1358. every time….

like a flower

blooming in tall summer grasses….

face of a deer

 

Have you noticed how the grasses in the field are growing taller than ever this year? Sunday morning as I paused to admire the tall summer grasses, a deer quietly appeared and held my gaze. Time after time, although I’ve seen the face of a deer so many times, it’s wondrous every time.

1357. what a sky!

hey, look—

a maxfield parrish sky

wow!

 

Early last night, I was sitting at the dining room table, reading. The phone rang, it was Dan. As we talked, I looked up and gazed out toward the living room. There was an odd glow to the room. I got up, walked over to the window and looked outside. What a sky! That’s a Maxfield Parrish sky, I said to Dan. (This picture is looking out the back bedroom window.)

Maxfield Parrish was an American painter and illustrator, whose work has been described as vibrant, whimsical, neo-classical. His early works were mostly black-and-white. Later, a magazine wrote, “To behold the work of Maxfield Parish (1870-1966) is to enter into a fantasy world of ethereal beauty.” 

1356. old shoes

on the beach

the fishy smell of

old shoes

 

Like Zen, the art of haiku asks that we pay attention to what is right here, right now. In both, the focus upon everyday life becomes a means of transcendence. Use the ordinary to elevate the ordinary.