Morning Visitor

Eating breakfast on the deck, I saw a large flying creature land on the Japanese maple. Hummingbird, perhaps? No, it was this very sizable dragonfly. One of summer's surprisingly strange friends.

Asclepias is Milkweed

On my lunchtime walks I've been passing this milkweed plant, watching it go through its various stages of growth. I wondered how the flower cluster could create pods - and now I've seen for myself. The pods grow from the base of the flower cluster, as it is wilting.

Weather Magic

This afternoon some weather rolled in - magical autumn weather - the kind of weather that stirs thoughts of something much bigger than our puny selves. I was at my desk, on the third floor of the office building where I spend my days. My cube-mates and I were in awe of the drama taking place outside the glass.

Leaving work, walking to my car, across a little wooden bridge over a wetland, the slanting rays were hitting bittersweet berries with a light that made me see them for the first time.

A half hour later, when I exited Whole Foods, this greeted me. It lasted for the longest time, and grew in size and brilliance until it was a full rainbow, spanning the sky from horizon to horizon. I watched people come and go in the parking lot. Some were oblivious, others stopped for a moment to appreciate it. I spied a very tall young man standing in the next row of parked cars. He stood almost motionless, sometimes in the falling rain, from the moment he noticed the rainbow, until it faded away. When it was over, I watched him walk toward the store, with the sweetest smile on his face.

Through a Prayer Flag, Lightly

Pretty Evening Light

Just a pretty evening . . .

Wakerobin Outside My Door

Trillium - a delicate forest wildflower also known as "wakerobin" - blooms outside my door.

A host of sweet woodland flowers bloom while they can catch a bit of springtime sun - before the trees leaf out.

How lovely to find these so close to home.

A Winter Hike with Friends

Friends from the Shambhala Center in Northampton gathered for a hike on Mt. Tom in Easthampton, Massachusetts.

I've never hiked in the snow before. It was a warm day, the snow was soft and a little slushy in places. Walking in the snow was challenging, and the mountain was beautiful.

The view from the Dry Knoll, looking toward of the Oxbow (part of the Connecticut River).

It was a more challenging and fast-paced hike than I'm used to, but it was a great day!

Minnewaska Walk

A chilly walk along the rocky Shawangunk cliffs at Minnewaska State Preserve.

Climbers spotted ahead . . .


Someone waits patiently, in her fleece jacket, for the safe return of her people.

Winter Trees

I love to see the structure of trees when they have no leaves in the winter.

January Thaw I

Here in the Northeast US, we usually have a brief respite from January's below-freezing temperatures: the January Thaw. It began yesterday with daytime highs soaring into the 40s! (he he)
Really, it was sunny and quite pleasant, and I couldn't resist a nice long walk.

This charming couple looked quite content, noodling about in the little unfrozen section of the pond.

The Day After Thanksgiving in Manhattan

S. AND I HAD A LOVELY THANKSGIVING FEAST WITH FRIENDS IN THE CITY. BEFORE HEADING HOME ON FRIDAY WE STOPPED IN CHELSEA TO SEE WHAT WAS SHOWING IN THE GALLERIES. I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE DAVID HOCKNEY PAINTINGS AT PACE WILDENSTEIN ON 25TH ST. IF I HAD KNOWN THE SHOW CONTINUED AT THEIR UPTOWN GALLERY I WOULD'VE RUN RIGHT UP THERE TO SEE IT. BOTH PARTS OF THE SHOW CLOSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE, SO VISIT IT SOON IF YOU CAN!
HERE IS A LINK TO A VERY GOOD ARTICLE IN THE NY TIMES ABOUT HOCKNEY'S LATEST WORK IN ENGLAND. THERE'S A FUN MOVIE CLIP AND AUDIO SLIDE SHOW ATTACHED TO THE ARTICLE. HERE IS A LINK TO JAMES KALM'S SURREPTITIOUS VIDEO OF THE 25TH STREET GALLERY SHOW. SKIP AHEAD TO THE 4:00 MINUTE MARK (SKIP THE BORING BOOK SIGNING) TO SEE THE HOCKNEY SHOW.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HERE'S A LINK TO DAVID HOCKNEY'S WEBSITE, WHICH LOOKS LIKE HOURS OF FUN.

Wantastiquet Walk II

THERE'S THE MIGHTY CONNECTICUT RIVER - LOOKING RATHER TAME FROM THIS VIEW. I LOVE THE WAY THIS RIVERSIDE FOREST LOOKS - THERE'S NO UNDERGROWTH. IS IT BECAUSE THE RIVER FLOODS THERE IN SPRING?

A TORRENT RUSHING TO THE RIVER . . .


THE SWIRLING POOL WHERE THE WATERS SLOW A BIT, BEFORE HEADING FURTHER DOWN THE EMBANKMENT AND OFF TOWARD THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

Walk Along the River at Wantastiquet

EVERYTHING WAS WET FROM SATURDAY'S RAIN - THE MUTED AUTUMN COLORS WERE POPPING! THE PATH FOLLOWS THE BANK OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER, BUT IT IS HIGH UP ON AN EMBANKMENT. THE STREAMS WERE TORRENTS, FLOWING DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE, THROUGH CULVERTS UNDERNEATH OUR PATH, AND ON TO THE GREAT CONNECTICUT RIVER.

Recent Walk II

ALSO TAKEN A FEW WEEKS AGO: THE ASTERS AND OAKS ARE A FEW OF THE LAST HOLDOUTS TO SHOW THEIR AUTUMN MAGIC.

Recent Walk I

MOST OF THE LEAVES HAVE FALLEN NOW. THESE IMAGES ARE FROM A WALK S. & I TOOK A FEW WEEKS AGO. IN NEW ENGLAND THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES ARE SO DRAMATIC IN LATE FALL.

Migration

I THINK THEY'RE STARLINGS . . . ON THEIR WAY TO WARMER CLIMES.

A Fresh Start - Daunting, But Fresh

BECAUSE MY HOME IS IN THE WOODS, AND THE YARD IS NOT SUITABLE FOR GARDENING, I'VE SIGNED UP FOR A 20' X 20' PLOT HERE, AT THE MILL LANE COMMUNITY GARDEN. IT LOOKS RATHER GRIM HERE, DOESN'T IT?

IT'S ONLY BECAUSE THIS YEAR'S GARDENING HASN'T STARTED UP YET, AND IT WAS ABOUT TO STORM WHEN I TOOK THE PHOTO THIS AFTERNOON. BETWEEN THE GARDEN PLOTS, THERE ARE RIOTS OF PERENNIAL COMFREY AND MINT, GONE WILD.

MY PLOT WILL BE IN THIS NEWLY PLOWED AREA, WEST OF THE RUMPLED, LIVED IN, OLDER PLOTS.

IT'S STILL TO BE HARROWED, BUT I THINK I'LL BE PICKING A LOT OF STONES OUT OF THIS SOIL, DON'T YOU? IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD FOR THE REWARD OF SOME TOMATOES, ARUGULA AND GREEN BEANS! BUT I HAVE DREAMS OF GARLIC COMING UP IN MY RAISED BEDS NEXT SPRING!

Spring Through the Window

IN MY THIRD FLOOR OFFICE, STANDING AT THE END OF THE HALL, I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND SEE THIS HUGE WILLOW DANCING IN THE WIND. SHE'S THE FIRST TO DRESS IN GREEN IN SPRING, AND LAST TO CHANGE TO YELLOW IN THE FALL. TODAY WAS SO WINDY, SHE WAS SWAYING WILDLY.

Pipilotti Rist at MoMA

FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING WE HOPPED ON THE TRAIN TO MANHATTAN - BACK TO MOMA FOR THIS REMARKABLE SHOW. CLICK HERE TO SEE A SHORT VIDEO OF THE ARTIST TALKING ABOUT HER WORK. TRIPPY!

Tree Altars

CAT LOVERS CLICK HERE FOR FUN!