My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
I have been pretty good about taking my camera for daily walks during this stay-at-home order. Even got in the walks the past two days when it was snowing and cold, admittedly shorter. And the weather forecasters are telling us more snow, 3-8 inches, by Thursday. Enough already. Bring on spring, rain, thunderstorms, flowers, weeds and sunny walks. I’m ready now!
I played a bit with this image, trying out the texture and dehaze sliders. Kinda funky looking. And, it’s still snowing.
Anyway, when I cleaned off the car this morning I had at least 3 inches of snow on my car. I ran out of the maple syrup that I add to my Irish oats in the morning so things were going to get tense if I didn’t restock before tomorrow morning. So, my first stop was Red Fox Meadows, filled up the car, which I hadn’t done in over three weeks, and picked up the essential syrup. I’m set now. Oh, and I picked up one of my prescriptions.
For anyone interested here is a link to a ten minute podcast by David DuChemin on making art that touches the heart. I enjoyed it, hope you may also.
“No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself; you are its custodian and entrance. No one else can see the world the way you see it. No one else can feel your life the way you feel it. Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground. When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy into your consciousness; it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.”
John O’Donohue
Awoke to a dusting of light snow and cold. It is now 27 degrees, snow is falling again and expecting it throughout the day. I shortened my morning walk not because of the cold but the light breeze out of the north penetrates my clothes. I thought maybe a cup of hot coffee in my wicker rocker, watching it snow from my bedroom window, would be more comfortable, and it is. Happy Easter!
After quiet time, prayer and meditation,
mws
I made a french press of coffee, Heaven’s Blend
by name, then moved outside to sit in the sun.
In the warmth I read from Rilke’s Book of Hours,
and journaled thoughts. I focused on listening to
the sounds of nature, birds, wind, as their words
seem to soothe, heal and nurture me with a balm
rather than the pain brought on by the world’s news.
I think Gratitude is the word for this day.
In this world of onrushing events the act of meditation – even just a “one-breath” meditation – straightening the back, clearing the mind for a moment – is a refreshing island in the stream.
Gary Snyder
“The artist has no obligation to make his meaning immediately clear to anyone who does not want to make an effort to discover it.”
Thomas Merton
“I want to sing like the birds sing
Not worrying about who hears
Or what they think.”
Rumi
I wonder what went through the minds of our ancestors who were physically, mentally and spiritually closer to nature then we are? I ask because I come to these nature areas to find distance from the noise of the city but find my mind is consistently distracted. Were they capable of being more present than I seem to be? I’m aware the more time I spend out here the more present I can be. After a period of settling in, adjusting to this place, I hear, then see, the osprey soaring in the wind drafts, being pursued by a pesky crow. Next I notice a goldfinch that just perched on a bush nearby, singing it’s soft and delicate “swee-eet” song. I watch and am amazed at how quickly the birds can fly from here to there, silently. If you do not know what I write about then spend a morning in a nature area, listen, watch, be present, bring a journal and use it, and please leave your phone at home. Just some questions.
This morning I walked to Red Fox Meadows because there is a grassy area where I like to sit and journal. But, this morning I found a soft place to sit near a marshy area with cattails and red-winged blackbirds. The red-wings were putting on a free concert while snatching flying insects. A woodpecker was working on a cottonwood behind me. A red-tailed hawk sat perched on a distant tree scanning for rodents or a pigeon. I watched, listened and journaled.
Walked the dirt path at the Fisher Nature Area this morning
mws
I wanted to have my feet touch Mother Earth, not concrete.
Heard Blue Jays chasing one another with their raucous calls,
unintelligible gibberish, sounds angry. We don’t need that.
And, the chickadees with their simple “fee-bee” calls,
one heard over here, then one over there, social distancing?
A woodpecker drumming on some distant tree
They pause, listening for insects, then drum on.
Can’t miss the two joggers in their bright colored running gear,
then meet half dozen dogs walking their humans, on a leash.
With overcast skies, patches of blue and diffused light, and one
cottonwood leaf still holding on, made for a great start my day.
“The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work,
who felt their own creative power restive and uprising,
and gave to it neither power nor time.”