Matthew

He likes to walk in the forest alone, go for days without seeing another person and not care where the deer path takes him

He's given up maps in favor of wandering.

He likes the word, 'aimless', and the birdsongs he knows are important.

He likes bramble and thicket, stand and riprap.

He likes to watch the fat Robin at work in the morning and the Great Grey owl rise through the trees in the starlight.

                            -anonymous-

This is my son. 

Once  a  child, now a man.

Once at home, now on his own.

                                                                                                                                                        

He has found his passion. 

He has found his gift.                                                            

His passion is for creation.

His gift is for seeing its beauty.

His passion is for learning.
His gift is for teaching.

Teaching others about creation.

Teaching others about its beauty.

This is my son, the man he has become,

                              Matthew.                          

Summer of "the virus", 2020

 I have been wondering what I should write about the summer of 2020.
Actually, it started out like any new year: cold and snowy; grey and sort of dreary weather-wise.
As usual, I was enjoying having my son, Matt, home for the Winter. He shoveled my snow, took the garbage out in the freezing cold...all without complaint.
I also got to spend time during Winter break with my daughter, Jamie, her husband, Nate, but most of all my beautiful Granddaughter, Emmilyn.
We are a close knit family. We like playing games together, sharing time around the dinner table, and even taking walks together, in the snow.
That all changed in February. "The Virus" hit!  Covid-19! As people began to sense the seriousness of it, we of course, turned to our leaders to find out what we should do. 
"Shelter in place", self-quarantine, hunker down, wear a mask, don't wear a mask, social distancing." In other words, they just didn't know, and no one could agree.
Along about that time, I got the flu. Or was it just the flu? Who really knew? Matt also got very sick.
As we  got better, things began to get worse in our country, and in our State. That's when we, Matt and I, decided to "head for the hills".
Well, not really to the hills, just up to our cabin in Northern Michigan.

We packed up the cars, shut down the house and headed up I-75 for Oscoda.  
Of course, I figured it would only be for a couple of weeks,  a month at most.  Since it was Winter, we took boots, mittens, hats, heavy coats...all the winter clothes we thought we'd need.

It is now July 3rd and we have  been here 105 days. The Winter clothes have been stuffed into closets, in boxes under beds, anyplace we can find room.
We had to make a run home to break out our summer wardrobe. 

Lest you think I am bemoaning the fact that I had to leave my city home for my cabin in the woods, let me say, how wonderful it has been. Being here during the Spring migration of ducks, raptors, warblers and sparrows has been something I had always wanted to do, but just couldn't find the time. 

Well, God made the time...'virus' time.

                                                                     

Redheaded Woodpecker

Red-breasted Merganser

Bald Eagle

Bufflehead

Northern Flicker