• grass,  haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  Plants,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Something so simple

    July 28, 2023

    cloudless predawn sky
    silhouetted needlegrass
    something so simple

    mws

    This image is from Pineridge Natural Area a few days ago. I went for the predawn meditation, to empty my monkey mind and allow nature to fill me with that sense of awe. It’s always a great way to start my day. I was entertained by a half dozen bats demonstrating their aerial acrobatics, silhouetted against the sky. Then I noticed this solitary needlegrass silhouetted against the orange and blue horizon dancing in the light breeze. Grabbed my camera since I had it with me. Something so simple. Have a great Friday!

    Read More
  • haiku,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  reflections,  silence,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    The Morning’s Clouds

    July 19, 2023

    nature’s gift
    painted on a canvas sky
    the morning’s clouds

    mws

    I found a place to settle along the ridge, just below the road and above Dixon Reservoir. I lowered my tripod to be just at eye level and sat there among the bluestem grass, rabbitbrush and sage brush. My low perspective was much like that of the cottontails or coyotes. I was surrounded by silence and the spicy, bitter yet inspiring fragrance of the sage. And, Oh, those clouds! I took in slow deep breaths and soaked in the gift of being alive. Within me a prayer stirs and a desire that all the world would experience and partake of these moments nature offers. I could have sat there all day but…the day calls.

    I took this image about 8 minutes earlier. This is the predawn sky and the first one is sunrise. Meet Mark for breakfast at 9:00 am then have the staples removed from my head. Rain predicted for later this afternoon. Have a super Awesome day!

    Read More
  • haiku,  Humor,  journal,  journaling,  musings,  writing/reading

    Morning Musings

    July 15, 2023

    blue pen, blue ink
    words fill pages of journal
    morning musings

    mws

    Welp! Yesterday was Friday the 14th with a touch of Friday the 13th in it. Let me explain. The coffee shop I wanted to go to was not open when I arrived at 7:00 am so I went down the street to one that was open. When I arrived at the second coffee shop I noticed I’d forgotten my Fitbit/watch. No problem. When I got home I noticed I’d left my phone at the coffee shop. No problem. Later in the afternoon I stopped to look at one of the new e-bikes, that’s in my price range. Bending down to look at the belt drive I bumped my head on their rack. Hurt like hell! I cursed profusely! Began bleeding so I went to the ER to have it looked at and because I’m new to this blood thinner stuff. Now we have a problem. I had to have staples put in my noggin and a tetanus shot. Will have the staples removed in 5 days. I then stopped and got a DQ blizzard on the way home for any pain I may have. Seemed like a good idea at the time. I then stayed on my porch the rest of the day and kept all sharp objects at a distance. I took a shower this morning, gently washed my hair and then gently combed my hair. Will need to watch that for the next few days. Put on a crockpot of vegetable soup and will enjoy that later today. Hope you enjoy your day!

    Read More
  • clouds,  haiku,  horizons,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems,  poetry,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    the twilight hours

    July 7, 2023

    a predawn pink sky
    silence just before sunrise
    these twilight hours

    mws

    My morning began with quiet time of prayer and meditation followed by a drive to Pineridge Natural Area. I enjoy being a part of these divine hours. Seeing the predawn pink colors along the eastern horizon brought on a smile and a bit of giddiness. And, the coolness of the light breeze was invigorating to all my physical senses. Meadowlarks and Robins contributed their morning song enhancing the moment and this sacred place. I found myself smiling again. Taking a deep breath I felt within the gratitude to be alive and the experience of these twilight hours. Hope you had a good Friday!

    Read More
  • flowers,  haiku,  Plants,  writing/reading

    this book of nature…

    June 21, 2023

    rose-colored clusters
    exploding starlike flowers
    this book of nature

    ms

    Sometimes we need to look closely to see the beauty of the natural world otherwise we may miss the gift she offers. I fall prey to that more than I like. Yet, when we do stop and look closely at the Showy Milkweed and its cluster of tiny starlike flowers, we can notice the details and intricacies of her unending creativity. I love this Book of Nature.

    Read More
  • Avian,  Canada Goose,  haiku,  quotes,  writing/reading

    haiku moment…

    June 20, 2023

    I didn’t know it, but I was having a ‘haiku moment’- a moment when the mind stops and the heart moves.

    Margaret McGee, Haiku – The Sacred Art

    I’ve been noticing a large amount of goose feathers in one area of the grass near the ponds. My first thought was a major conflict over stomping grounds but this morning there must have been 20 geese in that area. This suggested the large amount of feathers was due to the greater number of geese. Actually, it could be both. There were no signs of conflict this morning. All of them resting, sleeping in a calm and seemingly peaceful place. I just stood there for a moment feeling the calm, then picked up my camera and took the image offered. I’ll call it a haiku moment. It is cloudy and cool but no rain forecasted. Will meet my oldest daughter for lunch today. Hope you have a great day.

    always alert while
    seemingly peaceful and calm
    a haiku moment

    ms
    Read More
  • clouds,  haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Photography,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Our Buddha Nature

    May 10, 2023
    Sunrise this past Sunday morning

    haiku is not a poem,
    it is not literature;
    it is a hand beckoning,
    a door half-opened,
    a mirror wiped clean.

    It is a way of returning to nature,
    to our moon nature,
    our cherry blossom nature,
    our falling leaf nature,
    in short,
    to our Buddha nature.

    R. H. Blyth

    I normally crop all my landscapes in 16 x 9 but this image is cropped in 16 x 10. It’s a subtle difference. So, fair warning as I may be on a new kick for awhile.

    Read More