The Clothesline

I love when I can borrow a neighbor's clothesline. There's a calming simplicity to hanging up dishtowels, quilts, t-shirts, whatever the laundry basket holds: Set your basket on the ground, tuck clothespins in your pocket, bend and stretch to get the items out and positioned on the line, then clip and clip. There's an artistry too: You can choose to hang similar items or similar colors together, arrange things in patterns or put everything up in a jumble. 

The Pear Tree

So happy to see these buds after butchering this long-neglected pear tree. 

A few days after trimming in April. We got a lot of future firewood, but survival of tree was uncertain.

This latest picture was shot in early June. We're pretty sure now the tree will survive.

Coexistence in the Gardens

 

Insects on flowers series: aphids on calendula; bumblebee on chives; ant on peony; wasp on calendula. Summer began with bumblebees and ants pollinating the chives and peonies. Summer ended with aphids and wasps visiting the calendula.

Time to Fly (just about)

It's getting a bit crowded in the nest. The baby finches were squawking and pushing, so I decided it was time to capture them on film before they fly. Momma arrived on our wind chime to scold me and warn her babies to be quiet. They literally froze, for minutes, until I left. Haven't yet gotten a photo of the third and fourth ones. 

Guardian of the Nest

 

Last Breaths

A sadder moment of vacation at the cabin on Sweet Lake was when this sharp-shinned hawk crashed into an upper window and broke its neck. Sam and Tom sadly witnessed it taking its last breath. We buried it in a pile of leaves in the woods. 

Becoming Pears and Apples

 

Little Waves on the Big Lake

In a nod to the death of songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, I felt the need to get out and see the Big Lake (gichigami or great sea in Ojibwe). Hampered by a fractured foot, I took these shots from an overlook on the North Shore. Even from that distance I was invigorated by the breeze (and spray) off the lake.

Digging Out

 One good deed reaps many rewards: Captured these images while clearing my neighbor's back deck after our latest substantial snowfall. I intend to make some holiday gifts of them.

Hartley Pond

Hiked with a friend and her dog up Rock Knob and over to Hartley Pond Wednesday, embracing a stretch of nice fall days we're having in Duluth. The seasons before and after winter always seem so fleeting in the Northland. 

 

Rock Knob

 The view from Rock Knob on the old Hartley Farm. 

Bagley at its Best

 

One of my favorite local escapes in all its Fall glory.

After the first snow

The season's first 2 inches of snow that fell this morning got me outdoors in a panic to photograph fall colors before the opportunity disappears, which can happen overnight in the Northland. Above, the Chester Park neighborhood reservoir road that reminds me of "home" in West Virginia. Below, fall foliage enhanced by the sun's light.

 What a difference one week makes:

Bit by the Cougar: A Boy Develops a Passion

My son and his running buddy, both 12, have been training many weeks now to run Grandma's half-marathon later this month. They have completed short runs and long runs, including two 10-milers, and cross-trained diligently.

This weekend, Sam returned to his running roots: the Congdon Cougar Chase, held annually at Lester River Park.
Sam ran the 1K in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades. In later elementary grades he joined the school's running club, trained and ran the 5K. 

On Friday, Sam ran the Congdon Cougar Chase's 10K. He finished in 50 minutes and 40 seconds, placing 2nd in the male 12-17 age group and 10th overall. His running buddy placed first in their division, 9 seconds ahead of Sam. Their mile times were 8:32 and 8:33.

Sliding into summer at Sweet Lake

We spent the first couple days of Sam's summer break at Sweet Lake -- paddle-boarding, kayaking, swimming, reading in the hammock, listening to the call of the loons, watching a great blue heron glide across the lake. I'd describe this trip to the cabin as a relaxing, gentle start to summer.

November raspberries

We're into November here in the Northland, and yesterday I picked more fresh raspberries. I'm pretty certain this may be my last harvest of the season.