Monday Memories: Beyond Compare

From the words of English novelist and poet, Mary Webb:  “Nature’s music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions.”

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Creation’s wonders, lasting treasures

Beyond compare, by any measure

 

God’s unique Spirit molds, creates

Earth living as His domain, first-rate

 

Forests dazzle with matchless beauty

Witness to our Lord’s sacred duty

 

Animal species roam, some quite rare

Others appear to be everywhere

 

Distinctive flowers color the land

Their music soothes, like any jazz band

 

Unequaled majesty reaching high

Rugged mountains climbing to the sky

 

Creatures with their eccentric pursuits

Actions showing off, fun attributes

 

Man taking note of what God has done

High praises, He stands second to One

 

One and only one master designs

Each day, smiling at His nature shrines

 

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From Genesis 1:29-30:  “God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.  And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’  And it was so.”

Originally published October, 2020.

Hal Borland Quotes

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Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience.  Knowing grass, I appreciate patience.

A frontier is never a place; it is a time and a way of life.

Hal Borland (1900-1978) was an American writer, journalist, and naturalist. 

Innocent Eyes

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Under cover of night

Fullest moon, ever bright

 

Another day now waits

Nature’s splendid estate

 

Galaxy’s twinkling stars

Distant markers afar

 

Risen spirit above

Filled with Creator’s love

 

Each distant breath measures

Dreams filling with treasures

 

Scattered glimpse of wonder

Sudden sound of thunder

 

Heartbreak covers landscape

No avenue for escape

 

Yet, horizon brightens

Darkness set to lighten

 

Night sky growing smaller

Brilliant pallet’s colors

 

Clouds bowing to sunrise

Morning’s innocent eyes

 

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Wendell Berry Quotes

When I rise up, let me rise up joyful like a bird.  When I fall, let me fall without regret like a leaf.

The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all.  It is the healer and restorer and resurrector.

Wendell Berry (born 1934) is an American novelist and poet.  Much of his writing embraces the goodness of protecting our environment and preserving agriculture’s way of life.

Images courtesy of Pinterest.

Tranquility’s Landscape

Cloudy shadows dance upon a Montana summer landscape.

Creator’s gentleness moves

Ability to reshape

Another day, now embrace

Tranquility’s landscape

 

Creator’s eternal eye

Hint of tomorrow takes shape

Daily treasures, just embrace

Joyfulness fills landscape

 

Creator’s vision gathers

No longer covered in tape

Nature’s portrait, soon embrace

Harmony paints landscape

 

Creator’s elegance breathes

Images fill each dreamscape

Trove of delights, let’s embrace

Time’s patience frames landscape

 

Creator’s quiet outlook

Peacefulness never escapes

Innocence, always embrace

Silence sketches landscape

 

Gentle silence frames another sunset in Ohio.

Postcard’s Keepsakes (Haiku Series #316)

Tranquility Shared

Glorious morning

Creator’s comfort surrounds—

Amongst blue heavens

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Lofty Heights

Giants reach skyward

Creator’s breath welcomes rest—

Capturing stillness

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Evening Twilight

Night’s invitation

Creator’s landscape finds peace—

Slumbering sunset

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Winter’s Steady Quest

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Morning sky awakens

Peace fills nature’s outlook

Landscape’s fresh, white blanket

Winter’s cozy look

 

Horizon full of gray

Light tries to brighten

Sun waits for tomorrow

Winter’s grip tightens

 

Hope’s disappearing breath

Tranquility’s free-fall

Each snowflake multiplies

Winter’s sudden squall

 

Wind churns with whitest sky

Brief storm now taking rest

Clouds open with sunlight

Winter’s steady quest

 

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Big Sky Photo Gallery

About a month ago, photos taken around my home in the state of Ohio were posted in the Buckeye Photo Gallery.  Today’s gallery brings an invitation to visit Montana’s Big Sky Country, which is my native state.

This past summer (August, 2024), my camera enjoyed a journey filled with capturing the landscape around Madison County in southwestern Montana.  On the left, the Madison River flows downstream from the river’s canyon exit.  Its destination will be the headwaters of the Missouri River, located near the community of Three Forks.  The photo on the right looks downstream on the river, as one moves away from the canyon.  The weather conditions were very windy, and fortunately, the camera remained steady.

An hour’s drive from my hometown of Billings, takes one to Carbon County and the town of Red Lodge.  Both photos capture scenes found on main street.  The photo on the left features the Carbon County Courthouse.  On the right, the corner building has been repurposed into a retail shop on the ground floor.

My wife and I always enjoy visiting the city of Bozeman, which is home to Montana State University.  This community was home to me during my college years (1974-1978).  While Main Street has changed a great deal from my time, the atmosphere remains welcoming with a vibrant commercial district.  The Rockford Coffee Roasters welcomed us for mid-morning refreshments with our youngest Montana daughter and her two-year old son.  Across the street sits the venerable Ellen Theater, which opened in 1919.

Enjoy the contrast of these two photos.  Taken during the summer of 2023, the photo on the left captures a smoky sunrise above the Billings neighborhood where I grew up.  The final photo was taken during the summer of 2021.  A rest area outside of Billings, along Interstate 90, shares a bit of humor as well as functionality for its canine visitors.

Sharpening Each Thought

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Winter’s fading breath

Discovering light

One final snowflake

Springtime taking flight

 

Winter pushed aside

Taking rest once more

Moved from nature’s shelf

Change coming ashore

 

Time bursting forward

Sharpening each thought

Landscape’s fresh colors

Lessons being taught

 

Young and old smiling

Finding spring abloom

Nature turns its page

Song fills every room

 

Daylight grows longer

Feeling warmth each day

April showers come

May flowers will stay

 

Life’s faithful rhythm

Rising overnight

Harmony fills hearts

Love found at first sight

 

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Daily Rendezvous (Haiku Series #313)

Illuminating

Horizon brightens

Greeting day with gentleness—

Morning’s quiet voice

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Anticipating

Light’s clouded journey

Sunrise waiting with patience—

Soon sharing glory

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Dreaming

Dawn’s early face glows

Shadows camouflage landscape—

Snowflakes dancing free

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