lines (after the burning)

struck mute i am
by lines and
layers

for mystery
favors
quiet

while on the subject of fire

Last week i took an unusual and interesting walk through a pasture not far from my house. I had never walked it before but something bid me crawl over the barbed wire fence and stroll onto the vast piece of property before me. The large acreage had been burned off the week before:

and thus still presented a charred and surreal scene:

The day was overcast and misty and I felt as though I could be in Scotland on the moors or in Ireland on the burren. What a marvelous decision; to walk on that lonely day in that lonely place. (…my “new thing” for the week….though I didn’t see any “no trespassing signs” I felt a bit adventurous climbing through the fence.)


More images of that walk to follow in the next few postings.

* "I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least - and it is commonly more than that - sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements." ~Henry David Thoreau

sun (playing with fire series)

she’s more
than a static ball hung in space

she’s power
and fire
and fathomless

grace



*My husband and I recently watched a lecture on television which had to do with the amazing order and miracle of our universe. There are so many purposes the sun fulfills which enable life on planet earth, thus, “fathomless grace.” This image reminds me of the sun and planet mercury (though mercury would be smaller). For a quick glimpse of the planets and sun in perspective to the rest of the universe check out:

http://www.kiroastro.com/writings/perspective

and….when you feel that sunshine on your shoulder today…remember the power from which it comes. 

juxtaposed (playing with fire series)

as i sit here
comtemplating the vastness
of it all

i hear the quiet call
of a
mourning dove

playing with fire (#1)

the air was cool
the evening fair

we built a fire

and along with wood
burst into flame

imagination

*I found the fire fun to “play with”. Hope you enjoy the resulting images. The following image came from the original above….(see the left hand upper corner). I couldn’t help but see a horse’s mane in that section. Thus:

Steed of Glory

challah

flour
eggs
oil
yeast
and a little bit of
honey

take some butter
and a knife

then taste
taste
and taste again

this treasured
staff of life


*I realized on Saturday that I had not planned an adventure for last week. When I need a quick adventure, I often head for the kitchen where I can transport myself to another culture quickly. I decided to make Challah Bread to go with our Easter dinner. It was my first experience making it, and I found it to be easy and fun. It had been quite a long time since I had made yeast bread so when it came out so beautifully I was thrilled. My son and husband were home when I took it out of the oven. Of course, we had to sample it immediately. (Thankfully, the recipe produced two big loaves because we proceeded to eat almost half a loaf during our little tasting episode!) You can find the recipe I used at allrecipes.com. It is entitled Challah 1. If you try it, I’m quite sure you won’t be disappointed.

*“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts!” ~James Beard

But....

He is
risen!

grief

and those who loved him
thought him gone
forever

good friday

it was the day of
thorns and
piercings

the glorious fall
the chosen disgrace
the ultimate

sacrifice

maundy thursday (walking in April series)

light
water
reflection

all these things

He said
He was

out for a ride (walking in april series)

what a magnificent toy
this little boy on
his tractor

he seemed to say
"come play with
me

pull me through the dirt
and grass
let us bask in friendship

and
april sunshine"



*Image taken while walking in the Potwin neighborhood.

burning (walking in april series)

it's the farmers love of the land
that cause them tend her
and cleanse her

with fire





*It wasn't much of a walk
  really,
  up the stairs,
  through the kitchen
  and onto the deck
  (a response to my husband's call)

  what we must miss
  by not moving our feet

wind through the lilacs (walking in april series)

like the brushstrokes
of monet

were the lilacs
that day


*Last week's adventure was a trip to Kansas City to see a special exhibit about Princess Diana. We also went to the Nelson Art Gallery to view a large three paneled painting done by Monet. The enormous painting was a fantastic rendering of Monet's beloved water lilies. He was on my mind when i photographed these lilacs at Lake Shawnee.

like life (walking in april series)

rough bark
tangled branches
and once again

beauty trumping
chaos


*"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." 
                                                                      ~John Muir

tulips (walking in april series)

oh tulips
tell me true

as i look
through the view
finder

were you not sent
for joy?

How can you explain that you need to know that the trees are still there, and the hills and the sky?  Anyone knows they are.  How can you say it is time your pulse responded to another rhythm, the rhythm of the day and the season instead of the hour and the minute?  No, you cannot explain.  So you walk.  ~Author unknown, from New York Times editorial, "The Walk," 25 October 1967

witnessed while walking (walking in April series)

i actually saw
a pair of trees

singing today


*"Day to day pours forth speech...
   And it's voice goes out to all the earth."   ~Psalm 19: 2a, 4b

early morning in the woods (walking in april series)

we saw the whitetail
vanish

then happened on a pond

where
mist,
like hope

was rising


*"I hold not with the pessimist that all things are ill, nor with the optimist that all things are well.  All things are not well, but all things shall be well, because this is God's world."   ~Robert Browning

sidewalk's edge (walking in april series)

lavender lace
at my feet

like new love's
affectionate blossom

moss in motion (walking in april series)

and deep into the woods
i find
a world

extraordinaire


*The creek, too, is come to life.

red barn (walking in april)

i drive by the red barn
often

but when i walk

i view her from
afar

nestled in among
the trees

*Ah, April….a beautiful month for walking. Spring is wakening and each day the color changes; some days subtly and other days quite dramatically. Today’s entry kicks off the series “walking in April”. I hope, as you view the images I post, you will feel as though you are there yourself. Put on your walking shoes and let’s go.


**This image was taken about a quarter of a mile from my home…down the gravel road and around the bend. :)

buechner, a found poem (still life at home, dining room)

now and then
in a room called remember
peculiar treasures
are
telling secrets

as we wait in
the hungering dark
the faces of Jesus
Son of Laughter,
lead us
to the magnificent defeat
and the sacred journey ends

with a
love feast


*To end my "Still Life at Home" series I am breaking my 12 word rule for the week. But, I feel I have just cause. :) One of my all time favorite authors is Frederich Buechner. He came along at a time in my life when I needed to hear the things he was writing and I needed to hear them in his particular “voice.” The above poem is comprised of several of Buechner’s book titles. The book titles are in italics….i merely added a few linking words. Thank you Mr. Buechner for being a close friend through the years by way of your books.

marbles and answered prayer (still life at home, deck)

tiny pieces of glass
natural light
and fresh air

ah, revival


*Yesterday morning I was feeling rather blah; a bit discouraged for no particular reason. After some quiet reading time and prayer I decided to step outside to test the air and hear some birdsong. And that little step was all it took.


The first thing I noticed besides the lovely temperature was the green splotchy moss on my deck. “Green!” I thought. “I must get my camera and capture some green.” When I went to the bathroom to ready for the day I noticed the small jar of marbles on the bathtub. Green! And off I went to the wonderland of experimentation; leaving the Blahs behind me and a whispering a breath of thanks for answered prayer. :) I hope you find a simple step to take today that leads you upward.

acorn (still life at home, bathroom)

and how, little one,
did you find your way
here?

inspiration (still life at home, office)

Oh, Dear Father above
let my words speak truth
intermingled
with love

*This original work of art was designed and made for me by my enthusiastic and creative friend Carol. It is a constant reminder to pray for words “fitly spoken” as mentioned in Proverbs 25:11. Thank you Carol. J

peasant woman (still life at home, living room)

if you were real
i'd steal away
to sit
at your feet

pair (still life at home, bedroom)

art that doesn't
tire me

is simple
and free

ny husband's boots (still life at home series)

leather symbols
of loyalty
and love

centerpiece (still life at home series)

the simpler
the
centerpiece

the calmer
the
soul


*This week's adventure is to launch a new series. It will be comprised of  "still life" images from my home. The challenge will be to accompany the images with poems of twelve words or less. Hope you enjoy.

april clouds

yesterday
was april 1st
but the sky
was nobody's fool
and nobody's trickster

oh no,
it was
into
truth telling

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

enter (another word for you)

such a
clear word
it is

direct
to the point

yes,
even bossy


* The Old Man of the Earth stopped over the floor of the cave, raised a huge stone from it, and left it leaning. It disclosed a great hole that went plumb-down.


“That is the way,” he said.

“But there are no stairs.”

“You must throw yourself in. There is no other way.”

~The Golden Key,” George MacDonald, 1867