Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace - I (Photo by John MacDougall)

August 4, 2026, Gulfshore Way, just beyond Stanhope Campground in Prince Edward Island National Park, on my way to Dalvay-by-the-Sea, I took this photo. Rippling green marram grass woven with Queen Anne’s lace. Old wooden snow fence running through it. Blue-green of rolling Gulf of St. Lawrence. White-capped wave breaking on beach. Pale blue sky. Touch of white cloud. 

Queen Anne's Lace - II (Photo by John MacDougall)

More Queen Anne’s lace. This photo was taken yesterday on a bike ride from St. Peters to Greenwich. Strong wind. Golden rod. Beautiful blue St. Peters Bay in the background.

The scene reminded me of a line in John Updike’s Of the Farm (1965):

The tractor, hugging at every jog the uneven earth, accepted whatever direction I suggested it and herbivorously moved toward distant lakes of Queen Anne’s lace. 

Introduction

Lisbon 1, 2026 (Photo by John MacDougall)

Well, here I go again, launching another blog. My last one, The New Yorker & Me, ran for sixteen years. This new one will be more casual, a place where I can just noodle around, post notes on whatever art experiences I’m enjoying at the moment. For instance, right now, I’m immersed in Sanford Schwartz’s wonderful Artist Stories (2025). I want to write about that. I want to write about Canadian art and literature. I want to write about photography. I might post some personal essays and travel pieces. We’ll see how it goes. As always, pleasure will be my guide.