Monday Morning Musings:
Infuse
a subtle taste, in this golden glow
find a centering, a time and place to recall
moments of friendship, laughter that falls
with ease, a seizing of the day–
but, oh the moon! She hums, not sweet,
but fiercely, in tune with the season
of upside down and in-between, dispersing
in her way
reflected light. The light!
through gold and green, the illumination of things
not always seen—the molecules that ignite in color
and flame
to arc across the sky. Hello and goodbye.
The magic vanishes too soon—sunrise to starry night—
I follow science, but understand delight
in looking up and all around
I’ve found the sound
of moon-sighs and dawn’s reprise,
the whispers of the river and trees,
the canopy above suffused with hues so bright—
and if the shadows drop, lengthen, and call,
they can’t appear without a gleam–
a radiance diffused or luminosity suffused
from ancient boom and blast and whirls of gas–
our starry nights, our souls delight
we see, seek, carry this light.
The sky has been fascinating and gorgeous this week. We got together with some friends this week, and my friend Pat was so excited about her new infusing pitcher.
We also attended our daughter’s talk about Bordeaux wines and Blue Cork Winery’s Bordeaux-style wines and cheese pairing.
We streamed the Lantern Theater’s production of The Plague, a play based on Albert Camus’ novel. It was a well-done and timely production.
We saw an immersive Van Gogh exhibition. I wasn’t certain what to expect because I’ve heard both good and not-so-good reviews. There seem to be several different companies that are touring around the globe with these exhibitions. This one, though originally advertised as being in a secret Philadelphia location, turned out to be in suburb outside the city, less convenient for us. We went on Sunday morning at 9 AM, assuming correctly that there would not be too much traffic on the street or people at the venue. (Proof of vaccination was required and masks had to be worn.) We both liked the show, but we didn’t think it was the most amazing thing ever. We learned some information in the gallery section, but I really was not a fan of the Van Gogh prints that were like backlit canvases. We can see real Van Gogh paintings in Philadelphia. And we’ve stepped inside his bedroom at Grounds for Sculpture. However, I really did like the immersive experience. I particularly loved the crows that seemed to fly through the room, the rain that looked like it was forming puddles at our feet, and the starry night with the boats sailing on the river.
After the exhibition, we drove to Philadelphia and walked for about three hours from Old City to Rittenhouse Square and back, and then over to Washington Square to Tria—where the sun came out, we sat outside, enjoying food, wine, beer, and each other’s company.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Interesting one dear. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
no need dear
👌👌👌📷🌹
Those skyscapes are incredible. Such a good reminder to always welcome the dawning of a new day. The first and last stanzas of your musings resonated with me.
Thank you very much, Liz, for letting me know what stood out for you.
I just couldn’t seem to get going with this one today. 😀
You’re welcome, Merril.
The photos are beautiful! We went to the Van Gogh immersive in Scottsdale. Not a fan. It was barely ok. Nothing amazing happened. I didn’t feel as if I was in Van Gogh’s head. I’m too old for sitting on the concrete floor. There were mirrored pillars in the way. And it was way too expensive as I had selected the middle price tix. Insult to injury: they gave us IOUs for our posters, but the parking is very difficult there so who would go get them. They sure had a lot of merchandise to sell . . . .
This is not the fault of the exhibit, but I had to leave after 20 minutes or so because of the movement of the lights. I am very sensitive to that because of my weird migraine issue. There wasn’t a proper warning for people with epilepsy, etc. I was fine until I wasn’t, so I think it was because suddenly the movement sped up.
Thank you!
I remember you didn’t like the one you went to. It sounds like this one must be a different one. It was through a company called Fever. No concrete floor or mirrored pillars–and I don’t think there were middle price tickets. There was a VIP option, which we did not get. No posters, and you exit through the gift shop, but it wasn’t that extensive. I imagine you’d have problem though with the lights in any type of exhibit like this. I think there were warnings here. Did you see the movie Loving Vincent? We saw that in the theater, and I did feel I knew more about Van Gogh and what was going on in his head–plus the images were hand colored.
Our mirrored pillars were part of the venue, so they couldn’t get rid of them. I didn’t see a movie anywhere there, but I felt like I got bumped into the 2nd room and might have missed it.
It sounds like you saw a different show, and also since we went at 9 AM, it wasn’t too crowded. There wasn’t a movie, it was the immersive experience, but the images were projected on all four walls, and you could sit anywhere, so nothing would have blocked the view.
Right, that’s what we saw. Except this Scottsdale venue had these dumb pillars. And the exit sign and stuff like that heh. And I forgot to take my LSD ahead of time.
😀
Wonderful Monday musings, Merril. Beautiful pictures. Favourites: Your Willow, Moon setting, Doug and your daughter and that lovely little bird in the tree!
VanGogh was okay. It was so crowded when I went pre-pandemic. I was glad to have gone to it though seeing it all with bodies in the way, was a pain. Merchandise was at a minimum but I’m not inclined to buy that sort of stuff anyway.
Thank you so much, Dale.
I’m glad you saw my willow shot. 😀
I think if had been very crowded, especially in these times, masks or not, I would not have enjoyed it. I think I made a good choice with Sunday 9 AM. I didn’t have any trouble seeing anything.
Of course I did!
I think you made a very good choice. I wonder if it’s the same show…
I don’t know. It sounds like Luanne saw a different show. I almost tried to get my tickets back for this one a while ago because it was beginning to seem like a scam, but it all worked out. 😀
So glad it did. 🙂
Lovely Monday musing, Merril. I really enjoyed the outing. Your pictures are gorgeous and that cheese…I’m salivating! You and Mick are living the good life! 🙂
Thank you so much, Jill! You made me laugh.
They called the cheese board we ordered at Tria the Spooky Board because the cheeses seemed to fit the season–and they were SO good. We love that place–everything is always delicious, and the servers are so wonderful.
We’ve had amazing skies also but not nearly as spectacular as yours. I loved all the street art and the wine tasting looked like a lot of fun. Great photo of father and daughter. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
I thought it was a cute photo of them, too.
‘I follow science, but understand delight’ this made me smile! Echoes of Wordsworth’s ‘My Heart Leaps Up.’
I was talking to poet friends this week about the moon’s influence: it seems to influence me even when I don’t see it (I’m always asleep too soon!)
Loved the photos too – Philadelphia looks like an interesting city.
Thank you very much. Your comment made me smile.
I’m not sure if the moon actually influences me or not–but I love seeing the moon–usually in the morning, as I go to bed early, too. 😀
Philadelphia–the original city area and downtown is only a few miles and very walkable. We didn’t walk up to the art museum area this time, but it’s pretty around there, especially in the spring. But there are some not so nice neighborhoods, and in the past year, there has been a lot of gun violence and other violence in Philadelphia.
Such a shame, there is always violence in big cities, but with guns it can be on another level.
Yes, definitely.
Marvellous luminescence and susurration
Thank you, Derrick. 😀
I so enjoyed this post!!! I loved the poem and the photos are beyond amazing. Glad you had a wonderful visit with your daughter…:)
Thank you so much, Linda!
Our daughter doesn’t live far away, so we see her fairly often, and we’ve been to this winery a lot more since she started working there. 😀
I love walking cities, and your walk in Philly sounds so wonderful. This, of course, is the perfect time to do it. My guy and I walk for 3 hours almost every Sunday in Boston. Although we live in a suburb, I think we’re recognized now, and people think we live in Boston. Well, at least the dogs we stop and pet think we do. Oh, and we pass “my” willow by the Charles River, every week. You and I have our own willow trees – isn’t that neat? 🙂
Your photos are incredible. The light of the moon – the light of October – is glorious.
Thank you, Pam. Yes, I think Philadelphia and Boston are very similar in some ways–both very walkable, though I’ve only been in Boston a few times. It did turn out to be a good day to walk. We were concerned that it wouldn’t be OK to eat outside, but that turned out to be fine, too.
Dale has her “my willow” in Canada, too. 💙 I can’t remember if it’s by a river or not.
We are the “three willow blogger walkers.” 🙂
😀
Such lovely photos.
Thank you!
Your photos are so gorgeous, Merril! I could look at them all day 🙂 I’m glad you had such wonderful experiences, even if the immersive Van Gogh was so-so. You’ve reminded me of when I went to see the The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. (many years ago). The Collection has a few Van Gogh paintings and I remember being shocked by how small they were. Somehow that made them more special to me.
Thank you so much, Marie! I appreciate your kind words about my photos. I really don’t know anything about photography, so I’m always pleased when people like them.
I did enjoy the Van Gogh exhibition, but as an immersive “experience.” We’re fortunate to live near Philadelphia where we’ve seen his work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and at the Barnes.
Yes, you are fortunate in where you live. We used to love having business trips to DC so we could go to the museums. I’m not much of a photographer myself. Any good photos I get, I attribute to timing, light, and luck (especially when taking nature photos) 🙂
I got confused, when I reached infused.
My cats cut in, with their needs.
I’m Back!
A fab Monday musing, all in all!
Vaccines and masks are all the rage here! 💉😷
Count me in!
Thanks so much! 😀
PS
I read that one of the areas people were leaving teaching and nursing for, is the wine industry. Your daughter seems to have made a good choice.
Interesting! She thought now was the time to try it.