school day

Dec 17, 04
9 a.m. cold, sunny, fog clearing



Pulling out of the driveway, to take the kids to school - I liked the way the light was hitting and the tree and fallen leaves framed the garage of Lois' house. First exposure wasn't enough to catch what I saw - my mental light meter is still learning.

noonish
Gibson Ranch
sunny - cold - slight breeze



Out with Ramona - dead tree catches my eye right away - first shot overexposed, come in closer to try again - cloud filter pulls the sky down nicely. Takes the coated prints so long to dry in the cold.


Pair of young trees along the bridle path - I think of them as two sisters. Funny how often I think of trees as feminine, something nurturing about them. Later Ramona says this shot reminds her of the Wizard of Oz, we are certainly not in Kansas anymore... but maybe I found two sisters in the Land of Oz.


Dry Creek, running swift and deep. We see a big snowy egret fly down the creek, land on a beach, but he's too skittish to let us get close enough for a shot and he flies down the creek, then doubles back again.


The path before us, looking into the low winter sun, well above the creek bed.

A road not taken -

tree hunting

Dec 11, 04
midday
Carlson Ridge Evergreens Christmas Tree Farm
sunny, clear, warm - above the fog of the valley




Great day to find a tree - plenty of people have peeled off outer layers until only t-shirts are left.

Dec 9, 2004

Dec 9, 2004
9 a.m.
at home
Sunny and bright, almost warm, quite a change from the past few days that have been blustery, cold and wet.

Coming back to the house after dropping off the kids for school, I notice how nice the light hits my unkempt garden. So I start my day with art.

After noon, Antelope Community Park -

The joys of an over-exposed image! I can't believe how much all of my camera paranoia has gripped me, maybe I can begin to shake it off now.

Now I'm sitting on a log in the sun - better than the bench in the shade - off the path to the far right of the photo above.

Birds chirp, chick, tweet, whistle, squeak in the trees around me yet remain largley unseen. Searching with my eyes I've spotted a magpie, scrub jay, a couple blackbirds and plenty of unidentified movement among the oak leaves. I hope they all stick around once the park is "developed." A bond measure for the desperately-needed new high school finally passed, and is slated for the adjacent property. There are plans for ball fields and skateparks and parking lots on this land, I pray they do it wisely.

Lovely little toadstools I came across - nearly stood on my head to get this shot, or so it felt.

The little toadstools make a contrast with the oaks -

Now a tiny beetle lands on my page, tries to take back off, flops back onto the page several times, then finally succeeds in flying away. Sometimes I feel like the toadstool in the shadow of mighty oaks or like a tiny beetle that can't manage to even take flight. At least I know that as long as I'm on God's page, I'm in the right place - (oh Lord, that sounds so corny!)



Meandering around, I come on this oak - the image I saw so much grander than this and if I were so inclined I could work it again to show you - but as I came closer there was a little ladder that caught my eye. I had been thinking that I didn't need to hide the fact that this lovely tree lives in suburbia, like I'd done in images before, and then I truly saw the heart of the matter.

This tree had been the source of dreams and great adventures. What youngsters, maybe aided by an elder, had been lured into the arms of this lovely giant? What secrets have been shared here? What hopes - what dreams - or naughty schemes? No matter, this tree would not have lived such a social life out far in untouched wilderness, and we would not have enjoyed it so.

Then, up farther, more obscure among the branches and golden leaves, a newer home of a different creature, a large nest made of twigs. Whose nest exactly, I'm not sure, but it doesn't really matter. This is nearly a magical place where people and animals have come together.

I hear too much about the evils of suburbia and sprawl and our car culture but it isn't all that bad. Some of us enjoy more space and less urban living where we can breathe a little easier. And just sit and listen to the birds.

clear skies

Dec 1, 04
1:30 p.m. - between 2nd grade classes
Kohler School
sunny, clear skies, cool, light breeze

Earlier several crows and a couple seagulls were feasting on lunch leftovers, as well were a couple magpies. Now a small sparrow chirps and flits between branches in the trees.

The ground is damp but not soggy, leaves that have fallen are nearly everywhere but on the trees. The branches overhead are nearly bare and a magpie comes to visit briefly then flies off again.