739. staying power

walking the “ruffer”

is often a test of wills

“ruffer” is tougher  🦊❤️

When I walk Ruffer he always carries his tennis ball. He has been playing a game of dropping his ball, sitting beside it and when I walk toward him and get close, he will quickly and adeptly pick up the ball and continue to walk. Last evening as a thunder storm approached I decided to stand my ground and wait him out. Well after 10 minutes I looked at the sky filling with black clouds. Then I looked at Ruffer’s eyes watching me watching the clouds… I walked toward him… he picked up the ball… he walked merrily along… I guess Ruffer doesn’t worry about impending thunderstorms! Lol 🦊❤️

 

738. perpetual oasis

there’s an oasis

well… just barely a puddle

but squirrels think it’s grand  🦊❤️

For years I’ve been keeping an eye on a little hollowed out cavity at the base of a small tree. It’s almost always filled with water regardless of the weather. It is an oasis for squirrels, chipmunks, bugs, etc. I really enjoy these little hidden treasures of the trails. It is also fun sharing them on this blog. 🦊❤️

737. the last voyage

a ship of yellow

lighted on a sea of green

floating never more  🦊❤️

Everyone remembers that split second when the helium balloon they were holding suddenly escaped from their grasp and floated toward the heavens. It went up, up, up up and started its journey to who knows where. When I spot one of  these vagabonds at their journey’s end I feel a touch of sadness that their journey of a lifetime has finally come to an end. 🦊❤️

 

736. facing the music

when you plunk the strings

your face reveals their deepness

your eyes close to see 🦊❤️

I was at an art fair yesterday. There was a great jazz ensemble playing. I’ve seen them perform before. Equally as wonderful as hearing their music was watching their faces as they performed. Their level of communication with themselves, each other and their music as displayed by their faces while playing was awesome. I stood alone at the gazebo railing and got lost in “all that jazz” 🦊❤️

 

735. winston

how his eyes lit up

when he saw her head his way

not a jimmy fell  🦊❤️

 

What a wonderful time I had watching Winston calmly and meticulously eating a frozen custard with jimmies. He was being treated by his “grandparents” who took real delight in spoiling him. Was a nice way to spend time on a hot summer night!! 🦊❤️
 

734. merry go round in my mind

standing way down here

looking all the way up there

all so dizzying 🦊❤️

Sometimes I just stop and look at what I am surrounded by and it makes my head spin with wonder.  🦊❤️

 

733. strength in closeness

family of fungi

grandma and gramps - mom and dad

mary and jimmy 🦊❤️

Fungi are pretty delicate things.  Yet… this family of fungi standing close together in the barren emptiness sure looked strong to me. Now some will say, “But Danny, not everyone has a family. This will make them feel bad. ” Then I say, “Family is what you say it is. Family is who you choose to stand close to.”  The scene spoke to me on many levels.  🦊❤️