…but still no stars. There is too much ambient light. There was a time I could look up at the sky at night, on any night, and always find Orion, the Giant Hunter. It gave me a thrill. In Greek mythology, many stories were told about his birth and death. In the end, Zeus placed this hero warrior among the stars as the constellation of Orion. I miss looking up and seeing him. I’ll keep looking.
Excessive Heat Warning for the next 48 hours! Temperatures in the 90’s. No problem for this little bird.
Catching sight of a hawk up in the sky, I nearly always stop to gaze, captivated by the unfettered power swirling with ease and swagger. Somehow, it always grounds me. On this morning, I was treated by two raptors, high on each other, in rapture.
It was a long way off. I heard it, but couldn’t see it until I took a picture and zoomed in. I am always amazed at how the voice of a tiny bird can ring so loud and clear.
Here’s my latest paper painting, featuring origami fishes and trees. It was inspired by my recent visit to the lake region of northeastern Pennsylvania. These fishes and trees are folded from 1-1/2” sheets of paper.
One of the pleasures of aging is having more time…. more time in the mornings to just sit and read poetry. More time to enjoy quiet conversation, have a second cup of tea, to linger outside and look up at the sky and feel the sun or the moon or smell the air. And sometimes, when I’m lucky, to walk leisurely over the bridge and look down to see the great blue heron opening its wonderful wings, lifting off, and flying away.
More, more, more…more. Why do we always want more? Why is that? Why is it we just can’t seem to get enough. Is it our nature—people, animals—are we all the same? For me, I suppose, it is the same. Haiku—I just can’t get enough.
Just one of those moments….
This post is my morning practice. I have for the past thousand mornings been writing this haiku-photo blog, searching for words to express thoughts and feelings. Feeling mostly eager and inspired, though often at-a-loss, uncertain, resistant, sometimes happy or sad and even angry, but that was only once. And at the end of every morning I have given thanks, placed my palms together in front of my heart with a gentle bow of my head. Gasho🙏
I was born in the Chinese Year of the Dog and I can feel dog energy in my bones. My time at the Lake House has been hanging with dogs. That’s Poppyseed sitting on my lap and Griff over there on his bed. I’m so happy I can almost feel a wag in my tail! 🐶
All puffed out, looking fat and happy, that little robin dipped and splashed and fluttered and fluffed its head and wings and chest and feet again and again! Ahh, yes, nothing beats a refreshing bath in the cool outdoors! I watched and thought to myself, I wouldn’t mind finding a spot do that, too!😉
It looks like it might be a little afraid. Is it lost? Has it been watching me all along? Is it all alone? I wonder…. Do rocks have feelings? Do they have a soul?