Back to the Bare Bones

Our landscape is back to the bare bones.

Again we can catch a glimpse at the structure of things,

the truth of them.

Leaves blown from branches, grasses falling back to Earth,

we are left with the finely wrought network of stem and branch

only partially obscuring our view of what is beyond.

The horizon has opened.

Woodland windows opened to see past the edges,

into the heart of things.

There is a hardness, an emptiness, a utilitarian look to the world in winter.

Sharpness in the air echoed by the sharpness of the light

Echoed again in the sharp chirps and trills and laughter

of birds calling to one another

With warning, with encouragement, with wisdom

With the sheer joy of a light washed winter day.

All Photos by Woodland Gnome 2014

Zoom In

How often in life do we glance at the big picture, absorb the information we need, and move on?

I know I operate in that mode quite a bit.  It seems there is never enough time in a day for all I want to do, and so much of my life is lived “in a hurry.”  Especially this last week, preparing for our community party today, I’ve been cramming as much as possible into each passing day.

On the way home from taking photos on Duke of Gloucester St. on Thursday we stopped by a park.  I’d caught a glimpse of white out on the water- a duck- and so we turned around and drove back to take a photo of the duck.  We have seen swans here occasionally, but not recently.  Even the white ducks come and go.  It was worth a look.   One shot led to another:  the fog rising off the water, the Canadian Geese, the beautiful trees.

Canadian Geese on College Creek

I was headed back to the car.  But my partner kept gesturing for me to look again.  I turned and scanned the far bank, not seeing anything in particular beyond the trees.  “There’s a heron.  Look again.”

I scanned the bank and couldn’t see it.  But I zoomed in with the camera, slowed down, and looked slowly and carefully until I spotted it.  The beautiful heron was standing on a log over the water, secure in his safety as he blended in to the background forest.

I think we have to let our attention “zoom in” on a regular basis.  We have to meditate on the details, and look for those things we might otherwise overlook. 

Especially in relationships; I think we owe it to our loved ones to zoom in to listen, to observe, to empathize.  To not just scan the big picture day after day.  What amazing things we see when we pause to really look.

All Photos by Woodland Gnome 2013

Great Blue Heron on College Creek in Williamsburg, VA

Wardrobe Change

This gallery contains 24 photos.

Have you noticed the change happening all around us? Colors are growing deeper, and darker More deep burgundies, purples, orange and brown, Even the greens are getting deeper. I used to think cooler nights brought on the change; Maybe it’s also the days growing shorter. The plants in the garden want to make one last … Continue reading →