storming

all around the north country

wild 

clouds, snow, wind

 it started out cold and strangely golden 

early just after dawn

and the clouds were strange colors.

 i spotted two ends of a snowbow

 as i drove down the amish road.

 all day we heard stories of 

blizzard-like conditions nearby

(lake ontario)

and on the other big lake

(lake erie)

 so i drove home with courage and a high glorious joy

hoping to avoid whiteouts,

relieved to be going home to warm up the house

for whatever weather arrives.

and on the road

a pair of snow buntings

 they are back

  having traveled south for the winter.

i soon saw a flock

gathered on the gravel shoulders.

 there were some prints last night

i used up the last of the late fall harvests

before the snow came.

 and here, 

back home,

there's a snow dance

a crazy little spiral in our four inches or so.

recent events

 aimee is in korea

and this is what she found at her teacher's place. 

a traditional covering

 for the wood pile.

here, folks use old paper machine felts,

tin roofing, old scrap siding

no plaited straw.

 two days off this week, 

i made prints

on paper.
 and residual and accidental prints

on peony and gingko leaves

in the backyard

it's looking bleak.

we had wintertime come to visit

after indian summer-67 degrees-

on tuesday

 the cold blew in

taking down leaves and seed fluff

 making my heart

sad with november

 school was tough tough tough.

but on friday

two old students came by to visit,

and all is well with them.

such great news 

the only good news this school year.

 peeping in the old barn's doors

more bad news

i just wish this place

could be re-furbished.

 i visited a dear friend today

she just celebrated her birthday

i'm in my 90th year, she said,
89 is a venerable age.

this quilt might be that age 

or older

being finally used

to cover the machine from chicken roosting.

some maps

 

mapping a book 

ink and lokta

 mapping friendship

 map of a flea market

 and knowledge!

 and a body map 

i love these mannikins

 complete with many foldouts

a different sort of centerfold!

a forester's map 

a timber cruiser's? 

 i've found some local bits--

long lake is mentioned 

 a rose map

 the second try at a big map

a hortus siccus.

 both home places,

old and new

their gifts both here.

a full sheet.

LARGE

 now i want to go and weave something.

but first, 

i went out to gather some sumac

and wasn't mindful

until i cut my palm with my felco's.

there was blood, but not enough for a stitch.

i was reminded to thank the sumac

the hard way.

it's important to remember one's obligations.

winter song

 i was startled today

looking at inside and outside

seeing 

how nature can be reflected in work

how it is all connected

how, when you learn to get out of the way,

remember,

something rich happens

i don't know how it happened,

really,

but sometimes i can say

without words

look at this!

that's when i have something to say

really

when it's not me talking at all.

but i do, indeed have plenty to say

talk talk talk talk talk...

it's when i shut up,

a dog brays down the hill,

at the coyotes playing tricks 

up here behind the meadows.

colors start to sing their winter song.

and snow mixes it up with rain and sun.

sometimes

sometimes the camera captures what you don't see

rainbow orbs 

as the sun peeps through

one or twice in a dreary

colder week.

looks like the planting farmer

was playing crosswords or cross hairs

or crossseeds

 clouds visit the neighbor's low spot

 and make patterns and games,

i resist running through.

 a walker left this behind.

i wonder why?

my 80something year old friend

scornfully says people are sucking on their bottles

even before going for a little explore

 into the woods

probably in preparation

for hunting 

 i am glad this land makes it difficult 

to find her bounty

 i decided to give these yellow wild ones a taste

often the wildlings are not delicious

 but this one was.

it barely lasted though, so i couldn't take it to school.

to share the perfect sweetness.

it's november now

and the bones of the land are beginning to show

before that white downy coat

hides it all away.

happy deep fall to you.

hunker down, warm your hands

and consider the year that's gone by.