Category Archives: Nature and Outdoors

Rainbow Musings

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Saturday brought an unexpected storm here on the ridge. After a long day of chores that kept me busy (even though it looks like nothing was done), I was glad for a one pot meal and dinner on the screened-in porch.

It was already a nice evening and then the rain began. It was hard and the gutters barely kept up. My fella and I reveled in this gift from Nature and the way it ushered in cooler air.

And when it ended, there was a rainbow.

I was proud of myself for trotting right out the front door to stand in the yard in my bare feet. This is a big deal for me since I rarely go outside without shoes since stepping on a bee as a kid. But I needed a closer look and there’s no time to spare where rainbows are concerned.

I reveled in the soft, squishy wet grass between my toes and wondered why I don’t do this more. The wet grass was cool and calming.

Summer would be better if it were always like this. And every day would be better if there were a rainbow to enjoy. A new workweek begins today. Enjoy it, friends!

Silent Sunday: Rainbow

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Life’s Storms

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Southern Ohio was smacked with a bad storm last night. Rain came down in torrents and thunder shook the walls. We aren’t out of the woods yet. It’s calm and quiet this morning but a tornado watch is in effect till 11 am.

There’s flooding throughout the county and trees down, making the morning commute challenging if not impossible for many.

But if you go in my backyard, you’ll find that the storm that literally uprooted mighty trees had little impact on delicate flowers.

These lilies still stand. These lilies that I didn’t even plant, that showed up one day and grew without my permission, continue to stand without a petal out of place.

These little flowers came from starts given to me by a neighbor. The rain did beat some of them down but I suspect, with a little support, they will stand again.

Nature is an incredible thing, isn’t it? From its healing powers to its beauty and ability to withstand and adapt to whatever is necessary, nature is amazing.

These flowers are a good allegory for us today. Like these lilies, there are some people who can weather any storm. They come out on the other side with not even a hair out of place.

And some people will get knocked down but you don’t need to worry about them. They’ll get up again, especially if they have a little help. They’re resilient and will be fine.

Whatever storm you have to weather, remember if the flowers can do it, so can you.

Lighting The Darkness

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I saw lightening bugs last night. Perhaps you call them fireflies where you live. Whatever you call them, they were prolific.

It had been a long day. A work function kept me out later than normal so I was over caffeinated and excited to kick off my shoes.

I live in very rural, forested area where people show affection by reminding you to watch out for deer. There’s a reason for that as we probably have more deer than people. I wasn’t looking forward to dodging them in the darkness and was excited to just be home.

And then it happened. A flash of gold in the darkness and then another and another and another until the entire landscape was illuminated by these tiny flying beetles.

They kept me company much of the way home and I was glad. It seems that I see fewer every year. Loss of habitat, light pollution, pavement, and short cut grass are all contributing factors to their decline.

I was reminded of catching them as a kid. I don’t recall wanting to keep them but did like catching them in cupped hands and then releasing them back into the night.

In a world that seems defined by so much loss these days, it was reassuring to see they’re still hanging on.

I appreciate the natural world and especially like things that shine a light into the darkness. Would a lightening bug prevent me from hitting a deer? No. But I sure did feel less alone in the darkness with them lighting the way.

Want to help lightening bugs (or fireflies) thrive in your backyard? This website has some great information. Maybe if enough of us try, we can keep them thriving for future generations to chase and enjoy.

A Saunter Through The Woods

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Naturalist John Muir hated the word hike. He famously said “I don’t like either the word [hike] or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains—not hike!”

He believed that nature shouldn’t be treated as something needing conquering or to be endured. Instead he thought it should be experienced and approached reverently. Nature and the mountains in particular were a Holy Land to him and walking through them should be peaceful.

It should be a saunter.

And that’s exactly what I did today. I sauntered through Lake Katherine State Nature Preserve, stopping to admire tree bark, to watch squirrels scurry up their trees, and to admire tiny little wildflowers no bigger than the nail bed of a toddler’s pinky finger.

I ran my hand across many kinds of moss and admired the texture of rock walls that were here long before humans and will hopefully withstand us for many generations to come.

It was wonderful.

And despite going slow, I still worked in some nice cardio on the long uphill stretches. Here in Ohio, we tend to avoid the switchbacks seen in western outdoor spaces and send hikers straight up steep hills.

It will strengthen the heart, knees and lungs!

My hiking companions all seem happy going at their own pace so that makes it easier for those who need or wish to keep their own pace.

Since it was warm and humid I was quite happy going a little slower. All the same, it was a good day for a saunter and a good day to be outdoors.

I hope you made it out for a saunter too!

Butterfly Visitor

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Google image search tells me this is a Great Spangled Fritillary. It was perched on some clover in the jungle that is my back yard when I came home yesterday. Seriously people. Rain plus heat plus no time to weed when it’s not raining is caused the weeds to take over.

Nonetheless, isn’t it beautiful?

I tend to see more moths than butterflies at my home for some reason so I was thrilled to find this visitor. Here’s hoping she brings friends and they hang around!