35mm to Digital

Old memories. Our lives are full of them, yes? Some treasured, some less so. Many never settle long enough to fully form. Other moments in time, memories, are so poignant they remain in perfect form through decades. We remember the feel of the air, the placement of the sun in the sky, the scents and the sounds filling in the remaining blank spots on the canvas. 

Such a gift, old memories. And if we are lucky, when those gifted memories do begin to fade, we have images to assist in re-painting our mental canvas. 

I've been digging through old photos, taken long ago on a quiet street in Oaxaca. They surfaced along with other images I'm trying to transition from 35mm to digital. Others may find their way here, or not. The process of walking back in time, the remembering, is the journey of the moment. And I remain ever grateful for the lasting images made possible in part by good ole' Kodak film. You were a friend of mine.

Congratulations Mr. President

Congratulations Mr. President! 

And thank you fellow Americans

each and every one of you voters 

for exercising your rights 

and caring deeply for this country. 

Bears and Bunnies

One of my favorite annual environmental events has a side benefit. The building it is held in has a stage where tiny dancers, from the local dance class, perform midday. Each year a new group of brave little souls nervously find their way to center stage. As those first precious seconds pass, while waiting for the music to begin, their heads swivel right to the teacher behind the curtain, forward in search of family and then to the most likely dancer to remember all the steps.

This years class had stuffed bears and bunnies as partners to aid in conquering stage fright. As the music poured over the hundred or so audience members, each little dancer found their own personality driven dance path. Some charged ahead, others were a bit more contemplative and one found her inner giggle. Unity took two forms; pink tights and death grips on those stuffed animals. Each dancer was delightful and when the well earned applause began they shared a moment of shock driven suspended animation. They then scattered in the same manner they danced; some charged ahead, others lingered a bit and one buried her face in her bunny and giggled off, stage right.

Some days giggles and smiles are abundant. The day of our environmental event was one of 'em. It was a true treat to be there.

A Loving Heart

"A loving heart is the truest wisdom."

                                 Charles Dickens

I Lied About Fall Arriving

I lied about fall arriving. Well actually, the calendar and mother nature were not "quite" in sync this year and area colors have shown up late and are vanishing early. We have lingered over-long in summer temps with no-rain records from 1950 broken. The much needed rain has only begun to fall in the last three days and I swear you can hear the plants and trees saying thank you. Trees must be determined in order to outlast dry spells. Hopefully this big drink will help a bit.

Even as the strong rains fell today I could here the sound of our next door neighbor's chain saw carving away at the umpteenth tree to be dropped in their yard this year. In an effort to override the sound I turned on the TV, just in time for the news report about 200 plus trees that were cut down in Los Angeles so that the SHUTTLE could be pulled from point A to point B. Seriously? Right in the heart of some of the worst urban air quality in the country! Some days are real head shakers.

If I were a person of power, I would speak loudly of the need for rebuilding forest canopies in this time of deforestation. As our air quality degrades around this world, taking down trees with no regard for the bigger picture shocks me. 

Hope you find time to spend with a bit of nature soon. Catch the color and take in some of the fresh air that lingers there. It's a gift.

Bidding Summer Farewell

Bidding summer

a fond farewell

when it seems spring just arrived

then in a blink, gone

there were glimpses 

of summer's bursting color

in my days

but not enough

to say adieu

so soon!

Then again... here come the rich colors of autumn!

What's not to love about fall?

Let the Rain Kiss You

Let the rain kiss you. 

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. 

Let the rain sing you a lullaby. 

                                                                                                      Langston Hughes

Though we are waiting for the rains to return, their spring visits gifted us with leaves aplenty. The air is taking on the scent of summers final days and our favorite season of color is coming. Sending you wishes for an autumn of color and replenishment. Pumpkins too!