The last few weeks have brought a world of differences to many of us — a new physical view from the inside looking out; a new vocabulary that includes medical terms of pandemics, viruses, curves, ventilators, and COVID-19; an appreciation for things that previously we’d taken for granted; and a feeling that the world’s turned upside down. With the barrage of news and seemingly constant updates it’s hard to look too far forward. Like many, I’m trying to take things one day at a time. Today the sun is shining and there are signs of spring outside my windows. The birds are migrating back into our area and their calling hangs in the air. There are people walking in the neighborhood and soaking up the sun’s warmth. There’s a young girl that’s riding her small bike next to her dad who is running; they’re chatting and singing as they go by. Sometime ahead the tulips will be blooming here in Minnesota. Somewhere ahead, the struggling and the uncertainty we’re dealing with now will be behind us. Somewhere ahead I’m hoping we will have learned lessons from this time; perhaps we’ll appreciate the beauty all around us – in nature, in family, and the people we interact with. And somewhere ahead I’m hoping our world will no longer seem to be upside down, but instead will be more kind.
nature
Holiday cards and 2020 desk calendars
We’re midway through November – a sure sign of the upcoming holidays and the new year. For the past 16 years I have been offering my original line of holiday cards and desk calendars with my photographic images.
These four images are some of the samples for this year. More information, along with the complete line of cards and calendars can be found by clicking on the corresponding tabs at the top of my blog page. If you’d like more information about these distinctive gift items, whether for friends and family or for yourself, please contact me.
Thanks for following along with my blog journeys. I wish you all joy during the upcoming holiday seasons, and a new year filled with beauty and amazement.
Fall in its glory
Fall is here in all its glory! The yellows, golds, oranges, and reds, all aglow against a dark stormy sky but lit up by a short-lived stream of sunlight, and reflected in the quiet and still waters of the lake. This is the beauty we look forward to every year in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Dancing in the sunlight
I love the simplicity of our winter landscape. The white snow clears the distractions and leaves a clean canvas. As I was out for a walk one day I found these plants above the snow. With the sun behind them and their shadows splayed out over the white snow, it appeared they were dancing with their shadows. Similar to a water surface reflection, however the white brings everything down to the basics. Just like in the cold of winter, we look to the basics of warmth, protection from the cold and wind, and the optimism that spring will be on our doorstep eventually.
Casting into the clouds
Yesterday was a day of diverse activities – fishing and a glorious wedding celebration; and yet the two were very connected. As the day dawned to overcast skies and thick clouds, we headed out for some fishing. The cool and the clouds eventually broke up and we fished under an amazing sky brimming with filtered sun and brilliant clouds. Our fishing was successful, and we laughed that our outing was in honor of the bride and the groom for their wedding later that afternoon. This joyful couple celebrated their summer wedding outdoors in a grove of trees, surrounded with family and friends all dappled with sunshine. The bride and groom share a love of nature and especially fishing. And how appropriate that the groom, his groomsmen, and the bride’s proud father all wore decorative fishing lures as their boutonnieres!
lindastaatsphoto.com 