My balcony

My balcony
Originally uploaded by jhhymas.

My balcony for writing haiku and sketching is in the upper left. You can see the dog yard and the propane pig, outstanding features of our visible lifestyle. This is my new fisheye lens; I'm still trying to figure out what kinds of pictures I want to make with it. Of course the balcony isn't very useful during cold rain, which is predicted for all next week.
Right now our grandson is doing his Spanish homework, with tutoring from his grandpa. But is is late, because he went for Bible Study first. Our dogs are ready to go to bed, but they don't get to for a while yet.

Fog in the morning

Fog in the morning
Originally uploaded by jhhymas.

Many days here begin like this. Since T2 mowed, there is often a deer grazing in the early morning, in the fog. We have heard the turkeys, but they are not as visible as they were last year. It is very quiet. More and more leaves fall every day, yet still some trees are only beginning to show color. Some nights it freezes, some nights it does not. Days are sliding by; we get something fixed and something else needs fixing. It's a lot like life; I feel very fortunate.

Toxic beauty

Toxic beauty WSP
Originally uploaded by jhhymas.

Today for a leaf-peeking drive to Wilderness State Park on the Tip of the Mitt, Michigan. Some sort of oil spill had made this varicolored sheen on the beach. A woman at the Bakery said she heard there will be snow this weekend. At Good Hart Country Store we overheard a woman complaining about things being so expensive "out here in the middle of nowhere." One of those brief encounters.

His golden eye

His golden eye
Originally uploaded by jhhymas.

Brewer's blackbirds. It always pleases me to find one on the beach, where they were first described. We have become so used to seeing them on parking lots in town that we forget. I even know someone who calls them Parking Lot Birds. So, yes, he's common, he's vulgar, and I think he is very handsome. Try: to find more time to walk outdoors. Computers are fun, but they aren't everything.

Today to a very nice Mozart concert with my grandson. The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra. Symphony No. 36 and a concerto for violin and viola. Well performed in the First Presbyterian Church in Harbor Springs. The maestro had rhinstones on the collar and pocket rim of his black coat. It tickled me.

Beginning of autumn

Beginning of autumn
Originally uploaded by jhhymas.

The last three nights have been splendid moon nights! This is the view from the porch the day I came back from California. Overcast somewhat, but with shafts of bright sun that made the trees glow. This morning when I got up there was a small deer grazing right about where the light tan streak is in the photograph. Tonight, a young coyote strolled nonchalantly in the very foreground. He looked quite young and healthy. He was pale tan in color. He walked in that sort of tippy-toe way they have, staring ahead, jumping up slightly, starting and stopping. Trey says they are looking for rodents.
We went to the Northwoods for dinner to celebrate his visit and his brother's birthday. And to look at their father's wood sculpture, which is above the windows all around the dining room. He made these in the last year of his life more than fifteen years ago.

waters of autumn--
how quickly the time has gone
since he died so young

Asilomar sunset

Asilomar sunset
Originally uploaded by jhhymas.

It was overcast much of the time at Asilomar, but we did have a night of spectacular sunsets. This time I particularly enjoyed the path at the top of the bluff, looking down at the ocean. You get such a splendid view of the dune plants, the rocks and the sea! Looking down at the sea and watching the rolling waves was really wonderful. Some of us also looked at the edge of a midden and marveled at the tiny bits of ancient shells that have just come to the surface of the sand.

autumn farewell--
the path curves through the dunes
and disappears

Suet cake

Suet cake
Originally uploaded by jhhymas.

This was the fun thing today. Through the kitchen window. These little beauties love suet cakes! The autumn colors are deepening nicely. I'm back from my trip to the haiku retreat and should post about it tomorrow.