Recently, I set myself the task to write a story about the accompanying photo in fifty words. Turns out, the story ended at forty-nine words (the title “Look” is included in the word count.) It is intriguing to give yourself a word limit for a piece, then stick with it. During the process, all becomes distilled; thoughts and words. Look November. Northern Plains of Montana. Winter’s stalk, damascus-sharp, and dismal edged penetrates the air. The scent, a raw mainline of dead leaves. I take a picture of skeleton trees, the gilt glow of grasses and sage against the amber light…
The Forging of Horseshoes
As a departure from what normally appears here, today I’d like to mention horseshoes. Some of you may not be aware that I spent many years as a farrier (horseshoer). Although I no longer practice as a farrier for the public, I continue to provide hoof care for our personal horses. Farriery is intriguing work. Just being around horses is the best aspect. I love the physicality of it, too. Working beneath the horse requires flexibility, strength, the use of just about my entire body as well as the acute use of my mind and an exquisite feel for the…
Trees of My Life II
From immense, solid Ponderosa pines to ephemeral, whippy willows, trees are intriguing. My first tree memory is a huge, many branched cottonwood tree that grew in front of the old homesteader’s house where my family lived when I was small. Her bark was a grey rough corrugated coat she wore. Her leaves were enormous serrated wide triangles with a sharp point that murmured bright green all summer long. In September, her leaves metamorphasized into golden lemon yellow. Bossy autumn winds parted the leaves from her, and they swirled through the clear glow of the air to earth. The final magic…
Learning to Write Landscape and My Primal Place
On a recent August evening, my writing friend Carol and I hurried into Paulina Springs Books in Sisters, Oregon. We were there to attend a writing workshop by author and poet Joe Wilkins. Earlier that day I had looked through his website and noticed he had grown up in Montana. Then, I was even more eager to go to the workshop, just to be in proximity of a fellow Montanan. The workshop was titled “Layers of Landscape: Harnessing the Power of Place.” To say we were intrigued by the title was an understatement. I’ve been scribbling away about the landscape…
Sagebrush: A 100 Word Story
Most of us have heard the phrase that “a picture tells a 1000 words.” Here is a picture that tells a story in 100 words. 100 words exactly, counting the title. I appreciate hearing your thoughts. Sagebrush I might have been born under a sagebrush. New eyes open to an overhead sapphire haze. Closer, furry elongated gilt grey-green leaves on shrubby, woody stems form a mosaic of vision. My tiny hand brushes the gently rounded tri-tipped leaves. Sharp scent rains down. Piquant. Pristine. Sage-y. Of the vast, moody lands in the American West I adore. I roll side to side…
Foals, Birds, Cats, Balloons and the Third Law of Motion
At long last, I have returned to Earthwise and the Alabaster Horse and to the third law of motion. Regular readers of my irregular posts may recall that almost a year ago, in the spring of 2022, I wrote a post regarding how Sir Isaac Newton’s first law of motion and second law of motion appeared in my life. As life goes, there was an interruption(s), and I am now return. For those of my readers who are curious, or would like a reminder, here is information about Sir Isaac Newton. The interruptions were the arrival of two foals last…