Home is in your mind?

In a few hours, I will be air born... heading to California. Strange phrase... "air born". What is born in air, mid flight? Thoughts? Wishes? Hopes?
Read the earlier posting with a quote below by Emerson. He also said, "Home is in your mind." Emerson hated to be quoted, however - and tried to dissuade others from quoting himself and others.

I miss home already. You can quote me on that, but don't.

If "home is in your mind", however - then I am not REALLY leaving it behind, am I? ( On second thought - grin - if you remember Steve Martin's silly film "The Man With Two Brains" - maybe it is possible to miss home with one brain, and "bring it along with you" with your second brain). Which brain do I ship "first class"?

If what we photograph and share with others is a reflection of who we are and what is important to us... it seems apparent that I am committed to my new home in the central Adirondacks.
This blogspace will soon include stories of the creative people I am meeting here as well.

I am committed to this place.
I may leave it, but it won't leave me.
Today I fly to visit my boys on the west coast to experience the places they now call home. I feel blessed to be spending time with them. You don't need to quote me on that. But please do.

My immediate neighborhood - Eagle Bay

This is where I take Andy for short walks. What a beautiful world....

Ralph Waldo Emerson:

There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. 'Tis good to give a stranger a meal, or a night's lodging. 'Tis better to be hospitable to his good meaning and thought, and give courage to a companion. We must be as courteous to a man as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light.

Almost every morning that I walk, I am greeted by an act of generosity offered by a stranger. A simple walking stick. You find them everywhere. I admit that, upon occasion - I have taken them and used them later to help start a fire. . . and feel terribly guilty about doing so. So I offer this as a thank you for the gratitude of strangers who have unknowingly not only provided me an aide by which to ascend some peak, or walk some path yet to be discovered, but who have also provided the tinder for warmth and comfort following the hike. And Andy, who loves nothing better to lie in front of a fire pondering ... well, who knows what? - is also deeply grateful. Just ask him sometime.

A rocky beginning at Rocky Point

Partway up - Rocky Pt., Inlet

The Little
Engine That (Almost) Could...

My camera froze solid on the climb up to make a snow angel - so, Andy and I climbed, then slipped, tripped, and sledded back down... will climb again with new batteries tomorrow! Stay tuned! More pics coming... plus this great quote about climbing by Shel Silverstein...

"He was almost there, when... Smash! Crash! Bash!
He slid down and mashed into engine hash
the little engine that almost could."

I climb for you today, Jamie

Hi, Jamie! I hope you are able to read this today. I am just about to leave and climb up a (little) mountain near here called Rocky Point. Remember, tomorrow I will post some pictures so you can experience the climb "virtually" with Andy and I, on-line! So, off we go... Warm coffee in a mug for when we climb back down, and biscuits for Andy in my pocket! I hope we make it - it is very snowy and cold - but there is a great place on top for making giant snow angels. Cheerio, love! - Aunt Cathy, and Andy the dog.

King Arthur Flour Falling (Moss Lake)

An Arthurian Morn at Moss Lake, Big Moose Road, Eagle Bay

This blogspot is a test for me... and I even gave up my early morning walk this morning to test this technology. I obviously have a few kinks to work out - and the technology threatens to overwhelm the beauty of the imagery, not add to it... so give me some time. Actually, it is something I have just run out of... ciao!

My mood, tonight

Passion

"I want to be with people who know secret things, or else alone." - Rilke

Lately, most of my walks have been alone.
Well, almost alone: I walk with my trusted companion, Andy.
Andy is always happy. Always.
He springs high with delight when excited - and it seems to take very little to
stimulate that excitement. A mysterious aroma on the breeze, a sudden sound from within the woods...
Andy is an 8 month old springer spaniel.
He has been a godsend.

With him, every morning walk is a delight.
And with my camera, I try to capture those things that make my soul spring as high as Andy's leaps. Seeing this shot from partway up Bald Mountain, taken last month, cheers me. The colors have faded from the face of Bald... to rusts, golds, subtle gray.

And now the light is fading on yet another day.