On the Mississippi

Barge Docked on the Mississippi

Barge and Tugboat Docked on the Mississippi © 2012 Bo Mackison

While the river of life glides along smoothly, it remains the same river; only the landscape on either bank seems to change. ~ Max Muller

I have traveled along the river roads running next to the Mississippi all of my life.

I was born in a river town in the middle Mississippi River region and I knew no other life except living near the river. My family home was less than a mile from the bluffs overlooking the river, and I spent many hours watching the river traffic. Yes, we watched the river traffic glide up and down the Mississippi for entertainment. (Obviously before the days of hand held electronic entertainment devices!)

Sundays were special occasions if there was fine weather, although rainy weather didn’t always deter us either. Those tugs pushed the barges no matter the weather. Only a frozen river stopped barge traffic. For Sunday-after-church-family-entertainment we would drive to Lock and Dam #21 (now on the National Register of Historic Places!) and watch the boats and barges navigate the locks. There was a small picnic area and for a real treat we would stop at the only fast food place in town, a Sandy’s drive-thru, a small town predecessor to the McDonald’s franchise.

Or I would walk the three blocks from my high school to the Riverside Park and wait for the barges to pass, tug boats maneuvering the long heavy storage containers through the narrow channel. I’d carry my art book and do quick pencil or charcoal sketches, or write in my journal. (Even as a high-schooler, my life revolved around my art and my writing.)

When I thought about the Mississippi River and its significance as a place in my life, I decided to explore more of the river. I have traveled the river extensively from Dubuque, Iowa to St. Louis, Missouri, and I know the Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri river towns quite well.

This past weekend I headed north on the Great River Road on the Upper Mississippi River. I traveled roads on both sides of the river –  in Wisconsin on the east banks and in Iowa and Minnesota on its western shores. There was so much to see and photograph. Sure I’ll be back for many more visits.

The photograph was taken in Winona, Minnesota, near the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. The museum was closed when I was there, but it looks like a fascinating place to visit. Another reason for a return visit.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is vaguely wondering how the Mississippi River as a subject will fit into the Seeded Earth theme.

Sunny Flowers

Sunflowers

Sunny Flowers © 2012 Bo Mackison

Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing
There is a field.
I’ll meet you there.
~ Rumi

The Golden Hour

Stricker's Pond - Trees Lit by the Setting Sun

Trees in the Golden Hour ©2012 Bo Mackison

Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven. ~ Rabindranath Tagore

Spending this week with family and friends, but I still wish to share a photo a day with you of my walk around Stricker’s Pond. I walked in the evening a few days ago, and the tree trunks caught the light from the setting sun.

This time of day is the golden hour in photography parlance — easy to understand why!

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and the owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is balancing wedding plans and photography this week while enjoying both.

In Honor of Fathers

Papa Goose Hissing At Me

Papa Goose Hissing At Me @ 2012 Bo Mackison

I meet this father goose every morning when I take a walk around a nearby pond. He snaps his mouth open and shut, hisses at me, occasionally spreads his wings and makes a false start towards me.

I now bring my hiking stick with me every morning. I tried shooshing him away, and walking (not) bravely towards him, but he would never let me pass, and I found myself turning around and taking a different route. But now I tap the hiking stick on the path in front of me, and papa goose along with mama goose and his babies, march off the trail, into the long grass, and eventually into the water.

When I first encountered the pair of geese a month ago, their babies were just bits of fluff. Now they are about three/quarters the size of their parents, though they seem to have no clue what to do about me and the other walkers on the trail. They do, however, know that they must scurry off the path and hide if a person walking a dog should happen by.

Maybe I should borrow a neighborhood dog as my walking companion!

On this Father’s Day, hope all the fathers out there are enjoying their day.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. Bo is enjoying Fathers Day, too. The father of the house is grilling steaks for his kids (and me) — what a nice dad!

Orchid in Profile

Orchid in Profile

Orchid in Profile © 2012 Bo Mackison

Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Do not claim them. Feel the artistry moving through and be silent. ~ Rumi

This is an indeed an excellent day to simply observe the world around me, notice the artistry in nature, and be silent. Some days it is wise to be the observer, not the speaker.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.