Janustory - Day 17

Today's installment:  Is that scrap of white on the waves a ship or merely a lost and wandering cloud? ‪#‎janustory‬ ‪#‎wordcount17

Clouds are amazing things. A cluster of water vapor that can resemble fabulous beasts or superfine sugar, clouds delight and amaze us. In the Midwest, I am spoiled for big skyscapes. For some reason, I'm attracted to the dunes in winter, when few people are out and Mother Nature offers spare, elegant skies.

Janustory - Day 16

Today's installment: The small vine fibers are more or less successful for macramé but I’m getting blistered fingers. ‪#‎janustory‬ ‪#‎wordcount16

Tomorrow we head into the deep freeze with highs in the single digits. We shall see how frosty the front door becomes and if the cats will get over their animosity enough to cuddle together. In the meantime, a picture of a gardenia in all its tropical loveliness.

Janustory - Day 14 & 15



monarch chrysalis


The next installments:

The howling loneliness is all consuming and now even cannibals would be ready company.

With giant waxy leaves and vine fibers, I have managed to fashion a rain funnel.

#janustory #wordcount14 #wordcount15

So this week has been one of death. The world has lost major musical and acting talent and my world has lost a friend's grandmother and a friend's father. So far, today has not brought any more news of personal death, but the night is still young.

Death is ugly, messy, frightening, and heartbreaking, yet it can also be beautiful. We find a lot of interesting dead things when you work in the middle of a prairie and grow plants in hoop houses. There's a lot of frogs, for example, and butterflies. When you have a literal ton of flowers, you get a lot of butterflies, and let's face it, most butterflies don't live very long.

Because we find them beautiful, we have collected a variety of dead things. My friend Susan has been creating extraordinary collages and tableaus on her seed sowing table. In memory of those who have left you, I give you Susan's extraordinary eye for the stunning loveliness that can be found in nature at all stages.

Oh, and we find a lot of nests, too, which are in themselves works of art.

Janustory - Day 13

Today's installment: These tropical dawns are pretty spectacular, but how do I signal a ship? #janustory #wordcount13

Speaking of dawn, it's pretty awesome to work in a prairie sometimes. The light is amazing at dawn and dusk. Plus, you get freezing fog which turns the landscape ghostly and haunted. Goldenrod never looked so elegant!

Janustory - Day 12

Today's installment: I wait for the water cup to fill and nurse bloodied feet. #janustory #wordcount12

Today, a video. My workplace is rural and in the middle of corn and soybean fields. The drive is beautiful and quite inspiring until it snows. Then it takes twice as long and is fraught with peril. However, blowing snow, especially at 25 to 30 mph is beautifully hypnotic.

Janustory - Day 11

Today's installment: The blue butterflied do not seem to appreciate my rasping storytelling. #janustory #wordcount11

Capturing butterflies is an exercise in patience. Monarchs are particularly skittish. So when you get a good shot, you share it!

Janustory - Day 9 & 10

Yesterday's installment: With a battered pocket knife, I now can feast. #wordcount9

Today's installment: Never one for sushi, I begin to see the appeal. ‪#‎janustory‬ ‪#‎wordcount10

Last night we got about a half inch of snow and more ice. Yay January! Finally, winter seems to have shown up. It's still not cold enough to kill off Japanese beetle, but maybe the single digit temps the next few days will finish off some of the more delicate of the pest population. This photo reminds me of frozen dew.