Where is Spring?

We are nearly through the winter months. It's seemed like "The Long Winter" this year, with many storms everywhere and gray days. February has brought several major snowstorms to our state, removing concerns about drought and water rationing. The neighboring orchardist has crews out pruning their apple trees. And shoots of daffodils and popping up through the soil in my flower beds. Within a month spring should "burst forth" and I am looking forward to it! In the meantime, cute pictures of the grand-doggy sent to me by text message cheer my days! I even got to "chat" with Sudo via Skype this week. Isn't she cute wearing pearls? She's growing and is filled with energy! "Chase" is her favorite game. She'll wear anyone out! But, the game has to happen inside the house! As soon as she is out the front door she's too cold and insists on being carried. What a sweet baby.

Mark Twain has some interesting thoughts on spring. He says "In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours."

And here's another interesting quote as we anticipate spring. "No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." Hal Borland

We wait. Anticipation. Spring will be here --- soon.

In the meantime, like Sudo, I appreciate the warm and cozy indoors!

A Dreamer's Snowfall

I love this poem! Especially these parts. . .

A song is in the snowfall,
A bird of soft, white wings. . .

A God is in the snowfall,
The God of peaceful homes. . .

And this:

A beauty's in the snowfall,
A Cinderella's shoe,
It's like a picture postcard
A world that's bright and new!

I hope you are enjoying winter. Has there been a snowfall near you recently?

January Thoughts

January.

A fresh start.

Reflections upon the past.

Hope for the new.

Refresh.

Renew.

Enjoy.

{This lovely old schoolhouse stands in the wheat field of a friend who lives nearby}

Autumn Mountain

Autumn. It speaks of color, light, and shadow. It is vibrant and crisp; and makes me think of cozy nesting and cups of hot tea. A walk down Cabin Woods Lane can be casual and slow. Footprints, feathers, and arrowheads can be found in the tire ruts. The tamarack trees are a special feast to the eye as they dot the forest with bold, yellow color! Seeds and burrs catch on socks and pant legs when on woodland walks. The dying, drying foliage opens up the meadow and forest carpet so that tiny details can be observed: mushrooms, pebbles, twigs, fallen berries, and prints in the dirt. Each season creates interesting things to observe. Whereas spring speaks of anticipation and hope, autumn is a time for closing down, saying good-bye, and enjoying each moment because you know that soon winter will arrive and the colors will be traded for brown and white. Seasons. Time. And beauty. 

Smiling Punkins

This smiling pumpkin scarecrow greeted me recently in a coffee shop. Just look at that smile! I dare you to really take a good look at it and keep from smiling back! There's something so inviting and friendly about pumpkins. Maybe it's because they are such a cheerful color and they are such fun to carve smiles into! Pumpkin season is also a season for kids! I've been hearing reports from friends who are taking their children to pumpkin patches and from others who are busy baking pumpkin bread. Others are dreaming of pumpkin pies and are eagerly awaiting Thanksgiving! Pumpkin orange surely does seem to be the color of the season! Speaking of pumpkins, are there some little punkins in your life who might enjoy some pumpkin activities? Becky, who blogs at This Reading Mama is sharing a packet of pumpkin themed printables. They are free and will keep youngsters you may know busy for hours. I thought I'd pass along the word. Click PUMPKIN here.

O C T O B E R

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

by Robert Frost

A Walk Around the Yard

There is a chill in the air these days. But the sun shines through mid-day, giving just the right amount of warmth to the day. A walk around the yard is in order while the sun shines! Autumn is here. The plants reflect the affect of the heat of August, but are revived by the coolness present now. The lavender is blooming again, giving one last burst of purple before winter arrives. 

The cone flowers are very weary and tired. They have started producing seeds, but some faded color remains and bursts of cheer show forth.

The roses are less full and not quite so vibrant, but their faces still show of unfolding beauty and charm. I love the soft apricot essence of this blossom.

The hollyhocks just never give up! Beautiful, stunning blooms showcase some parts of the plants.

While other parts are dry stalks of seeds in pods. Each pod contains a spiral of small round discs that fit together perfectly! Every time I pass by them I pluck some of the pods, squeeze them tight, and release the seeds into the soil below. I love hollyhocks and simply want to help nature replenish the supply for next spring and summer!

The lawn is still green and the leaves have not quite turned to gold. But the tired, weariness of foliage and blossom is evident. There is beauty in each stage of every season.

Peace. The result of walking around the yard on a day in Indian summer.

The Herbs of Autumn

Bee Balm

The first October freeze looms near. The air was chilly this morning, reminding me that it won't be long before a killing frost hits the garden and changes my world!

Grape Leaves

By now you probably realize that I love spring and summer because of flowers and the wonderful gifts that nature provides. When October arrives I start taking jaunts through my yard, simply to appreciate the late season blossoms and greenery.

Bay Laurel

Unlike spring, the foliage this time of year is worn and weary. You have to look for the beauty and appreciate what each water spot or tattered leaf represents.

Sage

It's time to harvest and dry the herbs for winter use. Meadow tea is my favorite way to use homegrown herbs. The dried herbs look so pretty mixed together in a gallon jar, just waiting for infusion in a hot cup of water or a seasonal teapot.

Rosemary

More Rosemary

The rosemary did extremely well this year. I also dried a lot of homegrown lavender. It's time to make my own version of "Rosemary Hill" tea. The recipe will be simple: rosemary leaves, lavender buds, and a great quality black tea.

Stevia

The sweet leaf, stevia, makes a delightful addition to meadow tea as well. Just dry, crumble, and add to the other dried herbs in the jar. The sweetness of the leaf enhances any tisane.

Mint

And of course, one cannot forget the mint. It's been plucked, picked, and appreciated all summer long. The last of the leaves are small and not very prolific this time of year, but the flavor they add to anything on a chilly day cannot be beat!

Have you walked through your yard today to check things out? What's growing in your autumn garden?

Autumn Fires

In the other gardens

And all up the vale,

From the autumn bonfires

See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over

And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes,

The gray smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Octobers

“I'm so glad I live in a world
 where there are Octobers.” 

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

A Second Spring

Autumn

is a second spring

where every

leaf is a

flower.

Albert Camas

Tea. Nature. Friends. Autumn

Autumn arrived right on schedule. We went from unseasonably hot weather to days of wind, rain, and chill. So far there has been on gentle transition. Long sleeved shirts, jackets, and boots have been dug out of the back of the closet for daily wear. Even on the mountain there was not a transition period. It's been a shock to my system! But I am trying to take it with grace and adjust as quickly as I can.

Just two shorts weeks ago we were sitting in these chairs, enjoying the view in short sleeves and sandals! It's hard to believe! The change of season brings its own beauty, though. I love the vibrant yellows and oranges of fall. The woods have a carpet of golden pine needles and there is a general crispness in the air!

Mountain flowers are in the last throws of bloom! Yellow is the color of the season. It's so pretty!

New grow is evident too, as summer's growing season helped new plants and trees sprout and grow. This pretty little pine tree is new and is not far from the cabin. It's so perfect in its tender form. New needles radiate from each branch in perfect symmetry.

Rain has settled all the dust of summer. Rocks glisten with the moisture and prints can be seen in the mud. In early summer we observed a mother doe and her newborn twins not far from the cabin. The little ones were curious about us and the mother kept a close watch nearby. Over the summer we've seen them nearby from pictures on our trail camera. Yesterday they stepped out to greet us near our meadow as we arrived. Curious. We were so happy to see that they had survived the summer and grown so well. The fawns are now adolescents and have lost their spots, but they still hang behind their mother as protector. Our trail camera also showed us pictures of a lumbering black bear that passed by the cabin while on his search for grubs and berries.

Inside a blazing fire was welcome! Come in and sit for awhile. I'll put the tea kettle on!

There is an art to warming up in front of the wood stove. First the front, then the back, and around and around until toasty warm!

Friends and their four-legged pets are always welcome. Yesterday two of each stopped by for lunch. Afterwards the rain stopped long enough for a walk in the woods.

The meadow is turning dry and golden after the summer heat. After we passed along the trail we heard crackling, like fireworks. A tall, dead tree crackled and popped as it fell. The forest is never quiet. 

Beautiful colors. Purples in autumn compliment yellow, orange, and gold so well!

Afterwards, we warmed up again with mugs of hot tea. Tea. Nature. Friends. Autumn. A perfect day!

The Beautiful Sky

When on a recent afternoon drive I relished the beautiful sky. It was so clear and blue. White, puffy clouds floated overhead, creating interesting shapes. It was fun to watch them waft through the sky at a steady pace. Although the air seemed still, it as obvious that breezes were moving the clouds along quite swiftly. The simple sky can be expansive and broad, opening vistas known only in the imagination! Simple, yet complex in its majesty. Sky. Beautiful sky.

* * *

A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed... It feels an impulsion... this is the place to go now.  But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.  
~ Richard Bach

Seasons & Bliss

Seasons come and go, passing casually by as though it's the most natural thing in the world. And it is! Although sometimes we as humans can tend to choose worry and care to get in the way of the enjoyable elements that the seasons bring. 

Late summer on the mountain brings a bit of coolness that is appreciated by all! The earth is dry and dusty. Plants that have flourished all summer are starting to die back and turn golden. The wild animals seem to be more active than they were just a few shorts weeks ago. What seem like huge cougar tracks in the dust outside the kitchen door give me cause to pause a moment each time I open the door to go outside.

There's just enough extra heat outside to make me appreciate the coolness within the cabin walls. Enjoyable times working on crochet projects or reading good books have kept me happy and content. I'll admit to a nap now and then as well. The bliss of summertime.

A late afternoon walk reveals beautiful light among the ridges and hollows of the mountain range in the distance. The meadow is dry and crunchy underfoot.

As the sun goes down our mountain ridge creates a shadow on the mountain ridge across the watershed valley. Light and shadow. A straight line delineating such contrast. We sit and observe the change until we decide it really is getting shadowy enough that we need to walk out to the gate and head on home.

Through the dark woods we walk, observing signs of bear and a multitude of elk along the way. Bear trees (that's what we call them) show where bear have been searching for ants and other bugs. And large areas of bedding places for a herds of elk reveal crushed leaves, trampled grass, and many hoof prints. Their fragrance has been left behind. A pair of white-tailed deer shyly look our way before they scamper off the other direction. 

Twilight. The time of day when eyes try to adjust and it is not all that easy to see. I keep alert for wild animals until the sun settles just low enough into the sky to shine on my path! Such beauty! Such joy. The end of a lovely day.

Poetry in Word & Picture

April is National Poetry Month. It was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and has continued on for every April thereafter. It is a time when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States celebrate poetry and the place it holds in American culture. Each year my blogging friend, Christy, celebrates this month on her blog 'Gathering Around the Table' by posting poetry that speaks to her heart. Today I am joining her in this quest.

Four days
Her petals furled
Gainst chilling wind and rain.
Came sun and rose disclosed her heart
Purr gold

Emma Berthelot

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

William Wordworth

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of 
strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something 
infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature— the assurance
that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.

Rachel Carson

The photo is of Sally, who is poetry in a picture.