winter, travel, family, holidays in December, 2012

post #117
       Keeping it simple today, thinking of the world with all its variety and machinations, while I continue to try to figure out how people can all get along and how the planet can let us see clearly what we need to do.  I guess the answers are not so simple, actually.  But I am currently with family in Massachusetts, enjoying grandchildren, exchanging minimal presents, eating well and all together, seeing two of my sisters as well as other family, and being grateful.  It is a privilege to be thinking about other peoples in this world in addition to the ones near me, and about the planet we share while I am happy to be in this one place.  I do realize that thinking by itself does not do much, but visualizing the possibilities of change can be strengthening for our collective hearts.
        I give a special shout-out to the loyal readers of this blog, whoever you may be, and where ever you are.  Thank you!  Here are three photos in honor of this season and of this time of gatherings.  

I have always thought this stump a place of elegant feasting, even if it be in the forest.

This photo of friends, from three years ago, continues to amaze me.  Once again, I thank each one for being willing to put up with what it takes to get such a good group photo  -- which mostly means that each one did his or her part for the good of the group.  This year's holiday gathering will be smaller, since many of us will not able to be there.  I am so glad we made the time and effort for this photo when we had the chance to do so.

Warm holiday greetings from this "well red" cardinal -- and from me, Ann

          

now on to M and N, in eastern Kentucky

post #86
    I have had a pensive week, but I also got carried away by M!  But, finally, today, I am sharing some of the possible photos for M and N as part of the draft of Appalachia, Bluebird, Creek.  A reminder: the words in italics are ones I have added to the original suggestions from George Ella Lyon.  Not every word has its photo yet.

M m     --       mailboxes           Mauk Ridge          mayapples           mist      mules

Can you find the second mailbox?  If not, see below, under N, below.

morning mist, on Mauk Ridge (A)

        

mist, nearby, again on Mauk Ridge (B)

mist in the mountains

morning mist, in May

morning mist, on meadows

mist after the storm, at sunset

       (I guess it is no mist-ery that I love how mist transforms where I live.  Of course, in addition to being lovely to look it -- and to photograph -- it provides health to the forests.) 

mayapple, in bloom

mule team

N n      --          neighbors                  nests                 nuts                 

where our neighbors live  (see mailbox photo!)

 

neighbors and family

nuts,  as if on a table after a feast

nuts on the walnut tree

   And, to be added later - two nests, from Counting on the Woods.  Thanks for hanging in here through the whole alphabet!  As George Ella writes, only 26 letters but Zillions of reasons to love the Appalachian Mountains.

nuts on the ground, but also in the air and water?

post #3
     Here's what's in the woods that made me laugh: I suddenly made a connection between the larger than usual amount of nuts under foot (acorns! hickory nuts! black walnuts!) and this year's strange elections! The crunch is everywhere. What saddens me, in addition to candidates who are unqualified and narrow of vision, is that there are so many potential voters swayed by ads (money!) and anger (radio shows!), who end up reacting rather than considering.  Also, the short memory span of too many citizens could be compared to squirrels, who bury nuts without being able to remember later where they are. For one thing, we Americans definitely need more than a short year and a half to get back on track following the thoughtless and severe damage from those eight years of unbridled short-sighted greed.

      Then today my son reminded me of the expression "Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes".  Yes, luck might work, but, really, shouldn't we each be putting our best effort and thinking skills toward improving the future for our children? Maybe tending to democracy is like taking the kind of photo I love to do. The viewing angle is usually not the first obvious one, the light changes, and the camera has to be in working order.  But at the same time you have to grab the occasion because it won't necessarily present itself again. This work takes practice, and it takes making mistakes and trying again. I believe in sticking with one's vision of what could be, photographically and otherwise, and in hoping and learning as the way opens. In any case, doing that sure does make a better photo....

     Here's to valuing our brains and our hearts -- Ann

(The forest photo was taken two days ago; the last two black walnuts photo was taken this evening, from the bedroom window; they may fall tonight, or wait until our first hard frost.)