The Big Picture: Mountain Love/Winter Muse

Look around you where you walk.  Listening, moving forward, smelling and thinking. Where have you been that allows you to open your senses and be at peace with simply being human?  And what time of year would that happen for you?  

 

The above photo is from a summer hike in the mountains close to where I live.  Pictured here is the time and one of those places for me.

 

On this day in winter, Robert Frost has been gone 50 years. His vision of nature was his own. During his own time.  What will the rest of us leave behind? 

 

As I write this, the clouds lay over our town like a lid closing over us inside an unforgiving grey box. Dark. Undecided if next comes rain, wind or snow. 

 

The cravings begin. 

 For the fire in the wood stove, raging hungrily as a wild starved animal fed continuously with dry cedar, then roaring with delight.
 

For me, it's the smashing color and the remembrance of spring and summer. 

Like the feeling from an instant crush as the clear-eyed saxophone player winks and sends a cool breeze through my opening heart from across a crowded room tinged in blue. 

And I see it now, but only in my mind.
 

I listen and wait for your return.

Yet another winter time muse whispers from the player of imagination.  Freeing my captive boxed-in soul if just for the moment...

Black Cat, halloween,dog,seal and frog prince,

 

P. contemplates life BY the sea......

 

While this fellow contemplates life IN the sea....

 

So,

 

 I asked A. Cat what he thought about dressing pets up in halloween costumes. He replied, "You are asking a black cat about halloween?  First of all, let me point it out that black cats are totally misunderstood on this day. Some people even carry an unnecessary superstition of black pets all year. We are much like any other animal. Some good, some not so good. To judge unfairly is unwise.  To answer your question, if it makes the owners happy, then many pets will put up with a costume for that reason.  From my point of view, I prefer to be in my natural state.  Costumes, collars, etc. only put a damper on my natural activities.  I can't imagine wearing something that tells the world I'm something I'm not.  You see my dignity and this is who I am.  I don't want to pretend I am human. Your various celebrations don't really matter much to me. In fact, they are really boring. But,if there is something good to eat, then maybe I'll be present. Mostly, I'm not interested.  Hope I didn't disappoint you with this answer, but you asked and this cat doesn't always say what you want to hear.  Take it or leave it."  

M.: "That's a very diplomatic answer.  You mean if you had a chance to be a human, even for just a day, you would not be interested?"

A.C.: "Nope.  Here's why. Humans take everything so personal and they don't live in the moment.  Just once try to use only your body language and eyes to communicate your distaste and then move on.  Don't dwell on the complications of your everyday life.  There really is no time for that.  Relax, challenge yourself, have fun, give love, treat pets like pets and not babies,  If something does not work out for you that day, don't beat yourself up.  It's not healthy.  Eat what you need and at the right amount. Eat until you are 80% full.  The Japanese people have got that right. Stay clean. Be curious.  By the way,  I don't believe in that old saying. (Curiosity Killed the Cat)  That's not been my experience." 



M.: "Thanks A. I don't know where I would be without you and our little talks."

A.C.:Well, come here and rub my right cheek and listen to me purr.  Show me your love and then let's get on with the day.  I am soon for a nap."

 

And,

 

In my last post, I photographed a Tree Frog which was caught at a local nursery.  We didn't know what type of frog it was when we released him.  He was placed on a rock in the new pond where I took pictures.  

 

 

He sat there for some time as if not sure where to go.  Finally, he jumped in the water, swam around in there, came out and headed for the nearest tree. 

 

 

Since that time in late august, he was relocated back to the pond area from the greenhouse. Not sure how he got in there.  I've tried to keep an eye out for him, wondering about his welfare. Yesterday, while in the garden near the pond I noticed a frog.  Only this one was brown. 

 

Was it the same guy?

 

 

In summer; waiting before plunge into pond...

 I believe this is the same frog.

Quick Google search says that Tree Frogs DO change color to match their surroundings.
He looks like he is expecting a kiss.  I'll name him "Prince."
Um, I'll get back to you in Spring on that kiss.. Ugh.


PS)

Two views of same barn for my photographer friends.  One day, I'll be good enough to play with the big boys.

And a different angle. With a faint rainbow...

Thanks for visiting.

 

Thoreau,Wendell Berry,Douglas McArthur and Me....

Cooper's Hawk in the yard.                                     

 

 

 

"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let these be your only diet-drink and botanical medicines.  Grow yellow and ripe with autumn.  Drink of each season's influence as a vial for your especial use."

Henry David Thoreau 

 

Pacific Tree Frog .  So cool.

 

 

 

P. walks in the forest. 

 

 

  "Love the quick profit, the annual raise, vacation with pay.  Want more of everything ready made. Be afraid to know your neighbors and to die. And you will have window in your head.  Not even your future will be a mystery any more.  Your mind will be punched in a card and shut away in a little drawer."

Wendell Berry, Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front 

 

 Best catch of the day.

 

 

If there is a trail, P. will find it.  She seems to say, "Let's go this way!"

 

 

 

And then we found this

Nature's dream catcher or Halloween remind?  There were many, many more like this in one area.

And they glistened with marine influence caught up in the webbing.  Interesting in a spooky way. 



Two pals share some late summer shade.

 

 

 

A Dreamer

 

and also

 

A Player

 

 

I came across this quotation I have kept in my drawer for a long time. It is by, of all people, Douglas McArthur.  No,  he is not my champion of great historical character.  I don't look for military heroes, and if I did, I'm quite sure it wouldn't be him.. I don't agree with or admire him, but somehow this piece of writing that he wrote resonates with me. 

 

"Youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind.

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years, people grow old by deserting their ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

 

You are as young as your faith,

as old as your doubts

as young as your self confidence

as old as your fear

as young as your hope 

as old as your despair.

 

In the center place of your heart , there is a recording chamber.

So long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, so long are you young.

 

When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snow of pessimism."

and the ice of cynicism, then and then only are you grown old." 

By: Douglas McArthur

 

And just below it in a tattered old notebook, some of my own thoughts from a time previous.  Here is one for you called

 

"Floating Candles"

What if you never find your way?

Like flickering lights going out one by one.

Fire and water.

Reflections burning brightly in the dark water

reaching for the sky and everlasting life,

swaying against a dangerous breeze and

only to succumb into clear,cool, waxy liquid.

Then silent as though never existed

The memory of you will flicker until the next light boasts a brave new beauty bright with heat.

Harmonious and strong with opportunity; but no meaning,

to repeat the mystery without expectation.

 

The harvest moon in two days. Happy fall to all.