much for your lovely comment!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
ah .. the moment when your eyes fill up with emotion .. and everything seems a little faraway …
Lovely Cybele .. enjoying seeing this transformation !
LikeLike
So glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you! Next week’s is a bit wild!! 😀
LikeLike
That filter is not in Perfect Effects 8, is it? I love it. It gives such a warm, melancholy feel to the image!
LikeLike
I can’t remember if I used vintage in photoshop filters or the perfect effects!! I really like Perfect Effects!! Thanks Emilio!!!
LikeLike
Lovely vintage look achieved with that filter.
As for the waste of war … I never know what to say. It is too hugely evil and incomprehensible to get my head around.
Thank goodness there is still beauty in this world.
LikeLike
Agreed!! Thanks Sarah!!
LikeLike
This is an interesting challenge. Nicely processed the second time around. I’ll look forward to seeing what you come up with for 3 and 4!
LikeLike
thank you my friend! I actually did a third one and it’s quite wild!
LikeLike
I can’t wait!!! hehe
LikeLike
be prepared to read a story though lol!!
LikeLike
Beautiful second version of this image, I love the lightened effect and the vignette. And your accompanying words are most appropriate for the mood.
LikeLike
thank you so much Sue. I’m glad you liked both!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A perfect depiction of pre-summer blooming! xo DG
LikeLike
Gracias mi amiga!!
LikeLike
What an amazing statue. I really like that.
LikeLike
thanks for stopping by Suz!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very beautiful story and photo, sad too. X
LikeLike
thank you moongirl!!I’m glad you visited!!
LikeLike
#2 reminds me of an image to be used in Victorian times. It has that vintage sensibility.
LikeLike
thanks Sally, I was hoping for that effect!
LikeLike
I find the perspective of the photo so wonderful that I thought it would be difficult to improve on the photo…but you have…giving it an ethereal effect…love it.
LikeLike
thank you so much sweet pea!! Next week’s will be a bit crazier I think if I go where I think I’m going with it. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Oh my, so beautiful. Soft and gentle, you took me back to a quiet summer afternoon.
LikeLike
Oh these are from my Craigflower Farm series- I’m glad you like it. Next week will be funny or maybe just wierd!! I’m on a poppy roll. Thank you always Snow!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Kipling poem is heartfelt. Beautiful flowered photo much loved. Have a great week, Cybele. I hope you are recovering well.
LikeLike
I always loved kipling!! thanks so much Peter and you too my friend!! PS. I’m a lot better. 🙂
LikeLike
Loved the vintage look on the poppies and such an enjoyable story to go with it.
Liked the rustic statue also.
LikeLike
Thanak you Norma. Story telling was my first love but I did a series of photos on Craigflower farm too. It’s a lovely place. The statue is very poignant for it’s meaning after WWI. I think they never imagined there would be another world war.
LikeLike
Nice … and the story illustrated by the photo was right on!
LikeLike
I’m always am happy when someone likes my photos but thrilled when they mention my little stories!! Thank you Bast!.
LikeLike
Why your very welcome Dune Mouse! 😉
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
such a soft and romantic look in these images – beautifully done.
LikeLike
Thanks Suzanne – my story for next week is going to be completely different I hope!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the poppies and like both versions!
I figured you must be Canadian because of the Rankin Family song…I am Canadian too(living in Winnipeg). I will be posting both weeks 1 and 2 tomorrow…
LikeLike
thanks Cool!!! I will look forward to yours. I live on Vancouver Island.
LikeLike
Amazing difference! I look forward to future renditions :-).
LikeLike
thanks for coming by and commenting pk!!!
LikeLike
The excerpt from your short story is beautiful. I felt myself falling into your image as I read. Lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely comment Carrie! Thank you so much!
LikeLike
Nicely done Cybele, very creative in both the processing and the writing. I like the evocative, nearly melancholic mood.
LikeLike
Thanks so much again Chris! Writing is my first love anyway!! 🙂
LikeLike
This one’s veery good too.
LikeLike
thank you Maria!!
LikeLike
Im not a fan of the white vignette myself but I can see how it works here with the treatment you have given it and I see the feeling you are trying to achieve 🙂
LikeLike
yes the white vignette was for what I was hoping would frame the more vintage look to go with the story I had written previously! Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Ooh, I don’t think I was expecting such a bright edit this week! It does have a lovely watercolour look to it but it makes me think of a freshly taken polaroid 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Sarah!!! I’m glad it was successful that way!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
There is something so calming and nostalgic about this week’s photo, Cybele. I truly love it. And your words bring an old home to life. This is a beautiful post and that statue of the angel with the fallen soldier is heartrending.
LikeLike
thank you Linda!! I love old historic places even though here on the west coast heritage sites aren’t that old!! But they still have wonderful stories!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, this is beautiful Cybele… And evokes a totally different feeling compared to last weeks. Well fiddled.
LikeLike
I love a good fiddle and I enjoy dancing to it too!!! Thanks so much – I love your comment!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful… I love what you have done here and the beautiful words that accompany. You do inspire 😊
Also lovely tribute to Remembrance day xx
LikeLike
your comment means a lot to me!!! Thanks so much Robyn and thanks for the great challenge!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truly a pleasure 😊 x
LikeLike
Beautiful Cybele. That sense of longing in the story is very powerful.
LikeLike
Coming from you means a lot. Thanks so much for you wonderful comment!!
LikeLike
I love both your week 1 and week 2. So moody, lovely image.
LikeLike
Thank you again Joanne and I’m so glad you are participating too!!!
LikeLike
Love the vintage look, Cybele!
LikeLike
thanks Debbie – it was so much fun playing with it!!
LikeLike