free from time
the dragonfly sways
where the fireflies
dance at night
the crunch and slide
of rocks
under my barefoot shoes
blue sky
reflected on muddy water
a day at the beach
The photo was taken on my recent trip to the Canadian Maritimes at Dennis Beach in New Brunswick. I altered the photo, giving it a painting-like effect, in FotoSketcher. I’ve had it sitting here as my desktop image for a few days and every time I look at it, I hear and feel the crunch and squeak of rocks underfoot as I carefully make my way across the larger rocks down to the sand where walking is much easier. The “barefoot shoes” are Vibrams which simulate barefoot walking. You feel everything underfoot without the ouch factor of actually being barefoot.
dayspring early bright
a palette of green
spills across the pond
sheltering in the arms
of an old spruce
watching the rain fall
as the pine cones grow
and the new growth of spring
ablaze in its verdancy
bows towards earth
In the meadow
Dandelions
Become stars
In a spring-green sky
Early morning sunlight
Slips through the blinds
An offering of light
A spot of color
on a snowy day
The male cardinal grandstands
It looks, it smells, it feels like springtime. The air is warm and moist, not cold and dry, with a green and earthy scent instead of the odor of decaying vegetation usually present during the fall and winter months. The daffodils have sent up green shoots, responding to the sunshine and the unseasonably warm temperatures. The birds are twitterpated, but skeptical. I bet even Punxsutawny Phil was confused and confuzzled in his prognostications.
The Great Groundhog has predicted 6 more weeks of winter. What winter?
At sunrise this morning I watched a red squirrel climbing up one of our maple trees in the front yard. We don’t often see squirrels except for the occasional glimpse of one back in the woods. The rest of the property — near the pond and in the meadows — is too open for them, and the hawks would likely find they make a tasty meal. This morning’s visitor lives across the road near the old farmhouse. I watched as she scampered up the tree, easily and quickly making her way from ground to top, following the sun from horizon to sky.
I hope she made it home safely, back to the trees across the road where the sun makes its first appearance during winter mornings here in the Bogs.
being blown about by the winds
of everyday life
no time for the last small stone
Day 31. Throwing the last small stone of January into the river. I’m sorry to say I had to rush through this last one as my day has been almost filled with appointments. Happily, the last one involves meeting a friend to go hiking and then to dinner so it’s not all dentist and other health-related activities.
It’s been fun, and a good experience for me. Will I continue? I think I will. The small notebook I started to use for this project still has many blank pages left to fill, and I like the idea of taking time out to be mindful of at least one small thing each day. It’s a good practice.
Thank you to Kaspa and Fiona, from whom the idea originated, and to Kel who invited me to join. And thank you to those who stopped by to read and/or comment. I appreciate it.
Bountiful Healing 