Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

In Joyful remembrance

Carole Davis, my friend and a fellow rvr passed from this life to the next yesterday afternoon. From her daughter:

It is with both sadness and joy that I write to you today. My mother, Carole Davis, passed away this afternoon at 1:30 after struggling this last year with a terminal illness, ALS. She went in for a tracheotomy about 2 weeks ago to help with her breathing and, while there, found that she also had an advanced form of lung cancer. She held on until she was transported to a beautiful, warm nursing home at which time she took her last breath and died peacefully.

Please join me in rejoicing in her life and in all the wonderful ways in which she touched us all.

I had the privilege and fun of meeting Carole a little over a year ago at an rv gathering. We had “met” in our group chat room and via bulletin board posts prior. Carole was as much fun in person as she was through her posts. After the gathering we remained in touch via email. She was a strong and honest encourager of my photography, writing and my life in Montana. She also shared the difficulty of this last year as her health deteriorated. I am thankful that her passing was peaceful and thankful for the ways she touched my life.

Truly, in joyful remembrance.

***The main photo was taken in Rockport, Texas, from the dock at the RV Park where we gathered. The superimposed photo of Carole was taken one night when we were all together for dinner. January, 2008.

Soft morning light

First thing in the morning, I flip on the front outside spot as fair warning to the outdoor wild things that us indoor wild things will be making an appearance soon. As I walk through the house, I turn on a few low lamps – just enough light to navigate by as I start coffee, fire up the woodstove, feed the cat – the morning routine.

That first cup of coffee and I, followed by Karl, begin the morning with quiet reflection from a loved old wingback chair in the sunroom. The sunroom is a small bump on the end of the house, off the kitchen. My desk sits beneath the front-side window. From the wingback chair, I can see through the back slider into a living room window… and out the other sunroom windows, the trees illuminated by the outdoor spot.

This morning, the view of Bob and the trees covered with snow, made me grateful once again for a fresh new day.

And this new, soft snow? – Beautiful always, but especially so in the soft morning light.

It’s not always pretty

It is not always pretty from the front porch…

It has been above freezing for several days and nights. The snow is melting and shrinking but what is left is a slushy, puddly, icy mess. The snow is covered with pine needles and sticks. It is not pretty.

Bob ventured out to see what he could see. He didn’t notice his reflection. He was too busy looking for bubbles. (Bob and Bubbles)

When the outside view is not at its best, I look for something pretty inside.

On my kitchen window sill: the single red rose and lilies I bought almost 2 weeks ago and what is left of the live basil after making pesto last weekend. The lilies are in a vase that was hand painted by my grandmother Ruth. And I had a little Photoshop fun with a watercolor filter.

the last laugh

Sunday morning was absolutely beautiful – bright blue sky, not a cloud to be seen and the temperature which started at a cold 18 had risen to 30 by 10:30. I thought it was a perfect day for another try for a “Karl and Me” photo. I didn’t have the tripod, but spotted a stump that held the camera…and another in a good spot for a focus point.

Karl and Me – Take 1:

My “mark” was about 20 feet from the camera. As I ran for my spot, Karl started following thinking it was a game. But then he stopped. Not quite. Try again – I put Karl in a stay…

Karl and Me – Take 2:

Ok, we are both here – look at the camera Karl! No, I give you a kiss!

Karl and Me – Take 3:

This has to do – I’m done.

Karl’s reaction

I think this is Karl’s version of ROFLMAO…

15 minutes

On the way home from a Friday trip to the dentist AND a walk by the lake with Karl, I noticed a sign in a new Bigfork floral shop that said “SALE”. I had been thinking about getting some flowers to try floral macro photography. I forgot that it was the day before Valentines Day.

The shop owner and her partner were madly assembling red rose arrangements. They looked at me with harried faces and I told them what I had come for, but that I could come back on Monday when things were not so hectic. They laughed and said, “No!”. They said they could use a break from roses and spent 15 minutes helping me pick 4 flowers and yacking with me about flowers, photography, winter and life in general. And regardless of the glut of red roses in the shop, I couldn’t resist buying one – the buds were beautiful.

I had great fun putting two photos of the rose together for the An Abstraction post. And the light was best on the floor so I had the help of Bob and Karl… I love the color of the Gerber Daisy closeup which reminds me of creamsicles. But I won’t be giving up walking outside and capturing those things that I love and that are part of my life and will save the macro mostly for those things that I see and find.

I used to have fresh flowers in the house most of the time. I’m not sure when I stopped doing that, but I will start again. And, it was such fun in the flower shop. They asked me to bring prints to show them. So, although floral macro might not be my thing, I made new friends and rediscovered the pleasure of flowers in the house.

15 minutes.