I have been silenced for days by two things actually. First of all, we are in the hey- day of summer on the Cape. It has been an extremely busy season so far, record numbers at the farm and library. Less so at the pond perhaps because of the unusual and concerning weather extremes, with tiresome, tropical humidity.

But more than that. I watched a documentary earlier this week about two Chinese bloggers, both citizens journalists (http://hightechlowlifefilm.com). It was a beautifully realized film I might have missed if it hadn’t been scored by my nephew. It is that rare kind of documentary that makes you wonder what more you could and should do to change the world. And it made me wonder about my blog- what exactly is it for? Is it enough to chronicle and celebrate the natural world that surrounds and influences me? To what end? A sort of writer’s block has set in with this unanswered questions. Should I become more politicized?

I can say that from where I sit it is quite evident that there is troubling change affecting our local pond waters. Of the 12 female mallards this spring, who paired up with their drakes, there have been only 5 ducklings I have seen. There are far fewer frogs. There is an alarming abundance of foxtail pond grass in the bath-warm water. The next pond over has had a toxic bloom of blue-green algae. Is this what I should write about?

In 1959, artist David Grose did the drawing below of the pond system I live on. I was five years old then. It is a lovely book illustration, fanciful, even romanticized. I am one of the pond keepers now, in my own way. Part of what this blog is for is my finding that way.

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