Spring Break
Cobwebs in my house and my head, a heavy work schedule, Karl.
Taking a Spring blogging break to take care of Karl, Bob and me.
Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category
Weekend Miscellany
Friday morning perfection.
Between the sunshine, blue sky and perfect for us temps…who could NOT roll in the snow for the fun of it ? :)! ?
Feelin’ good.
I finished my work day mid-afternoon. Karl and I headed west to Kila and Calm Animal Care for Karl to have a spa treatment: a chiropractic follow up and a first time acupuncture. Yea, I was a little envious but actually it is a treat for me as well. We arrived early enough to have a long leisurely walk on the “Rails to Trails” path that looks to the view in the photo above. Dr. Calm’s office where we both wait and get treated has 2 1/2 large picture windows that look out on this valley view. Small trees just outside the windows were full of small birds chirping gaily in the almost spring sunshine.
The clinic is in an old house and exudes the same calm as Dr. Calm herself and all of the staff and even the other patients. Karl and I relaxed while waiting. Karl nearly falls asleep on his feet during the massage/chiropractic and he did fall asleep during the acupuncture part. I shared the foam mattress that serves as the dog bed and managed nearly falling asleep myself! Once home we were both feeling rejuvenated and had a wonderful evening walk around the loop as the sun started down.
Friday was to be the day to go to Great Falls and meet Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) but I had made the decision two weeks ago that I wouldn’t try to do the trip. As it turned out, the weather would have held me back as well.
…both the northern and southern pass options – snow, ice and or both.
But Friday here, was sunny, clear and beautiful – a beautiful evening and a good night’s rest all around after a good work week.
Saturday’s weather was a wintry mix which didn’t stop us from a morning grocery run and dampish walk in town and a lazy afternoon in front of the woodstove.
This morning. Misty, foggy, damp…another fire to keep things cozy until the sun started burning off the fog…
…and we headed out for another round of our home loop.
…while Bob relaxed at home: Weekend Miscellany.
Think on these things
The sorrows of our earthly world have been receiving an enormous amount of “press”. I, and I imagine every one of you reading this post also have some private sorrow, hurt or worry that feels overwhelming.
And, not that there is not a time for sadness or grief, but I believe that we are also called, by our Creator, to live with Joy and thankfulness, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Father Tim, a character in Jan Karon’s Mitford series, often said to himself or to one of his parishioners: “Phillipians 4:13 for pete’s sake!”
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”
And earlier in Chapter 4:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Verses 5-7
Powerful stuff. When I feel like it is impossible to not be anxious, I hear Father Tim’s voice in my head: “Phillipians 4:13 for pete’s sake!”
And then a verse right smack dab in the middle of those above…
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. […] And the God of peace will be with you.“ Verse 9
I don’t need to look very far to find things that meet those conditions:
Sunshine through the trees. A driveway that might reappear soon. The promise of Spring evident in the light, the melting snow and the hint of new things coming to life.
My boys.
My choice on what to think on is these things: these simple, lovely, pure, excellent and praiseworthy things.
Peace
Between world news, the snow/ice storm in the U.S., the cyclones in the South Pacific, and a horrific local couple of news items…the sadness of all seems a bit overwhelming to me today.
I took this photo on my phone, Monday afternoon.
I love the sun and the shadows and Karl and the memories and thoughts and story that it tells.
I’ve been looking at it and thinking serenity, love, grace and peace.
Peace.
A sunshiny day
Moonshadows, moonset and sunrise…not a cloud in the sky…
Cold, but clear making a nice change from the gray, drippy days of the past week – a sunshiny day.
Moon shadows
Yesterday evening, the temperature dropped and the sky began to clear. Karl’s and my last walk was my moonlight, albeit still cloudy moonlight.
I woke in the night to a moonlit house.
This morning, a moon so bright that even filtered through the trees in the woods, we walked over now crunchy snow and ground without house or flash light.
I took my first cup of coffee out to the chair and sat with Karl watching and listening to morning sounds. On moonlit nights, the wildlife feed all night. There is more movement, more sound, more life in the night and very early morning. The crack of a tree limb as the deer moved below us made Karl huff and briefly bark but then seeing that they were moving on and not across his yard, he quieted. A gust of wind rose in the pines and faded away. The air smelled clean – too cold to smell of pine, no smell of snow yet – just clean.
As I sat in the quiet, several decisions were made…or rather they “occurred”. Nothing monumental, just a few things that have been rolling around in my head with no resolution for some days. It was as if I tossed all of the pieces of a puzzle into the air and they fell to the ground all in their proper places. Inside, warming up with a second cup of coffee, I sat with Bob at my feet and felt great peace.
It is a new day, with new possibilities – started in the clear light of moon shadows.