Wind and Sage Photography

"Take time to smell the roses." Unknown
I'm sharing a few photos from a walk last night around the yard and a little bit of history on each rose.
The first two photos are of the rose named "New Dawn". It is the first plant patent in the US. Not just the first rose patent, but the first plant patent ever. It was filed in 1931 by Henry Rosenberg. New Dawn is a climbing rose that blooms all season long.
The next two photos are of a rose named "Rose de Rescht". (a Damask rose) It is of uncertain history. At one time it was thought to been have brought to Paris by Josephine Bonaparte during the Napoleonic Wars/French Revolution. The ships carrying her plants were offered free passage between countries.
The last rose is a shrub rose with small delicate white blooms. It was named after a young girl who was one of the children shot at the Columbine School Shooting in 1999. Her name was "Cassie".

Another small trivia note in regards to roses. 🙂
Just in case you've ever wondered where the term 'sub rosa' originated.
Sub rosa: adjective
happening or done in secret. "sub rosa inspections"
Sub rosa: adverb
in secret. "the committee operates sub rosa"
Sub rosa literally means "under the rose" in New Latin. Since ancient times, the rose has often been associated with secrecy. In ancient mythology, Cupid gave a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to keep him from telling about the indiscretions of Venus. Ceilings of dining rooms have been decorated with carvings of roses, reportedly to remind guests that what was said at the table should be kept confidential. Roses have also been placed over confessionals as a symbol of the confidentiality of confession. Sub rosa entered the English language in the 17th century, and even before then, people were using the English version, "under the rose." Earlier still, unter der Rose was apparently used in Germany, where the phrase is thought to have originated.
I'm sure it is just what you wanted to learn about. Thanks for reading this far. 🙂

"Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I but when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by." ~Christina Rossetti

This morning's strong wind was trying its best to get the little Mountain Mahogany on a ridge to bend. The tenacious roots and compact stature kept the tree from bending to the will of the wind. But I wasn't as sturdy as this tree. My Three Dog Crew and I were blown about as we ventured out to the desert for some fresh air. There was a LOT of fresh air. 🙂 And despite the wind increasing their speed, the clouds were full of themselves in all shapes and sizes.

" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." ~ William Arthur Ward.

So we adjusted our sails. 😉 And the birds adjusted the tips of their wings. The walk was short but we saw some beautiful country from the comfort of the truck.

(Processed in B&W in honor of Monochrome Monday. )

"...On a human scale these are places of no judgment and no accountability, places where one may be attuned to their most vulnerable, noble and intimate perceptions without guilt. without being beholden to others, without being tracked and monetized and marketed to, without fear, and without stress. Conversely, if we give up the wild, the tyranny of others will become inescapable and the potential worth of an individual life will be that much diminished. Considered as such, how can anyone think of such places as having greater value in any other use?" ~ an excerpt Guy Tal's 'More Than A Rock'

A quick morning wander among ancient rocks and sage.
May our wide-open spaces, views and deserts be protected from those who chose to 'develop' them.

I took that one guy for an old fashioned Sunday drive. It was a beautiful St. Patrick's Day with lots of sunshine and mild temperatures with no specific destination in mind. We ended up on a short stretch of river that has such gorgeous blue water. I had brought my camera but bright midday light is not my favorite time to shoot water. I love water and am mesmerized by its movement and flow. It bewitches me. 🙂 So I had to create a few images.

"I will lead you to the river so you can remember how beautiful it feels to be moved by something that is out of your control."
-Emery Allen

'Artemisia tridentata' (sagebrush) growing up between strands of barbed wire along a fence line. A common enough sight in much of the west. What is a story of the old west folklore and how it was settled without these two playing major parts? 🙂
"After Europeans arrived and pushed west, the cowboys roamed free, herding cattle over the boundless plains.
But settlers needed fences, not least to keep those free-roaming cattle from trampling their crops. And there wasn't a lot of wood - certainly none to spare for fencing in mile after mile of what was often called "The American Desert".
Farmers tried growing thorn-bush hedges, but they were slow-growing and inflexible. Smooth wire fences didn't work either - the cattle simply pushed through them.
Barbed wire changed what the Homestead Act could not." -excerpt from an article written by Tim Harford
(Native Americans referred to barbed wire as 'the devil's rope' and one of the developers of the wire poetically described it as "lighter than air, stronger than whiskey, cheaper than dust" when touting the benefits of the fencing material.

“Did I close the gate?
Yes, I did.
But I don’t remember.
I better go back.
I knew it! I closed it.”
~ A Rancher’s Poem
The gate on this herd's field was definitely closed and the newborns were exploring everything and everywhere-even at the 'closed' gate. Most of the mother cows were enjoying their breakfast of fresh alfalfa hay. Delivered by 'Meals on Wheels' right to their pasture. 🙂 There were plenty of other mothers watching over the little ones.

“I should be able to look down at my feet and see something to photograph.” ~Edward Weston

So I took Mr. Weston's advice to heart and this is what I saw when I looked down at my feet on a wander with my pups. 🙂

“Make an intention to notice each good thing. Doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it makes you smile, even for just a second. Tuck them away in your pocket like tiny treasures. Save them up for the days when you have a hard time finding your gratitude. They’ll light the way.” Nanea Hoffman
Canyons and newborn Calves
This morning seemed like a perfect time to celebrate. There were no chores that couldn't wait, that one guy had a coffee date and my taxes were done. 🙂 So My Crew and I loaded up and looking for an adventure. The only decision to be made was, should we head north (the remaining fog looked good) or should we head south to where there might be a tad less chance of getting stuck? It was a wonderful celebration of watching newborn calves and finding new canyon views in our wander. Intermittent clouds and sun, nice chill in the air and hundreds of acres to explore makes for happy dogs and a grateful (smiling) girl. 🙂

“and here you are living despite it all.” Rupi Kaur

A few years back this area was burned by a fast moving fire, destroying everything in its path. Mother Nature doesn't waste an opportunity to restore what was once thought lost. The willow type shrubs are starting to turn the brilliant color that they boast in early spring. That contrasts nicely with the stark black and white of the burned trees.

"Pause
Just for a second. A moment. And be grateful.
Even if life isn’t perfect.
But thankful for the life you get to live.
For the stories. For the adventures.
And for those you are blessed to love.
Pause." ~ Rachel Martin
🙂
This was a perfect time to stop and pause. The towering canyon walls surrounded me and beckoned me to stay for a moment (or several). A light snow flurry blessed me with my own private showing of just one of nature's endless gifts. Total quiet.....except- it is said that the "rocks, trees and rivers have always been talking to us, but we've forgotten how to listen".

For the love of a wander.

"....Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy,
to be filled with light, and to shine.” "
~Mary Oliver

An interesting and chaotically-shaped tree caught my attention from the wander I took a few days ago. What character, charm and smiles he shared with me. 🙂

"Winter shows us quite beautifully that nothing shall forever stay and everything shall have its day." Athey Thompson

A little something for Monochrome Monday. A thriving & tenacious tree growing along the canyon wall, its shape exposed during the winter season.

“Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered into her heart. She withers the plant down to the root that she may grow it up again fairer and stronger. She calls her family together within her inmost home to prepare them for being scattered abroad upon the face of the earth.”
~Hugh Macmillan, “Rejuvenescence,” The Ministry of Nature, (1871)
Opportunity presented itself.......and I took advantage of it along with My Crew (aka: "The Wild Bunch", "Lads & Lassie", "Trail Squad", and "Herd" are a few names used by friends. They don't mind what they are called as long as they get 'called' to go for a wander. 🙂 ). Another plus was duck hunting season is over! We can resume taking walks along the river without the noise. Because of the mild temperatures in the past few days, the snow is receding quickly, the moisture saturating everything including the winter colors. With early spring like temperatures (temporary temperatures), the sage was fragrant and a lone rock chuck chirped at us. I'm hoping he was practicing NOT seeing his shadow next week.
A brief, but wonderful wander near home.

“Some of the best wanders are when you just pack up and go where your heart takes you.” (modified quote.. used wanders in place of journeys 😉 )
I'd have liked to follow my heart the past few days and went for a wander but common sense ( 'winter weather' warnings and concerns about other drivers on slick roads) have kept me close to home. Which isn't bad.....I have some farm fields around me where the dogs & I take daily walks. BUT it isn't the same as a wander to a canyon, river, rocks, mountains or the desert.
A few weeks ago a small herd of deer greeted us as we started onto a gravel road heading towards our day's adventure destination. They seemed to know that deer season was over and didn't rush off. 🙂 I took a few photographs and we parted ways and off on our separate wanders.

🙂
Make it a gooder one.....a best seller.

"Let's go
To where the magic waits for us
Where our hopes, our dreams
Our wishes. Come true." ~ Athey Thompson

Only two more sunsets and one sunrise until we are in a new year. Tomorrow the calendar date will be '123123'. This rare alignment (of 1,2,3,1,2,3) occurring once every century. Cool, huh?
May you enjoy your last weekend of 2023. 🙂 Do something wild like stirring left over candy canes in your hot chocolate mocha while finishing off the last of the Christmas sugar cookies. You can eat salads next year.

“Apricity" ( n ) The warmth of the sun in winter, origin-Latin

The Winter Solstice wasn't as 'wintery' this season as it normally is.

The 'apricity' was wonderful today as my Crew and I enjoyed a bay side view. 🙂 Only a light jacket was needed. (There is a song about sitting on the dock of the bay in the winter sun. No 'dock' to sit on, but I had a good 'rock'. )

Wasting Time
"You can’t waste time by resting, by chatting to a friend, by walking in nature or reading a book. You can’t waste time by connecting with family or making stories to pass down. You can’t waste time by doing anything at all that feeds your soul or energizes your weary bones. That’s what time is for in fact, everything else is just a tick on my list my friend, a tick on a never ending list.” Unknown

Time not wasted....... I left early this morning to get a wander in. I questioned my wisdom when I was driving through some fog at dark-thirty. Not fun to drive in the fog when it is dark. 🙂 It wasn't long before we got out through it and saw favorable light in the eastern sky. I had kinda a destination in mind, but I am easily distracted and so didn't make the place I was thinking of for sunrise. I made several stops along the way once I hit the dirt road. This is from one of the 'stops'. I just liked how the haze and morning sun greeted each other.

“I woke up this morning and realized that I’ve spent far too much of my time worrying about all the things that really won’t matter in the end.
Did I get my to do list done?
How am I going to be everywhere for everyone and did I remember to do this or that?
Sure, those things do matter for my day to day life, but one day, when I’m sitting back and looking over the days of my life..
That’s not what I’ll remember.
Those won’t be the things that make me smile.
It’ll be the little things that stuck with me.
The big hug of a missed friend.
The giggle of a nearby child.
The way the sun hits the trees in the afternoon.
The late night conversation and the rainy day snuggles.
Those are the memories that will forever have a place in my heart…
So that’s what I’m going to start making more time for.
Maybe I can’t steal away every day to make time for the little stuff,
But I can stop and notice when the beauty of a moment is right in front of me.
I’m going to be present in those times and let the joy wash over me.
No, it won’t solve anything or fix the world, but in those moments, everything just feels good.
So, forgive me if I start to care less about how my hair looks and more about how my soul feels..
Because that’s what I need more of.
Heart filing adventures, soul stirring feelings and just being alive.
Maybe we won’t have perfect lives and trouble free times,
But we can find beautiful moments and enjoy them.
After all, that’s where the memories start.
And I don’t know about you,
I know that thought just makes me smile.
And we can all use a little more love and smiling in our lives.
So, let’s do that, shall we?
Live, love and laugh a little more every day.
We might just find a bit more happiness along the way too."
~ravenwolf

When you're awake in the wee hours of the morning because of a scheduled power outage, you might as well just get up. Do some laundry, mop up dog prints from the floor in the back entry way and get chores done early. (Still dark outside.) Then you realize you have a few hours before you need to be anywhere. 🙂 I left a bowl of cold cereal for that one guy and loaded up the crew and head to my favorite desert. I was needing a wander. Even a brief wander. I told myself it won't be drizzling rain out there. I was right! No rain, some wind and cool clouds. The rising sun was mostly blocked by the clouds but light snuck out here and there, briefly lighting up an area before being blocked or filtered again.
What I did have was a beautiful morning, with snow squalls blowing through then blue sky for a moment before the next squall came along. The wind was blowing and my fingers were cold. The dogs had a large time running amuck. These pictures aren't much for someone else to look at, but the time creating them sure put a big smile on my face. An unexpected couple of free hours make all the difference in the world. ❤ Grateful.

"There are seconds-they come five or six at at time-when you suddenly feel the presence of the eternal harmony perfectly attained...This feeling is clear and unmistakable; it's as though you apprehend all nature and suddenly say, 'Yes, that's right.' " Fyodor Dostoevsky (from a quote found in Guy Tal's book "The Interior Landscape")
This image was created while on an Autumn wander when it started sprinkling rain. I'm not sure why that always makes me smile to be caught in a soft gentle rain while out in nature, but it does. 🙂 I also don't know why I am drawn to sagebrush...the blue green hue of a healthy sage or the artistic shape and texture of one that has lived its life. For those times, all is well in my world. 🙂

A few images from a recent wander in a magical canyon. The first one is in tribute to my fearless 'leader', Trae. (He has no problem rock hopping.) And as a salute to Monochrome Monday.

The second one showing the beautiful mood and tones found in the same canyon. Basalt sculpted by 10,000 years of water.

"Think of all the good moments of this day and keep a smile for tomorrow. " ~ unknown

"Step back non-believers or the rain will never come..." Lizzie and the Rainman, Tanya Tucker
I enjoyed watching a desert squall on a visit to the desert a week or so ago. It moved quickly and where the rays of the sun were allowed through the clouds, portions of the landscape and canyon seemed to be in an everchanging 'spotlight'. I might have tried to chase it and photograph it from different locations, but I didn't want to miss any of it from the view that I had. 🙂
Autumn has been fantastic this year and so it almost seems to be ungrateful to wish for some moody clouds and moisture..... (but I do.)

“…….And there in these quiet places, if you be still and at your will, look slowly all around as magic shall surely be found. Tis upon these enchanted places that ye may, just may come upon an entrance to the other realms. ……………you mind yourself as you just might come across such quiet places. And where they be Sshhhh…. they shall be a secret kept by we.” Athey Thompson

I enjoy the 'quiet places' most of all. 🙂

"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." ~Winston Churchill

Nature and geological wonders are amazing. The water from this spring flows at 180,000 gallons per minute. 🙂