Miriam Hall Photography: August 2012

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Go Fetch

Last Saturday I met a man running with his two dogs. I asked him if I could take their picture. He offered to throw them the stick. I got some good shots of his dogs, Thika and Kibi playing fetch in the ditch. It was a beautiful sight to see the dogs running together and splashing through the water. Watching them I realized how present dogs are. All they want is to please and have fun. I felt uplifted after photographing their game of fetch. Their presence stayed with me throughout the day.

John with his dogs Thika and Kibi

Thika and Kibi

John throwing the stick for Thika and Kibi

Thika and Kibi

Thika and Kibi running after the stick

Kibi successfully fetches the stick

Kibi

Thika and Kibi searching for the lost stick

John continuing his run with Thika and Kibi

Monday, August 20, 2012

Hints of Autumn

I took a nice walk with my dogs on the ditch this morning. There was a flock of geese in the nature preserve. Further along on the east side of the ditch I saw a tree with leaves that had completely turned. Hints of autumn remind me to hurry up and enjoy what's left of summer(however I do like this cooler weather we have been having).On the corner of one house I discovered a lovely cluster of sunflowers and a datura plant. As I walked further north I saw several abundant fruit trees in one yard. A pear tree, laden with fruit, had a grape vine wound around it. Along the way I met several dog walkers and had some nice conversations. On my return home I saw a crabapple tree laden with fruit. I can imagine how happy the birds must be with all this abundance. What a wonderful way to start the day.

Geese in the Candelaria Nature Preserve

Fall leaves

Sunflower

One sunflower stalk with many blossoms

Red and yellow sunflowers

Datura stramonium

Pear tree with grape vines

Judith with her dog Tock, Connie with her dog Flint and Beth with her dog Zeke

Crab apple tree

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Ditch Wisdom

I've especially enjoyed my walks on the ditch this week. Last week I didn't take a walk for 4 days. I felt the absence of my walks in my body and soul. I usually take 2 walks, in the morning and evening, that frame my day. Walking on the ditch grounds me. I have a walking meditation that I do while I walk. I also ground myself in gratitude. The more I'm grateful for the more I'm amazed at the beauty around me. Today it was the breeze that cooled me and rustled the leaves of the trees I walked beneath. I took time to stand on a bridge. Listening to and watching the water that flowed by had a calming effect on me. Earlier this week on my walk I noticed the grass in the field had been cut and the field was being irrigated. I went home to get my camera and took a picture and video of what I saw. The next day the grass (or hay) had been baled. I'm posting these images and a few more from my walks on the ditch.

Today as I walked I noticed a baby toad hopping across the ditch. There have been times on my walks that I have seen turtles, snakes, hawks, roadrunners, dragonflies, and all sorts of wildlife crossing the ditch (even a coyote). Sometimes I feel like a child. I'm in a state of wonder.

I am thankful to the ditch for all the wisdom it has shared with me.

I'm looking forward to my next walk.