Beginnings:  Journey into "Journey In Place"
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Beginnings: Journey into "Journey In Place"

The original meaning of the word “journey” is rooted in Old French journee, which meant “a day’s length; day’s work or travel.” Farther back in time, “journey” arose from the Latin diurnus “of one day.” Journey these days means going someplace. This can be an outer physical place, or an inner emotional place, or a spiritual place which can be a combination of the two, one or the other, or a realm that only you access. A journey can consist of all of these elements at once, each separately, or together in various combinations. I like to think of journey in the…

One Photo, One Short Story
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One Photo, One Short Story

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…

Learning to Write Landscape and My Primal Place
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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…

Never Forget
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Never Forget

a meditation When we are small [children] and close to the earth, there is more landscape than time. It’s only later that we forget. Only later that we begin to play pretend.Joe Wilkins https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/602008762 https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/602008762 We are part of a mystery, a splendid mystery within which we must attempt to orient ourselves if we are to have a sense of our own nature.Marilynne Robinson I am back. With resolve, after unexpected life happenings this spring and summer that carried forward to this moment. This most recent hiatus in EarthWise and the Alabaster Horse is ended with a scene offered as…

Hues of Nature 1
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Hues of Nature 1

Good day to all! This addition to Earthwise and the Alabaster Horse is the first part of what will become an ongoing series that will appear from time to time showcasing the colors of nature. As far as I am concerned, these are the most beautiful colors. Colors found in nature run the gamut from quiet shades of brown to riotous reds of flaming paintbrush flowers. Nature’s colors cover the whole color spectrum. Pretty amazing. Sometimes you have to peer close to examine the colors, and at other times you are overwhelmed by the brilliant, startling blue of the sky…

Here We Go!
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Here We Go!

I am back.  A long time away from this space, I know.  It seems like my blog follows the arc of the year; active in spring, summer and fall, then hibernates over the winter.  Now it is time to emerge and stretch upward in the ever-strengthening sunlight. My Lusitano, Evaristo, and I Even though the blog has been in hibernation for some months, it has been much in my thoughts.  I’ve been thinking and doing some work on its evolution, how to move it in a direction that feels sustainable for me. Too, I wish to make it a space…