Me and the moon

The moon and me are up early. It's not quite time for the moon to be in bed and the cats roused me early with their fighting. I marvel at the moon's perfection, in full radiance, and the shadows of landmasses or perhaps waters, outlined like an atlas on the surface, as he drifts in and out of the clouds, lighting them in gold wherever his luminance touches. There is a cold breeze blowing in the stars hang in the sky like brilliant polished white diamonds. All is peaceful and quiet and nothing seems to stir put me casting a solitary shadow on my front deck and admiring the light outline of snow below, and the trees which are nearly black against the horizon. Good morning God.

One by one a light comes on in the scattered houses in the hills around me causing gold lit window shapes to be seen fractionally through the trees and I know I am no longer the only early riser here on the mountaintop. Good morning world. I wonder if my neighbors share my fascination with the receding night and new breaking dawn.

The outline the houses slowly take shape as the sky, almost imperceptively, lightens in gradients. Inside my own place, I only hear the soft ticking of the clock. As the moon disappears from view and the sky lightens, the snow takes on a blue whiteness, ever brightening, and the mountains are seen in greater detail. Welcome to you, oh morning, the coming of a new day.

Now there are incoming dark gray clouds that the moon, as it recedes, plays peekaboo behind, and there is a touch of pink sky appearing behind the mountains. The air so cold you can only stand it for minutes at a time before retreating indoors to thaw out again. In a short while, the gray clouds move on and in their wake are mountains of green backlit by salmon-colored clouds in a light aqua sky.

Day is truly breaking; the birds have begun to sing in joy, the air is filled with the scent of a morning fireplace lit to warm the inhabitants of a nearby home and Pesky the squirrel will soon be here for his breakfast. It is time to put the feeder out, filled with goodies a squirrel and birds consider a banquet.

As the sky deepens to a darker hue, more clouds move in from the north and it seems a new snow storm may quickly be approaching and the temperature seems to have dropped even further. The birds are enjoying their morning seed and I will wait to see what the day holds, whether sun or snow, I will live it joy and conscious awareness, as well as gratitude. Thank you God for this day that is only beginning and for all that holds.

11291993

Squirrels, driveways and pictures

I'd been husking and throwing peanuts to the big gray squirrels out front when one of the little Mickey squirrels comes up to me begging for his share, which I gladly provided. I threw them in the seed bag, which he had knocked down in order to eat from the hole they conveniently created and he dove in after them.

Snowflakes are swirling and dancing in the sky and softly floating to a landing on the ever-growing drifts I have not shoveled, as I'm waiting for the snow the let up first.

This morning Pesky the squirrel was quite vocal, sitting on the railing and chattering loudly, making the squirrel warning sounds. It was as if he were trying to tell me something that in my ignorance I could not understand. I came right up to the window and he allowed me to take pictures without skittering away and he held one paw quite close to his chest. He didn't stay to eat but left suddenly and the birds have been enjoying his rations.

The quail came to create designs in the newly fallen snow, with swirls and loops going out in many different directions. The sun is come out to warm the day and to melt the snow again, at least some of it. I will help clear the driveway with my trusty shovel. In the meantime, a calmer Pesky has come back for his breakfast and the cats are now giving him the attention he feels he deserves.

I learned later that the Hawk was here in the morning, seen by my neighbor, circling overhead; a good reason for this skittishness and chatter of the morning. The Hawk is more interested in catching quail but a fat little squirrel probably would not go unnoticed either.

My neighbor cleared my whole driveway in return for its use to transport the wood he has brought back in his truck to his backyard. I find it a good bargain indeed.

I spend the day on creating more greeting cards. The photograph taken through my upstairs window is lovely but not as crisp as the ones outside because the glass is lightly tinted. A drop of snow hitting my camera lens has marred the picture of my home that is outstanding otherwise with the icy white bushes and the snow falling, blown by the wind. You can feel the cold chill just looking at it and see the flying flakes against the brown of the wood of my home, like fine polka dots in motion. The mountains are barely an outline through the haze and the trees stand out in green relief. Still, I have several pictures that turned out well for my greeting cards and I have the anticipation of finding what the two rolls of undeveloped film hold in the future when I can get down to town to have them brought to life.

12021987

The Eternal

Let me stand strong
in the face of adversity
fight for justice always
and do right daily
give me guidance
when I stray....
show me the light
that I find the eternal

03221996

Grace

Knowing God's love
gives me meaning...
and balance in life
He fills my heart,
and blesses me...
with grace.

03221996

Thank you

Lord, you helped me find balance
 and the proper measure in all that I do.
You've been witness to my life,
and the good I've tried to do.
You've helped me up when I failed
and never lost patience with me.
For this, let me thank you.....

03301996

A new snowfall today

Today, I awoke to a white Wonderland again; then a sound I mistook for rain but instead was snow like miniature hail falling fast and hard on the deck. There is a cold wind that kicks up its heels and bangs the rockers against the boards and temporarily turns my blood to ice. The thick screen of clouds shrouds the top part of the mountains like netting over a baby's bassinet and I feel very near to God, as if He has reached His hand down to replace what has melted off too soon and reinstate winter that had never really gone, only pause for a few days, as if nature held its breath and has now exhaled in a powerful gasp. It reminds me, as well, to slow myself down and just breathe, to make a conscious contact with all that I see, hear, feel, and to acknowledge that God is at work in the world around me.

For the first time in days I hear the sound of the snowplow on our hill and feel the crunch of fresh snow under my feet. It is time to take the long-johns out again and the double socks and boots. I will wait for the snow the let up, as well as the winds, before I attempt to shovel outside. Pesky the squirrel has braved the cold and come for his breakfast at a very early hour. I hadn't, as yet, put his feeder out, but as it is already filled from the night before I soon remedy that. He jumps down to the trees when I come outside but is soon back to eat with gusto before the birds steal the tastiest treats.

I believe the snow will be with us most of the day and possibly through the night and I plan my activities to coincide with the weather. To live up here you must learn to accommodate the rhythm of the seasons and better yet, to be conscious in your appreciation of nature. So today, I will work on my writing, my greeting cards, and on my computer.

Unusually, the snowplow has made several passes on the road, trying to get the snow ever higher on the berm and to widen the road where it long ago disappeared from sight, leaving a one-lane path down the middle. The quail and a variety of birds are having a dig fest in the snow, uncovering a banquet of birdseed and leaving a calling card of tracks imprinted on the freshly fallen flakes behind them. Gutsy, the big gray squirrel, hasn't been out directing traffic of late, running off the competition for every kernel of food, but Pesky has company outback who acted quite bold. Could it be our front yard friend?

12091989

We learn by lessons

When we believe that God gives us what we need, when we need it, we often overlook the fact that includes the lessons in life we need to grow in spirit as well as the many blessings He bestows in our lives. It is through hardships that we grow. Today I'm worried for a friend who is going through much difficulty. I've been unable to reach her but my prayers and God can, so I offer them up on Angel's wings that she knows she is not alone.

I continue to explore our beautiful village with camera at my side, driving new roads, today climbing ever higher that ended in a cul-de-sac and a magnificent view of the snow-covered mountain with stately pines reaching skyward toward heaven's gates and spreading their wide branches as if to encompass the horizon. I cannot stop for long as the roads are narrow and made more so by the snow burms on both sides. It would be a marvelous privilege to view even more from the privacy of the decks from houses clinging to the sides of the Hills. I can only imagine from the beauty I experience from my own decks and would love to see it from different perspectives.

I have many roads left to travel and many seasons yet to experience here. I look forward to it with a sense of excitement and anticipation but I concentrate on the now to see this beautiful place with fresh eyes each day, to live in the moment.

A wee bird was feasting in the birdfeeder on the upper deck. He seemed as curious about me as I was interested in observing him and not at all nervous or flighty. He allowed me to get up close and take his picture while he continued to pick apart and choose over the seed, throwing his rejects down for the Mickey Squirrels to find. The birds are accepting me in their same space more and more, as are the squirrels.

I spent the afternoon working on my greeting cards and the logo for the back. I finally settled on Pesky the squirrel on the deck. He seems a symbol of mine new life here in God's country, a closeness to nature, God's creatures, and that we share this home, me in the house in them in their own homes in trees and nests. I may have paperwork and make payments but they were here long before I came and they allow me to see into their lives when I am quiet and treat them with mutual respect, they are a part of my every day and I theirs.

12061989