one spring we visited pigeon falls, which separates minnesota from ontario. it’s the place where voyageurs had to get out and portage 9 miles, usually with 100-180 pounds hanging from tump lines on their foreheads, after paddling all the way across lake superior in birch bark canoes, which, even 300 years later, seems more foolish than brave. there were new green tips on all of the balsam trees, and we grabbed a handful, and made tea out of them when we were back in our comfortable hotel room, telling ourselves how like voyageurs we had been that day, walking from our car to the overlook and back. i believe we ended the evening, like voyageurs, on down pillows after a good bottle of oregon pinot noir.

balsam fir tips in spring

saint paul, minnesota

 when i photographed this i didn’t know quite how much the center of this ring would resemble the sun. but the symbolism works. green chlorophyll sucking light from the sun, and photosynthesizing madly. it’s how the world goes round. or something to that metaphorical effect. ok time for bed now.

day lily leaves

saint paul, minnesota

i just realized that the leaves above look exactly like cannabis, the skull could be a death’s head, and the redbud blossoms are the color of roses, and so i have unwittingly photographed a tribute to the grateful dead, a band i did not follow or even particularly like. no wonder artists get misinterpreted sometimes. sheesh. and no, “sheesh”  is not short for hashish. it is merely an exclamation. sheesh, you guys!

raccoon skull, red bud buds, and japanese maple leaves

saint paul, minnesota

today i had local tv station KSTP over for a visit and an interview on my deck. we talked about STILL blog, and my journey from being a mom with an itch to earn a place at the online creative table to having product lines at two national retailers. it was a total blast, but i’m not good at talking about myself this much. it totally tires me out. it reminds me of the line from a distant acquaintance of my husband’s who used to interrupt long monologues about herself by saying, “but enough about me, what do you think about me?”

buse variable feather

autignac, france

friends of mine kept this palm-sized giant water bug in their vehicle for several weeks, waiting until we would see each other again and they could give it to me. they loaded and unloaded the car several times, protecting the insect inside a duct tape roll so that it wouldn’t be damaged. aw guys. it’s soooo pretty.

giant water bug (lethocerus americanus)

minneapolis, minnesota