life transition

It's hard to believe that just over six months have gone by since the day I was told I was to be laid off. It was somewhat of a surprise but not totally unexpected given that the company had been going through rounds of terminations over the last several years.

I was given 3 months notice and told to use the time to figure out my next steps rather than continuing to work. I feel like I spent the first six weeks bouncing off of walls, trying to decide what to do. I created a new resume and a profile on linkedin, I took some online classes designed to help with the next steps, I thought and thought, and...

The first session I took was a seminar on retiring, perhaps a sign to me, an early series of thoughts. I had planned to work for another two years; my unexpected work termination gave me a chance to rethink the time.

Ultimately I decided the time was right for me to retire.

I am volunteering at two places where over the years I was often to be found with my camera. It feels good to give back to these treasured places. I am staying active, taking classes and swimming at the local YMCA plus heading out on my own too. And, no surprise, I am focusing on my photography.

Life is good.

ocean and sky

A pattern of diagonal lines flows from the waves in the ocean to the clouds in the sky.

at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

birds on a wire

I was fascinated by cormorants sitting on wires as I crossed the bridge to Plum Island this afternoon. They often sit on rocks by the ocean; perching on wires seems different.

I stood and watched for a while. Occasionally a bird would switch wires, causing a bit of instability among the others on the wire.

late summer dahlia

Dahlias create a wonderful splash of bright color.

angled

Sunflowers are beautiful when viewed from any angle.

tomato colors

Freshly harvested tomatoes are a delightful taste treat.
The many colors feed our eyes with beauty too.

by the sea

It was a good afternoon for a walk by the sea, a time to listen to the sound of the ocean, to watch as the tide headed out.

in the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

sunshine

Sunflowers bring simple beauty, adding light to the day.

stickwork

It was a day for walking through an interesting structure in the woods.

I headed to Tower Hill Botanic Garden this morning, arriving shortly after it opened. I wanted to see (and wander through) the new Stickwork installation titled "The Wild Rumpus".

THE WILD RUMPUS: A STICKWORK SCULPTURE BY PATRICK DOUGHERTY We are extremely grateful to internationally acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty, and his team of volunteers, for creating his latest towering Stickwork installation at Tower Hill Botanic Garden: The Wild Rumpus. Patrick Dougherty bends, weaves, and flexes locally sourced saplings into architectural sculptures which are unique to the setting and dynamically relate to the landscape and built environment around them. Over the last 30 years, he has built more than 250 of these works. His award winning sculptures have been seen worldwide — from Scotland to Japan to Brussels, and all over the United States. “Here at Tower Hill we strive to show our visitors the value of plants and the impact nature can have on our lives,” said Tower Hill interim CEO Suzanne Maas. “We’re thrilled to experience Patrick Dougherty’s works up close and to see the power of plants through his unique perspective.” text from :: STICKWORK INSTALLATION AT TOWER HILL

It was fascinating to see the intricate weaving of natural materials that was used to build a larger than life sculpture. I was able to walk up to, around, and through parts of the sculpture.

A few more photos of this sculpture can be seen in the gallery Tower Hill Botanic Garden :: 2016 starting with this photo and ending here.

I highly recommend a visit to the artist's web site to see more of his wonderful sculptures. You can find Patrick Dougherty's work at www.stickwork.net.

a rose

A rose stands tall, both simple and complex, a thing of beauty.