Tag Archives: nature

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.

Garden Of The Gods In Snow

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This week is busier than normal and this is not the day for much in the way of storytelling. So, instead, I have a few snapshots from the Garden of the Gods for your viewing pleasure.

Here’s another view of Balanced Rock.

I have hiked there but had never seen it on a snowy day so that was pretty exciting. We just drove through for a few minutes and enjoyed the view from our nice, warm vehicle.

Isn’t it beautiful?

Have a great day, friends!

Silent Sunday: Looking Up

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Cloud At Twilight

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Twilight was upon us and the western sky was crowded with enormous, fluffy clouds but this one was hanging out all alone. It was doing its own thing apart from the crowd.

I admired this cloud for its beauty and for its independent nature. No one was telling it what to do.

Silly, I know. But tell me something. If you aren’t admiring the clouds on a pretty fall evening, what are you doing with your life?

Have a great Thursday, friends. When in doubt, stop and look up!

Silent Sunday

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Memories To Hold On To

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This is just a three day workweek for me since I had a long weekend out gallivanting. No offense to my job or other aspects of my regular life because I’m grateful for all of it…. but … TGIF. 

It’s so easy to get sucked back into everyone else’s troubles, bad work habits, and all the daily annoyances that tug at our brains and demand attention.

For this week, though, I have been working to mentally pull myself away from all of that at least for a moment or two at a time. When my brain starts to latch on to something negative, I take myself back to one particular moment on Saturday night. 

After a glorious day of exploring the shores of a fairytale land called Presque Isle State Park, some light book shopping, and sipping milkshakes, we headed back to the beach to witness the sunset. 

We left our shoes in the car but took towels and jackets. We took books in place of troubles. We took cold drinks instead of worries. 

We staked out a spot on a small peninsula where the waves might trick you into believing you’re at the ocean and not at the Lake Erie shore in Pennsylvania. We dug our toes into the sand and I used my bag as a pillow while reclining to read. 

As the sun began to descend, lower and lower against the horizon, the pleasantly warm day began to feel pleasantly cool. I stood to put on a light jacket. That’s when I noticed a large gathering of gulls on the rocks. All faced the western horizon as though they too were excited to see the cotton candy sky, colors so special that they can only be created by the setting sun. 

And then, without warning, all those gulls simultaneously took off and left us alone to focus on the sky. 

There was a slight breeze and the sand was turning cooler beneath my feet. I shuddered when a young woman waded out into the lake for one last dip in the golden hour. 

I wondered aloud about the water temperature but she was happy doing her thing and I was happy doing mine. 

And this, my friends, is where I am disappearing to in my brain when too much of the real world tries to crowd in this week.  

We all need a happy memory, something with lots of sensory details that we can grab hold of and escape to when the world gets to be too much. I’m grateful for mine and encourage you to dig through your memories for one of your own. If you don’t have one, better go out and make some!