There is a revival of interest in native plantings here in Minnesota; people are choosing to replace annuals in their gardens with plants that are native to the area, thereby requiring less maintenance. About eight years ago I was in a prairie area in northeastern Oregon and was mesmerized by an unusual plant. I remember photographing the long feathery plumes that seemed to blow in the breeze. Now I find that Prairie smoke is a native wildflower to Minnesota. It is actually in the rose family, blooming in mid to late spring, and is found in the dry, gravelly prairies. I noticed this plant at a sale of native landscaping plants here in the Twin Cities. With a bit of backlighting, the plumes took on a beautiful glow, accenting their delicateness and their “smokey” appearance.
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Alex
One of the very hardest things to do is to say goodbye to a pet, especially one that’s been a part of your life for over 17 years. This past week I had to do that with my cat Alex. We have been through a lot together over the years and he was always there to welcome me with a nudge and a purr. At times he could be quite shy, especially around people he wasn’t familiar with. But once he accepted you he was a great friend who loved to be close to you. He was also my most serious-looking cat, although there was a great glimmer of excitement whenever the catnip came out for a treat. He wasn’t one that liked to pose for photos, so I always felt fortunate when I could get an image that seemed to capture his personality. His friendship and his loving nature we be missed…. Thanks, Alex.
Tinker
This past weekend I had to say goodbye to my 17-year old cat Tinker. He had been battling some minor ailments the past few years and was blind, but he had a heart of gold through it all. The one huge thing I’ve learned from him throughout this time has been patience. He was always willing to give his attention and love no matter how bad he was feeling, and he never complained. Seventeen years ago Tinker picked me when I visited the humane society to find a new four-legged friend. In a wire cage sat this small gray and white cat with huge ears. His paw reached through the wires to touch me as I was passing by. In short time he grew into those ears, eventually weighing over 20 pounds – a big lug of a cat, for sure. He was a welcoming committee of one; he loved to greet people and become their new best friend. His favorite spot was to sit in a splash of sunshine and soak up the warmth. When the sun wasn’t shining (as was often the case in Washington state), he’d curl up next to the gas fireplace insert or the small radiant heater. With all that heat his coat would become so warm and seemingly more soft too. Tinker was usually obliging when I wanted to take his photograph, and for that I’m very thankful as I now have a collection of images that captured him in some of his best moments.
While I was at the veterinary hospital I found a quote that someone had posted from Mary Oliver’s poem “In Blackwater Woods”:”To live in the world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.” Thanks, my friend.
The joy of library books
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday weekend I needed to return a book to the library. For some reason whenever I return one book I always leave with multiple books — it’s just the way I do things. Today I had a list of books I was hoping to find. I knew I would be happy if just one of those books was available for check out. But today was my lucky day as I found three of my hoped-for books on the shelves. Not to be disappointed though, I found two other books that caught my eye. With a smile on my face I breezed through the self check-out and walked out of the library into the afternoon sunshine. I was surprised by the great feeling and happiness that I felt carrying my pile of books — I felt lucky and fortunate to appreciate the joy of reading and books. You can tell a little bit about me by my selection of books. I have photography books, books about the midwest plains, a couple of books about the canoe and boundary waters area of northern Minnesota, and a book about a woman who returns to her roots in Kansas (my native state). So later this weekend you’ll likely find me relaxing on the deck with a cool drink and immersing myself in one or more of my library books.
Easter surprise
Easter and spring are times of renewal and new beginnings, and so often surprises too. This past week we were greeted one morning with a two-inch snowfall (winter just hasn’t wanted to let go of us yet). However as quickly as it turned cold, it also turned warm today, just in time for Easter. With yellow sunshine, green grass, and the promise of blooming flowers, everyone’s moods were brightened and I’m sure many Easter egg hunts were the merrier because of it.
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