imagine each of these asters growing on opposite stalks, on two different stems in two separate visual planes. now imagine trying to keep them all in focus at the same time. that’s how i sometimes feel about the multivalent life my husband and i have chosen. it never quite feels as if we can keep everything in focus at the same time. and it can look a little messy at times. and maybe it’s just unfocused, or maybe when you focus on what you can absorb at any one time, all of the hazy rest of it sits beautifully in the background waiting its turn. i don’t know.

winter aster stems

vadnais lake, saint paul, minnesota