Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Mercer Arboretum's Oxbow



When I look at this picture, I see the silently serene beauty of the Spring Creek area where I grew up. "Silently serene", though, were not the words that were floating around in my head as I was taking this picture. The woods I was walking through were not silent or serene at all, but alive and busy with chattering squirrels and birds, the occasional song of an owl, and the cry of a distant hawk echoing through the forest trees. I was not serene, but exhilarated by the first cool fall breeze of the year, and the smell of pine needles blanketing the forest floor.

I heard somewhere that researchers believe that a walk in the woods [or nature in general] releases a chemical in the body that has healing properties and can calm anxiety much in the same way sunlight causes the body to produce vitamin D. At that moment, though, I could not have cared less about such research, because I had my camera in hand, and couldn't wait to take pictures of anything I found interesting.

As I approached the Oxbow, the sounds of the forest start to change. A chorus of croaking frogs gradually got louder. Thousands of frogs. There was no mistaking the Oxbow's location, even though you can't see it until you reach the edge of where it slopes down into the bog.

The slope is steep, so to be sure of my footing, I removed my flip flops and descended barefoot. As a kid, I used to run through these woods barefoot all the time, so it seems natural to do this. When I reached the bank, I heard tiny splashes in the water directly in front of me, but never saw the frogs leap in. All the other frogs croaked louder as if to sound a warning. The mud is black, and I know from experience that it will stain my feet for days. The water is murky with a green algae bloom covering it's surface. I don't dare stick my feet in it for fear of what lurks beneath, like water moccasins or any other foul creature my imagination could dream up. Again, as I swatted away the mosquitoes, the serene beauty of this place did not occur to me.

Then I turned to my left and looked up. The afternoon sunlight was streaming in through the trees, casting shadows across the algae, and a green glow to the whole scene. The reflections of the trees in the water were crossing the shadows on the algae. Excitedly, I started clicking away with my camera until the sun dipped down below the tree line and the shadows were gone, the green glow had faded to natural earth tones, and what seemed like minutes had faded into hours.

Reluctantly, I started back to my car, stopping for any excuse to take a picture, but there was not enough light, and I didn't bring my tripod. The first thing I did when I got home was turn on my computer so I could see my photos. I sat at my desk tired in a very peaceful and relaxed way after my four hour walk through the Arboretum. While I was glancing through my photos and came across this one, it occurred to me that it took my camera to show me the real beauty and serenity of this place where I grew up and have always taken for granted.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Some More Reflections for Mary






Mary inspired me. The last two are upside down.

Nashua Creek




Nashua Creek runs down through the center of Belle Isle and Biker Buddy and I often walk along its banks. It was rainy and windy and cold yesterday, but we went anyway, and were glad we did!

see 4 more of these shots here. (Photos by Mary Stebbins Taitt, click images to view larger.)
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Friday, October 26, 2007

Silence


Silence, by Mary Stebbins Taitt, for Photo Friday. Click image to view larger.
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Today's Pics



An Old One


The leaves aren't changing here, yet, so here's an old one.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

We love leaves


Yay Autumn! We love your gorgeous leaves!

This is a sycamore leaf.

see another here.

(photo by me.)
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

At Wolcott Mill





photos by Keith Taitt
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Monday, October 22, 2007

Above Silk Creek


Looking down toward Silk Creek with the autumn color, photo by Scott Carter.
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Autumn on the Creek




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Sour Grapes


Silk Creek Review Editor Scott Carter expresses his distaste for the wild grapes poetry editor Mary Taitt suggested he taste.
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Sunday, October 21, 2007

Went to the Park Today


Cypress boardwalk


Why the water looks so green


What lurks beneath


It was a good day

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Hello from East Texas



This is my first post to Silk Creek Portal. I'm a long ways from Silk Creek, but hope to visit someday soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd show you what a walk in the woods looks like where I live. The way the sunlight caught the Spanish Moss in this Cypress Tree caught my eye.



Another view of the same tree.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Bald Eagle


Click images to view larger. Top one is a photograph, bottom a painting made from that photo, both by Mary Stebbins Taitt. Please post to the portal! YOU can join and post. Leave a comment with your email, WE will send you an invite, and remove your email from the comment for safelty. Unless you say not to.
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Friday, October 12, 2007

Slow work through tall weeds



Takes a long time for me to paint a picture. Still working on this one. Mary
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The River from Above


The River from above, by Leaf Lady (Gail)
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Low Clouds


Low Clouds, by Leaf Lady (Gail)
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stones in river


Color among the grey, by Leaf Lady (Gail).
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Saturday, October 06, 2007

in the greenhouse


#3109-1-567, originally uploaded by silkcreekthree.

OK, I admit it, this are just too tropical for silk creek--but hey, they carry some of the feeling of being on the creek! (Photo by Mary Stebbins Taitt.)

"The Creek" at Dusk


Balduck Park at night-567, originally uploaded by silkcreekthree.

Night at silk Creek can be soft and silky and a little spooky and a little sweet! Photo by Mary Taitt.

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