I returned to the woods again to walk. I hadn’t been there in quite a while. Meandering along the rolling path, pausing here and there to take in the smells and sounds. I breathed in the warm, moist earthy atmosphere. It was like being home again.
For a long while, I stood there watching and listening to their classic ko-caw…ko-awing sounds in rhythm like a gathering of monks in black robes chanting in meditation. A flock of crows at the top of the tree, their morning voices clear and strong rising and falling in perfect time with the lifting and fluttering of their wings like leaves rustling in the morning breeze. Mesmerizing.
Curiosity is more important than knowledge….is the key to problem-solving….is the mother of wisdom….staves off boredom and negativity….frees the mind, keeps it fresh and happy.
The sun rising up over and over again, no matter what. Amazing!🌞
What makes zinnias so great? Easy to grow…quick to bloom…low maintenance…vibrant variety of colors…resistant to deer…long blooming from summer to frost…favorite of pollinators, especially bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds…multitudinous petals, each one a seed.
The old withered willow, no longer green, but the dove doesn’t mind. It has the advantage over me.
This last haiku is by Issa, one of the four great Haiku poets. He has long been honored by the Japanese for his compassion and tender love for children and animals.
Tommy and The Gang posing for a framily photo.
Through the trees and tangle of woody branches, the soft morning sun warming the cool waters of the creek. Our footsteps silent on the trail as here and there we catch the scene. Flap! A muffled sound over by the water. We look but see nothing…then a second soft slap and just in time we glimpse the long, long legs and feathery tail lifting up and away. Two herons. Two partners side by side, in harmony. Even though we didn’t get a picture of the herons, just knowing they were there together is delightful.
Here’s a furry tale: The meow and the mouse meet in the house. Oh, no! The mouse said, “Hurry! Hurry! Gotta scurry! Gotta get home! The meow said, “Yum! Yum! In the tum. A roly poly furry one! The meow and mouse face off—hearts pounding, furs furying, spit spluttering….then they stop and take a deep breath, look deep into each other’s eyes and all-of-a-sudden realize friends are better than foes. 🐭❤️🐱
“Go Woof! 🐶” — 4x6” — Origami
Go woof! 🐶 When you open your eyes in the morning, go woof 🐶. When it’s time for a walk, go woof 🐶, when you see a bird or a squirrel or a cat 🐶, when you need to go potty 🐶, when you want a treat 🐶, when you get over-heated 🐶, when you’re hungry or thirsty 🐶. When you’re full of longing 🐶. When it’s time to sit down and contemplate 🐶. On viewing the moon 🐶, on sniffing the air 🐶, on rolling in the mud or chasing your tail 🐶. And when you’re sleepy and it’s time for bed, just lay your head down and 🐶. 💤
Standing in stillness, all the patience in the world. The great heron.
Early morning walking down the street, passing by the golf course and seeing the Canada geese relaxing on the green by the side of the pond. I don’t think I can explain it, but for me there is something very reassuring seeing these and other wild animals, like foxes and deer and great herons, so at home close to home.
Weather comes and weather goes. After the rains, the little creek fills with water. I like to go down to look for the tiny goldfishes that mysteriously appear from who knows where. Before long the creek dries up and the fishes vanish with the water. Life is short. It’s good to remember to appreciate what is right here right now, before it’s gone.
Little things can make a big difference. Pay attention.
“Little Zen Master” — 6 x 4” — Origami
Eckhart Tolle once said, “I have lived with several Zen masters, all of them cats.” And so have I. Cats are mindful and know how to live in the moment. They eat when hungry and rest when tired, and their purring sounds are said to be vibrationally healing. Peaceful by nature, they never hurry or worry yet can spring to action on a dime. Some Buddhist cultures believe cats to be holy. On the death of a person, someone who had reached the highest level of enlightenment on earth, the soul returns one last time to live as a cat. And when that cat dies, it’s soul is then freed forever.
This old picture came up on my photo feed. For years, I watched this tree slowly turning more and more brown, giving witness to the changing beauty of old age and of simply being alive on this earth.
Life is full of extremes. After days of suns redder than red and hazy smoke filled skies, I opened the windows this morning to let in some cool fresh air. Yes, everything changes.
This is what matters.
Just down the street there’s a summer basketball camp where I go after dinner in the early evening to watch boys and girls playing basketball. Watching these girls stirs the young girl in me. I didn’t play basketball when I was young and I know I can’t now and that’s okay, yet in my heart, I feel that I can. I’m right there on the court running with the ball, beating the defender, and floating the shot with a smile, every time.
When it’s time to walk the dogs, Dan pushes Hershey in the stroller. Hershey’s blind but that doesn’t keep him from going for a walk. He’s a lucky dog. (Hershey is the cutest little curly-haired grey poodle. Sorry for the blurry picture.)
Floating by on the lake taking in the morning cool. . .feeling lazy.
Weather comes and goes on a whim, and so too does the Eastern Warbling Vireo.
Day turns to night and night turns to day. It’s morning now. Even through windows shut tight to keep out the heat, I can hear the birds singing. The birds go on singing no matter what. It takes time to sing and time to listen. Life’s all about time. It’s all we really have and don’t. Enjoy it.
It’s 101°. And the Scion speaks: “This is the perfect spot. Doing my best to keep cool under three digit skies. Who cares if she has to walk a mile to go shopping?”🛍️😘
What’s this?! What kind of car is this? It was a beauty. Somehow, I just knew this was something different, special. I googled it. A vintage 1976-78 Ford Mustang Cobra II, celebrated by fans as an authentic, fun-to-drive time capsule of 1970s American street culture and retro styling. What was it doing in the village church parking lot? I scratched my head.
A perfect blend of softness and hardness, sunlight and shadows, land and water, stillness and movement. His own little hideaway—the little frog.🐸
Kevin Ravasio (Dan’s son) and Hillary Cadra will marry today. I made this card with cranes to wish them a wonderful lifetime together. In Japan, cranes are auspicious and sacred. They symbolize good fortune, healing, longevity, peace, and wedded bliss.
The old towering oak tree falls section by section all the way down with a dull heavy thud to the ground. And on the ground, all the other workers wait and watch and cheer.
