I like the idea of incubating — stillness in service of generation. I am, of course, thinking more of brooding hen than marching penguin, but I’d go with that.

Rest and simple companionability is a too often neglected and denigrated part of Life in America. Needn’t be doing-doing-doing all the time. Need space and time and yeasting quiet for ideas to rise. (apologies for the mixing of metaphors.)

Three Fs, Fallow/futile/fertile.

Good point: Unlearning, disengagement. While (or after?) lying fallow, new imagery began to unleash itself in my mind. I hope that I do not drive it away by trying to make it work too obsessively.

I did not get close to the sand ripples and roots, even though, like you, I enjoy textures. The reason may be that my favorite coloration this summer involves bluish green hues, seen in the thistle families (thanks) and my stone images.

To be argumentative, I’ll stake the position that in the period of not doing much, one is actually unlearning mental habits and patterns, rather than incubating anything new. Later, on returning to activity, it’s easier to think and do in new ways, and that’s the creativity happening. So variety and breaks can be very good, but it’s more a matter of fallow than fertile.

There’s a lot of interesting variety in your dunes. Did you ever go close up to the wind ripples or the splayed roots? Your close-ups of the thistle families are among my favorites from your summer.

Futile/fertile, I like that. The last item to pack was my lap top and we are off south.

Substitute ‘futile” for ‘fertile’ and the answer is a big yes.

Must be something in the Great Lakes air but we have done – or not done – much the same this year. Every summer has been a time for gathering images along the water’s edge. But, like you, we’ve been kept busy and out of the market for sand between the toes and a beautiful sunset or two.