September 1: Les Fraises

Rural, farm-covered L'Ile D'Orleans in the St. Laurence River is the farm basket of Quebec. Strawberries are one of the specialties, with two seasons: summer and fall. After visiting L'Ile D'Orleans today, I checked out the permanent farmers' market near the Old Port Quebec, where I bought a cup of fresh strawberries and ate them on the spot. They tasted of summer, even as the season begins to turn to fall.

 

Strange to start September

here in Canada

with farm-fresh strawberries.

 

Posted with Blogsy

August 31: Bistro

Drink in this moment:

good glass of cider, a crepe,

time alone to think.

 

Posted with Blogsy

August 30: Le Vieux-Quebec

old stones old streets

I walk in the past for hours

happy amid the crowds

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

August 29: Mountain nocturne

No moon tonight: clouds.

No owl: crickets.

Mountains, fields: a seamless dark.

Posted with Blogsy

August 28: From Mount Philo

Down on Lake Champlain

two sailboats tack all morning:

imagine their view.

View from Mount Philo, VT, of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

August 27: Moonlight in Vermont

Last light gilds the fields.

Raven calls the full moon up

for eight cameras.

 

Posted with Blogsy

August 26: Bread Loaf, Vermont

You've been here before.

Greet the hayfield like a friend,

wave to the raven.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

August 25: Neighborhood gang

Behind the green leaves

cacophany of crows

and one unmoved eagle.

Posted with Blogsy

August 24: There and back again on the Georges Highland Path

Out:

Hiking Ragged Mountain--

I can't slow down 

or mosquitoes will catch up.

Back:

In the deep damp woods

I lose my shadow.

Wood-pewee whistles it back.

August 23: On the mountain

We took the chairlift most of the way up Sugarloaf Mountain today, then hiked the rest of the way to the summit on ski trails blanketed with stones, bunchberries, crowberries, cranberries, and flowering alpine cinquefoil. Just below the summit we were surprised to see a Whimbrel, a largish shorebird, fly past us. 

At the summit, out of breath,

sustained by berries

and flights of birds.

August 22: On the trail

We hiked in to spend the night at Poplar Stream Falls Hut, part of the Maine Huts & Trails network near Sugarloaf Mountain.

On the trail, late August--

goldenrod abuzz with bees,

one red poplar leaf.