Simplify . . .

Simplify, simplify, simplify:

this is what I seem to be aiming for lately

in writing

in art

in life.

To pare down to harmonious elements

in size

color

sound

emotion

texture.

If I could write a novel

as perfect as this small

flower arrangement

well, then,

that would be

something

!!

xx

International Dot Day

Have you heard of

International Dot Day?

September 15 

Check it out here:

Dot Day

Make your mark?

It's fun.

Here's my dot for 2014:

lar-de-dar

xx

Away and home and garden bounty . . .

My husband and I have been away for a few days

returning to a place where we'd worked and lived for eight years

and although it was pure joy to be there

and be among so many old friends

I came away feeling dizzy

from such immersion

in a former life.

. . .

As soon as I got home

I went to the garden

to pick the newly-ripened produce

so crisp and green and red and new.

. . .

I needed to do that

I don't know why

but

 it steadied me.

. . .

Hmm.

xx

Into the Woods

(Click to enlarge and step in . . .)

What is it about the woods

that is so resonant?

Trees: 

you'll find them in most of my books.

Paths and roads and rivers:

also in most of my books.

Always the lure

of 

natural images.

"I'm going for a walk . . .

You come, too . . ." *

Mm?

(*From Robert Frost's "The Pasture")

xx

Refilling the Well

Sometimes

you empty your well

and

need to refill it

so

you find a lake

and a kayak

and you set off

and all is quiet

and

the sky so blue

the clouds so white

above

and

below

and

you stop

and let the well

refill

ahhhhhh

you say

ahhhhhh

xx

The Not-so-brisk Walk

I'm going out to take a brisk walk

but

barely out the door

there is this:

(click to enlarge all photos)

(it helps)

Helloooo, cone flower

hellooooo, bee

Two more steps

and then:

I touch its wilted neighbor

and it dissolves

blood red

in my hand

Onward

going to walk

going to walk briskly

but

then

Hellooo, black-eyed Susan

and

giant hippo boulder

. . . 

Walk on, walk on

and then

Oh, mannnn!

Oh, mannnn!

Look at that!

That's it.

I wave the white flag.

I call a truce.

I'm not walking anywhere.

I'm just going to sit here

and 

drool.

xx

The Beauty of a Weed

Click to enlarge. 

 Put your face right in there.

  

Stunning, right?

Queen Anne's Lace

(species Daucus carota)

 is considered a 'noxious weed.'  

huh.

xx