Tulips | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
(Tired of tulip pics? If not, you will be by the end of this blog post.) Early bloomers, these bulbiferous beauties daub blazing color across drab backyards. For two weeks they’re the life of the party — too loud, too flashy, probably drinking too much. Then they wise up, as many of us do, to shed dazzle for discernment. They instead focus on boosting health, conserving energy, keeping a lower profile. They turn inward to (more…)
Seed Pod | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
Life’s initial phase has a remarkably similar shape whether it’s seeds, salamanders or Sammy, our gas station attendant down the road. An embryo generally sports an elliptical shape, porous membrane, umbilical cord and khaki shirt with a “Sammy” patch above the pocket. (Wait a minute … it’s a known fact that salamanders mostly go shirtless until they’re adults.) All these incredible characteristics emerge from the miracle of (more…)
Flock | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
Time for some Nature, but let’s not go crazy. Just because waterfowl flock together doesn’t mean we can too. For now, we cover our beaks and keep a distance that’s twice our wingspan. We turn our heads to honk. In recent weeks water and sun have become (more…)
Clothes Dryer | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
Being inside prompts me to look inside — deeper into drawers, closets, microwave, toilet tank, vacuum cleaner, clothes dryer and, oh yes, thoughts and habits. You know: Inner workings revealed. I tell myself that I’ve seen it all before, but that’s not true. This is (more…)
Artichoke | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
Poet Carl Sandburg had a pithy quote about being human: “Life is like an onion. You peel it one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.” But I tend to think life is more like an artichoke: “Pluck and savor leaf after leaf until you find goodness at the center.” Or maybe life is like (more…)
Mop | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
Breakfast done, dog walked, lawn watered. What now in self-isolation? Is bucket and mop really a consideration? For Buddhist monks, “Cleaning isn’t considered burdensome or something you don’t really want to do and wish to get over with as soon as possible,” writes Shoukei Matsumoto in his wonderful little book A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind. “Cleaning is carried out not because there is dirt but because it’s (more…)
Walk the Line | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
Those itty-bitty figures at the top of the photo — dog and owner — stride along a street quieted by quarantine. Very few cars; almost no pedestrians. This is a blessing for the frequent urban walker, always alert to auto and foot traffic, but unsettling for readers of post-apocalyptic fiction. Where’d everyone go? Why’s everything so clean? Could silence be the most prevalent virus symptom? But wait, there is evidence of (more…)
River Light | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
Thankfully “stay home” doesn’t mean stay inside. Every day we (and hundreds of others) hit the nearby river trail to walk the dog, watch the ducks and wave a “we’re alive” hello to fellow walkers. It’s a healthy affirmation of our pandemic predicament, a way to be together yet (more…)
Eggs | East Wenatchee, WA | April 2020
A few Easter facts from History.com: “The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection.” And for you less religious, “The largest Easter egg ever made was (more…)
IrwinFoto 