walk the plank
and at the end of the plank
another plank
The old black cat growing older every year keeps going. One life leads to another.
2127. destination unknown
tail up, nose straight ahead
all four paws to the ground—
no dust on his feet!
Looks like he’s on a mission. Where’s he headed? Makes me think about traveling. I was reading about the random way rocks tumble down to the ground, how the rain spills out from the clouds up high, why the flashing fishes splash across the raging creek. I’m just rambling. Cats are different. Nothing a cat does is random. I’ve been paying attention to cats a long time. Pay attention to something long enough, and you can fall in love.
2126. home run
across the infield
approaching the green
a black crow
Across the infield, approaching the green, slowly step by step by step goes a black crow without a sound…then takes off like a line drive home run soaring way high above the centerfield fence. I clapped.
2125. moments in time
some moments
are better than others….
and sweeter
“Moments In Time” — 25 x 15” — Origami
2123. fat and happy
like a buddha
simply sitting there
fat and happy
Last summer, they were more than 20 watermelons growing on the front lawn. How many this year under all those leaves?
2122. splendor in the grass
ruby and rusty
two puppies, better than one
best friends forever
“Happiness is a warm puppy”—Charles Schultz. The only thing happier than a puppy is two puppies together.
2121. enough
nori and tofu soup
cucumbers with ginger dressing
green harvest snaps
Enjoying a light supper at the end of a hot summer day and reading “The Overdue Life of Amy Byler,” a delightful story of a librarian from rural Pennsylvania, single mom and mother of two teens, who wins a free trip to New York City with a total makeover for a new look and a new life.
Now and then I like to look back and reflect at the end of the day—did I do everything fully, was I true to myself, did I do my best?
2120. first picture
shadows on the wall
first picture of the day
sipping tea
Summer slowly coming to an end, morning hours darker now, soft cry of crickets…cri-cri…cri-cri…
2119. top o’ the mornin’!
daybreak
getting my morning fill
bzzzzzz…
*
daybreak
breakfast for one
yum!
What a way to start the day!
2118. what a day!
smell of the sea
eating ice cream and french fries
home at last
Yesterday, I drove 100 miles down to the south Jersey shore to hang out with friends I hadn’t seen in three or four years. We walked the boards, ate french fries and ice cream, and people watched. It was sunny and windy and hot. Later on I drove home thru thunderstorms all the way, hands gripping the wheel, holding on to my breath, and when I got home looked up at the sky. What a sky!
2117. cheeze!
altogether now—
10 bodies squeeze in and
say CHEEZE!
*
by the sea,
by the sea, the beautiful sea
oh, how happy we be
Everyone’s happy-go-lucky on the beach at the Jersey shore! I quick ran down and took another few pictures of the whole gang.
2116. the greatest
tiny and tough
aster blossoms and the bee
dancing
Walking along the wooded trail, late summer’s humid heat slowed me down enough to spot that bee, dancing like a tiny pugilist all around those flowers, like Muhammad Ali. I couldn’t hear it, but I’m sure it was buzzing. In size, that tiny bee was maybe one-fourth the size of my pinky fingernail, the aster blossoms barely an inch.
2115. red on red
red on red
flowers and leaves and
a little bug
*
wind blows
leaves and flowers fluttering
this ladybug 🐞
*
hiding out
among the flowers and leaves
the little bugger
Some time ago, Sadhya posted her photo of a lovely poppy flower. I was so taken with the singular image and just had to express my delight.
2114. tongue twister
hurry-scurry
hurly-burly hairy hermit
hurrying home
Quick—say the haiku three times fast!😆
After an early morning of foraging grasses and berries and barks and leaves and clover blossoms, the groundhog top-speeds home….8mph!👍🏻
2113. top o’ the morning!
morning dew
meditating on mushrooms
tiny toad
*
if i were an ant
i’d climb up to the top
10,000 steps!
Top o’ the morning!
2112. buttonbush
where’d it come from
nestled in the green leaves—
little sputnik
Muggy morning walking through the woods, my mind trips back to 1957 and the launching of Sputnik, the beginning of the Space Age.
2111. smelling roses
end of the day
hurrying home….but wait a minute
look at that sun!
I couldn’t say no.
2110. reunion
dappled sunlight
the woods, the creek, the rocks
and the good earth
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.
2109. crows
on top of the tree
like monks in black robes
a murder of crows
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.
2108. what if….
here’s a question:
what’s the circumference of this
delicious apple?
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.
2107. amazing!
waiting
for clouds to break away
here comes the sun
The sun rising up over and over again, no matter what. Amazing!🌞
2106. so great!
tiny adventurer
wending its way, petal by petal
orange zinnia
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.
2105. zonked
rose of sharon
here is where the bumblebee
zonks out!
Did you know that bumblebees can vibrate their wings 200 times a second to shake pollen loose from flowers or to heat their bodies when it’s cold.
2104. the lookout
a dove perches
on withered branches, waiting
for the moon
The old withered willow, no longer green, but the dove doesn’t mind. It has the advantage over me.
2103. knock-knock
tired and hungry
at the end of the day
is anybody home?
*
knock-knock:
it’s been a long day—
let me in, let me in
*
“don’t swat the fly
he wrings his hands
he wrings his feet”
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.
2102. framily
despite our differences
or maybe because of them
stickin’ together
*
everybody
all together now—
say cheese!😁
Tommy and The Gang posing for a framily photo.
2101. delightful
tangle of woods
cool, cool running waters…slap!
long, long legs
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.
2100. the mouse & the big meow
the meow,
pretending to be asleep
waiting to pounce!
*
the mouse,
eye on his home in the wall
YEOW!!! a big meow!
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. 🐭❤️🐱
2099. the wind
the wind blows
and the feather bends again
and again and again
The wind. Where does it come from? Where does it go? Who knows? The wind is the wind is the wind is the wind…
2098. on top of the world
just another day
in the life of this dog
woof! 🐶
“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 🐶. 💤
2097. looks like rain
day’s end
sparrows chirp on windowsills
will it rain?
Day’s end, dark clouds passing by. Will it rain? No matter, sparrows go on chirping.
2096. quiet morning
standing guard
for the giant sugar maple
fire hydrant
*
fire hydrant
like a chameleon
in autumn
2095. heron
face off—
who will make the first move?
the heron or i
*
captured!
the heron and his shadow
chain-link fence
*
wading by the water
waiting for just the right moment…
a tasty fish
Standing in stillness, all the patience in the world. The great heron.
2094. wild
lazy morning
watching the sun rising up and up
wild geese
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.
2093. biff
from one end
to the other, he’s all cat—
that’s Biff!
2092. celebrate
after the rains
the goldfishes come out
to celebrate
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.
2091. toe to toe
going toe to toe
in a friendly match of mahjong
old friends
There’s seems to be a resurgence for the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong. It’s a interesting, fun, challenging game of skill and luck, just like life. I began playing more than 50 years ago and still enjoy it just as much now as then. Feet and toes have nothing to do with the game, but I couldn’t resist taking this picture when a long-time friend and I met for our weekly match.
2090. outlier
tiny daisy
popping up in a sea of green
where did it come from?
*
in a sea of green
a daisy dares to bloom
all alone
Little things can make a big difference. Pay attention.
2089. meow
to be happy—
is it even possible?
silly question
“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.
2088. Siku
what is she dreaming
big white dog of the north
when will it snow?
Things not going your way? Sometimes the thing to do is just to settle down, sit back, and wait. “If we learn to enjoy waiting, we don’t have to wait to enjoy.” There is always some miracle happening right now.
2087. looking back
this old pine
grown old with grace and beauty
gone now
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.
2086. everything changes
this old picture
showed up on my photo roll
ahhh….
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.
2085. serenity
a walk on the earth
and the sky and the wind
and the rising moon
This is what matters.
2084. crows
the two of them
vying for the last word….
are they married?!
Two old crows, bantering. They seem to enjoy the back-and-forth of their exchange. What do you think they’re talking about? The humidity, the heat, their next caper, what’s for lunch? I love listening to crows, they always seem to know what they’re talking about.
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