what would you plant

in a secret garden?

a masterpiece in stone

dividing two side-yards on frost street.

men who cook

are

very

sexy.

can you hear us whistling in appreciation, mr. s.?

ayla's hands traveled like hummingbird wings

over her qanun

(a traditional turkish stringed folk instrument)

poor unsuspecting innocents,

a hard frost has come to cup your nodding heads in its palms

clouds with attitude

northern latitude

signs of spring-two

addlepated squirrel

signs of spring-one

escaped ball rolling down estey street

i could continue singing charleston's praises

but it's time

i think

to fly

home

charleston sets a very fine table

for those

who love

architectural feasts

(and for those who prefer things a bit more literal:

the shrimp and grits, nick's barbecue,

she-crab soup, red-chicken stew,

collard greens and charleston baked beans

were all pretty life-changing, too)

charleston flora

a chorus of blossoms

bass notes of bare branches

intricate harmonies

charleston fauna

"they also serve

who

only

stand and wait."

charleston at night

a little

velvet-lined

gem-encrusted

jewel box

chessboard

of grace

(charleston, s.c.)

arriving in charleston at the barksdale house inn on george street

we were instantly charmed by the green courtyard

and the musical splash of the fountain

the glass house contained

a dazzling

array of diversity

and not a single

stone thrown

oh, to be where the fountains gaily gurgle

and the new buds lift their rosy cheeks to the sun

please indulge me

in a few days of holiday photos.

(daniel stowe botanical garden, belmont, north carolina)

thank you for your comments during my absence.

it will be days before i catch up with all of your blogs.

i look forward to every single image.

this young man went door to door

offering his shovel and his time

(i hope by now he is back in school, the snow is gone, and i will awake in

brattleboro with spring on its lips)

what would you store

in a latticed room

under a house built into a hill?

as the snow continues to fall

in boots and scarves, hats and coats

we lumber into pubs for a warming draft

(roofs look clean because the heavy snow sheds regularly,

sidewalks and streets look clean because we have such outstanding plowmen)

during snow storms

traffic lights switch to amber flashing mode

(can anyone tell me how to capture a flashing light in a still image?)

as this post comes up

i'm waking in charleston, s.c.

where i suspect i will not see infants riding on sleds today.

the stone church

accepts the assault of the storm knowing this too shall pass

even the fire alarm box

snoozes on pillows of snow

(a little rouge in all this white for you, virginia)

roofs tug at their snow sheets

with icy slate fingers

lacy chains of snow

balance in winter-thin limbs

subdued by snow

the porchlight slumbers

evergreen boughs carry

a wearying weight of snow

(i'm back on the road for about ten days. hope you don't

weary of this pre-posted series of fresh snow. fond wishes to you all.)

through the curtain lace,

dawn catches new snow kissing every branch of the crab apple tree

theme day - electricity

spinning, whirling, dancing dials

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