Waiting

In the early morning, already scorching hot, no one is waiting. Not waiting for a ready-to-go pizza. Not waiting for laundry to dry. Not waiting for the used book store to open. The chairs are lined up and open, ready for those who may need to wait, or rest, or sit quietly. I say this quietly to myself. Slow down. Wait. Rest.

Waiting, June 2025

 
“For beyound your accomplishments
and your calendars and your lists,
you were made with purpose and intention
to reflect Glorious Light
and to abide in Love
that reminds you
even in the pause
you are still
where you need to be.”
— Morgan Harper Nichols

Post Script

After taking the still life photograph of these cone flowers yesterday, I put them in a pottery pitcher. I cannot say that I arranged them with any care, but I did not want to throw them away, as though they were spent. Then this morning they caught my eye. I noticed how much the simplicity of the scene appealed to me. I took a few pictures. Shared here.

Small Rituals, June 2025

Not knowing just what to say—other than the obvious—I used the AI feature on Squarespace. Just for fun. I typed “small rituals” as the caption for my photograph and asked for a blurb. This is what the AI feature generated.

Small rituals anchor our days, offering subtle moments of calm and intention amid the rush. Whether it's the quiet act of brewing morning coffee, arranging fresh flowers on the windowsill, or taking a few mindful breaths before starting work, these simple habits create a rhythm that grounds us. They remind us to pause, to savor the present, and to reconnect with what matters. In photography, capturing these understated moments reveals the beauty in everyday life, highlighting the grace found in routine and repetition. Small rituals, though often overlooked, are powerful threads that weave meaning into daily living.

I am likely late to the whole world of AI. My son who is a university librarian is highly knowledgeable about this topic. He has recently educated me on the tremendous energy demands that AI creates and the resulting impact on our environment. The AI generated writing is smoother than my own clunky and convoluted manner of writing. But still, it’s too perfect for me. Too easy. There is a big part of me that believes the old adage—anything worth having is worth working for. At my core, I believe in hard work and somehow this just feels like cheating. Anything that seems too good to be true, likely is. I will keep an open mind. I will remain curious. But I will also exercise caution and common sense.

Sight Unseen

Resilient Purple Conelfowers, June 2025

We’re in the midst of a week-long heat wave here in Virginia, with temperatures in the 105 degree range. Three is a hot breeze that swirls around every living thing. It makes the heat feel less oppressive and this is a slight relief. But the whole atmosphere feels foreboding, as though storms are building. In the air and in our hearts. It makes me feel unsettled.

I walk out into the garden and stare at the purple cone flowers, petals wilting but stems still strong and upright. I pass them everyday but hardly notice them in my rush to get inside to the cool air conditioning. Today I linger in the heat, letting it settle into my bones. I squat and take a few pictures of the flowers in-situ, but nothing soothes the sun’s glare. I finally concede and cut a few stems bringing them to shade and laying them out on brightly colored cloth. I think about what color and texture might complement the flowers and how they make me feel.

I wonder how it is that I keep circling back to these still life images and resolve to stop overthinking and just enjoy the practice, because not every story that my brain tells me is one I need to live inside. I don’t have to fix it all. I just have to take care of what is right in front of me. I don’t need to think more. I just need to slow down.

Homemade Blueberry Crumble

It’s my mother-in-law’s birthday and she is 93 years-old. This is our gift to her—homemade Blueberry Crumble.

While I am a decent cook, I am not a very good baker. So a crumble, a cobbler, or a crisp are my go-to desserts. They are reliably easy to make, do not require any fussy ingredients, and always please everyone. I’m sharing my favorite recipe here today (from Simply Julia, by Julia Turshen).

Blueberry Crumble, freshly baked, June 2025

For the blueberries

  • 1 pound (453 g) fresh or frozen blueberries (if frozen, no need to defrost)

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the crumble topping

  • 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup (70 g) whole wheat flour

  • 1/2 cup (60 g) rolled oats

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 6 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces, at room temperature

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Next, prepare the blueberries. Place berries in a large bowl with the lemon juice, cornstarch, brown sugar and salt. Mix well. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch pie pan . No need to wash the bowl!

Then prepare the crumb topping.

In the same bowl you mixed the blueberries in, stir together the brown sugar, whole wheat flour, oats, salt and cinnamon. Add the butter and work the mixture with your hands, rubbing it between your fingertips to form large crumbs. (It should feel like dense, wet sand.)

Assemble and bake.

Dot the top of the blueberries evenly with the crumb mixture. Bake until the blueberries are bubbling and the crumbs are dark golden brown, about 45 minutes.

Allow the crumble to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature. Add a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream for topping.