Archive for the ‘Pandemic’ Category

Last Day In Short Pump — Mission Accomplished   4 comments

Cayden, Audrey, Joy, Robin, and Cayla (August 15, 2021) — Images by kenne

With the arrival of Robin late afternoon on the 15th, we were able to spend time with all the Morris grandchildren —
missioned accomplished! This image captured the shared pleasure of all, especially that of grandma, Joy.

Cayla practicing her new found skill of tying bows

Kenne and Cayla in Backyard — Image by Joy

While spending time with the Morris’s, we were able to spend most of our time outside. When we were inside, we wore masks.

Cayden and Cayla

Children of the pandemic

Very accepting

— kenne

Homebound — Pandemic Art   Leave a comment

‘Homebound’ — Pandemic Art  by kenne

The Days Blur

The days blur as we self-quarantine, to make less work for others.
The days blur, the spot on the floor next to my bed, my feet land with a thud
and I am IT director, chef, housekeeper, nurse, and tele-worker all before 9am.
The days blur, my hand on backs, foreheads, my ears alert for coughing,
thermometer at the hip like a gunslinger.
The days blur, I touch my husband, so I don’t forget what it feels like.
The days blur from rain or crying, the world a watery vision framed by window panes.
The days blur until it’s midnight, 1am—I’ve waited out the cacophony
of children for a silence smothered in anxiety. Privilege is a house,
the hum of a deep freezer, a steady job.
The days blur and my waistband expands as my mind frays, needing a hem.
The days blur and the wound I am oozes, the scab yet to start.
The days blur and racists fight for the right to be served—humanity is a bauble
and capitalism has slashed the price.
The days blur as COVID types its initials on a new high score and doctors adjust the margins.
The days blur and when I finally walk out my door, the world will be less, not more.

Teri Ellen Cross Davis

Missing The Kids In The Sabino Canyon   2 comments

Kenne with Elementary School Kids In Sabino Canyon — Image by Teacher

Starting in October of each year Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN)
teach elementary school kids about nature five days a week, However, because
of the pandemic classes will not be coming to Sabino Canyon till at least next October. 

— kenne

A November Hike To Hutch’s Pool   2 comments

Fall Colors Along Sabino Creek Hiking to Hutch’s Pool — Panorama by kenne

One of my favorite hikes is to Hutch’s Pool. In the past, the Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN)
would guide a fall and spring hike, each hike having a many as 15 hikers.
However, like so many things, not this fall because of the pandemic.
The trail is open, but not for groups.

— kenne

* * * * *

I bear many scars,

but I also carry with me moments

that would not have happened

if I had not dared 

to go beyond my limits.

— Paulo Coelho

Crossing Sabino Creek Below Hutch’s Pool — Image by kenne

 

Wearing Facemasks In Public   3 comments

School Boy --2-Edit-B&W-72Okinawan School Boy (1967) — Image by kenne

I was stationed on the Japanise island of Okinawa for 18 months, 1967-68. During my stay, it was not uncommon to see some people wearing facemasks. This was something I was not use to seeing, so I asked why?

I was told that the person probably had a cold, and out of respect for others, they were hoping to not spread their germs. “Out of respect for others, ” I thought. How nice and novel. It told me a lot about the people of Okinawa. Since then, I have noticed that when I see someone wearing a facemask in public, they are of Asian descent. 

Now that the world is experiencing a pandemic, it would be nice if we all showed respect for others by wearing a facemask in public. One of the things we have learned about this virus is that we can have it and not experience any systems, yet spread the virus. By showing respect for others, we can stop the spread of COVI-19. Wouldn’t that be novel?

— kenne

Sheltered In Place Art   1 comment

Desk Lamp-Art-72Sheltered In Place Art — Photo-Artistry by kenne

one day in the future
I will start a writing
“Once upon a time in 
COVID-19 America.”

I will write about
how the pandemic 
without warning
changed how we live —

how we make use of time 
more time reading poetry
more time writing poetry
more time listening to music.

less time to be with friends
hiking the mountain trails
less time traveling to 
vacation with family.

the pandemic lingers on
a time of more and less
a time when nature reminds
us of the need to work together.

over the last three months
I take more still-life
and landscape photos more
of our home surroundings.

— kenne

 

Coronavirus Time   3 comments

Kenne Self-protrate art blog IIIImage by kenne

I am an old man
Each day sheltering in place
The damage is done.

Early morning walks
Many new walkers pass by
No stopping to talk.

Coronavirus
Still on a stubborn plateau
We fight off the stress.

In a new normal
Public places restricted
Times are abnormal.

Zoom and Facetime
The way we stay connected
Your time is my time.

— kenne

A Pandemic Picture   3 comments

See ItImage by kenne

see this picture

a pandemic picture

not really

it’s not clear

so little information

not able to reason

observation void

or is it

some will reason

based on blind faith

indifferent to the truth

yet people believe

it is the truth

rather than asking

is it the truth

coronavirus exist

fed on indifference

to the truth

prompt with careless moods

minus the circumstances

left to question

only at death

a pandemic where

warriors stand

and truth died in

presidential updates

no longer accepting

only asking

is it the truth

— kenne

Closed   1 comment

Sabino Canyon (1 of 1)-20-Edit-1-B&W-72Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Main Entrance — Image by kenne

The Sabino Canyon Recreation Area has been closed since March 20th and will remain so till further notice.

Ed Rawl — A Celebration of Life   7 comments

Aspen Loop To Wilderness RocksEd Rawl On Wilderness Rocks Trail (June 29, 2012) — Image by kenne

On the morning of May 9, 2020 (6:00 am), we gathered with Ed’s brother, Rick, in the overflow parking lot for entrance into Sabino Canyon to celebrate Ed’s life. Ed died from a stroke on April 18, 2020. The is the third of three postings on Ed’s death:

https://kenneturner.com/2020/04/26/for-his-love-of-nature-ed-rawl-r-i-p/
https://kenneturner.com/2020/05/05/naturalist-ed-rawl-kind-words-for-a-very-special-man/

He had requested that his ashes be spread at a location where one could see both the sunrise and sunset. Because of the pandemic, the main entrance and services in Sabino Canyon were closed, which is why the event was scheduled to begin in the Sabino Canyon overflow parking lot.

After a few words from Rick, a group of about 20 hiked a short distance to a perfect location on the Esperero Trail. Several in the group shared their experiences with and love for Ed.

This video is meant to capture the essence of the celebration without making the video too long. Like his friends, Ed loved nature. It is therefore fitting that the point his ashes were being spread, a rabbit came into the picture, sitting there watching the ceremony.

— kenne

Video by kenne (May 10, 2020)

Fenceline –The Look of Things, Left What We Felt   Leave a comment

Fenceline-B&W-72Fenceline: “The Look of Things, Left What We Felt” — Image by kenne

A Postcard from the Volcano

Children picking up our bones
Will never know that these were once
As quick as foxes on the hill;

And that in autumn, when the grapes
Made sharp air sharper by their smell
These had a being, breathing frost;

And least will guess that with our bones
We left much more, left what still is
The look of things, left what we felt

At what we saw. The spring clouds blow
Above the shuttered mansion-house,
Beyond our gate and the windy sky

Cries out a literate despair.
We knew for long the mansion’s look
And what we said of it became

A part of what it is … Children,
Still weaving budded aureoles,
Will speak our speech and never know,

Will say of the mansion that it seems
As if he that lived there left behind
A spirit storming in blank walls,

A dirty house in a gutted world,
A tatter of shadows peaked to white,
Smeared with the gold of the opulent sun.

— Wallace Stevens

Cartoon du Jour   2 comments

In this age of coronavirus, we are discovering joy in the minuscule and routine.

Walt Whitman Cartoon-72
Sergio García Sánchez, The New York Times Book Review

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journeywork of the stars,
And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren,

And the tree-toad is a chef-d’oeuvre for the highest,
And the running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven,
And the narrowest hinge in my hand puts to scorn all machinery,
And the cow crunching with depressed head surpasses any statue,
And a mouse is miracle enough to stagger sextillions of infidels,
And I could come every afternoon of my life to look at the farmer’s girl boiling her iron tea-kettle and baking shortcake.

— from Song of Myselfby Walt Whitman

Mariposa Lily — Molino Basin   2 comments

Mariposa Lily-Molino Basin-72Mariposa Lilies in Molino Basin — Images by kenne

My previous post was a reblogged from April 28, 2013, “Lily of the Desert.” Because of
the pandemic, I haven’t been on the trails in Sabino Canyon and the nearby
mountains. 
The Forest Service has closed access to parking areas and campgrounds,
but not the trails. One such trail is the Arizona Trail, which winds through the Santa
Catalina Mountains. One place to access the Arizona Trail is in Molino Basin. So,
this morning I headed up the Catalina Highway to the 4000-foot level to photograph
the wildflowers, which are beginning to blooming at this elevation level. Among the
flowers blooming were the mariposa lilies.

— kenne

Mariposa Lily-Molino Basin-2-72Mariposa Lily

Mariposa Lily-Molino Basin-4-72Mariposa Lily

 

 

Walk A Mile In My Shoes   Leave a comment

Taco Woman (1 of 1)-2-art-72Walk A Mile In My Shoes — Photo-Artistry by kenne

“There is nothing more unequal

than the equal treatment of unequals.”

“Walk A Mile In My Shoes”

If I could be you, if you could be me
For just one hour
If we could find a way to get inside
Each other’s mind

If you could see you through my eyes
Instead your ego
I believe you’d be, I believe you’d be surprised to see
That you’ve been blind

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

Now there are people on reservations
And out in the ghetto
And brother there, but for the grace of god
Go you and I

If I only had the wings
Of a little angel
Don’t you know, I’d fly to the top of a mountain
And then I’d cry, cry, cry

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

— Joe South

 

Cartoon Du Jour — Waiting To Go For A Walk In The Age Of COVID-19   Leave a comment

200420_a24106Danny Shanahan — The New Yorker