1600. the stillness of black and white

 

the wind and the snow

combine forces to create

a black and white scene 🦊❤️

Winter is a time that the essence of stillness and quiet can be experienced more powerfully.  A layer of snow on a winter landscape turns up quiet’s volume even higher.  All becomes like black and white… simple and calming.  🦊❤️

1599. green with envy

 

all is brown and bare

except the climbing ivy

clinging to its green 🦊❤️

There is no better place than the woods to observe and appreciate the contrasts in nature as the seasons unfold. In the midst of the cold, crunchy and bare trails of winter the climbing ivy clings not only to the trees but to its greenness.  🦊❤️

1598. glowing geese

 

through the frigid air

a squadron of geese sail by

lit by the sunset 🦊❤️

Another goose post!!!! I love watching geese fly directly overhead around sunset. The glow of the setting sun illuminates the bird’s undersides. Although yesterday’s capture was not as brilliant as others I've seen, it was still beautiful and awe inspiring.   🦊❤️

1597. a fly on the wall

 

two young men

breakfasting at chick-fil-a

hard not to eavesdrop 🦊❤️

I heard that Chick-fil-a had great coffee so I went there very early to give it a try.  The restaurant was empty, there was nice soft music playing and I thought, “Ahhhh this is nice!”  It was then that two young men sat in the booth immediately next to me. “All these empty seats and you have to sit there?” I thought. They talked and talked, but at a volume that I could not follow their conversation. I soon became impressed with their level of engagement with each other and the attentive listening that they exhibited. I sipped my excellent cup of coffee and thought how refreshing it was to see two young people actually having a face to face conversation. When they got up to leave, they meticulously picked up all of the wrappers and even small bits of debris from their table. I sat there for a few moments after they left and thought about the movie “Paterson” where the main character, a bus driver in Paterson NJ would become fascinated with the conversations that went on between passengers. If you haven’t seen the movie - look it up. You’ll see what I mean.  🦊❤️ 

1596. reflecting on slowness

 

koi swim sleepily

snowflakes touch down on their pond 

a dreamy first snow 🦊❤️

Yesterday, because of the snow,  I drove Yulan to her the retirement community where she teaches a yoga class. As she showed me around the facility, we passed a window that looked out into a koi pond where the fish were moving very slowly due to the cold temperatures. Big snowflakes were falling and it made for a beautiful scene. 

As I watched Yulan teach her class I was moved by her caring teaching style. I thought about the Koi swimming ever so slowly in the cold water as I watched the slow and effort laden movements of the residents as they tried to replicate Yulan’s movements.  I thought about who the people were and what their lives were like before moving into the facility. I felt a knot form in my throat as I watched from afar. 🦊❤️

1595. christmas tree blues

 

christmas time is past

festive lights boxed till next year

once proud tree - put out 🦊❤️

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Christmas trees  after the holiday is over.  There is a sadness in seeing them “put out” to the curb. Occasionally a forgotten ornament or some strands of tinsel remain on the tree as a reminder of  the holiday fun now over.  🦊❤️

159. outside our bubble

 

beyond snow filled clouds

outer space remains the same

outside our bubble 🦊❤️

1594. kiss me kate

 

to a play we went

intermission came… we left

did the shrew get tamed? 🦊❤️

Yulan got us tickets to see “Kiss Me Kate” that was at a local playhouse.  It was a grand old theater with not a bad seat in the house.  I am not well versed in Shakespeare and have only attended maybe a handful of plays  in my life and that includes high school plays. I had no idea what was happening on stage. Everyone was laughing and chuckling at what was unfolding on stage. I thought, “What am I missing?”   I hung in there to honor Yulan’s excitement about going and also the money she dished out. I was surprised when she looked at me at the start of intermission and said, “I wouldn’t mind at all if we left now!”  We left.  We discussed our thoughts on the performance as we drove home. My biggest question was, “Did the shrew get tamed?” 🦊❤️

1593. “a phoenix of sorts”

 

a beech tree’s remains

slowly melt into the earth

new life rises up 🦊❤️

The latest painting in my Wissahickon Wonders Series is titled “A Phoenix of Sorts”. It is an acrylic work that is 36”x24”. It is my interpretation of the remains of a beech tree whose state of decay reminds me of a raging fire.  It is as if it is melting into the earth - which it is.  Its disintegrating substance penetrates the soil and fuels new life which in turn fuels new life.  I struggled with this painting for almost a year and slowly I was able to paint what I wanted to convey. I want to thank my friend Rob who planted the word “phoenix” into my mind when he saw it much earlier in the process. I hope you enjoy the work. 🦊❤️  

1592. pi in my eye

 

they say it’s all math

simply one grand numbers scheme

three point one four one……..🦊❤️

While hiking yesterday I was hit in the face with a pi. No not a cream pie, the 3.141……… pi.  It was formed by three fallen trees on the side of the trail. Some folks say “everything is math”.  In this case, they may be right. 🦊❤️

1591. winter contrast

 

bright golden grasses

lackluster winter trees… drab

a stunning contrast 🦊❤️

Yesterday during our hike through the trails we were both struck by the golden grasses that were blowing wildly in the meadow.  The sun was hitting them perfectly to highlight their brilliance.  What a contrast to the surrounding trees, standing drab and bare as they looked on in envy at the golden grasses.  🦊❤️

1590. happy new year

 

another year ends

not a mark on the canvas

a new year to paint 🦊❤️

Another new year’s day.  A day like every other, but not really.  The end of a complete journey around the sun and the start of the next.  A painting completed, framed and hung.    A fresh canvas waiting for this new year’s marks to be applied. Happy Painting. Happy New Year. 🦊❤️