Georgia O'Keefe's mountain

As so often happens when I looked through my pictures this evening, 

I came across pictures of Ghost Ranch. 

A picture of "Georgia O'Keefe's mountain" spoke to me. 

The colors and the time of year, I think. 

This was taken in October of 2009.

 

For some reason, I played with the picture using iPhoto.

I suspect that with a better program I could have preserved some of the texture in the foreground.

Still, it is an intriguing view.

See you along the Trail.

Contrasts

 

Looking through some digital photographs, 

I came upon this one of moon and trees.

Someday I may say something profound about this image. 

For the moment I simply ponder and revel the contrasts it contains.

The photo was taken on October 26, 2009 at Ghost Ranch.

See you along the Trail.

2 September 2011

Shire on the Hudson

Going or coming?

Do you ever wonder:

"Am I coming

or

am I going?"

2 September 2011

Shire on the Hudson

Storm sentinel

During the recent visit of Hurricane Irene

to New York and 

the Shire on the Hudson,

one of the possible outcomes was 

the loss of power.

Contemplating this possibility,

it seemed a good thing to have

one light that would be left in the on position

should the power go off

so that it would come on

providing a reminder that the power had been restored.

This night light was what chosen.

When I fell asleep it was lit;

when I awoke it was lit.

Faithful sentinel of the storm.

2 September 2011

Shire on the Hudson

A home

 

It is reported that, 

upon being named the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers,

Chuck Noll was asked why he thought he could

reverse the team's losing ways.

Noll responded calmly 

and carefully that losing

or winning

is not a matter of geography.

Home is as much a state of being,

a feeling of belonging

as it is a place, a geographical location.

The Trail is home.

But there are places that serve as home to us.

Because of who is there or who has been there,

because of what we have experienced there,

they have a hold on us; they are home.

Sometimes the trail Trail leads to such places;

sometimes the Trail leads home.

Or at least to one

of several homes.

17 June 2010

The Shire near the Ohio

Louisville, KY

96th street station before Irene

 

Not sure when I took this one - might have been back in July on my way home from preaching at Church of the Covenant. It seems appropriate to post this one tonight. Tomorrow around noon the MTA is suspending service in anticipation of Hurricane Irene - or Tropical Storm Irene - or whatever may come our way.

Rainbow over Oahu

Unexpected vistas appear,

unforeseen opportunities arise,

surprises occur,

grace abounds.

For a number of minutes,

I chased this rainbow 

along the H1 on Oahu.

"Dad, there is a reason

the University of Hawai'i 

calls their teams 

the Rainbow Warriors,"

Eric patiently explained.

30 October 2006

Honolulu, Hawai'i  

Warning

Sometimes change comes with warning;

sometimes not.

30 October 2006

Honolulu, Hawai'i

Helping each other persevere

Sometimes others help us meet the challenges our journeys pose.

To reach the top of Diamond Head, one must climb this staircase.

When I visited Eric, during one of the years he attended Hawai'i Pacific, he insisted that he accompany me when I went to visit Diamond Head. At the top, I realized why. Had I gone alone, I would have turned back - on more than one occasion - including the moment I looked up these steps. But with Eric along, and feeling my responsibility for his experience, I persevered.

28 October 2006
Diamond Head State Monument
Honolulu, Hawai'i

Water moved

As a child growing up on Front River Road on Neville Island, I used to watch the boats in the Ohio River. I only had to pass through my front door and walk across the lawn before I would arrive near the banks of the Ohio. There I would ponder the river and and wonder who was in the boat, where they were going and where they had been and why.

Barges would pass by the island carrying I knew not what. My lack of knowledge made it easy to invent tales of daring and adventure.  

The water of the Ohio moved. And much moved with it: floating branches, fish, waterfowl, ice in spring, and commerce. Recreational boats used the water. It carried pollution visible and invisible. 

The river had power to transport and destructive power as well. It flooded. It claimed life, not often, but it did happen.

Living in Louisville as an adult brought me back to the Ohio. While I did not spend the time on its banks as I did when a child, I experienced comfort and joy knowing the river flowed near my home.

I have returned to Neville Island a couple of times. While much has changed both in reality and from my childhood memories, the Ohio River with its power, grace, and mystery remains.

14 August 2011
Cincinnati, Ohio

Guide and comfort

Alone we follow,
with a map as
a guide
and a beverage as
a comfort.

5 July 2011
Hornbeck Homestead
Florissant Fossil Beds 
National Monument
Colorado 

Span

Some rivers we follow,
some rivers we ford,
some rivers we span.

1 April 2011
Queensboro Bridge
New York City

Weather on the trail

Sun
rain
sleet
hail
snow
all forms of weather
greet us on the trail

21 February 2011
New York City

Buses and the trail

The wheels on the bus
go round
and round
taking us
along the trail.

6 November 2010
New York City

Sailing on the trail

Propelled by human hands,
driven by engines,
riding on the wind,
boats take us along the trail.

November 6, 2010
from the
Staten Island Ferry

Waterways

Waterways have served as the trail through the ages.

Growing up on an island in the Ohio River and now living on an island, water trails carry deep meaning for me.

1 September 2010
North Platte River
Edness K. Wilkens State Park
Wyoming

Into the distance

We may only be able to view a part of the trail; it may disappear into the distance.

April 2010
Colombia 

Well marked

Sometimes, someone has marked the trail well. It is used and easy to follow.

January 2009
Stones River National Battlefield

Friendship

The picture is from a couple of years back. I could say it is a bit old, but I realize that would mean that I am a bit older.

I believe this picture was taken by Tiffany Gonzales at a party at her house. Football might have been involved.

What is most important at this moment - is that friendship is definitely involved.

My friend Irene recently endured a very hateful incident. She has had the grace and courage and faith and hope and trust to share her pain and process her pain publicly on Facebook.

A number of her friends have responded with statements of support, long-distance hugs, and prayers. Tonight I decided that, in addition to my words, I would post this picture of Irene and me.

I am honored and grateful to be her friend. I give thanks for Irene and for all who share this journey with me.

See you along the Trail.

An era ends

Friends once commented that I have some amazing pictures of sunrises at Ghost Ranch. I had to correct them.

I have no amazing pictures of Ghost Ranch sunrises - no drab pictures of Ghost Ranch sunrises - I simply have no pictures of any sort of Ghost Ranch sunrises.

I do have a number of pictures of sunsets at Ghost Ranch including this one from the summer of 2008 - some folks may think some of them are nice pictures.

I post this picture today because Eric is on his way home from the ranch. He has completed his fourth year on the College Staff. He and friends drove to Tulsa yesterday; he flies to Cleveland tomorrow.

The summers at the ranch have been times of great joy and a good, good learning experience for him. I was able to get to see him three of the years he was there - actually I was able to be there for two weeks during two of those summers.

However, since he is scheduled to graduate in December, this will be his last summer - at least as a member of the college staff. And that brings some tugging at my heart strings. I am sure I will be back to the ranch - it seems likely that Eric will be back to the ranch - there are possibilities that we may be there together sometime.

But . . . an era has ended . . . life, as life always does, moves on. And as the sun sets on this part of life, I dab a tear, give thanks for what was, cherish the memories, and look forward to what the next sunrise brings (even though it will be well into the sky before this night owl sees it).

See you along the Trail.