Crossroads

Every day,

I walk.

I do it

for my own health

as well as

to exercise

our dog.

Each time,
I carry
my camera.

I do it to

keep track of time

and

capture images

along the way.

Always,

I wonder.

I do it out of

appreciation

for our environment

as well as

 to share joy.

Every day
I ponder:

What

novelty

is left? 

Each time,
I am
surprised.

Always,

I find joy.

Some days
finding joy
is more
difficult
than others.

On those days,

I must remember

to let go and allow life

to unfold at its own pace.

My job
is to
observe
while
I am
moving.

I am to be

aware of

my

surroundings.

I am to be
alert to
passers-by.

I am to be

ready when

we meet.

When I
am open,
the result is

 a joyful
encounter
at the Crossroads.

Sharing the "Best of the Best" images from a month's worth of walks Along Life's Road.

Easter in July

All was quiet in the porch last evening as I passed through carrying tableclothes, plates, silverware, glasses and various courses to hold an alfresco dinner for two on our new deck. Our four-year-old cat, Blizzard, yawned and stretched watching me work. But his mama, Tickles, was no where to be seen. Then it dawned on me. I pulled back the silver tarp that I'd hung in the porch corner to create a dark quiet nook around a laundry basket lined with an old towel.

Sure enough.

There was Tickles lying on her side
nursing three kittens with markings
unlike any she's ever mothered.

As dinner progressed,
Dan and I heard a "YEE-AH-ROW!"
come from the porch corner.

"I'll bet that's number four," I said.

Later before I crawled into bed for the night,
I checked back with Tickles to find yet another
wet bundle added to the bunch.
Her quiver was full with her usual count of five.

A closer inspection revealed
three orange-and-white spotted males
and two black-orange-and-white spotted females.

Tucked in close to mama,
sporting their unusual spotted markings,
the kittens made me think
of dyed eggs in a nest -

Easter in July.

Burrowing Bullhead

Did you know bullheads burrow?

Check out this evening's video At the Lake.

Skiing Double

During our family's July 4th Get-Away, Isaac and Aaron asked me to video them waterskiing together behind our boat.

To perform their new feat, they'd pulled out waterskis and a tow rope my mom's sister used in the 1970s from the boathouse. Although the two ropes were different lengths and the old skis lacked a steering fin, Isaac mastered the old gear. Their practices went perfect. Unfortunately when I joined the crew and began to film, the old rope snapped even before Isaac pulled up.

"That's it!" boat driver Dad declared. "We're done."

Isaac was determined to keep going. He managed to retie the rope in the center of the handle so the brothers could give Skiing Double another go.The knot worked. And, Isaac even mastered holding the awkward handle through their first three-minute stint, which ended when Aaron got slack in his longer rope.

At the start of this second go-round video, Isaac looked over at his younger brother to complain, "What? I missed the memo to drop a ski." Not only did Aaron want to "one-up" big brother, but he was tired from the first round. As Aaron dropped out, Isaac finished with solo slalom show.

Here's to youth, determination and Skiing Double!

In memory of their great aunt - Laurie...