Traditional Iconoclast

Yellow Daisies, Yellowstone National Park WY

Posted on 17 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

Our travels this summer took us to Yellowstone National Park – a first for the Big Guy, a first for me since I was about 10. We went to see geysers, but as we drove through the foothills we hit meadows of wildflowers in bloom.

Completely unexpected; completely gorgeous.

As always, I alternated between going for the big picture . . .

. . . and being satisfied with just one.

Between being happy when the wind stopped blowing . . .

. . . and being happy when I managed to capture some sense of motion.

And sometimes, well, I just had the feeling they were trying to tell me something.

Singletone yellow daisy, seeming to gesture with one leaf.

Psst! He went thatta way!

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Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Photos of Flora | Tagged Flowers, Travel | 2 Comments

Mid-Week Movie #1: Loon and Fisshy

Posted on 16 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

This post introduces a new personal challenge.

Background

The Big Guy says he learned to fly an airplane partly because of all those people over the centuries who yearned to fly, before we could. Now that we can, how could he waste the opportunity?

I can easily pass on learning to fly, but I get the point. I love movies – even short ones. Now that digital cameras and software let us make movies relatively easily, how can I waste the opportunity?

So I’m going to try to post a weekly movie – a super-short video on something – to learn by doing: both the technical and the creative aspects. Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Nature Videos | Tagged Birds, Trains & Boats & Planes | 6 Comments

Black-eyed Susans, Ottawa ON

Posted on 15 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

I don’t know if Black-eyed Susans are the perfect perennial, but they’re productive and striking, both singly . . .

And in a bunch . . .

Sometimes, though, I find someone looking back at me.

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Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Photos of Flora | Tagged Flowers | 2 Comments

Dragonfly, Ottawa ON

Posted on 14 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

Viewed through the window, the backyard was aswarm with birds:

Robin
Starling
Chickadee
Cardinal
Chipping sparrow
American redstart

But when I went outside, this was the only guy who wanted his picture taken, and even he was too skittish to let me take a standard portrait. I moved from behind to beside him, but when I got round to his front, he took off. Maybe I looked like a bird.

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Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Photos of Fauna | Tagged Insects | 4 Comments

Clark’s Lookout, MN

Posted on 13 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

I don’t remember when I first heard of Lewis and Clark, but I have a clear memory of their expotition from my first trip to Astoria – Dismal Nitch and all – before the turn of the millennium. Astoria was one end of their great out-and-back trek. I’ve also been to Harper’s Ferry – at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers – where they received their weaponry, and through St. Louis, where they launched the Corps of Discovery Expedition. Having been to those defining points, I have some sense of connection with these guys. Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Laughing Frequently, Through History | Tagged History | Comments Off

The Although-Comma

Posted on 11 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

Although, many of his photos are geological . . .
– Wikipedia entry on John Tuzo Wilson
(pre-edited version)

“Although what?” I wonder. Is this an incomplete segue from the previous sentence? A glance back confirms my impression: No.

I think I know what’s happening here, but I scan ahead to be sure.

Although, many of his photos are geological — details of rocks and their structures or panoramas of large formations — the bulk of his photos are of the places, activities, and people that he saw on his travels.

Continue reading →

Posted in Language and Communication, Laughing Frequently | Tagged Word Play | 18 Comments

Fungus, Lake Clear ON

Posted on 10 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

Decomposing the deadwood of conifers across North America,
Gloeophyllum sepiarium is fairly easily recognized.
– Mushroom Expert

More easily recognized than pronounced or spelled, I’m thinking. If only there were a common name.

Gloeophyllum sepiarium (Rusty gilled polypore)
is a wood decay fungus that causes a brown rot.
– Wiki

Ah ha! The trusty rusty-gilled polypore. Why didn’t they say so?

Yellow, orange, and brown fungus on a conifer stump.

Fungus amongus.

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Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Laughing Frequently, Photos of Flora | Tagged Other Plants | 2 Comments

National Treasure #155: John Tuzo Wilson

Posted on 09 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

Welcome to post #777. Just sayin’.

With a geophysicist for a father, I heard relatively early about John Tuzo Wilson, who was the first person to graduate from a Canadian university in geophysical studies. In our house we sometimes simply called him Tuzo, but we never referred to him as Jock, leaving that familiarity to his intimates. Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Through Canada | Tagged Science, Terra Firma | Comments Off

Pink Coneflower and Black Spruce, Lake Clear ON

Posted on 08 August 2017 by Isabel Gibson

Well, OK, unless you’d been there you might not be able to tell that the darkness looming in the background is a pair of black spruce trees.

But it is/was.

I like the juxtaposition of the annual coneflower, already gone to seed, and the decades-old spruce trees.

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Posted in Appreciating Deeply, Photos of Flora | Tagged Flowers, Trees | 2 Comments

Yellow Daisies, Yellowstone National Park WY

Mid-Week Movie #1: Loon and Fisshy

Background

Black-eyed Susans, Ottawa ON

Dragonfly, Ottawa ON

Clark’s Lookout, MN

The Although-Comma

Fungus, Lake Clear ON

National Treasure #155: John Tuzo Wilson

Pink Coneflower and Black Spruce, Lake Clear ON

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