Continue reading

Continue reading

Faithful. Hard-working. Never complained. All these things could be said about him…and more. A long time veteran of both commercial work and domestic ironing, he was found unresponsive this morning. Attempts to revive him by cord palpation were unsuccessful. He had emergency cord replacement surgery two years ago and seemed to be doing fine. Just goes to show how uncertain life can be. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to The National Institute of Replacement Cords. A private interment ceremony is planned. Continue reading

Farewell after a "Craft Lecture" "Fair winds. Go forth. Save up little pieces that escape other people--your dreams, the side glances your irresponsible mind makes, snatches of talk, whiffs from encounters. Pick up the gleanings. And remember to be on guard against the routines you think you know, the forced commitments that you shun questioning. Be careful of 'craft.' " "The Answers Are Inside the Mountains" ~ William Stafford Continue reading

The elderly man had a rather blank aspect, much like the elderly woman, ten years his senior, visited the week previously. But, slowly, the elderly man was able to respond aptly. Sadly, his senior counterpart, appeared to have no understanding of responses to her questions. ~ larry p ~ Watering... Continue reading

We had the Spring Studio Show reception yesterday afternoon at Barbara Haack's "Barberry Hill Pottery" gallery. Barbara's display space looked so great with all her beautiful pottery out on the shelves. The day was a success for Gathering Change. It was a day of unrelenting grace for me. Almost too much to bear really. So many friends and neighbors took time out of their Saturday afternoon to come by, see the pics, and generously support Gathering Change, Inc. by purchasing an image or two. Some folks travelled great distances to attend. One person even incarnated out of the ether of... Continue reading

Scientists recorded atmospheric carbon dioxide of 400 parts per million in Mauna Loa, Hawaii Apparently, the last time CO2 levels were this high was eight million years ago, about the time when the Himalayas were being shoved up into the heavens. In other news - Bumper sticker seen on a rusty green Dodge Ram 4X4 pickup idling unattended outside a local hardware store - "Happily burning the fuel saved by your Prius." My species has officially become Nicolas Cage's character in Leaving Las Vegas. Not much left to do here but grab a shady spot, crack a frosty bottle of... Continue reading

"...I'm ready to start living it good. You know, my daddy always told me it's gonna get a lot worse before it gets better. You know, cos life ain't supposed to be that hard when you're young. Well, I figure after this the worst is gonna be gone. It's time for things to get better. That's what I want. That's what's gonna happen. I'm getting older now. By no means old, but older. Where is it that we were together?" ~ The Thin Red Line - Terrence Mallick ~ Continue reading

It's late in the day. Shadows reach out for me. Continue reading

Continue reading

Doff spied Beatrix out the front window this afternoon. You'd think that a grass-loving bunny and Doff (an animal lover AND a grass lover) would be besties. Such is not the case, unfortunately. One of them loves grass a little too much. And so for Beatrix, it will be strictly a lunch-on-the-go or snack-n-run type of arrangement for the rest of the summer, with Doff knocking on the picture window, calling out to Beatrix from the front steps, or otherwise shooing her away from her lush green buffet. Continue reading

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has... Continue reading

A fat robin stands on the grass-less plot, north of the front walk. He is motionless, like a like a statue, perhaps watching me pretend to mow tufts at the bottom of my barren yard. So long as I confine my activity below the mid-yard maple tree, he is content... Continue reading

The pictures went up this weekend. What follows is a stop motion recording of the hanging. The pictures will be on display during the Spring Studio Show at Barbara Haack's Barberry Hill Pottery Studio, 102 Main St, West Newbury MA. May 10-12, 2013 11:00am-5:00pm Reception is Saturday May 11, 2-5pm. (Hope to see you all there). 100% of proceeds from the sale of my photographs will go to Gathering Change, Inc in support of Community Service of Newburyport. Thanks to Barbara Haack for generously allowing me to show my work in her lovely space. Barbara will have her beautiful ceramics... Continue reading

Before this is lost to the winds of forgetfulness - As told to me by my Teacher: Long ago there was an Emperor who wanted to host an opulent banquet. He invited dignitaries from all across the land. He invited the kingdom's most revered Zen Master to be the guest of honor. When the invitation arrived at the Zen Master's hermitage, he gathered his spare set of robes, his begging bowl and his staff with the six jangly rings on it, and set off for the celebration. After many days of walking, the Zen Master arrived at the gates to... Continue reading

Continue reading

Continue reading

Continue reading

That sign is at the border of the Parker River Wildlife Refuge and Sandy Point State Park on Plum Island. It's an example of a beneficial exclusion. This sign helps to prevent humans from encroaching on Piping Plover (an endangered species) nesting sites. There are plenty of other instances of beneficial exclusion - excluding bacteria from an operating room - excluding visitors from the core of a nuclear reactor - excluding people who are not skilled at flying from being airline pilots. On and on and on.. Many times beneficial exclusions are aimed at protecting the life and limb of... Continue reading

Continue reading

The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised. Make the smallest distinction, however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinion for or against. The struggle of what one likes and what one dislikes is the disease of the mind. "Hsin-Hsin Min" - Sosan 3rd Zen Patriarch At the Cathedral yesterday, it was as if Sosan Dae Sa - the great Zen Patriarch came back to life, climbed to the podium, thumped his... Continue reading

Creeping road salt and neglect have rendered the lawn nearly devoid of life. But not quite: one still sees odd green tufts here and there, tufts which, I'm told, are unsightly. Mowing the desultory tufts, in company with the Red Sox, I notice that my neighbor is teaching his week-end... Continue reading

"In My Place" ~ Coldplay~ In my place, in my place Were lines that I couldn't change I was lost, oh yeah I was lost, I was lost Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed I was lost, oh yeah Yeah, how long must you wait for it? Yeah, how long must you pay for it? Yeah, how long must you wait for it, oh, for it? I was scared, I was scared Tired and under-prepared But I'll wait for it If You go, if You go Leave me down here on my own Then I'll wait for You, yeah. Yeah,... Continue reading

Doff spied a couple of female deer this morning. They were down in the little inlet across the street, wading in the shallows, alternating between sipping the water and nibbling on low hanging green leaf buds. In time they ambled up to the sidewalk. I knocked on the window and one turned toward us long enough for me to capture a grainy image of her with my point-n-shoot. In our part of town, deer are still enough of a novelty that the sight of them is something to get excited about. In other parts of town, they have ravaged shrubbery... Continue reading

8MM FP Faceted Iridescent Clear Czech Glass Beads 8MM FP Faceted Light Sapphire Blue Czech glass Beads Nickel Silver Madonna Center Nickel Silver Crucifix Continue reading