Category Archives: Nature and Outdoors

A New Year

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It’s January 1, 2026. New Year’s Day. That statement means different things to some people and certainly something different to me than most. 

It’s a grand celebration for many and a more introspective time for others. Personally, I was in bed with a book before nine last night and asleep before midnight. This has never been a big day for me but I am glad for those of you who celebrate. 

The decision to read in bed and get some rest was an intentional head start to how I want my winter to be. As I age, I become more convinced that seasonal change is good for the human body and spirit. Even summer, which I despise, has a purpose in the rhythm of life even if many modern humans think it exists solely for their entertainment. 

Spring is a period of rebirth and a revival of beauty. Summer gives us longer days for productivity and growing while fall is a season of harvest and preparation for the harsher days ahead. 

And here we are in those harsher days where it’s cold and brown, where pine trees and lingering autumn leaves provide most of the color. The ground here is hard and blanketed in snow. Everywhere you look, trees and flowers are dormant. Animals have disappeared, choosing hibernation over struggle. Those left like the deer, birds, opossums, and squirrels do struggle so I make the trek outside each day to leave them a little something – not enough for them to become dependent but enough to help them out. 

As a modern American with a job and responsibilities, I cannot completely hibernate but I do my best to take advantage of the season. Where there’s darkness, I shine soft lights of a Christmas tree and strategically placed lamps. I make things cozy, welcoming and calm. This year I added a string of lights around the inside of my bedroom windows, making that room feel a little like a Scandinavian retreat.  

January has long been a No Spend Challenge Month for me, a perfect time to choose the quiet of home rather than adventure in the outside world. I will relive some adventures by telling you about them in stories this winter. I may even plan some trips for later this year. But I’m more likely to pass the month quietly here in my home on the ridge. I will do some home organization and maybe a little redecorating with things I already own. Feathering my nest is one of my favorite things to do.

I recently heard an interior designer say that minimalism and grey are out and that antiques and color are back. Homes that feel curated over time are back in fashion over those that look like they were carried in all at once. 

Essentially, I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life!

I developed a bedtime ritual last year but, as life became busier and more tiring, I notice myself rushing or skipping steps in favor of just getting to sleep. Mealtime is something thrown together. For the last couple of weeks, meals have been comprised of whatever leftover pasta, veggies, potatoes, cheese, and fudge I happened to find available. Bedtime has been later and later. For weeks, running errands and doing things I really didn’t want to do replaced intention and calm. 

I don’t exactly have New Year’s Resolutions but I do believe that this month is the right time for me to reset my intentions. To think more about nourishing meals, to choose water over Diet Coke, to choose rest over whatever nonsense the outside world has to offer, to read more, to relax with a puzzle, to try a new recipe, to feather my nest, to soothe my own nervous system – these are the things I resolve to do more. 

So, the blog for the next several weeks will be sort of a hodgepodge of adventure stories from last year, reading goals, cat stories, No Spend Challenge notes and other assorted things happening around here. I will also attempt to get back into a regular writing habit. When life gets to be too much, this blog is basically the canary in the coal mine. If I’m not writing here, that means there are bigger problems and distractions elsewhere.  

 I hope you’ll stay for it.

Happy New Year, friends! I hope you will make 2026 the best year for whatever will make you happy and calm. 

Christmas At The Broadmoor

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I attended a conference in Colorado Springs earlier this month. It was held at the Broadmoor Resort which opened in 1918 as a European style resort that feels a little like stepping back in time.

The words dignified, genteel and stately come to mind. 

The Broadmoor has attracted presidents, royalty and celebrities and has a hall of fame filled with pictures of some of those famous folk. Of course, being me, I was more interested in the art, architecture and library.

I was also more interested in the Christmas decorations. They are all dolled up for the season everywhere you look with trees, lights and festive decor to magnify the beauty of this place. 

This was the view from my room before the snow. Isn’t it gorgeous? 

Since I stayed on Ohio time, I sat here to read and write in the early morning hours. Some hotel staff were around and a few early risers were up and about but it was reasonably peaceful.

One of my favorite things about this place was the quiet of the rooms and guest hallways. From my room, I didn’t hear a hair dryer or people passing by in the hallway. But take the elevator to the ground floor and wait for the doors to swoosh open. The minute you step out of the elevator, there’s Christmas music playing. And none of this modern stuff either. Think Bing Crosby. 

All of this combined with an incredible snowfall we received our first night there and the whole experience was absolutely mesmerizing. Here’s my room view in the daytime with all the snow! 

You know how I like details so stay tuned for more observations from this place. 

Snowy Day

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Snow came fast and heavy yesterday, prompting me to cancel plans and stay home. I made a pot of tomato soup and watched the birds attack the backyard feeders. Renee Zellweger’s depiction of writer Beatrix Potter played while I idly flipped through a magazine.

This was my first day in I’m not sure how long when I wasn’t required to carry on a conversation, go places, or even use my brain for much.

All my internal batteries have been badly drained lately. There’s been no time to recharge and I’ve been venturing into treacherous waters as my nervous system is lit up like Times Square most of the time.

So, yesterday was absolute, immeasurable, and pure bliss. Was I sad for my cancelled plans? Yes. Was I happy to do what I was doing? Also yes.

This morning dawned cold. After breakfast I ventured out into ankle deep snow to check the bird feeders and snap a few pictures. It was gray then but the afternoon has since transformed into a gorgeous blue sky day. After my walk, I came in for a hot shower with peppermint scented soap and promptly curled up with a book and cup of hot chocolate.

I write to you from a soft perch on the couch where I can see the Christmas tree indoors as well as the snowy day outside.

Classic Christmas music plays in the background while Scout luxuriates in a patch of sunlight.

This is what I needed and I am grateful for two slow days in a row.

Make no mistake, there are a million things that need my attention. I brought home a work proofreading project. Gifts need wrapped and Christmas cards need attention. My house needs a good scrub and I need to pay a couple of bills. I have got to make a list of last minute gifts, stocking stuffers and a plan for baking and cooking.

Things need done and a little planning goes a long way toward simplifying life later.

For now though, I’m going to continue relaxing and simply enjoy being. I hope you will do the same.

Gloomy Days

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In the original 1964 Adams Family television show, daughter Wednesday Adams uttered one of my all-time favorite lines. It’s so nice and gloomy.

I thought about that statement a lot yesterday as rain settled in across southern Ohio. As the sky darkened, folks scurried down the street, pulling their jackets tighter from beneath their umbrellas.

It was a perfect rainy November day and I was all for it. My only complaint was that it wasn’t a weekend when I could be home to enjoy the whole thing.

So I went skipping home after work, lit the Christmas tree and put on warm pajamas before doing a few chores. A hot dinner plus cuddle time with Scout while I watched the Ken Burns documentary made for a delightful ending to a delightful rainy day.

It’s sometimes a little surprising to me how different I am from other people. Dark, gloomy days are invigorating to me. I breathe better. I work harder. I’m happier. The small comforts last night – warm pjs, a good baked potato, some twinkle lights, time with my cat – were like a big ole dollop of whipped cream atop my proverbial mug of hot chocolate.

I’m fortunate to be a weirdo who welcomes the rainy days. I’m also lucky to understand the value of making the best of things and of having a place of one’s own to feather a nest and to rest and recharge.

Enjoy your day, friends. I hope it brings something that will make you happy.

This Is Ohio

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I live in southern Ohio. That means it can literally snow on Monday and look like a winter wonderland only for all that pretty white stuff to disappear before lunch on Tuesday.

This literally happened this week.

On Wednesday, I was warm in a jacket as temperatures soared near sixty. By 9 pm I was shivering and reaching for warmth.

Living in Ohio also means that there is road construction everywhere and it seems to have no end. Concrete barriers and rows of orange barrels are lined up like toy soldiers for as far as the eye can see and for moths and years at a time.

I’m convinced there is no warehouse large enough to store all of the state’s orange barrels and cones so we just keep them out on the road.

But we are polite and we’ll wave to the construction workers as they flag us through a single lane. After all, they’ve had to work outside through this week’s moody weather.

This is Ohio. Look out for those orange barrels and enjoy the swing in weather. If you don’t like it today just sit tight. It will be different soon!

Favorite Moment

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Some of my favorite travel memories are odd. For example, as we were headed out of Yellowstone we encountered this big boy at the side of the road. We had seen him on the way in, a memorable sight because you don’t often find bison traveling alone. There’s safety in numbers.

We pulled over at a safe-ish distance to snap a couple of photos and admire his beauty when he started to meander down the road. Toward us.

In case you’ve never seen one, they’re about the size of an Elantra.

And as he meandered and we sat there silently hoping he didn’t notice us, he slowly began moving toward the center of the road and then turned his head so that we could see the red of his eye. And we simultaneously, wordlessly, and with urgent certainty knew that we were in the absolute wrong place at the wrong time.

We are fortunate he did not ram the Jeep and send us both flying like rag dolls off the side of a mountain.

Our saving grace was that an older couple in a Buick interrupted the moment and he kept moving.

Holy cow. What a moment. I will be eternally grateful that this situation was resolved without incident. I told my friend later that my favorite trip memory was when the bison didn’t kill us. I said it as a joke but it’s true.

If you go, keep a safe distance from the wildlife and don’t try to pet the fluffy cows.

At least I got a story out of it.