when I was little

things my mother said.....often

don't talk with your mouth full

no elbows on the table

wash your hands before dinner

no feet on the furniture

put away your toys

don't throw the ball in the house

children should be seen and not heard

if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all

morning walk

We walk the dogs each day and today we gps-ed it. 

 It is almost two miles from start to finish, 

from house down to Laura's and 

then through the lower fields,

 into the Brownfield Bog management area 

and back up the road to our house.  

Great outing for us and the dogs.

This is in the lower 40 acres.  Our flood plain.

different trees

we are blessed with trees.  I can not imagine how many trees we "own".  I feel that own is not a good word.  Caretake feels and sounds better.  Tree above is our Grandmother Maple in the lower fields and she is incredibly beautiful and words fail me in a description.  She lives near the river and we have kayaked in the fall in her branches when the river floods. An Elder, wise and seasoned.
The other tree is in our fields in one of my many sit spots.  It is a beautiful birch.  

I sit with trees. Better yet I talk with trees.   I learned about tree speak years ago.  It is when one asks a tree a question.  Extremely important to phrase the question properly, concisely or you will not get an answer.  

I cut down some trees so others will flourish and that is something I pray over for I am taking the life of one that another will grow, thrive.  It is not something one does lightly.  Is there a right or wrong in this?  I feel that the God in me, and yes god is in me and you and the tree and rocks, allows me to make the decision that is right.

today my dog was trying to eat an acorn.  A tree in the seed which could become in a hundred years another Elder Mother tree.  Do you have any idea how many acorns there are? Nature is absolutely remarkable.  So many trees each growing into their potential if allowed.




   

the other side

I am that person that walks behind.  I stop to look at stuff, move stuff, there seems no reason to rush.  Most of the pictures I take when walking are of the back of others who are walking with me.  These shots seem right.  Would seem funny to be in the front racing ahead to turn around to take a front shot.  

I have more shots of the dogs from their ass ends than from the front. 

 Is what it is.

Fall and Fall Colors --  my mums are almost a celebration all by themselves. This is a gift from my boss and  it makes me smile to see all the variations in this mum.  

It is a huge healthy plant so this is just a little tiny bit.  

The trees with the shorter days and the cooler nights are s l o w l y changing--- More reds in the maples and yellows in the white birch and leaves falling off and acorns dropping.  the end of summer shifting into fall.  

Time to take a deep breathe, inhale.  Each season smells differently.  

This one is particularly fine. 

The sun after it burns off the morning fog is heavenly.  No longer HOT, it is pleasantly warm on your skin.  Such a great time to sit out.  Soon sitting out will be impossible.  But we've got some time to enjoy this before the winter shift.

this is dying

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” “Gone where?” Gone from my sight. That is all. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!” And that is dying. Henry Van Dyke

watching clouds

Grandfather Thunder Arnie Neptune died today.

 How can you say enough about a man who lived love, was good to all.  

A respected Elder who walked his talk and who was so caring.  

He quietly did his work, he was without ego.  

He sat and watched clouds 

he hugged trees, 

he sang to his wife Jane each night. 

A light has gone out with his passing 

but I believe there is a new star somewhere in the heavens now.

thoughts on wet rainy days

Are rainy days natures way of slowing us down?  They make me content.  People seem to suffer them.  Is it because they can't sit still with themselves, entertain themselves.  Are they bored because there is nothing to do or because they can't be quiet, for a day, days, a week?  

Going to work, having to be out in rain is a nuisance and not.  

The dogs don't much like the concept of being out in the rain, once out we all have a good time.  We get wet, we come in, we dry.  

The sound of a gentle rain is a soothing sound.  The sound of a heavy rain with winds is an awesome sound.  

Rain watching, sitting with rain is it coming down straight, 

sideways, blowing against the windows?  

And while we are enjoying  or suffering rain, nature is happy to be wetted, cleaned.  

I watched a bird one day in a pouring rain come into the oak tree 

and sit under a branch to stay dry.  did you know a bird would do that?

naps, reading, cleaning, sitting in the window, cooking something warm and rich, walking in the rain

 bring on the rains.......

a gift

This fine rock came from a river in Canada.  

Tim brought it back from his stay up there.  

What a fine gift.