Perceptions in the Dark

Years ago, my momma had eye surgery that left her eyes patched for a time. Her other senses were greatly heightened with her vision shut off from the light. She tells how noisy the hospital ward was at night & of the nearly silent padding of the nurses' rubber-soled feet as they made their rounds.*
Once, the beaver slapped a warning as he overheard the night-time whispers I shared with my brother, high atop the ridge. I have been venturing forth to the lake by moonlight, or no light, this past week. Traversing the path, my feet & pants are already soaked by the time I reach the water's edge. I have noticed how the eye is drawn to any light it can find while in the dark. In drawing, I have been teaching of the use of value. "The brain perceives light as close & that darker shades recede." As I stare motionlessly at the lake, I must be intentional to keep my eye focused on the mirror-like surface. It takes all of my resolve to keep my eye from passing car & train lights, or from traveling to the dam's pale, reflection.
The late change to daylight savings' time has led me to the lake too early to witness much beaver activity. Though out of my view, I have had some wonderful sightings as they work to cover the entrances to their tunnels for hibernation. Sitting on the landing, with but a small clump of brush between us, I can now discern many of their sounds. There are different & distinct blurps as air bubbles break the surface upon their entry or exit from their burrow. The gentle dragging of branches into place is nearly inaudible. There are both grinding & scraping sounds. All are very slow & deliberate. It is amazing, & a little unsettling, knowing they are so close & sharing the bank with me. The sound of small trees being felled across the water is done in such a way as to be nearly silent. Beavers truly do live up to their reputation of being "shy & reclusive". I love the challenge of watching them & feel honored when I am blessed to do so.


I can only make this image out when it is sized to full screen & I am sitting in a darkened room. I sized it larger than usual in hopes of sharing with you some of night's beauty on the lake. (It would be amazing if printed to it's original size of 38"x 50.33"!) To my surprise, this post-dusk image appears to have captured a beaver! Holding the camera steady, propped between my knees, took much of my attention... but, what looks like a beaver appears in only once in a series of 18. Perhaps he broke the surface, & upon seeing me, slipped silently back under, undetected as my eye was drawn to a shimmering silver wake farther out. This is the 2nd to last photo & the only one with the darkened silhouette. The shot that follows has a shadowed wake. Though unseen by my eye, my camera seems to have captured him !

* (Please keep her in prayer as she faces life-changing eye surgery on Monday.)

Impressionist Watch

Sunday evening, as the sun began it's descent in the west, I headed east. I stood in the open air, away from the forest, watching the sky. It was absolutely a glorious show !!! I stood in the middle of the street, transfixed. So many passed by with barely a glance...but I saved a wee taste for you.


As the colors receded to the west, I headed that direction. The lake was positively rich in hue !!!! I shot the sky as it lit up orange & pink behind the autumn foliage, & still on long after the trees were but silhouettes. Years of checking my loathed watch have paid off. I headed to the landing at just the right moment. I sat but 5 minutes in rapt awe of the changing sky & water, when the beaver silently swam out before me !!!! Awesome end to a fantabulous weekend !!!!

Weekend of Wonders

When I finally arrived home Friday, it was dusk. I climbed out of my car & headed for the trash can. The recycle bin stood between & directly before me. Without warning, a black shadow leapt up, literally causing me to cry out in alarm. He had been completely hidden inside the bin as he licked at the empty cans of soup. Young, hungry & alone, he slept in our carport that night. Little did we know, he had finally found his home. Investigation with neighbors concluded that he was dumped off up on the highway. Long story, short: brother Wesley has a new puppy! How hilariously joyful it is to watch this one bound around & make friends !...So uplifting !!! A new, next-door neighbor !


We said farewell to soccer season & basketball season began. The sky was rich, "Carolina Blue" & dappled with large, cummula-cirrus clouds. Above shows the backdrop for the first practice. Needless top say, I had a difficult time watching my son play...Bit, I did some hawk watching, while below & out of this shot, geese & ducks honked away!!!


I went to my first pig-picking. A woman clad in prison tattoos & I watched the sun & clouds as they changed colors. Many people may have avoided her because of her looks, but she witnessed to me. We gazed out over the pond, watching the "long light" of evening play on the leaves. As I pointed out the changing hues she repeatedly pointed to the clouds & dreamily said, "THAT ! Is a little piece of what heaven's going to be like". Hallelujah!

Autumn Mist

Leaving for home on Friday, I started my van, then paused...the sky was overcast and the evening light was a great setting for the near-fluorescent maples that were bursting with joyful praise. One of my favorite songs, "Drowned" by Chasen, was playing on the radio. I cranked it up, grabbed my camera & headed across the parking lot on foot. I shot a hundred or so images in the fading light, before heading home. It was awesome !
The autumn color is just truly, coming in & I stopped 2 more times on the 3 1/2 mile ride home. As I approached my turn into the neighborhood, the lake view stopped me. I pulled onto the side of the bridge. Keeping an eye in the rear-view mirror, I slowly coasted back towards the middle of the span. Heels or not, I waited for a break in traffic, grabbed the Olympus & ran across towards the dam. As I shot, cars & even trucks traveling over 50 m.p.h. rumbled & shook the pavement beneath me. It was absolutely exhilarating ! The middle school & maple shots took their toll. I captured very few images before my batteries gave out. For some reason, traffic was picking up & I felt a little too vulnerable to stay for replacement batteries in the rapidly fading light. The river view behind me also had a beautiful mist rising amongst yellow foliage. It was awesome, inspiring, scary-in-a-good-way & uplifting !!!! but, in all honesty...the real reason I stopped, was to share this with you.


[To get your bearings, my home is to the far right out of these shots. The landing & little cove where I typically "watch" are to the right as well. The second shot shows the far tip of Beaver Point & this is the view up river of the lake.]

Wednesdays

Wednesday is not my favorite day of the week. Yesterday was to be a particularly long one. As you know, the day began with uplifting star-gazing. I didn't want to lose the positive momentum as I faced classes all day, a staff meeting followed by mountains of homework. At the end of my first class, I called out, "Have a great weekend!" The kids replied in unison, "But, it's only Wednesday!"...."Yeah, but let's pretend it's Friday. Doesn't that make you feel better?" After a pause they replied in one voice, "Have a great weekend!". They left with big smiles on their faces...I carried that out throughout all of my classes with the same reaction. One more day to go until we have "home days"...HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!