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Season of Grief

I have led a very blessed life. Until recently I had not grieved the loss of anyone deeply. When my parents and mother-in-law died when I was in my fifties, it seemed that their slow deaths were a release from suffering. And though I was sad I was not devastated. The death of my sister-in-law in a car accident saddened me too but I wasn’t overcome with grief. But right now, I am experiencing a Season of Grief that has come quite unexpectedly and hit me hard. My husband, Jon, suggests that it is the suddenness and surprise of the Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Teaching Flower Photography Workshop Soon

This weekend I am working on preparing to teach a Flower Photography Workshop at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts Saturday, February 17. So I thought I would share some of the flower photos I made this week and a few photos that I’ve made during the past year as well. I’ve been playing with photographing amaryllis flowers all of January. Now, though the flowers are faded and withered I am still finding beauty in them. Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – we haven’t time – and to see takes time, Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Optimism Rests on Gratitude

This winter has been very unusual here in Minnesota with strangely mild weather and very little snow. In fact, according to one weather reporter, Nashville, Tennessee has had more snow than Minneapolis so far this winter. To me It Feels Like Spring already and though I’m enjoying it, there is a part of me that feels strangely ill at ease. Though I almost always wish for an early spring, this is a bit earlier than I had in mind. It’s as if I’m unwilling to believe it fully or that I’m worrying about what the deeper meaning of this mild Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Witness

Most mornings I try to take some time to sit and meditate before beginning my day. And when I sit in meditation I get a chance to Witness my mind and how it works. Some days I find great peace in my sitting time. Other days I feel as if a monkey is chasing through my brain. I keep getting caught up in one thought chasing another and I totally forget my intention to simply witness the mind. I’m learning to accept and witness whatever is happening in my mind without judging it. Instead, when I notice that I’m thinking Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Deep Sky Astrophotography

One of my friends from the photo club I’m a member of has been doing Deep Sky Astrophotography from her tiny backyard in south Minneapolis! The photos that she has created in her postage-stamp sized yard amongst all of the light pollution of the city amaze me. So I asked her if I could share some of her photographs here in my blog. And she said, yes but she prefers to stay anonymous so I won’t share her name here. She made all three of the photos in today’s blog post. The photo at the top of this post is Read more…

By Marilyn, ago