Anne Bonny was a pirate lass

When a merchant galleon they would spy,
They’d chase her down the tide;
As the cannons’ roared, they’d try to board;


The grappling hooks flew wide." #theballadofannebonny #johnblivenmorin #annebonny #canoe #canoeing #wisconsin #wisconsinlife #midwest #travelwi #travelwisconsin #sugarriver #danecountyparks #naturalarea #natural #oaksavannah #grassland #midwestmoment #themidwestival #discoverwisconsin #conquer_wi #wildlifearea #getoutdoors #wisconsinphotographer #driflessedge #driftlessarea #thedriftless

Magga

The Path, The Way The Eightfold Noble Path: 1 Right Understanding, Right Vision 2 Right Thoughts 3 Right Speech 4 Right Action 5 Right Livelihood 6 Right Effort 7 Right Mindfulness 8 Right Concentration, Meditation

So many teachers. So many books. In looking for a source I discovered the Tripiṭaka. Thousands of teachings from the Buddha, all written around 500 BCE. I will try not to let the overwhelming nature of trying to learn about something I never, at any previous point in my life, considered learning. I am but an infant. I am not even certain that I want to be a Buddhist. My curiosity, as well as the intriguingly positive effect finding my way to the Temple, has me. And so I am slowly beginning to investigate. What is most interesting to me is the absolute effect spending time on the Monastery grounds has had on me. I am as a stray cat that literally wandered out of their woods.

What feats he did that day.

Throw together some armor made from whatever is on hand and works. Rap some duct tape around a rattan stick, maybe throw on a heavy rubber ax or hammer head. Pack it up and drive to a hot & humid, often stormy spot in Western PA. Haul it up the hill to the "Field" in the morning. If you pass safety inspection, get a sticker and then you sit in the sun until things begin. When the canon sounds you then go beat the ever living crap out of each other until the "Marshals" call "HOLD!!" You sweat so much that only handfuls of pickles, green olives and gallons of water are keeping your brain working as the hot summer sun bakes it in the portable pizza oven you call a helmet. And don't forget all the god awful chafing, in the worst places. Later the night you drink beer and compare bruises with the guy who gave them to you. Pensic is coming!

#Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #armsarmor #arms&armor #rattan #armor #knight #knights #heavycombat #heavyfighter #melee

Only Hours Left!

PSA: Today's the LAST day to pre-register for Pennsic War 46. Just google "Pennsic 2017"to find the site. It's been years since I've gone myself. It was six years ago that I took this photo of one my my all time favorite performers. Serendipity I miss seeing you guys. Clan Tynker will always be dear to my memories of Pennsic.

#Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #performer #circus #dipityt #Serendipity #clantynker #tynker #familycircus #circusperformer #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #serendipitytynker #clantynkerfamilycircus #gypsy #gypsystyle

Patterns

Patterns, shapes, composition and the play of light.As I pass though my day I am often struck by little vignettes comprised of those elements. They often rivet my mind and I take a mental photograph. Feeling frantic for not taking an actual photo, for whatever reason, faded many years ago. I've come to simply enjoy seeing how I view these moments in time.I'm feeling like a new chapter in how I work is coming.

#driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsin #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #thedriftless #driftlessart #wisconsinphotographer #travelwisconsin #platteville #rollojamison #miningmuseum #boxing #leftjab #wisconsinart #ig_mood #featuredpalette #artlovers #artlover #americanart

My Wife Hamming it Up

While setting up my remote flashes for this photo shoot I asked my wife to stand in the space so I could model the lighting. I know she's enjoying being on scene with me when my normally stoic and quiet wife hams it up. After almost eleven years she's still my favorite "model."

#driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsin #wisconsinart #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #fineart #finaeartphotography #contemporaryart #art #modernart #ig_mood #featuredpalette #artlovers #artlover #thedriftless #driftlessart #wisconsinphotographer #travelwisconsin #mounthoreb #springarttour #mounthorearts #mthoreb #mthorebarts #mthorebartists #danecounty

The Sun in Your Eye

So after being around the Temple for about year this is only the fourth time I've sat in on a teaching. The thing to remember is that this isn't a place of sermons but a place of learning. The first "teaching" I went to was the same as if I'd gone to the last lecture of an educational program about a subject I only had cursory knowledge of. In other words, I had no real grasp of what they were talking about. Then I went to two "beginner" teaching sessions, and it gave me some frames of reference. While photographing the day's inter-faith teaching makes four. I not only got to do what I enjoy most but I also listened. The first two teachers covered things I'd heard in the beginner's class months ago. I was surprised by how much more "fleshed in" my basic understanding was considering I mainly stray around the grounds. I also began to have an inkling as to what I need to do next. Oddly enough, and totally by coincidence, the sun had shifted enough to cast light into the hall, reflect off of something (?), hit the eye in the Buddha's brow, and then twinkle back at me. I almost laughed. I'd been in my little area at the back of the hall for hours and it was the only time the sun did that from my perspective.

#Bodhicitta #Bodhi #Citta #Mahayana #dharma #buddhist #buddhism #learningthedharma #meditation #puja #soulsearching #training #findingmyself #monastery #meditation #holyplace #holy #peace #namaste #buddha #driftlessregion #driftlessarea #wisconsin #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #thedriftless #driftlessart #wisconsinphotographer #martialartslife