No explanations

An eye, trees
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

ALL EARS

either my receiver is on the blink
or you are not coming across well

you are not coming across well
I decide, after fiddling with the volume.

it is like listening
to a radio broadcast
of a staring contest with a duck

after a long silence
the duck says
are we on the air?

--Billy Collins Field Magazine, early 70's

Diebenkorn

Diebenkorn
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

The beautiful shapes and colors from the haymow at Thoreson's Barn where we had the photography class at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. The lovely sweep of pale lavendar is spotted knapweed, the pasture's curse, When it blooms, you can almost forgive it. They say also that bees use it to make excellent honey. Where are the bees, anyway? Someone I know thinks it is the cell phone towers. If so, I guess people would give up the bees. The cherries were ripe when I was here, and they were the best I have ever had. So there must have been a few bees left. I wonder what the answer to this mystery is . . .

Grass at dawn

Grass at dawn
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

Sleeping Bear Dunes. The air was still and very fresh. I never would have gotten up this early it I hadn't been going with a group. At this time of year, many grass seeds had fallen and they were accumulating in little cup-shaped depressions in the sand.

The path into sunlight. Follow me!

The path into sunlight
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

How is one an individual
and how is one's fate
shaped in interplay
with other persons?
How does one
in turn contribute
to forming those persons?
How close can
one really BE to
other people?
How is an individual
vis-à-vis another individual?
How do I become myself?
How have I really been with you?
How have I come to displace my own self
in order to fit in with other selves?
Where does one self merge with another?

—Alva Myrdal near the end of her life in a letter to her daughter, Sissela Bok

As a parent, and as a daughter and grandaughter, I was struck by this passage. I've been saving this quote for a long time. Look up Sissela Bok on Google to read about her philosophy and the work of her illustrious parents. You will have food for thought for many a long day.

Then go take a walk in a nature preserve like the one in the photo. Or in a garden. Take someone special with you, if you can.

Stone wrinkled like flesh

Stone wrinkled like flesh
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

I love this rock which was too big to carry home, and it belongs on the beach anyway! At some time, it must have been molten in the bowels of the earth. It's got somewhat of the adorable bulky quality of the manatee, or the elephant. Also a sort of ineffable patience.

The weather has been very hot today. Tonight I went to the Township meeting, to watch America in action. Many things about finishing the new fire hall reminded me of when I was involved in building and refurbishing libraries. Things have to be done correctly and following rules and procedures, and yet as cheaply as possible. Your tax dollars at work . . .

Mystery yellow flower

IMG_4589xx
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

If anyone can identify this plant which was found growing on a sand dune near Lake Michigan outside of Harbor Springs, please leave me a comment. None of the people on the nature walk knew what it was.

Look carefully. Do not be confused by the leaves of the wild grape which twine around the plant. It has reddish stems and narrow alternate leaves.

Caught Sky

Caught Sky
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

I keep feeliing that I hvae nothing to say. Although if I get started there is always plenty. The Kyrie from Beethoven's MIssa Solemnis just began on my beloved Vox channel on XM Satellite radio. (Now I start to feel like an ad, one of those where two people discuss laundry detergent.) I wish I had done more singing when my voice was good. Those choir things where you lift your voice and are surrounded by the music are such transcendent experiences.
This pond always has such beautiful reflections on morning bird walks. I am very grateful to the Petoskey Regional Audubon Society for their outings.