driving home
stopping at the waters edge
to gaze at the geese
*
canadian geese
swimming on the green lake
100 of them
*
on the shore
face to face the geese and i
are one
*
one goose
staring at me hesitates
a moment…
845. the sun is rising
under the bridge
darkness and light
trading places
*
shadows and light
the soft stillness of time
passing by
*
the creek is green
under the old stone bridge
how it shimmers
Shunryu Suzuki, reknown for founding the first Zen Buddhist monastery outside of Asia, occasionally used the phrase things as it is when giving talks about reality.
844. riddle #1
everybody up!
here comes the sun, get up!
let’s go!
*
buk-buk bawk
cluck-cluk cluk-chirp chirp-chirp
buk-bawk bawk-bawk
*
chik-chik chou-chou
ra- ta- ta- to- touille….go!
go eagles!
Here’s the riddle:
Where do eggplants come from?
CHICKENPLANTS!
(Today is game day for the Philadelphia Eagles—Go Eagles!)
843. avatars
on a chilly night
piled in on the sofa bed
my three kings
*
my three kings
mikey, willey, and the dan
chilling out
On a chilly night piled up on the sofa—Mikey, Willey, and Dan surrounded by Montezuma, Lord Krishna and Princess Rukmini, a pair of mystical Japanese Cranes said to mate for life and live 1,000 years, and 100 ancestral kimonos on the wall….and, of course, me.
A scene to remember!
842. time comes
my mother
trying hard to change….
no end to growing up
“Wherever you go there you are.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
My mother lived clear across the country then and one day on the phone, I heard her voice telling me….oh Mimmy, I’m trying so hard to change and it isn’t easy. I wish I had known to ask her what she had meant, but I didn’t. I was too young. Now that I am the age that she was then, I understand.
841. who’s looking
cat bird...bird cat
things are lookin’ edgy
who’s watching who
Perspectives: big or small, near or far, purring or trilling, thrilling or chilling, just sitting or meditating. It’s all a matter of what, where, when, or how you’re looking. ð
840. trading seasons
winter scarecrow
getting a jump on the crows
already ready!
*
yesterday’s scarecrow
pink butterflies in his hair
laughing
January is supposed to be the coldest month in Pennsylvania though so far, the winter here has been mild, you might even say it’s been a warm winter. Earlier this month, snow bells were opening in woodlands and now the pussy willows are out, forsythia flowers are blooming, and it’s still only January. Who knows, before you know it the sunflowers might be up! This scarecrow’s already ready. I spotted it yesterday during my walk around the neighborhood.
839. sad toys
surrounded
by sad faces feeling sad—
glad that’s not me
These things stopped me. I saw them in a gift shop recently. They puzzled me. I’m still puzzled. What are they? Are they desktop toys or paperweights or some kind of game or collectible people? Who made them….why….when? The sign read PLEASE BOUNCE RESPONSIBLY—are they 21st Century’s Slinky’s? Are they Millennials, or maybe Gen Xers or Gen Ys, or Cuspers? Help, anybody! I give up!ðĪŠ
838. 5-7-5
that’s finnie and finn
all thru the day and at night
they swimmie swim-swim!
837. the little gang
oh, what should i do?
i can’t get a good picture—
take it anyway
*
across the creek
six little dogs in winter coats
stay. stay. stay….
I heard a woman’s voice across the creek. Stay. Stay. Stay. I looked over and saw the woman bending down over a jumble of little dogs no higher than her knees all dressed up in little doggie jackets. It dawned on me that her telling them to ‘stay’ was her hope that they would stay still long enough for her to take a good picture of the little gang of them. I wish I could have gotten a better picture. Oh, well.
I hope she got a better picture than I did.
836. butter
binging on brunch
by the bench and the butternut,
there’s Butter!
White squirrels are rare. Chances of seeing one are 1 in 100,000 and seeing a white squirrel is considered to be a sign of good fortune—a sign of good luck, change, and abundance, and it also symbolizes the attributes of perseverance and goal setting leading to success.
I’d heard about Butter, the white squirrel of the Wissahickon. I’d never seen it until that morning along Forbidden Drive by the northeast entrance to the park. Isn’t he a pretty sight! For the time being, unable to hike on the hills and higher trails at the park, I had been walking that morning on Forbidden Drive, which is easy walking. I guess it’s true that from some miss fortune there’s always a little bit of good fortune if you’re lucky enough to keep your mind open to seeing it. Thanks, Butter!
835. still life with ketchup
stopping to pose
in the still life with ketchup
that’s Mikey
A picture can say 1000 words or just one….Meow!
834. things change
pulling my hat down
well, which way should I go now?
the wind blows
”The Wind Blows” — 8 x 10-1/2” — Ink Brush & Crayon
833. shivering
morning walk
crossing over the bridge
shivering
*
it’s mighty cold
even the great heron
has hunkered down
*
the heron’s legs
have gotten much shorter—
shivering
It was a Sunday. It was a cold, cold morning. I was shivering yet glad to be outside, my legs walking and my breath breathing in the fresh air. Crossing over the bridge I looked down into the creek, my eyes searching for the heron who often wades there in the water, waiting with its thick dagger-like beak, poised for some fish to dare to swim by. The interesting thing was that the heron’s long neck and long legs appeared to have disappeared into its chest. The water must’ve been so very cold.
We gazed and watched with wonder at the vision of this magnificent bird. And then as if it was shy and didn’t want to be observed, it turned, lifting and curling its long neck, opening its great wings, lofting its entire body slowly upward. It flew off, its long legs trailing well beyond its tail. And the heron was gone.
832. the end is near
long line?
no problem, just bring your phone—
enjoy the wait
*
waiting in line
some things are well worth the wait—
don’t miss Matisse
The line moved steadily if not swiftly. Time enough to check in with email or text messages, Facebook or Instagram, TikTok or Twitter, WhatsApp or WhatEver. I just made up that last oneð.
The Philadelphia Museum is hosting a retrospective exhibition of art by Henri Matisse. It’s well worth the wait in line. Timed reservations are required and the exhibit ends January 29–so don’t delay!
831. pictures in a museum
in the white room
a woman taking a picture
hey—that’s me!
*
you
taking a picture of me—
taking a picture
One of the best things in a museum is the marvelous open spaces. At times when I might be feeling closed-in or crowded by ‘too much’ or ‘too many,’ of some thing or every thing, I take myself to a museum and just walk around, moving at a relaxed pace thru the large open spaces….
slowing down….walking….looking….enjoying the pleasures of doing just that. Time and space open up and I feel more free. Often times there are many people doing the same. Sometimes, it’s just me and the pictures.
830. me & pinky
in the pink
lady in the pink hat
feeling pink
*
once upon a time
there was a cat named pinky,
her eyes were blue
*
up up and away
she rolls around heaven all day,
that’s my gal**
“The Pink Hat” — 12 x 9” — Pastel and Ink
Funny, how the mind gets on a roll, and one thing leads to another. Here’s Pinky.**
829. green on green
next to red
my favorite color is
green
*
in the greenery
one thing after another—
green on green
*
what a quaint thing
zooming in on a leaf—
yes, but look at it!
In the fernery nothing but ferns, all green, all the same and yet wonderfully different, deliciously distinct. Most things are like this.
When you let go of your inclinations to assume—that leaves are leaves, all the same, or trees or bugs or clouds, or even chocolates. When you take the time to become more curious and look more closely at the ordinary things all around, you may find life becoming more extra-ordinary, more wonderful, and delicious too.
828. peace and quiet
red, black & white, blue
a buddha, a cat, and me….
in the beginning
Sitting down with a cup of coffee, checking the weather outside and the iCal, then I pick up a book and read a little—some poetry or other inspirational words. Then I settle down to consider the morning message for my blog post. This is the way I begin every day, in peace and quiet.
826. can you find them?
flowers and leaves
and birds and bugs and fruits
alive with color
This is a detail of a ceramic frieze. Countless pieces of every size had been carefully laid onto one large slab of clay 4 to 5 ft. square. I saw it being worked on in an artist studio as it was slowly coming alive with color. The work was incredible.
825. rice checks
he’s always there
when i sit down to eat—
that’s Willey
*
together
with my faithful companion
eating rice checks!
Any time of day or night when I sit down to eat, he’s always right there. That’s Willey chowing down on his bowl of rice checks cereal!ðŧ
824. looking back….
like,
eyes in the back of my head
like, cool
*
be here now—
don’t get stuck in the past
or the future
Looking back. From time to time, I enjoy looking back and scrolling through my pictures. When I saw this one, I zoomed in then scratched my head: What was I thinking? Why did I take this picture? I had no idea. It just showed up on my camera roll. Maybe the picture took itself—Smartphones will do that, no kidding—to remind me to keep my eyes on the road ð and be here now, especially when driving!ð
822. decisions decisions
plain or fancy
dress me up or dress me down
ooh-la-la
“Dress Me Up or Dress Me Down” — 14 x 11”— Graphite, Ink, Water Color
I’ve always loved clothes, making them, wearing them, or even just looking at them—the colors, the textures, the look, the form and feeling of fibers and fabric. I made this painting after I saw the Elsa Schiaparelli exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. That was many years ago. The exhibition was wild and wonderful. I wish they would do it again!
821. hope
hiding under
a tangle of branches and leaves
snowdrops
820. daybreak
daybreak
here comes the sun….and the moon
the moon was green
*
“green as a beer bottle
green as emeralds and leaves….
the moon is green”
819. art saves lives
don’t go to war—
dance, sing, paint, draw, write, dream
make art not war
Painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, cinema, music, theatre, photography.
“Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements of human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.” John Lubbock
818. heart sutra
rainy day
i stayed inside and dreamed up
an idea
*
no eyes, no ears
no nose, no tongue, no body
no mind
*
deep thinking
leading to non-thinking
hurrah!
This one is for my Buddhist friends. Who love the Heart Sutra.
817. that’s tommy
a happy camper
living at the treehouse
24/7
*
on cloud nine
he’s always over the moon—
that’s tommy
*
every day
he goes out on the town and
paints it red
That’s Tommy. He’s a happy camper….he lives on cloud nine….he’s over the moon….and he paints the town red….24/7.
Tommy lives at The Treehouse in the Wissahickon Woods. Visitors come and like an emissary of the woods, Tommy appears to welcome young and old, ever willing to sit with them for a while—allowing a photo, or a pet or two, or just to sit in quiet contemplation, soaking in his peace and contentment. Everyone loves Tommy.ðŧ
816. keep on trucking!
rules of the road:
leave sooner, drive slower
live longer
*
keep on trucking!
It’s a new year, it’s a new day for feeling good. Take it one day at a time. Happy New Year!ð