Further-From Below

In some places the sky seems so huge, much bigger than the land. As with earth processes, we have to look for the effects of that which we cannot see.

Looking up at these mammatus clouds at sunrise, I was transfixed. I felt small and humanly vulnerable, excited and wild. It seemed that if I could just reach a little farther with my awareness, I'd learn something incredible. I found out later that mammatus are usually storm related.

I like how sky and ocean blend together at the horizon. The sky seems especially big at the ocean too.

From Below

I love looking up at the sky. I like seeing evidence of invisible forces. This photo was taken from Kaena Point on Oahu. A sandy path through an Albatross sanctuary is loosely lined with lava rock.

More lines, edges, frames and birds which frequently pop into my pictures.

Bees-honey or not

When I see honey bees in the yard, I imagine they are visiting from the hives that are about a mile from my house. The honey man assures me its quite likely his bees are visiting my trees. This got me thinking about the amazing nature of honey.

This gallon of honey is roughly the life's work of 9216 bees. To make it they flew more than 660,000 miles and visited more than 24 million flowers. All this at about 15 miles per hour. The work involved is nearly incomprehensible to me. Whenever I drink my tea or eat my strawberry jam, sweetened with honey, I feel deeply appreciative and privileged.

A better pollinator than honey bees, our native Orchard Mason Bees produce no honey. They are solitary bees, which nest close together. Males live only long enough to mate. Females live only long enough to mate, and reproduce. The female lays her eggs in tubular shaped holes, along with a dollop of pollen and nectar, all sealed with mud. The eggs slowly transform over the summer into mature bees, which then wait until spring to emerge. 

To read more about these bees, which are native to almost all 50 states and Canada west of the Rocky Mountains, check out Brian Grifin's book "The Orchard Mason Bee". And consider letting your dandelions grow. My bees get loads of pollen from the dandelions which litter my yard. Even I enjoy eating the flowers.

Frame Becomes the Picture

The North Cascades are full of incredible scenery, even along the most highly used trails. Sometimes the only challenge is taking the time out of a busy life to get out there.

Late summer melt left an icy overhang that enchanted me with its ornate, graceful lines. I sat in this refrigerator watching water run all around. And the frame became my picture.

Frames

Nature provides perfect frames for photos. I think of my personal history as a frame for my current adventures. I can't change what is past (as far as I know), but my frame keeps changing as my history increases. My life becomes more complex and more beautiful as I continue bringing as much heart into it as I can.

I had to lay down for this shot. I was surprised by the lacy beauty of a salt corroded guard rail. I wondered if anyone else had laid down and looked like I did.

Perspective deviation

How do you look between the lines of everyday life? Sometimes it means going somewhere new, or getting somewhere familiar, but in a different way, like from a moving train. Or perhaps it means getting up early and watching the moon rise.

Taste it. Breath it. Listen to it. Feel where the experience touches you in your body. Don't think it. Absorb it.

Today I heard the robin's spring song, while I stood on the frosty porch to take this picture. It made my heart glad. I wonder if any peach blossoms will open to the sun today.