At the Wounded Trees (Hiking Fridays, Val-Estrie games)

Friday, September 13th, 2019

With their chests un-girdled,

with the ropes cut at last,

the trees breathe deep.

Their wounds are laid bare to the light.

 

After school, we walk around the former Val-Estrie propertyβ€”

still known as Val-Estrie due to the failure to acquire any other name.

 

 

 

On the way back from our walk, we stop among the tall cedars that grow just at the beginning of the games trail.

 

 

 

As Iris looks closely at things growing on the ground,

 

 

 

Akiva pulls loose stuck ropes that have been cut from the trees.

 

 

 

Slowly, people have been taking off the ropes that girdle various trees.

 

 

 

I have removed some. Others have removed others.

 

 

 

To soothe the trees’ wounds, my children give them hugs and kisses.

 

 

 

Trees are our companions.

 

 

 

I try for a posed photo amongst the cedars. My models have issues with the sunlight.

 

 

 

“Ow ow ow ow!”

 

 

 

“Perhaps is you face in opposite directions?” I suggest.

 

 

 

I take over 100 photos. All of them have cute children in them, which is a boon to any mediocre landscape photo.

 

 

 

Trees in the sunlight, sunlight in the trees.

 

 

 

I fill a bag full of ropes to take to the trash. There are many left.

 

 

 

 Slowly, slowly. Perhaps one day the ropes will be gone.

 

Crystal Transformation

Monday, March 18th, 2019

Old, hard snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our feet leave no tracks.

 

Rethabille’s New Clothes

Thursday, September 6th, 2018

While Iris & Rethabille model matching outfitsβ€”

 

 

 

β€”Akiva behaves like a wild animal.

 

Run to me!

Tuesday, July 24th, 2018

Rip van Winkle

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018

When we get to the place where we stop,

 

 

 

Dad (Gramps) falls asleep.

 

 

 

Close by, Mom (Gramma) demonstrates the use of a magnifying glass.

 

 

 

Iris looks closely.

 

 

 

 

Akiva watches Iris looking.      

 

 

 

The old woman sits in dappled shadeβ€”

 

 

 

the little ones wait patientlyβ€”

 

 

 

the old man sleeps.

 

 

 

Toy Store (Val Estrie)

Friday, June 29th, 2018

At the rope, Iris climbsβ€”

 

 

 

up & upβ€”

 

 

 

& up & upβ€”

 

 

 

& up & up!

 

 

 

Akiva watches. He is studying.

 

 

 

Further on, there is a fort of branches.

 

 

 

They say it is a toy store. You see? This is a toy.

 

 

 

“Will you come in to our store?”

 

 

 

An exchange.

 

 

 

A way to go.

 

 

 

A place to be.