toms images and news

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

friendly bee

This little bee landed on my finger. It meant no malice, wasn't there to sting or to bite and suck my blood. It only worked its little suction cup across my skin. A friendly bee! An amazing insect with a funny blob antenna, vivid yellow and black stripes, the suction cup and how about those eyes....

circles and squares

Sunday, July 3, 2011

approaching

I saw three mountain goats on Ruby yesterday. They didn't seem to notice me at first. Then as I was snapping some photos, this one sensed something and started approaching. At first I thought, Great I'll get some good shots, but the closer he got, I noticed how sharp those horns are and how big and powerful he looked! Luckily, he turned after another step or two... He and his buddies walked gracefully down the ridge and out of sight. Amazing!

indian paintbrush

Sunday, June 5, 2011

snow bug

I've seen these bugs while hiking up peaks in the spring. Here in this huge expanse of melting snow, a tiny, green ,spotted bug, trimmed in orange, with purple eyes somehow survives.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

"Hope"

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

"Hope" is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
That sings the tune without the words-
And never stops- at all-

And sweetest in the Gale- is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm-

I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb- of Me.

-Emily Dickinson

Saturday, November 20, 2010

best friend

My best friend, Jasmine, passed away yesterday. Some unknown illness took her in a matter of weeks. She was a loving soul and a constant companion. We hiked forty peaks together this season and had countless adventures in her eleven years of life. She was the perfect mountain dog, fearless, agile, athletic and never daunted by adverse terrain or conditions. She especially enjoyed sitting on the top of a peak scanning the incredible landscape below. She loved skiing in the spring and when it was time to go and I was clicking into my skis she became quite excited and would even yelp and squeal with joy in anticipation of the descent. Her favorite passion, however, was the relentless pursuit of chipmunks, squirrels and birds. She hardly ever captured one but was always game to give chase. Even though she was not trained as a hunting dog she would sense a hidden ptarmigan or grouse and freeze into the classic point pose revealing the hidden quarry. While we were hiking she regularly came back from her explorations to check on me and I got into the habit of saying this little poem to her. It seemed to soothe her and she would turn and happily trot off... "You're a pretty dog gon good little ol dog gon dog, dog gon it..anyway." I will miss her deeply.