Message from the Mountain

The outhouse that rests near the cabin was built for that purpose before we purchased the property but was never finished. We moved it to a better resting place and filled it with wood. Many things i…

I paused at the edge of the orchard on an overcast day and became aware that there was not a sound to be heard. I felt a connection to the great Cosmos. Wherever you are, a moment of gratitude can si…

Finally, today is Groundhogs Day, halfway through astrological winter. Here in the mountains the ground is deep asleep. It is also time to start allowing your winter dreams to become springtime reali…

With the lack of snow this year I have been able to set a groove to follow driving up to the Orchard. With more snow the groove will disappear, and I will need to wait until spring. When we are in th…

A couple of years ago we had a small wood end heater installed in our unfinished cabin to provide a little warmth and to heat some water in the spring and fall. I think of people who have loving warm…

The day can be clear or cloudy and, suddenly, an intense snow squall happens, creating a whiteout where it is impossible to see just a few feet ahead. It often lasts only a few minutes. We can have m…

The cold winter winds blowing over the mountains can create big snowdrifts on unsheltered trails. It can make for an interesting hike. There are people who drift along in life without direction. Fort…

Ever since we became guardians of a very special piece of property, we have considered and developed a lot of its potential to make a difference in other peoples’ lives. I also love to see the potent…

The tall pine stands magnificently alone against the setting sun. It reminds me of people that stand tall and, often silently, alone in doing their good deeds. Often, others have no idea this is taki…

As many of you know, I am always on the lookout for hearts. To me they are signs of love. As I was watching the wild male turkeys outside my window, I noticed heart-shaped marks on top of their heads…

I recently heard on the news that magnetic north is shifting twenty miles a year. That has an effect on compasses and GPS devices as they now read locations differently. Life shifts in many ways, and…

The game camera captured a coyote walking in a straight line, and I thought of wild animals that move differently than dogs who move in a zig-zag fashion. People that walk a straight path in life may…

We are currently living in a frozen world here in the foothills, with temperatures running below zero in the mornings. The little brook has frozen over. I think of people who feel frozen in life when…

Nature has many different textures, like the bark on birch trees. I compare Nature to life and consider all the different textures that I experience every day through all my senses. I have learned th…

One of our game cameras captured four deer out for a stroll after the fall hunting season. Our land is actually an animal safety zone, and I hope the deer know it. People are on a stroll through life…

With a snowstorm coming overnight, we decided to take one more walk before it arrived. We checked the trail cameras and the cabin and retreated home. When we prepare as best as we can for life change…

The bench at the top of the Lupine field was silently waiting patiently for hikers to pause for a rest. It was a little cold for me on that winter afternoon as I knew spring would eventually arrive. …

Everyone and everything have a story to tell, whether it’s a tree standing silently in the woods or a person of any age. Many stories will never be shared, but others will help me remember some of my…

The afternoon sunshine on the snow-covered holly bush created a beautiful design and I reached for my camera to capture a picture. That moment reminded me that there is a design to each of our lives …

We are now halfway through meteorological winter, a very important point for me, as I watch the daylight grow day by day. We have many halfway points in life, and we have the choice of how we approac…