The gentle and puffy white clouds, in different shapes and sizes, were beautiful against the blue sky and above the trees and the pond. The wind, which was also gentle, caused the leaves and branches to sway and dance in decorative ways. Putnam Pond. 24 July 2025.

Glimpses of the sun could be seen through grey clouds, while light from the sun appeared above and below the clouds. 25 July 2025 at 6:28 AM.

Clouds put on a good show around the pond this morning. They took on different shapes, and displayed various mixes of white & grey, and light & darkness, in different parts of the sky. And the sun was clearly visible, in another direction. Putnam Pond. 23 July 2025.

The layered clouds obscured the early morning sun, while creating a textured, colorful, and dark look in the sky. Photo: 23 July 2025 at 6:07 AM.

A peaceful pond has a lot of activity and life going on. I practiced watching and listening today, as insects moved around too quickly for me to stay focused on them, and as a few small birds flew in front of me. I loved the experience of being still and attentive and there.

Plants, water, and reflections in and on the pond, on a lovely day that featured many shades of green and blue, with soft white clouds. 22 July 2025, late morning. Putnam Memorial State Park.

"O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,.for his steadfast love endures forever. who made the great lights, .for his steadfast love endures forever; . the sun to rule over the day, .for his steadfast love endures forever; . the moon and stars to rule over the night, .for

RT @The_Earthmonk: Mire Wisp. 22 July 2025. At dawn today, the mist clung to the road, hinting at last night’s secrets—females releasing ph….

RT @treemissions: Did you know that dragonflies are nature's little ninja warriors? These amazing insects have been clocked at speeds of up….

A late morning view of the sun today, as it was shining through the tree branches and leaves and over the pond and the park. Putnam Memorial State Park. 21 July 2025.

It was good to see this bird looking around from one of the perches in the water. It's been a long time. This could be a juvenile Great Cormorant, based on what I saw in a field guide & in the Merlin app, and how the bird looked when s/he took off & flew low across Putnam Pond.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,.and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence,.and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,.and sustain in me a willing spirit.". (Psalm 51:10–12, NRSV)

If you have your volume up and your eyes on this short video, you might see small flying insects darting to and fro the plants and the flowers in the pond. Putnam Pond. 20 July 2025, late morning after church.

One of many views of the beautiful flowering and green plants that live in and around Putnam Pond. I am also going to post a short video of another view. 20 July 2025, late morning after church.

This is a morning photo that I took on July 3 while I was staying at the Craigville Retreat Center on Cape Cod. Here I was at Craigville Beach at 8:00 AM, before the crowds, to see the clouds and the sky and the water.

May peace, .and opportunities for sleep and respite, .be with ALL living beings .and ALL the Earth,.in all places and times. Amen.

P.S. I forgot to mention the trees, with their branches and summer leaves! I love the trees at Putnam Pond in all seasons, and I continue to be sad about the beech leaf disease that is still devastating.

Another view of Putnam Pond in the midafternoon today. I liked seeing the sunlight and the shadows on the grass, and the white clouds and patches of blue in the sky, with one section of the pond in between.