• clouds,  gratitude,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises

    Nature’s Invitation

    Waking early I took my camera to Pineridge Natural Area to watch the sun rise. It was cold this morning at 36 degrees. A frigid breeze was enticing the brown grass of the meadow and rabbit brush to joyfully dance together. I was greeted with a meadowlark singing its song of happiness, then joined by a second meadowlark. A couple of robins perched themselves on the fence in front of me and joined in with their glad tidings. I watched a goose smoothly paddle across the reservoir leaving behind its v-shaped wake. A pair of mallards circled above as if not sure where to go. A half dozen white pelicans used their webbed feet to silently float along the north end of the reservoir in search for food. I wonder if that’s where the big fish are?

    I offer thanks as I am never disappointed with the gifts nature gives me at these sacred places and times. I like to call these times gifts but they seem to be more than that. Could it be nature’s invitation to share our presence in all of creation? Maybe these times are the most natural thing we can do with nature. By now my hands were cold and I could picture in my mind wrapping them around a hot mocha latte. It has been a good start to a wonderful Sunday! May you have also have a wonderful Sunday!

  • winter scenes

    May First

    May 1st in Rolland Moore Park

    May Day celebrations first appeared in pre-Christian times, with the festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers. May Day may be best known for its tradition of dancing around the maypole and crowning of the Queen of the May. It is traditionally a summer holiday in many pre-Christian European pagan cultures. May 1 was considered the first day of summer. Well, so much for the feeling of a summer. We woke to 6 inches of snow this morning and the white stuff is still falling. I just hope it does not get cold tonight.

    By the way, does anyone remember giving “May baskets” with candy to some unsuspecting girl from your class? I was so afraid she would find out it was me. 🙂 Stay warm!