Rain

Where the bees go during a soft rain...

The rain falls gently
Nature rests in dry shelter
I watch safe at my window

By Karen L.

Rain droplet suspended within a zinnia

It rained all the day
from morning to afternoon
then the sun came out

By ybonesy

Oil painting or photograph?

White flower
nods with sleep as summer raindrops
bend the lacy petals

By D. Bradford

Brand New Day

Finally, a spark of creativity.

This experiment reminds me so much of my late mother-in-law's watercolor paintings.

The more I played the more the magic happened.

There are about thirty in the set, each special in its own way.

Finally, creativity. You can see more on my Facebook if you wish.
(click the link on my FB button, in the right column)

Spring Mill State Park - Details

Iron half-moon arches completed arched doorways of the mill itself.

One of the original mill stones.

Oil lamps aged with soot sit within deep window recesses.

Looking through a doorway.

Closeup of Indiana limestone.

The blacksmith made sparks for me.

Sense of place

Ye Old Meeting House

Perhaps this setting would better inspire the current leaders of our country.

No air conditioning...
No comfy chairs...
Close quarters...
Just our leaders and their ideas, sharing and compromising for the good of the people.

I m a g i n e

Spring Mill State Park

Spring Mill Inn

More photos from our delightful visit of Spring Mill State Park, Indiana. Above is Spring Mill Inn, a lodge built from hand-quarried Indiana Limestone. Here, we had a wonderful lunch in their rustic dining room. I HAD to try the persimmon pudding - it was outstanding!





After lunch we headed to the Pioneer Village, founded in 1814, to stroll down tree-lined walkways, cross ambling streams and weave our way among scores of historic buildings. Each building housed volunteers in period clothing working as weavers, blacksmiths and gardeners among others. We kept looking for the tavern ... !

The Granny White House

Here, a weaving demonstration on a huge loom - amazing

According to their website, Heritage Interpreters portray the year 1863 and demonstrate period crafts. I also noted on their website that Twin Caves at Spring Mill is closed to provide protection from White-nose syndrome, a fungus that is killing bats in large numbers in the Northeastern US, spreading westward. There are other privately-owned caves that are open but precautions are taken to manage the potential threat.

See the hornet's nest?

Before arriving at Spring Mill we'd stopped at a local produce shop to purchase locally-made preserves and other items. Hanging on the walls were massive hornet's nests, thankfully empty. They made quite an impression on me and I was stunned to find this one, above, hanging on the old mill at Spring Mill State Park! Not a fan of hornets, me, and this one was very active!

Spring Mill

This 1817 Grist Mill works. While the family went inside to listen to the historian give its history I meandered and took photos. I've visited other working mills in the south but have never seen one as massive and substantial as this one, which was also built with hand-quarried Indiana Limestone.





A water trough channels water from an uphill stream to the mill. The fast-moving water powers its formidable wheel.



There was so much to see at Spring Mill State Park but our time was very limited. Next post I'll show you more of the mill itself.

The Potter's Wheel

How to start this but to simply start writing and let my thoughts flow like water. Life seems to be out of control right now. Clearly in my soul I feel the deep working of God or Spirit. The Greatest Potter Of All Time has thrown my clay on a wheel and begun shaping me anew.



Just one second is all it took. One second, one misstep, one fall, one table - one day. God had had enough of us - me and hubs - and I believe one day God decided two of Her creations needed a massive re-do.




Massive re-dos take a lot of time and energy. I'm exhausted. I do not see the Giraffe Head Tree anymore. The passion for photography went on the back burner. Clever words left my brain and the blog suffered, sputtered and nearly died.




The desire to hear music faded but seems to be coming back as I stumble along this process. Journaling with pen and paper has been almost manic, as has "nesting," the act of finding and placing loved objects too long not seen.






However tiny the start of my personal Spring, a blooming is beginning to occur. I think I'm going to be okay, but I'm already a changed person in a very good way. A recent trip to Indiana to visit family we visited Spring Mill State Park, had a wonderful lunch and enjoyed a lovely stroll through the primitive village, the source of these photos. This trip was the first time in months I've actually taken semi-creative photos. It felt good.





The beautiful park was filled with flowing water. Honest-to-goodness babbling brooks, quick running streams where children played, small rapids lifted leaves into the air like little boats. The water, mosses, trees, laughing children were all a balm to my soul. I'll be back blogging more regularly but right now I'm going through a growth spurt. Please talk among yourselves and I'll be back later.