Every Dog Deserves a Chance to Run Free Now and Then

Happy morning dog!

In our increasingly crowded and regulated world, it’s harder and harder to find places for a dog to run, but taking time to seek out quiet spaces is worth the trouble for me. A big bonus is giving my own eyes and soul a chance to run free alongside my dog. The noncredit drawing class I’m taking once a week for six weeks in Traverse City began last night, and my eyes are hungrily devouring the world, my soul expanding in the light. Looking at patterns....

Let your spirit soar!

Running free.... Devouring the world's sights.... Releasing the soul from its fetters.... If not now, when?

Running free certainly fits the “Leelanau Uncaged” theme for Northport’s art/music/poetry/performance street fair this Saturday. With wonderful food offerings, too (what’s a fair without food?), Leelanau Uncaged will be going all day on Saturday and into the evening, and in keeping with the spirit of the day, Dog Ears Books is going “uncaged,” too, with the following events:

Noon: Poetry reading by Fleda Brown, who will read from her newly released collection, No Need of Sympathy

1:30 p.m.: Book signing by and conversation with Ken Wylie, co-author of the new novel (already a regional best-seller), Possessed

4 p.m. Live music by “Prevailing Winds”

I had a little brain wave this morning. Not sure if I’ll do it or not.... I may let myself out of a cage in a new way on Saturday, but you’ll have to come to the bookstore to find out if and how. Hmmm, do I dare??????

Who dares to step out of line and be an individual?

August Is Slip-Sliding Away

The Fox Islands -- Leelanau Township offshore

The skies and lakes are blue, the leaves are mostly still green, but it is not mere imagination that sees the first hints of fall color in a few branches of maple or in a roadside ash seedling or wild cherry tree. Summer is a busy time, passing in a blur of color and activity, the cycle of seasons spinning ever faster each year, and so it becomes more important each year to take time for the occasional evening in a colorful crowd -- or in the serene countryside.

Late afternoon sun made colors POP!

Running into an old friend I hadn't seen for years made going to the Northwest Michigan Fair completely worthwhile, and after a big Polish sausage on homemade bun piled high with sauerkraut, David and I made our way to the animal barns, always our prime focus at the fair. 

Freshly bathed

Hungry baby

Suspicious mom

Doe-eyed calf

Good thing Sarah stayed home

Didn't take any photographs of pigs or goats or sheep or chickens but toured through every animal barn before we strolled the colorful lighted midway for a few last shots before the drive home in the dark. Next time we go to the fair, we will try to go on horse-pulling night rather than on the evening of the tractor-pulling event. Noise and black smoke! How do the animals stand it? We were worn out by the time we got home to our quiet farmhouse but glad we went, after missing the fair for several years. 

Sunday evening was a quieter outing, though it also included livestock. In my opinion, any evening is better with livestock.