Breathing

August 13, 2022 A fawn waiting for its brother

Saturday morning

I went down the bluff stairs

To the lake.

It was still dark;

And I was foggy with sleep.

To the north I saw movement-

a silhouette on the beach,

then another-

then two more;

running and pausing

dipping their heads in the water

splashing and shaking it off -

a family of deer

briefly sharing a moment

with me.

August 17, 2022 A tree reaches out to the moon

8/17/2022

Busy days behind and ahead. Social days.  Good days.  But I need some peace in all of this.  Moments to breathe.  The lake in the early morning is my refuge, with the waning moon in the blue sky.  This morning I decided to focus my photography on extremely simple, minimalist subjects to create in pictures what I crave in my life.  Simplicity and space, beauty and quiet.  So here is the moon, the sky and a leafy branch reaching out toward them both.

August 18, 2022 Cedar moss carpets the forest floor

August 18, 2022 Breathing is on my mind this week. I’m listening to Breath by James Nestor, about how we’ve lost the art of breathing well, and how it affects our health. This focusing of my attention has made me feel oddly tense; so today I walked the woods path slowly; and then down to the lake to breathe in the lake air (through the NOSE, of course - if you read the book; you will understand).

August 18, 2022 Just water and sky

August 19, 2022 Dune grass pushing through rocks

August 19, 2022. I saw this little bit of dune grass growing out from under a black stone, perfectly framed by it. Nature’s compositions and nature’s resilience in one image. The grass is growing through a pile of rocks my association brought in to help control the erosion of the bluff. It all looked unnatural for awhile, until suddenly - it didn’t .

August 19, 2022 Downcast Sunflower

August 19, 2022 Saugatuck

Just a week ago there were so many sunflowers blooming here; now there are only a few.  Summer is waning. And this lonely remaining blossom, not fully open, bows its head.

August 21, 2022 Corn field under overcast sky

August 21, 2022 On my Sunday long run i ran on farm roads. Quiet and solitary. Simple. Feeling every step, counting my breaths ( yes, i do) .

August 21, 2022 A roll of hay in a green field

August 21, 2022 Grasshopper on the glass door

August 21, 2022 I came home from my run and found a pretty green grasshopper on my front door; then realized his leg was broken; which was why he didn’t jump away while I was getting in close with my camera. I felt protective ; but couldn’t figure out how to help. By Monday, he was gone. I don’t know what happened. Life is so precious and uncertain.

August 21, 2022 Close up of grasshopper and reflection

August 21, 2022 Grasshopper from the side

August 22, 2022 A lost feather in the setting sun

August 22, 2022 A lost feather I stood up in the sand., vanes almost tickling the light of the setting sun. 

Home Again

August 9, 2022 Driftwood Beached

I came home from Texas drought and heat to the cool beauty of the lake. I love both for different reasons , and so many people in both places, but this is home. For now.

August 9, 2022 Friendship Rock

August 10, 2022 Old Man and his bird, about to be set free.

August 11, 2022 Dead bee on tiny piece driftwood, reminding me all things change.

August 12, 2022

In the morning,

the full moon descended

cradled in clouds,

Her white light

dancing playfully

On the ripples

Of dark water.

Dry Days of Texas

08/03/22 Azle, Texas Two Trees before Sunrise

Drought

we’ve had

days and days of heat

and no rain,

sunrises both beautiful

in color and clarity

and dreadful

in early intensity.

we talk with the neighbors

over our fences -

of rain forecasts

and rising temperatures

and whether their air is working.

when we see birds gather

we might add a little ice to their bath,

or pour too much water on the aloe plant

where a fat toad burrows

in the hot afternoon.

we might sigh, as deer

chew the rosebushes,

resigned to the destruction

of a few plants

as we go back inside

feeling fragile

and

connected

August 1, 2022-August 8, 2022 I arrived in Texas at a particularly hot and dry time. Every morning it is necessary to get outside early here, if you want to get out at all. The temperatures are in the low 80s before sunrise; but it really feels cooler then, while there’s a breeze blowing and a little cloud cover. All of the animals are adapting to the drought and heat. At my mother’s house, a fat toad I nicknamed Tobias, spends his days buried in her aloe plant, and his evenings out looking for food. Mom waters the aloe more than it strictly needs, just to make sure he can stay cool.

August 4, 2022 Azle - Looking through the fence before sunrise

August 5, 2022 Azle Texas Spectacular Sunrise

August 6, 2022 South Side Fort Worth - Passion Flower and a happy bee

August 5 - 7, 2022 Walking around the south side of Fort Worth in the early mornings, the whole neighborhood is already awake. People are walking their dogs, watering their thirsty gardens, or just sitting on their covered porches drinking coffee and talking to the neighbors while the temperatures are still fairly pleasant in the low 80s. In a way, I find the prematurely dried flowers at least as beautiful as the ones that are getting enough water. There is something about the faded color and curling crisp edges …