The road to my home. My house sits on the far side of the wooded area looking to the Swan Range. Whether I’ve been gone on a quick errand or a months long rv trip, the turn on to my road home is a wonderful thing. I am always grateful that I have the opportunity to be right where I am and have Karl and Bob to share it with.
Photo taken yesterday, April 6, 2009.
Links to prior “Road Home” photos:
May-December Romance
Fall Edition
Last evening, after I posted yesterday’s “Just one of those days”, Karl and I went for a walk. I was thinking a blast of fresh “Spring masquerading as Winter” air would banish my doldrums. I almost always enjoy being out once I get out, even if conditions are not wonderful and last evening was no exception. We dawdled around our loop and it felt good but also just a bit more of tiring. Whether Karl was feeling the same or picked up on my feelings, he followed me into the house – a bit unusual as he would normally get a treat and pick a spot in the yard to munch and watch. I took the cue and said, “Let’s just go to bed” and we did! Bob NEVER has objections to going to bed at any time of day. It was 6:45.
I slept well. Bob and Karl were quiet all night so I assume they also slept well. Fresh start on a new day.
I listen to a Jesuit produced podcast called Pray as you go in the morning. The podcasts start with music which varies from Gregorian Chants to contemporary to African Monks chanting with what I call a tribal beat. A verse of scripture is read. The Jesuit group that puts this together is in Britain and most of the readers have a Celtic lilt and accent that seems to put a soft serenity into the readings and the questions that follow. The questions are along the lines of “how did that make you feel” and “what did you notice” but with some specificity to the reading.
Today’s scripture was from Exodus and was a short couple of verses where the Israelites are complaining about the wilderness and its lack of good food, conveniently forgetting that they were, in fact, rescued from persecution. Their take at that moment is more “out of the frying pan and into the fire” and they are pretty blunt with God and Moses about their dissatisfaction and impatience. I believe this was near the beginning of their 40 years in the wilderness so they had a bit to go out there.
But, the “make you think” question in the podcast – the thing that really hit home to me, was “What are you impatient about?”. It made me sit up straight, take notice and think. On the tail of a day where everything seemed “wrong” although nothing really was, it hit me that it was impatience with things of no real importance in the overall scheme of life that was at the root of my out of sortness. As is so often the case, a slight change of perspective changes my outlook and my “in feel” and the world seems right side up once more.
Impatience – it has its plusses and minuses. A certain amount of it has been very good in my life. I don’t wait for conditions to be perfect to try something or do something so I’ve had opportunities for which I am very grateful. It is the impatience with the niggling things that often are beyond my control that causes me grief of my own making.
Today, I am rested and well. I have good work. I live in a place I love. I have friends and family. I have a dog and a cat. I am a beloved child of the great Creator. I have all I need and more. Life is truly good.
Nothing bad happened today.
I got an early start, feeling good as I finished and e-filed taxes yesterday – a chore I had uncharacteristically left a bit later than usual. But, for whatever reason, the day was a bit of a struggle. I was tired and out of sorts from mid-morning on. I could blame it on the weather, hormones or the phase of the moon, but really, I think it was just one of those days…
Karl had one too.
When I dismantled the garden – actually, when neighbors Mike and Nancy traded me the dismantling for the fencing and raised beds, we moved some of the “debris” to a pile that had debris from making the RV pad. That pile of debris is going away shortly… But not before I move the Iris that got moved there accidentally.
In the meantime, I’ve been buying fresh flowers and this week there were Iris and Daffodils to be had.
Lovely, full of the promise of Spring and Summer while waiting for my own.
Yesterday morning…
Today is the last full day of Winter according to the calendar. There has been snow – a lot of snow! – on the ground since December 14… a late start but made up for quickly. As it has warmed up and a lot of melting going on, I’ve been looking at the calendar, past emails, past photos – looking for the “proof” that all the snow will go away…someday.
Despite my anxiousness for green grass, wildflowers and Spring, yesterday’s snow was a beautiful gift!
This winter, I’ve snowshoed at least once and usually 3-4 times every day – enjoying the woods and mountains and trying to keep up with Karl
It has been a wonderful winter for playing outside. Each snowfall, every night of alpenglow, each sunrise and sunset are unique.
We have enjoyed them all.
Yesterday, might not have been the last blast of this winter, but it was lovely and a wonderful reminder to enjoy each moment of each day for whatever it might bring.
After a couple of days above freezing, we are making some progress with the snow melt. The actual driveway is showing…
I might see the walk to the garage soon. I suppose I’m paying more attention to the melting as I keep looking at the huge mounds of snow from the roof shoveling and driveway plowing and wondering exactly how long it will take for them to go away. But finding it interesting that they “shrink” from underneath and seem to take on a bit of hollowness. I’m sure there is a physics type explanation…but I remember from years past that they will shrink fairly rapidly until they get to a last little bit which then seems to take forever to disappear.
The sun fought to make an appearance yesterday and on last evening’s walk even found a few holes to shine through, lighting the mountain tops briefly.
At the north end of the range, snow squalls moved over the mountains and partway down to the lower foothills.
It is still technically Winter for a few more days, but Spring is trying – we are getting there!