Once again, it is time for the Friday’s feathers meme, started over at Ærchie’s Archive.
Today I share with you a small feather from one of the mourning doves that frequent the place. It was suspended in the stems of one of the tiny white asters (yes, that is truly the official name of that flower) that are ubiquitous on this small acreage. This feather was only about an inch long.
It took me a long time to coerce the camera into focusing on the feather, because there was a breeze blowing and the feather would not stay still. Also, since it was a very small and ethereal target, the camera seemed to think that I ought to be focused on the boring but less filmy and moveable mulch behind the plant and feather. But persistence won out, and I got this shot.
I was accompanied during this evolution by Blake, the five year old son of Jesse’s fiancee. It is always a pleasure to be accompanied by innocence and wonder on my travels around the yard. He is very focused on running and loves to play with Ruby. I get a great deal of amusement at the interaction between him and his mother as she attempts to make this young and active child pay attention to the (in his eyes) ridiculous and (in my eyes highly amusing and futile) assertion that he should stay clean.
We had just finished an episode where he was chasing Ruby full bore and slid to a stop on one knee, thereby producing a smear of grass stain on the knee of his pants. Look, anyone who dresses a five year old boy in light colored pants deserves what they get, in my book.
He was very curious about why I might want to waste spend more than half a second getting a photograph of that, or any, feather. The potential beauty of the composition was lost on him, but the miraculous form of the feather and the tiny barbs that hold it in shape was not. And so another eye for detail and wonder is being cultivated in the world, and this is not a bad thing at all.
What a lovely shot! Feathers are just amazing, aren’t they? To imagine something so delicate yet so strong…
I have my first entry up, if you’d like to visit.
And thank you for your good work this week in helping to get out the vote. You’re a hero.
I’m amazed Blake’s mother has made it through five years with her son without giving up on the clean clothes concept. What an impediment to having fun and experiencing the world!
What a ridiculous thing to be focused on. And you are so right, teaching your child the most important thing is keeping the clothes clean is a complete impediment to having fun, learning and experiencing the world. That and modulating your voice, sitting still and not fidgeting, keeping your hair tidy, etc etc etc
A beautiful photo, hmh. It looks so peaceful somehow.
lovely photo! thanks for persisting. Wish my camera would take pictures like that! I had to take 4 pictures of a very not moving 2D crayon picture to get one good picture! For some reason the camera kept warping it and cutting edges off – sigh. Perhaps I am going to have to go get a new camera…now, wouldn’t that be just too sad?!
Children soak up these things like sponges. And teaching them anything but how to play video games, or whatever they’re calling them these days, is a magnificent feat. I think I saw a comment by you over at Paris Parfait. Or maybe it was Margaret & Helen. At 51 I find that I don’t retain things very long.
Brenda
another beautiful photo, you have such an eye for detail
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