• landscape,  Mary Oliver,  natural areas,  poems,  quotes,  sunrises

    Chilled

    January 15, 2021

    To live in this world
    you must be able
    to do three things:
    to love what is mortal;
    to hold it
    against your bones knowing
    your own life depends on it;
    and, when the time comes to let it go,
    to let it go.

    Mary Oliver

    Had a short night of sleep, yet feel rested on this beautiful January morning. Almost cloudless sky until the sun rose and a few wisps of clouds arrived. Took my camera on a morning walk at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area after the sun had risen. The short walk was good for me but I picked up a chill by the time I returned to the car. Stopped at the Bean Cycle for a mocha latte on the way home, but still chilled. I have enjoyed the quiet morning. The sound of busyness can be heard as the city stirs awake.

    One friend is having back surgery this morning and a second friend has an appointment with a surgeon this morning for similar surgery, both have herniated discs. I have had back problems for most of my life due to scoliosis. X-rays a few years ago showed a 40 degree curve to my left with a spinal twist, plus arthritis. I do some stretching exercises they showed me which I think has helped. Plus I do not stress the back with heavy lifting and use good techniques in bending and lifting. Someday I may be having the same surgery.

    Looks like cold has a grip on most of the country so stay warm!

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  • landscape,  Mary Oliver,  mountains,  natural areas,  quotes

    Long Morning Shadows

    December 31, 2020

    Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.

    Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook

    I no longer celebrate the in coming New Year by partying and then suffering with a hangover in the morning. I am going way overboard this year and celebrating at home with some shrimp cocktail. Have a safe and enjoyable New Years Eve. If you do dance on the tables, please post a video. We can all use the laugh. 😁

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  • landscape,  Mary Oliver,  natural areas,  quotes,  sunrises

    Spiritual Side of the World

    December 24, 2020

    “I have begun to look past reason, past the provable, in other directions. Now I think there is only one subject worth my attention and that is the precognition of the spiritual side of the world and, within this recognition, the condition of my own spiritual state. I am not talking about having faith necessarily, although one hopes to. What I mean by spirituality is not theology, but attitude.”

    Mary Oliver, Upstream

    I’ve mentioned before how I am experiencing more nights and mornings of disturbed sleep. Here is an example from a week ago. I awoke at 2:00 am, wide awake. I finally got up around 3:30 am and journaled for a half hour. I quietly prayed, taking in deep breaths. I finally got up, dressed and had my quiet centering prayer. Grabbed coffee then drove to Pineridge Natural Area to watch the sun rise. It was dark when I pulled up in the parking lot. I counted eight magpies perched on the branches of a barren tree and silhouetted against the predawn sky while the faint light accented the frozen reservoir. As the sun began to rise above the horizon the magpies leave their perch in search of food. I take a dozen photos but mostly just watch it all happen. Everything around me begins to brighten as the sun brings forth this new day. I watch a flock of geese fly above the horizon then divide in two groups and circle in search of fields to graze in. Nature on display. A few minutes later the sun has fully risen. Its warm rays are extending out to everything. The warmth feels good to my cold hands and feet. I’m in agreement with Mary Oliver that time in the spiritual side of the world tweaks of my attitude.

    Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. 🎁

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops,  fountain pens,  journal,  Mary Oliver,  quotes,  writing/reading

    The Beginning of Devotion

    October 20, 2020
    Upstream by Mary Oliver

    “Teach the children. We don’t matter so much, but the children do. Show them daisies and the pale hepatica. Teach them the taste of sassafras and wintergreen. The lives of the blue sailors, mallow, sunbursts, the moccasin flowers. And the frisky ones–inkberry, lamb’s quarters, blueberries. And the aromatic ones–rosemary, oregano. Give them peppermint to put in their pockets as they go to school. Give them the fields and the woods and the possibility of the world salvaged from the lords of profit. Stand them in the stream, head them upstream, rejoice as they learn to love this green space they live in, its sticks and leaves and then the silent, beautiful blossoms. Attention is the beginning of devotion.” 

    Mary Oliver

    I bought a new used book which arrived on Saturday. It’s title is Upstream by Mary Oliver and a series of essays. So far I’m liking it and relate to her spiritual connectedness to nature. So, fair warning you may see a few quotes from the book.

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  • bees,  flowers,  insects,  Mary Oliver,  Plants,  poems,  prayer

    My Way of Praying

    August 11, 2020
    The pink rose displayings beauty and accepting a very tiny visitor

    How I go to the woods

    Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single
    friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
    unsuitable.

    I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
    or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
    praying, as you no doubt have yours.

    Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
    on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
    until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
    unhearable sound of the roses singing.

    If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
    you very much.” 

    Mary Oliver
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