Graceful Is as Graceful Glides

There’s a double beauty whenever a swan swims on a lake with her double thereon.
–Thomas Hood

As We See the World

We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are.

Anais Nin

Matthaei Woods, Michigan

Invincible Summer

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

Albert Camus

Pine River, Michigan
Huron National Forest

“…and pondered them in her heart.”

And they that heard it wondered at the things which the shepherds told.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2: 18-19

May we all ponder in our heart the things of special meaning to us.

Fleming Creek, Michigan

A Quiet Brook at Winter Solstice

Daisy:   Do you ever watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it?

Jay Gatsby:  Don’t you mean the shortest day of the year, Daisy?

Daisy:   Jay, I’m p-p-paralyzed with happiness that the days will be getting longer now. (a few liberties taken with Great Gatsby)

Bold Winds Speechless

But, as we often see against some storm
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still
The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder
Doth rend the region.
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Summer storms in Michigan approach “anon the thunder.”

Tasting Life Twice

We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.”
– Anais Nin

Nature Through Our Filter

What we observe is not nature, but nature exposed to our method of questioning.
-Werner Heisenberg

Huron National Forest, Michigan

Our Doubts Are Traitors

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.

William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

Genesis

This is a wonderful day.  I have never seen this one before.
Maya Angelou

Hartwick Pines, Michigan