Quiet

Early this afternoon I set out in the brilliant blue and sparkling white to hike through the woods to the place we call the second beaver pond.

 

As always, I came out of the forest feeling refreshed and so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Peace

I don't really feel like myself unless I'm engaging in regular physical activity outside.  Snowshoes have recently saved my life.  The vast amount of snow, and until very recently, the temperatures have kept me inside, running only on the treadmill.  That's just not enough.  I need to be outside, among the trees and breathe in clean, fresh air. 

 

In the past week, I've visited almost all of my spring, summer and fall hunts

in the fields and forests across the road.  Yesterday I made it back to the beaver pond and way up high above the marsh.

 

Moving through the forest, in the soft, deep snow, there is just the shush, shush, shush of my snowshoes.  At the pond it is completely silent.  A place to be alone with my thoughts.

 

Something has been missing since Christmas, but I've found it again, and all it took was for me to get outside.

 

 

 

 

Afternoon Snowshoe

Snowy Days

I really dislike weather complainers.  You know the type- those people who complain about what's going on outside no matter what.  Too cold, too wet, too hot, too snowy. 

 

I try hard to not be a weather complainer, but this winter is wearing on me.  It's almost always too cold to be out and about with a tiny little girl, and if it's not too cold, it's too snowy or too windy or...you see where I'm going here.

 

 

I try to get out when I can, but even then, there isn't anywhere to go!  The snow is far too deep.  Up and down the driveway we go. 

 

I long for spring days when I can put her in the back pack, pull on my boots and head off across the fields.

 

 

 

 

Nothing to See Here

You know, there really isn't much to see on a frozen lake when it's covered in many feet of snow.  The shoreline holds some interest, but it's mostly just a vast, blank whiteness.  It was hard going today, too, even in snowshoes.  The snow is that deep.

 

 

From the Weather Book

December 21
Clear and cold.
 
December 24, 25
Snow, warmer temperatures.

December 28

December 31
Lots of snow!

January 1
-20

January 4

January 6, 7, 8
Major snowstorm with blizzard conditions.

 

 

January 9

 
January 11
Rain.  Melting everywhere.

January 13

January 16

January 20, 21, 22
Cold! -28, -30, -30

January 24
Cold, blowing snow.

January 25
 Snow!  Another day spent digging out.

January 26
-32 upon waking.
-25 and snowing.

January 28

January 29
Another load of snow.

Afire

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames”. ― Rumi

I came across this quote a few weeks back, and it has stuck with me.  I find myself thinking about what it means to me.  I'm not sure if I'm living this way, but I do know one thing - living here helps.

 

It helps because I can wake up, throw back the curtains and witness this:

This picture doesn't do the morning justice.  The clouds loomed over me and they filled every corner of my vision.  I stepped outside and felt enveloped. It was truly overpowering. 

 

Being surrounded by such awe inspiring beauty inspires me to do more and be more.