Nature's Easter Cross (JM)

 

Surprise Cross found in this peaceful spot, Starker Forestry Trail, tree planted 1986, Oregon 

From Starker Forestry Trail, self guided tour (JM)

                                                   

Bear’s To-Do List (JM)

(Joseph MacRae, February 26, 2025, feast day of Our Lady of the Fields (Paris). Image from my journal.)

Bear’s To-Do List

If only I could remember where I hid my honey jar

safe from prying eyes.

I now regret it is only safe from me.

Oh, the moment I find my precious honey jar —

I'll be a rich bear indeed.

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by these words: if, regret, rich. From Daisy Barrett-Nash’s Legacy Lines, February 26, 2025. 

Local Lore (JM)

 

                                                       Snowcap on Prarie Mountian

                                                      Mill Creek stream restoration gathering

                                                       Clemen's Lumbar Company, Philomath:

                                                       Old RD-8 Caterpillar at the abandoned Clemens' Mill

                                                       Interpretation day at Clemens' Scout Lodge 

How Our Garden Grows (JM)

 

Angel Sky (JM)

 

Picture of a horizontal Angel seen in sunset 1/23… Mama-Jackie, may she rest in peace, really loved angels. This feels like a blessing.

I: I Could Write About (JM)

 

(Joseph MacRae, July 6, 2022. Image is of The Merc, from Joseph MacRae.)

I: I Could Write About 

I (pronoun): …12th century, a shortening of Old English ic, the first person singular nominative

I could write about living in our tiny rural town, Alsea, Oregon–-just 234 souls. Unincorporated, and like being in the 50’s. There’s John Boy’s Mercantile (the Merc), an old timey general store. History murals fill the outer walls, inside there’s fishing and hunting gear, fresh local meats at the deli. Though remote, we’re on a big cycle route. Sometimes the Merc’s little parking lot near bursts with Harleys, their riders scoring coffee for the road. Or there's Deb’s Cafe (true confession can’t get enough of the biscuits and gravy). There’s a library, out its window can see cows a stone’s throw away–- if you stare they’ll stare back! There’s the Church, school, medical clinic, post office, fire station, grange, organic farm, park, mountains round, birds roaming about--otherwise a whole lot of quiet--and the Alsea river running through it all. And that’s about it. But then, what more do you need?

 

*From Prompt: Create a “Telling Trails” piece (basically to take a letter/a word beginning with that letter/a definition of that word/a picture drawn to/maybe a song drawn to--and write what comes); from Iris Jackson’s Finding Your Storyteller’s Voice with Telling Trails (Pat Conroy Literary Center, Beaufort, SC), June/July 2022.

August Ventures (JM)

 

August Garden (JM)

July Blooms (JM)

  

Carnations from our garden, for Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Her feast day, July 16, 2024. Image is my own.

Walking In the May (JM)

 From today's hike at Clemens Park, Benton County

last trillium of the season

                                  the deep forest

                          dogwoods along the Alsea River

 dogwoods on the trail too 

                          time to journey on, 

                                  the North Loop...

More Pictures to Ponder (JM)

 

A Sad State (JM)

 

If this forest was logged

would this small stream be protected? 

Sadly, right now, no it would not.

Come Sabbath (JM)

 

Saint Patrick's, Our little Orthodox community on the coast