Wild Blue Yonder
Whenever I think of Alaska I will always remember, the wild blue yonder of the eternal day-lit skies.
Chena Dome Trail | Alaska 2012
“The name for the Chena River in Fairbanks is derived from the Tanana Athabascan name Ch’eno’. In this case the literal meaning is quite interesting. The word is composed of the “indefinite” possessor plus the stem meaning ‘river’ and thus literally means ‘river of something’, where the ‘something’ is a veiled reference to game animals, especially caribou. The inference to be made is that this was a good place for hunting caribou — so good, in fact, that it was worth avoiding explicit mention of that game.”
Returning
Red Raven Retreat | Willow River, MN 2012
“In some mysterious way woods have never seemed to me to be static things.
In physical terms, I move through them; yet in metaphysical ones, they seem to move through me.”
~ John Fowles
New Life
Red Raven Retreat | Willow River, MN 2012
Ferns are sprouting new life in the woods.
Uncurling from their tight buds of soft downy fur.
A first leaf born from a newly sprouted stalk ~ expands.
Totem
Red Raven Retreat | Willow River, MN 2012
The Ravens call our arrival.
I swear they follow the black truck from the freeway exit.
They fly over and watch and wait.
As I watch and wait as they fly over.
Shelter
Oberg Mountain | Lutsen, MN 2012
These trees remind me of my son and me.
Two strong and independent individuals.
Both with scars from growing and learning.
Just as a parent attempts to shelter their young…
There comes a time when that life must seek out their own sunlight to bask in.
The trees are leaning toward that same light
The younger planted straighter, with an eager reach pulling away.
Still the two are one and the same, one born of the other.
It is time for the aged cedar to relent…
As the day will approach when the new growth
Will take the place of the wizened cedar as it falls to rest.
Snowman
Living in a land that is covered with snow for 1/3 of the year I found the only way to survive is to get out in the elements.
We have snowshoe’d in weather as extreme as negative 20 degrees, photos of frozen hair to prove it. There are some who say “your nuts” to those I merely smile and say “yes, I am”!
The tree and snowscape was taken at a local state park Wild River State Park in North Branch, MN
The image of the man in the snow was taken during a photo shoot with a kindred spirit and friend.
This is my attempt at merging spirits, Mother Earth, Old Man Winter and a wise Shaman.
Strength
Oberg Mountain | Lutsen, MN 2012
Tonight I had dinner with a very dear cousin. We had not seen or spoken to each other in many years, and neither of us could figure out why.
To say we reconnected is not exactly true, as we never really have been disconnected from one another.
We have had many changes in the last 7 or so years, children grown, trials of life, growth of spirit and a sense of knowing that “there is more”.
We are from a family of strong women and our roots are deeply intertwined.
So happy we have reunited, I have missed you coz!
Rachel’s Eye
Several Locations | MN 2010
Rachel is the model for the “eye”
This was the lead photo in a series for an exhibit in 2010
“Susan’s Eye”
It has been my fortune in life to have traveled a few places across the United States
In the travels I have always noticed Susan Eyes’
These flowers can grow anywhere
This started me thinking, “what would a Susan’s Eye see?”
The spider is real, in fact I have numerous photos of flowers
That have spiders nestled inside or under the petals peeking out
Spiders, that is another story, as I am drawn to spiders
Or are they drawn to me?
One of a few of my totems
Old Oak
Carver Regional Park | Minnetrista, MN 2011
Trees have always fascinated me
Called to me
Sometimes whispered to me
This old Oak brings back memories of childhood
Living in Nordeast Minneapolis there was not a lot of room to roam
There was a vacant lot on the fringes of the neighborhood
In this lot stood a tall strong oak
A few of us decided we would turn this old oak into a tree apartment
The only boards on this tree were the ones used to create a makeshift front stoop
Each child had a limb
Each limb was an apartment
Each apartment had a phone
A pink plastic replica of a real phone
Or two cans with a string
An entire summer was spent in the “apartment” complex
We were like birds sitting in the tree all day, we could not be seen from passersby only heard
Sounds emitting from the tree were not the sounds of birds singing but the sounds of children
Singing
Laughing
Playing
That was a great summer
Stretch
Silver Lake Park, 3 Rivers District | MN 2012
The same owl, stretching
She stretched both wings
before moving back into the hallow of the oak
Amazing to think that when this large
winged creature is in flight she will
emit no sound, just a swoop right before you see her
