Dark Shadows

No, not the TV series that ran from the mid-60s to the early 70s, nor the current movie w/ the oh-so-popular Johnny Depp.  I'm talking about the dark shadows found when you're walking in a heavily wooded area . . . the kind that seem to muffle sounds and heighten your hearing and make you a little jumpy.

Sure 'nough, I was back at a MetroPark this afternoon, walking through some pretty well shadowed paths.  I went to a different entrance for Englewood MetroPark, and took a short journey.

I wasn't anticipating decision making almost as soon as I entered the trail . . . if you're interested, I took the left trail.  You can see there's quite a bit of shade, but this was actually not very shaded compared to some of the rest of the trail I was on.

Once again, the extreme contrast between the sunlight and shadow was amazing.  A momentary shift of leaves and everything seemed to change.  Light became dark, and dark became light.  It made me walk slower to appreciate those changes, the shifting patterns of shadows, the spotlight moving around.

One thing I definitely marveled at was the number of VERY tall trees.  It seemed that they were all unbelievably tall, even those that had toppled.  I'm not talking just tall to a shrimp like me, but tall to the Jolly Green Giant . . . I kept looking up in pure appreciation and insignificance.

You wouldn't know from these pics just how deep the shadows were in some parts, but when I was in those sections, I didn't get pictures.  I know I could have used my flash, but there was something almost cathedral-like about the experience that I didn't want to disturb that image.  The shot above made me think sculpture (this would have been great for the Crafty Nature post!).

You know the sun has to be very bright to cast shadows through the leaves that make the shadows appear to be a shade of green.

I'm thinking this is evidence of woodpeckers, but it could be insects too . . . I did hear several woodpeckers, but didn't get to see any of them.  :-(

This tree startled me.  Does anybody else see the face that seems to be peeking from the middle of the tree?  Yikes, and yet another shot that would have been good in Crafty Nature.

I do NOT like spiders.  But I keep trying to get good pictures of their webs, and the spiders in/on the web.  It's one of those challenges I've imposed on myself and don't think I've met.  I like this one, but . . . I know I can do better.  No, I don't go looking for spider webs (I probably wouldn't have to leave the house for that!), but when I see one, I try to capture it.  One day I will be satisfied with what I get.

I don't know why, I just like it.

There were bugs everywhere!  I was glad I had my Off battery powered repellent thingy with me.  I'm not sure what this was, but he's pretty darn big.  I heard a couple of mosquitoes, but supposedly the silent ones are the ones you have to be wary of . . .

Yes, another shot that would have been great for Crafty Nature - I saw this one and thought of Bruce, the mechanical shark from "Jaws" . . .

And not a dozen steps from "Bruce" I saw this delicate flower.

It was a nice first venture into this section of Englewood MetroPark.  I'll have to go back another day and either try to go further on the same trail, or take another one.  That's a decision to be made another day though.  The rest of today I'll ponder shadows and light.  By moving light around, we can change what is highlighted and what is basically hidden.  What happens when that changes and the hidden becomes highlighted?  What's being highlighted in my life, and what are those things I'd rather stay out of the spotlight?

Dark shadows have brought on introspection.

If it's Tuesday, it must be . . .

It's May, and if it's Tuesday, it must be a MetroPark kind of day!  Today it was back to Englewood MetroPark where I took a different path . . . mostly down by the water.  Again I was fascinated by the shadow and light, and the reflection of the vegetation in the water.

I thought this was a snake when I first glanced at it.  I was VERY glad I hadn't screamed once I realized it was just a tree branch.  There weren't a lot of people around, but I still would have felt absolutely foolish.

I loved the contrasting colors on the wood - it reminded me of an Appaloosa horse.

There were so many interesting shapes going on with this plant that I HAD to take a few pics of it; this is the best of them.

This little guy posed for a little while, then took off.  He had heard enough of the "click, click, click" of the camera.  He probably never thought he'd be stalked by paparazzi in his own backyard!

I loved the color of this bloom, as well as the way it peeked out from all of the surrounding greenery.

  
There were a LOT of berries for the birds and squirrels!  I didn't take any so they would have plenty.

Caught this guy trying to hide from me.  I guess the squirrel network was down or he would have known he wouldn't be successful.

The path was blanketed with this plant - I tried to walk where it wasn't growing because it looked sunny and beautiful.  I didn't want to trample it.

This tree had some MAJOR texture going on.  It almost looks like rock rather than a tree trunk.

This picture only shows about 1/3 of the tree; it was huMONGous.   I tried several different angles to try to capture the enormity of it, but this turned out the best.  I couldn't get very close, which made it more difficult.

Can you find the two (yes, TWO) woodpeckers in this picture?  I'll bet Jenny @ I'd Rather Be Birding! spotted them right away.

And, ending with my favorite picture of the day, and wondering if I could pass it off as a fog enshrouded shot rather than the reflection in the water . . . regardless, I think it looks more "artsy" or brooding than a straight shot of vegetation.


It doesn't surprise me that I was fascinated with pictures using the water for reflection, because I've been doing a lot of reflecting the last couple of days.  Yesterday was not a good day with Mom, and she seemed to want to pick a fight.  I know it's not something I should take personally, but it hit me wrong at the time, and it got me really down.


It took a while, but I finally worked through it.  I have to remember that I am not responsible for Mom's mood or her happiness.  I am responsible for not intentionally irritating her, but not for how she reacts to anything.  That was further reinforced tonight at the presentation by the Alzheimer's Association.  There are times when it is necessary to redirect attention to reduce the anxiety and frustration, which are the times Mom tries to pick a fight.  She is probably still tired from the excursion on Saturday, which also intensifies her anxiety and frustration.  Since she is highly functioning, most people think Mom is pretty much her old self.  Some times she is.  Most of the time she isn't.  She's not far from it, but far enough that she knows it (deep down, even though she really doesn't want to admit it).


I'm very thankful for the staff at Friendship Village who understand what dementia does to people and how little things can have a big impact on their behavior.  I'm thankful for groups like the Alzheimer's Association that provides education on issues regarding dementia.


Mostly, I'm thankful for a God who provides a literal walk in the park as a way to clear my head and enable me to think again, not react to things.  

New "Normal"

I've come to the conclusion that my new "normal" is odd.  Not the typical, not what most would expect.  Just different and oftentimes, odd.

Started out the day with a nice 1.5 mile walk with a friend, then home to make phone calls and see if I could call in a special favor (which turned out MUCH better than I had hoped) and then it was time to fill those bird feeders that are impossible to keep seed in!  Need to get more peanuts for my blue jays, but I did put out more woodpecker suet in the meantime.  I also need to get my butt moving tomorrow and make suet for some of the other suet holders.

Then, it was off to Friendship Village again to see what was going on to celebrate the 20s and 30s . . . 

There was a movie marathon going on that I couldn't get pictures of, but I did get pics of some of the decorations in the commons lounge, as well as some of the staff who dressed in character for the time, AND the barbershop quartet.  

Then, it was off to visit with the favorite pre-15 year old niece and find out her version of what it was like to have an upper GI, followed by a trip to Englewood MetroPark before returning to Friendship Village for session 2 of the series presented by the Alzheimer's Association.  

Loved watching the Canada Geese move through the water.  I don't remember seeing them move their necks back and forth to help propel them . . .

I took 2 pictures from this same spot, but I think this is the better of the two.  This one has the water as the focal point, which gives it more of an Impressionistic painting look than a photo; the other photo has the foliage as the focal point.

I have no clue what this is, but the shape reminded me of a swan neck and head.  Thought it was unusual, so it had to be part of my day!

Pretty sure this is Mock Orange and I'm assuming it was the fragrance I kept catching as I walked along (I saw NO honeysuckle that might account for the scent).

I was captivated by the play of light and shadow on the walk.  There were times the sun was so bright I had a hard time figuring out if I was seeing a leaf reflecting a lot of light, or a flower in bloom.   It was crazy, but crazy beautiful.

I heard a lot of birds singing, but didn't see many of them, unfortunately.  This little guy was the first critter I was able to catch a shot of, and loved seeing him upside down, but keeping an eye on me.

 A part of the trail I took to snap my pics tonight.  You can see from the light and shadows that there are a ton of trees lining the path.

I was fascinated by the view when I was able to get down on a knee to be almost eye level with the tree trunk and the moss growing on it.

More of that super bright light and shadow . . .

The shot above is of the shadows of plants thrown onto the tree trunk.  The shadows below were so distinct and in such sharp contrast to the foliage and the trunk that I couldn't pass up a shot of them.

  
These flowers were in the middle of a lot of shadow, tree limbs, and leaves.  Their yellow stood out, especially with the ray of sun that they were bathed in.  

The only shot of a bird I was able to get today.  Every time I tried to get closer, it would fly off just far enough to keep pretty much the same distance between us!  Normally this would not be a photo I'd use because it's a little too grainy, but my "Master Birder" friend Jenny @ I'd Rather Be Birding! suggested it might be a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (it's not easy to try to identify from this pic), and I've never seen one of those before . . .

Let's see . . . that's people dressed in styles from the 20s and 30s, a barbershop quartet, an awesome pre-15 yr old niece (she's always pretty darn awesome!), swan shaped plants, lots of sun and shadows creating their own amazing beauty, and a "new" bird.  I think I'm liking odd!


So, if odd is my new normal, then my new abnormal would be the expected.  I like that idea a LOT.  Since most of what catches my eye is the unusual or unexpected, it all fits.  I like finding unexpected beauty - it's as if God has given me a little surprise party to enjoy.