This week it took some extra effort to rise above the unraveling of so much happening in our world. But I am grateful for the reminders from nature to do just that. Walking out under a broad blue sky, hearing the screech of hawks circling overhead, watching our grandson scramble past the bird of paradise and lizards and palm trees along the hill toward the playground all shift my perspective toward a better place, one that allows for the firm belief that goodness will prevail, as day always follows night.
Tag Archives: Inspired by Nature
Last Looks
Oh Vermont, ours has been a forty plus year love affair which I still cling to even while I prepare to move west. Happy lake time runs from May into October and brings a constant treat. Diving in takes precedence on most afternoons, yet each time I consider myself lucky. There are more than 800 lakes and ponds in Vermont, one more spectacular than the other: I have done my best to swim in lots of them, although I have found favorites they are all fabulous. Of course there is more to my love than one season’s occupation. There is the richness of green hills against the brilliant blue sky, the sweet smell of yellow flowers that run Spring through Fall, as well as the stark black and white beauty of Winter. All an integral part of me now.
As the movers lift the last of our boxes into their truck, I am certain it will all come with me.
hope in my hood
For several years we have lived on this same street, the one I’ve driven mostly at the speed limit. Except for the occasional weekend run up and back down the adjacent dirt road, during this shelter in place time, I’ve been walking this street and all about in my neighborhood, a lot. My new favorite jaunt is a 3.5 mile loop that for a section of that distance I pass by open water. It’s a shallow, in spots reedy and swampy pond, but right now, the sight of the wind rippling across it is heaven. In March, when we first began the stay at home order, the pond was broadly covered by ice but under a cloudy or blue sky this expanse was everything wonderful to see even while frozen and stagnant and filled me with enough joy to navigate another challenging day.


