We went to the Shelburne Museum to see the horses come off the carousel. They break down the carousel for the winter. The horses spend their time in the Circus Building, dreaming of spring when they come out, leap back upon the carousel, and gallop once more.

Dismantling the carousel was slated for Tuesday and Wednesday. When we showed up not too long after opening on Tuesday, the carousel had been completely taken apart. We arrived just in time to see them closing the doors to the Circus Building.

So I went inside where ghosts of horses dream above a small circus,

waiting for embodiment in spring.

I have been having trouble getting out of the house since my little one was born. He doesn’t sleep well in the house, and he sleeps even worse out of the house. During National Babywearing Week in September (What? You didn’t know there’s such a thing as National Babywearing Week and are now wondering if there is a national strollering week?), the babywearers had a hiking event that took place practically right outside my door. I attended.

We went for a walk in the woods, to the waterfall and back, carrying our babies. I took up the rear because (1) I was the only one walking with a little child and (2) I rather like the rear. Also at the rear was the woman who was supposed to be taking up the rear. She started a branch of a group called “Hike it Baby” in South Burlington.

I talked to her for a bit. Her name is Brittany. She’s great! She told me that Hike it Baby was started by a woman who just had a baby and was getting depressed so she started going walking a lot and invited others along. She also told me that I should lead a hike, because right now she’s the only one leading hikes and she needs more people to lead hikes. I said, I think I can do that. The following Thursday, I lead my first hike. One person showed up. Yay!!! I got a person! We went for a walk in the woods together then looped around the field. The next week, three adults, one carried baby and three walking little kids showed up. Yay!!! We had LOTS of fun. Iris acted like a complete goofball.

Sometimes, people cancel for rain and other less than ideal walking weather, but I decided I want to see how many weeks in a row I can attend a weekly event that takes place right outside my door. So this week, when the forecast was for 100% sky cover and 99% chance of rain, I announced I would not be canceling the walk. I said, instead we would walk to the waterfall via the sidewalk, see how big the falls had gotten, then walk back on the sidewalk. I made the offer of hot chocolate to anyone who showed up.

Well, no one showed up. So we went by the trails.

The sky stopped raining for the occasion, and it was simply beautiful out.

We saw some Autumn moss,

and tall trees,

the river, running fast from heavy rains, and capped with steam,

and our own bare feet.

A Wordless Picture Story.

Credits:

The Robber

a Barefoot Fool Production

starring

Uncle Dan Shanahan & Iris D. Fournier

screenplay

God

photography

Jessica Rose Shanahan

location

the Labyrinth at All Souls Interfaith Church, Shelburne, Vermont, USA

Photographic arrangement loosely inspired by the book The Three Robbers by Tomi Ungerer.

1.

Carousel

“Iris always rides the same horse?” asked Martin when he looked at the photos.

Always.

It is a black horse with a white mane and tail and, most importantly, red jewels on its saddle and bridle.

It is a fast horse. She races as the others chase her, but they never catch up.

2.

The Horn on the Ticonderoga

It is very loud and frightening.

One time we were standing on the lighthouse when the horn went off.

Iris and Akiva both jumped out of their skins.

This time, we were safe and sound, far far away, in jail.

3.

Doors and Windows

Frames! Frames within frames!

I could photograph doors and windows all day.

In fact, I have.

Most of my photographs from Mexico & Guatemala are about doors and windows.

Unfortunately, they are all analog and not fit to be shared on this medium.

4.

Americana

5.

The Covered Bridge

I love how bright sunlight streaming through narrow cracks has a shimmering, steamy effect.

Iris was fascinated by the light. We walked in and out and in and out and in and out.

6.

Ladybug

This was Iris’ absolute favorite thing of the whole trip. Do you see it?

7.

Texture

I stopped for less than half a second and took a random picture of a stone wall just to prove that

today, everything is absolutely beautiful.

We went to the Shelburne Museum, and everything was beautiful. They’ve harvested all their gardens and arranged a hundred or so various squash and gourds in clusters, huddles and prominades around the grounds. Even the mid-day light was somewhat delicious. I pointed my camera in all directions and took over a hundred photos. We were out for hours.

Promenade

Jack (Portrait)

Bus Stop

The Rocking Chair Sitters

Small Squash Gazing at the Noon-Day Sky

“Mommy! Mommy! Come take our picture!” said Iris. What a great idea! I ran in with my camera.

I was going for John & Yoko. The first 53 photos were great in terms of composition— Hugs! Laughter! Eye contact!— But the lighting was off, and I couldn’t figure out how to position the kids on the bed to fix that. Photo #54 was a grand improvement. I put them upside down on the bed and switched their sides, relative to each other. Then the light hit them just perfect. But the bed is tilted to help with Akiva’s reflux, and he’d been such a sweet patient giggly boy for so long, that with him being both up-side-down and over-tired, things deteriorated quickly. I’ll have to try again later.

Leftover pizza & beer.

(Don’t worry. It’s chicken broth.)