flowers amaze, as does my need to relearn every so often how to do this blog ....

        Long story short, now that my new phone is beginning to make sense to me, I still have to remember how to download photos with it and do a blog.  Life can be like two steps forward and one backwards.  It has been super windy here all day, so at least I haven't been tempted to disappear in the woods somewhere for the day.  I did have some Mothers' Day love and thoughtfulness, during Quaker Meeting this morning, an early afternoon visit and just now in a good long distance phone call. It can be a complicated day,  but this year -- after so much that's hard for everyone  -- I have felt more connected than usual to the wide range of emotions that showed themselves for everybody today. 

        The flowers that amazed me particularly were ones I saw over a week ago, when I was in Lexington (KY). I needed to drop off a book at the home of some friends, and I had no idea it was the time of year for their yearly showy garden display.  It had been raining off and on, but it stopped briefly so I whipped my new phone out of my pocket and made a few photos to share with them.  I felt full of wonder to have happened to be there just by chance and good fortune.

        

 

 

    Another photo group of this week is the tree debris along my fairly narrow dead end road.  A FEMA truck had been through the week before, to finish taking down injured trees.  They are now supposed to return at some point to remove as much of what's lying around as they can.  Who knows when.  Who knows how many miles of roadside there are that need the help.  Anyway, these photos are only a taste of the total job that still needs to be done around here.

 

        The last four photos are just ones I only see because I am always looking.  The first two are on a tree along my driveway. I have never before noticed this moment in the life of this tree! I wilI have time tomorrow to figure out what sort of scrub tree it is. I am stunned.          

 

 

What is this languid creature? He or she was not bothered by me in the least.

 

 

        Then there is always the unexpected sky, the compex cloud responses, and the wonder of the world we are denying needs our attention even while it showers gifts on us. 

     

renewal season during these serious times

post #483
        What I planned to do was to go out today and share new flowers and/or trees in bloom. I was trying to speak to how we have more reason than ever to live in the present. Deal with the day we're in. Pay attention to what are the important things to do and acknowledge our immediate priorities.

        But it has been super windy all day long. This does not make for good photography. So I chose to improvise by choosing photos I have from every year for the end of March -- give or take a day or two from March 29.  I became very curious about what I would discover.

        It so happens that out of the last 10 years, two of them had a lot of snow at this time!  (2018 and 2014)  Two other times I was away, once in Massachusetts with our daughter and her family, and once in England to visit my stepmother there. Also I've gone ahead and included a photo of the extreme wet we experienced in 2015, and some sheep that I loved being with while in Massachusetts.  Part of living well in the present is to go along with the flow, right?

      SO, here's some random photos never necessarily ever meant to be grouped together.

2009  X 2:

earlier photo of the legacy steps

2010   
 

crocus near the house

These used to grow in abundance, close to the house.

Bluets, or Quaker ladies, not out this year yet

 2012:

a good year for daffodils and for growing a granddaughter....

trillium, not yet in bloom but still lovely

2014:

bird feeding evidence

my neighbor, June, on her 80th birthday

big year for turkey visitors -- no dog around the house at this time

 2015:

flood waters at the Forks of the Caney, in Elliott County

very early redbuds

tiny first flowers in the woods -- name to be added as soon as i am absolutely sure of it

        I'll be working more on this post tomorrow, but at this very moment, it's time to call it a day. I'd like to dedicate today's effort to the many members of my Friends Team with whom I talk often, when I can, and who keep me honest and laugh at my jokes. Sometimes I actually forget that I am currently here by myself all the time and trying to do what Andy tells me.  (I guess I should consider our Kentucky Governor as part of my support network!)  May we be a better nation as we become more seasoned, and I hope spring's coming can be a blessing that will nourish each of us. 

summertime guest photographer -- a treat for me

post #441
       Yesterday (Saturday) I had planned to check out the famed outdoors arts and craft show that happens now every July here in Elliott County -- fondly and proudly called "Minnie Adkins Day".  Minnie is the kind who breaks any glass ceiling in her way, and she is so supportive of everyone else's work and talents.  She is a Kentucky treasure. We all win because she has persisted!
       But, true confession, I got involved with a project at the house this morning, which caused me to forget the time, and I missed the whole thing! I had planned to post photos from there today, but instead I will be including a photo or two in a future post, when I can round some up from other artists in attendance.  I sure hope the heat didn't make anyone sick.  Water, water, water!
      However, I soon realized I now had a great excuse to feature some of the photos my daughter makes, with her cell phone.  She has a wonderful eye. I love her work. I knew she had made some really good ones this week. I am proud to share some of them in this post. Thank you, Rebecca!!

the family garlic crop

the well

notice the companion ants on these peonies

Oh, the light, at the pond! I love this photo.

standing on the edge

Memories of early April:

How to pick strawberries AND keep at least one hand clean enough to make a photo....

dogwood

Oops, I'm caught in the act.....

a jack-in-the-pulpit along the creek on a really good day

returning home after time in the woods

a special visitor to the house, attached to the outside -- a happy surprise all around

Again, thank you, Rebecca, and I love you -- from your mom

apple blossoms and red buds, April 8, 2017

post #331
       Not much space for writing today - there are all these photos I want to share. I made them a week ago, in the evening, spurred on by needing a photo of an apple orchard for a book project George Ella and I have been working on. I had to park the car very near a major curve on a hill on Route 32 in order to protect myself while working with my tripod. There are few photographers out there on the roadside.... and there was a lot more traffic than I expected.The evening light was so beautiful, though. It was almost dark when I finally left. I don't know if we will use any of the photos, of course, since we may need to show actual APPLES, but in the meantime, here is some Appalachian beauty as seen from 6 feet of roadway. I'm grateful I had an excuse to stop and look and savor.     
        Please note: these are most of the images I shot, since I work at a deliberate pace. They are unedited, and in chronological order, as I explored what angles I could manage from where I was located. And the evening light was, of course, gradually dimming. A friendly reminder: click on one of the photos and then look at them one by one, larger, along the bottom of your screen.

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        If one or two of these work particularly well for you, please let me know.  I will give each photo a number, in case, to reduce confusion since they are versions of a whole.  Happy Spring!