Once again it's two more weeks! Summer is a-goin' in -- a hurry

        I stay amazed that light around us changes so much even when we are not paying attention. I think that being aware of light and working with ambient light is one aspect of my creative life that keeps me grounded. It's like checking out the temperature of the water without a narrow purpose. Even the darkening evening sky is part of that constant awareness. As I am writing this, the sky is blue, gray and pink, blended with nuance but without fanfare in the sky over me.

        Today's photos are all recent, and perhaps they seem to be random, but they are the light that I see and respond to. 

        This first photo is along Sideway Road, past where my house is. For some reason unknown to me as yet, the field has not been mowed this year:

the day lilies -- in their prime -- from inside my home

This is the phoebe who, from above the lilies,  monitors my coming and going from the house.

family outing, totally unexpected, as the sharpness (not) of this photo reveals

I do love this photo, which I would label "Barbed wire, new gate, and hay ring." To me there's something about these combined layers that mirrors poetry.

        OK, now two Rebecca photos, one by her and one of her-- the first one PROOF that the rhododendrons bloom this year, down by the waterfalls! (The blossom is showing signs of a recent heavy rain.)

photo by Scott Pryor, waterfall really looking just like it does here

        Now, to end this collection, another 30 second video, of the first curve on my former driveway, after it passes over the cleared area for the pipeline.  Lots of ice storm depris can still be seen. Notice the scarcity of flat surfaces.

        Once again, I really enjoy sharing these photos and stories on this blog.  Two weeks from now will be July 25, and I will have photos from an altogether different place.  

        Also once again, I want to encourage EACH ONE OF US to have a vaccine, FOR THE SAKE OF ALL OF US.    Ann

book covers, more spring beauty, and Bonnie's passing

           First, finding the right image for a book cover, either a photo or a painting, can be the work of many minds. As an example, I have wanted to show the book cover that was once chosen for a reprint of Wendell Berry's poems,  Farming: a Handbook.  Wendell asked me if I had any photos that might work, and this was one of them.  The cover design, however, is done by the publisher, in this case Counterpoint Press. I thought it might be of interest here to see the original photo along side the cropped version.  The size of the book and its shape are all part of that design work. The photographer gets paid solely for the image and has to accept whatever design it's now part of.        

        The cover design person and I have our names in small print on the bottom of the back cover. I'm not complaining! It's an honor to be there. And I get to think about Wendell and that book the many times when I drive to town.

        

 

more curves in the land

siblings in the daisy field

 

Last Thursday I went to visit my very ill friend, Bonnie, who was at home, being cared for by family and friends.  I have shown the gravel road to her house in two of the recent blog posts.  She died there late this afternoon, with many of them able to be there with her.  I really appreciated the call to let me know.  I thought I would include here a few photos I took recently, although I'm sorry not to have any of the flowers she loved which her sister had been tending these many weeks for her. She was always an extremely hard worker who loved farming and keeping up the home place and more. And telling truths. I'm so grateful to have known her.

   

 

I was having a long quiet visit and conversation with Bonnie's sister while Bonnie rested. The strawberries came from the garden, and they were delicious.  I ate them slowly, one by one, while we talked.This will be a hard week. Bonnie had just turned 64. She's one of nine siblings.

 

some of her cattle: the greeters

 

note:  I have another video to share, but it is too late to add it now, so I will share it next week. I thank everyone who mentioned to me that they enjoyed the one from a week ago.  I will also hope to share some additional photos I've made over the years at Bonnie's.   Ann

What can I do to support efforts for less chaos and sham in the world?

post #506 --- PLEASE NOTE: TODAY (8/16/20) I WROTE ABOUT PATIENCE, AND IT TURNS OUT TONIGHT I NEED IT MORE THAN I HAVE IT.  I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND PUBLISH MY PROBLEM, AS A WAY OF SHARING MY DISTRESS AND FRUSTRATION.  OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL IN THE REAL HURTIN' WORLD BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO FIX THIS TONIGHT.  I HAVE NEVER SEEN MY SPACES WITHOUT THE PHOTO THAT HAD BEEN PLACED THERE. VERY STRANGE. IS IT GREMLINS? THE RUSSIANS? BAD LUCK? AN EXCELLENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY? I WILL TRY TO RESOLVE THIS TOMORROW. STAY SAFE EVERYONE.

            The big question of my day today is both how to handle the need to pay attention to the community work that has to get done before our election AND what is it that one individual, such as myself, can bring to the table. For example, a friend tells me these posts of mine help her keep perspective and give her hope. I'm glad, though I know she is already doing her part to help fellow citizens during these lock downs, in New York state, all the while keeping an eye on the prize. Martin Luther King and other leaders have over and over reminded us of how important it is to keep that big picture in our view. She and I are among many who wish we were able to do more. Every one likes to feel she or he can make a difference.
             Well, one would think that as a photographer I am all over big pictures of any sort! Well, it's not that easy. I love sharing my photos and their story, so at least there's that. I also appreciate the cooler weather we are having and the common conversations that are taking place in many forms -- phone, Zoom, sitting outside 6 feet apart, emails and texts, the Fed Ex driver, friends in different time zones, and in our thoughts and dreams.  (The red wallet I forgot to bring to the grocery store Friday morning made it into my dream last night. Well, well.)
              One happiness is that this is the third week after I kind of freaked out about the new formats and shortcuts that are now used to do a Blogger post. Several revised twists and turns I've figured out by accident, but hey, whatever works. I have always learned best by making mistakes and trying again. However, some times I'm more patient than others.
            Now's a good time to try for the 4th week in a row to get those two photos to transfer to the blog, and to share some photos from exactly a year ago:

a photo from exactly one year ago

 #1 of the 2!

I put this on my rural mailbox.  It's easy to see how long their days are and how many of us rely on their services.

 

a version of #2 of two

This is also from an exact year ago. 

Final note (8/18/20): These photos are NOT totally where I want them to be, and I have only done whatever is showing up by reverting to the old system which is no longer pristine and which is set to be available only for maybe another month.  This breaks my creative heart that after ten years of loyalty to this blog -- and access to all 500 posts - that it has to be this difficult to move to so much unfamiliar territory.  (I must be bringing some of the fear of the unknown that comes from envisioning the impending election to the comparatively simple task of producing a post once a week!!) As always, thanks for your visit -- whenever you find your way here.