STOP, Look and Listen!
September 29, 2009Pileated Woodpecker
Each morning around 5:30AM my husband and I go for a walk. It is a tradition we started several years ago to get us away from the details of everyday. About 10 minutes into our walk yesterday morning I heard a tapping above our heads. We searched the trees and spotted a pileated woodpecker. Even with the fall leaf colors surrounding it, the brilliant red head jumped out. We stood there for several minutes watching it use it’s beak as a drill. My husband wondered aloud if we could go back to get the camera and return to take a picture before he moved on to another task.
I suggested that we had nothing to lose so we were pleased to return a few minutes later to see and hear him still at work. We watched him move around the tree working on several holes. Lately when I see or hear or smell something that won’t be around for long I try to stop and live in the moment. Yes, a bit of stop, looking and listening! Of course, this doesn’t always work depending on where I am but when I can, I find I really appreciate those moments.
I am also conscious of my time and conversations with people. Life is to short not to smell the flowers, take in the landscape and reach out to others. During September I have taken a photo each day from the same spot looking at the same landscape at about the same time. What a collection I have! I have noticed the colors and how they change the field, sky, trees, mountain and farmland in my view.
As many of you know on October 8 and 9th we will have our biennial statewide arts education The Arts Connect conference at Point Lookout in Northport. It will be an opportunity to gather with colleagues to learn and network and to pause to reflect on the good work that arts educators everyday in their classrooms, schools and school districts. I hope I will see you there and that we have time for a conversation! If you haven’t registered and would like to please click here.
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Argy… what a great way to start the day, and your photograph of the landscape is a wonderful reminder about the beauty all around us, especially in the early morning when the light is special. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to see the rest of those pictures, in order (of course)!
Thanks for your comment Beth! I have been thinking about where and how I want to use these pictures. I was thinking of starting a blog called “a picture a day” or “through my eyes only”. They would be there, in order, for me to enjoy and for others.
I agree we all, especially artists, need that beauty in our day. We are so fortunate here in the state of Maine to be surrounded by these fantastic sites! My family and I have been enjoying walks on several local trails. Yesterday we had the pleasure of taking in the beauty of the trail behind Thomas College where the Messalonskee stream meets the Kennebec River. What a glorious view, the sweet sounds of nature… it does help your spirit refocus. Thank you for that post!
Thank you so much Amy for your comments. If you have a picture of the trail behind Thomas College please email it to me. It would be fun to include photos from arts educators.