I wish you could see what I saw!

The walk started about 5:45 this morning. It began as it usually does, me sitting in my chair on the porch trying to put my walking shoes on while two large dogs try to sneak licks in while I have my head down lacing my shoes. After much good natured admonishment they stand aside quietly to let me finish. Then up, fire up the stop watch, and off the porch we go.

Quickly the dogs smell an unfamiliar scent up near the gravel driveway. Heads down, alert they frantically search for direction, they are absorbed in this new scent and don't follow me down the road right away. Jack tracks the scent down the road, Molly catches up half way to our turning point that leads us out on the lawn. The breeze is steady from the South, it is 62 degrees and the air smells sweet and moist.

We turn North, the dogs with tails at full alert are like to white apparitions drifting in the early light in and out of trees, shrubs and checking those spots on the lawn that serve as markers for them. As we turn North I look West across the lawn toward the cabin and there hung in the sky like some giant light bulb is the moon. It seems to be protesting its descent to the West, but it still casts a strong white light over the landscape. There is a tall tree line behind the cabin and the moonlight glints of the branches of the trees. Fast moving clouds march to the North under the moon which illuminates the tops of the clouds. It reminds me of the old moving pictures where they moved the scenery to give the illusion of actors on the move.

Turning the corner to the island the moon ducks behind the tree tops and seems to play peek-a-boo with me. The dogs still quietly move ahead exploring the edge of the field and ducking down trails they've worn among the honeysuckle disappearing behind a hummock just to reappear as if by magic on the other side. The quiet search they make and the movement of their feed on the leaves and grasses give me reassurance that they are protecting my stroll.

Heading back East down the island the skyline is pink, red and all shades of blue as the sun begins its journey. Still not showing its face it is surely announcing its coming. Once again the low fast moving clouds from the South make the scene ever changing and almost mesmerizing.

So goes the walk. Each succeeding lap shows the moon's retreat and the sun's advance. Finally after 25 minutes the moon has vacated the field and the sun, victorious now begins to shows it jolly red face. The dogs are hanging closer now, Molly stops from time to time to get reassurance from me that everything is OK. Jack is busy chasing a leaf or chewing on a newly found pine branch. We head back for the house to finish our morning chores of refilling the bird feeders and putting fresh water in the kennel.

The walk ends as it began with me sitting in the chair pulling off my shoes, two dogs sneaking in licks while my head is down and anxious for breakfast. There are many good artists, but only one Master - Mother Nature.