Pause & See ~ Morning Light

I love the shortening days and the opportunity to see the sunrise at a reasonable hour.  I have to admit I was a bit grumbly this morning.  I awoke to the sound of rain.  Somehow my forecast hadn't included rain for today.  You see, I did 6 loads of laundry yesterday thinking this would be my last outside line drying time for a while.  I had thought it would be dry today...oh bother.  Guess it is going to get a few rain rinses.  When I went to take Runa out I saw this beautiful sky!  Grumblies were all gone!  I ran and got my camera.  Wearing my robe and muck boots I ventured out into the cold drizzle to get a better view across the field.

It was breath taking~~~

I stood there just soaking it all in and watched the light come on.  There was a soft drizzle and I was getting a bit chilled.  I started think about my morning coffee and turned to head back to the house.  This is what was behind me ~~~ A spectacular rainbow!

I no longer felt the cold.  It was just so beautiful!  I took a stroll down to the pond to see.....

My camera does not do the sight justice.  The sun shone on the autumn leaves at just the perfect angle to create a burst of golden light.  Longfellow's Poem speaks to this moment so very well...

The Rainbow

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky;
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

I try to see something new each day. The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion.  My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks!  Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet.  By creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder.  I love to wonder about wonders.  These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut.  But mostly, they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present.  I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of my discoveries, they are a moments of childlike wonder!  

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky"             ~~~Buddha

☼ Forest & Field Happenings ☼ FLOWERS!

I do not have formal flower gardens but I do have flowers!  Late June is the peak time for flowers here.  The Lupine it the favorite of my DH so I have planted and divided them everywhere I think they will grow ... and ... not get mowed over by the same DH!

Here is a little tour of the flowers that are blooming ~~~

Siberian Iris are at their peak all around the pond!

I received a gift clump 20 + years ago and have just been dividing & dividing...

The first plant that I planted on this land was my Rhododendron...the Washington State Flower.   It was hit hard this winter but I am happy to say that it is bouncing back with flowers and new growth...phew...I was a bit worried!

This ever expanding Wild Rose briar patch came with the land....looks like I should add gathering rose petals to my to do list!

Hoping for a good blackberry year...looking promising with the cultivated & the wild!

These Peonies I dug up and transplanted from the house we had before...never found a place for them around the house...but they seem happy here on this slope...a nice bouquet for the house!

Can't forget the wild ones...I am on a crusade to spread Milkweed to feed the Monarchs...more on that another time... http://monarchwatch.org/

Thought these spent dandelions looked sort of nice....

One of my favorite woodland flowers ~ Jack-in-the-Pulpit

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” 

the Buddha

Pause & See

On my snowshoe today I nearly left the camera behind.  But then I thought, "What if I can get that photo of the Raven?"  I have been trying for a long time to snap a picture of the Raven that lives around this land.  There used to be a family of 3 for many years.  But for that last couple of years there has only been one.  I have a relationship with this bird.  Ravens are highly intelligent.  Sometimes we talk to each other...I mimic the Raven's croaks...I hope I am saying something nice!?  Once this Raven flew right next to me when I was running in the back field.  That was an amazing moment!  

Today I was focusing on this lovely beech tree when I heard that familiar croak.  I turned my camera skyward and snapped these 2 photos!  I am grateful I pause at this tree.  It is "loud" snow in the woods today.  I may not have heard the croak while walking.  But I really feel the Raven was "listening" to my desire.  Raven gave me a gift, as good friends often do.

a flying raven

turns her head and croaks at me

YES! I love you too

orah

If you would like to know more about these fascinating birds I would recommend:

In the Company of Crows and Ravens, by John Marzluff & Tony Angell

This a regular feature I plan to include in this blog.  I try to see something new each day.  It is part of my practice in "seeing".  The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion.  My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks!  Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet.  But by creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder.  I love to wonder about wonders.  These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut.  But mostly they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present.  I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of these discoveries. They are a moment of childlike wonder!  

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky"             ~~~Buddha

Pause & See ~~~ Icescapes

WHEN THE WATER POT

BURST THAT SILENT NIGHT WITH COLD

MY EYES SPLIT OPEN 

Basho

Today at Duckingham Palace I was hurrying through my chores because it was so darn cold! Out of the corner of my eye I glanced at the duck pond and saw these unusual white spots.  I came is for a closer look.  They were spring bubbles trapped frozen in the ice.  I scurried back to the house to get my camera. I braved the cold without mittens and snapped these photos. The photos have not been edited in anyway.  Just auto setting and a bit of zoom.  This beauty took my breath away. I can say no more...except my own haiku for the moment...

MY WORDS HAVE GONE

FROZEN INTO THE POND ICE

PAUSE AND SEE BEAUTY

Orah

This a regular feature I plan to include in this blog.  I try to see something new each day.  It is part of my practice in "seeing".  The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion.  My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks!  Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet.  But by creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder.  I love to wonder about wonders.  These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut.  But mostly they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present.  I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of these discoveries. They are a moment of childlike wonder!  

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky"             ~~~Buddha

Gratitude

Wild Turkeys in My Backyard!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  Be In Joy on this day of Feasting, Friends, Families, & Festivities!

This photo is a bit blurry...these turkey's were moving...guess they won't be dinner today!

I will leave you with a few quotes for you contemplation....

“I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind”
Albert Einstein

"Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine."    Buddha

"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude."  Karl Barth

Pause & See

 Stopped in My Tracks

Do you see it?

This a regular feature I plan to include in this blog.  I try to see something new each day.  It is part of my practice in "seeing".  The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion.  My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks!  Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet.  But by creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder.  I love to wonder about wonders.  These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut.  But mostly they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present.  I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of these discoveries. They are a moment of childlike wonder!  

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky"             ~~~Buddha

 

 

I was scurrying down my trails with my mind on my future tasks of the day.  Then I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye this pine cone wedged into a bit of snag. I must have walked by it many times without seeing it.  It has a some spider web on it so it has been there awhile.  I walk this way nearly everyday.  So it makes me wonder what else I am not seeing.  How did it get there?  Was it the wind that put it there by chance.  Or did some show off squirrel stash it there for all to "see".  What do you think?