the ocean

here everyone takes it for granted.

but i know, the great huge pacific

lurks behind the pretty houses and the good restaurants and 

yes,

even this university,

the ocean

where sea serpents and huge weird swimming things

can spring up

arc through the air

and yep, disappear into a dream.

i have only seen glimpses

except the window looks from the plane

dense, fecund, dark and so

beautiful.

maybe i will have 

the least little chance

to put my toes into

the cold salty richness.

~~~

first there was the country's center

where i took no pictures

then montana

or so says my iphoto

 and then the great blue thing

 no mistaking it for lake country

 i have a tiny dorm room

overlooking a parking lot

 i have two dear ones

now in the flesh

persons made real after being etherial 

dear jean and bryan

 and a bombing 

(yarn)

that took place in the student union.

the university of victoria

in the not so but still far away.

where i have the privilege to teach shifu

to amazing and talented students.

preparations, thinking and doing

nourishing terrains has captured my imagination

and i parallel it with braiding sweetgrass

and i unearthed this book while packing and prepping.

i imagine there may still be places where you can see paintings

that look to me like dreamings

having grown up near the great lakes

instead of my family's west virginia mountains

i feel a connection

ochre.

and now i remember climbing around in the red shale

of the niagara river gorge.

there's even a checkerboard

and a map

oh, love this one rich with imagery

and yet these are drawings of originals

i'm getting tidy here

almost

really

outside robin takes advantage

of a big driveway puddle

and this, this is a photo 

of the rock surface

taken 60 years ago

how lichen is changing the dream.

 this dream 

  my boat here is a pasture.

 where grows poor (wo)man's asparagus

that i didn't harvest

because it's needed by other ones soon.

 and on my morning walk i passed three

barefoot amish boys 

stairstep sized, on their way

perhaps

to sunday church.

my church will be instead

the songbirds

finishing the packing

thinking of the words and love of friends

and family and my love,

as i prepare to rise tomorrow morning

at three or so

to meet the plane in ottawa

for victoria.

this day

at the place i call home

where i get to spend more and more time

my love has set up two trail cams

so we can see what the animals are up to.

last night i went through over 700 photos and found a handful of gems.

coyote, porcupine, raccoon, fox, deer, raven, crow

most photos are night taken, they're back and white with bright eye dots.

but then there is this magnificent doe.

 a precious gift.

today is my son ian's birthday.

my solstice child.

here is an image of one of his recent drawings.

he loves to draw home.

solstice today in the north country is cool

stormy skies with strong sunshine peeking through

the birds keep happy and busy.

a happy solstice to you!

all the things

this morning:

four snapping turtles

one walking, two laying eggs, and one road killed

two whitetail yearling does

one kingfisher

one mourning dove

two crows

on the way to my house from Home.

at my house i have a big trip to get ready for:

Victoria, British Columbia: Seattle and Tacoma Washington.

books to sew

paper and supplies to wrap.

organization to attempt.

here's one of a pair of osprey we spotted on vacation

sublime pie in machias

and terrific haddock and clams

 a road killed subject for the sketchbook

 at pbi i met so many remarkable people.

 two young book artists 

had work that moved me deeply

michelle moode and woody leslie

 this is michelle's book 
PARTICULAR

she made the paper and printed it letterpress

it starts quietly and builds

 and builds

 the index

and woody's book 

Words and Vegetables

 this one tickles me

type plays with story and with space

 and this book

parsley

 more typographic play with story integral to that play.

 and I have been reading 

 this book is a long essay about aboriginal ways of living 

how different their relationship to land is compared to the conquerors

a story familiar, like the one here.

only that land is so much more fragile than north america. 

Nourishing Terrains and Braiding Sweetgrass are rich resources 
for my pondering.

 and here is, again, a turtle,

from nourishing terrains in australia

but seen, 
this time of year
 hereabouts on sandy roadsides, 
diligently laying eggs.

some of the things

what i did on my summer vacation:

well, 

it was this first time i've had a vacation in years!

i played with a (moody) mermaid

walked on water with said mermaid and her friends

and then, oh then there was this place:

schoodic.

 we were chilled on a hot day

and spray-soaked 

and thrilled. like summiting a peak

but better.

the ocean danced with huge rocks

holding fast to the edge.

and our glasses were salt-streaked

my hair another creature completely

we fell in love.

 two days later i met llewyn

on a morning after a sleepless night for his folks

i got his attention for a little bit.

 somehow a new baby becomes

all babies

and you remember your stories

while living this new one.

i'm happy to be more fluent over here

in the blogger of my choice

but will remind all of you dear ones

that you can find my more official self 

at the other place on square space.

that's where books will be sold and events tracked and 

maybe, 

some day, 

a few new things.