Parallels and Candy Bars

I saw the three boys in the church foyer with their mother. Now they were men. They looked older and smiled less than the last time I had seen them. They were all looking at me to see if I recognized them. Would I say anything? acknowledge them? Their mother was oblivious to the dynamicContinue reading “Parallels and Candy Bars”

Great…um…Expectations

I should know better then to follow the weather forecast too close. I end up with a narrow band of expectations. I saw the huge system on screen that would hang over us for quite a few hours. I heard it could produce on average an inch of snow per hour. I did the mathContinue reading “Great…um…Expectations”

Swan Thoughts

I admit to feeling foolish when I looked at this picture. With the camera I had captured swans sitting on the ice while some were taking off from their ice flow. Good job Gary. I didn’t even notice that two of them were Canadian Honkers(geese) and two bald eagles had snuck into the background ofContinue reading “Swan Thoughts”

Looking For Light

Sun. It came up again this morning. I don’t always get to see it lately between clouds and wild fire smoke. I had an inkling last night when the rain clouds allowed an evening of fire in the sky. I took some pictures in low light between wind gasps, hoping to catch some leaves beingContinue reading “Looking For Light”

Drought Effects

The bees are thirsty, the grass is dry and flowers that rely on rain are gone. The forests are a tinderbox and wildfires easily break out. Yesterday was clear because of the wind direction. As I write today, the air is filled with smoke from several wildfires a couple hundred miles north of us inContinue reading “Drought Effects”

Shades of Green

How many shades of green are there? It’s a question I ponder as I gaze in wonder at the earths recovery from winter here in the northland parts of USA. We use the word “green” in all areas of life. Mentally, physically , socially and spiritually. Looking at our present world one could think weContinue reading “Shades of Green”

Really Living

I saw the bear coming in the almost dark wilderness campsite. The small band of teenagers I was leading through a long canoe route in the BWCA Wilderness had been exploring the lake shore. They spotted the bear in the woods and ran back for camp. I ran and grabbed the camera turning on theContinue reading “Really Living”

Stunt Double

One of my dad’s sayings when I was young was “If you pull another stunt like that…” then some type of age-appropriate consequence was named. The bad part was he often didn’t mention which stunt he was talking about. Throughout my life, my risk/reward analysis system of decision making has been lopsided. I will admitContinue reading “Stunt Double”

The Old Doe

She is old. She won’t make it through another Minnesota winter. She is shunned in the deer world, so she keeps to herself. She has decided humans are better. She follows me around the yard hoping for a handout and a few words to perk her ears up. She doesn’t show signs of having ChronicContinue reading “The Old Doe”

Content in the Storm

Orphan fawn has adopted our place as it’s safe haven. Photo from the dinner table It’s snowing and blowing and 28 degrees f. It feels like below zero weather. The deer is more at peace with the weather and winters outlook than I am, even after losing her mother. What do you do in life’sContinue reading “Content in the Storm”