Message from the Mountain

We are now more than halfway through meteorological winter, and I am noticing a difference in the ever-expanding daylight. I think of the concepts of time. Is it all happening at once? Are there worm…

The most recent snow was light and fluffy, not like the storms before. The large millstone resting on the stone wall reminds me of a giant bagel waiting for a coating of peanut butter to create a gia…

Winter is not easy here in the foothills. There are a lot of extra costs, some planned for, and some not, creating stress. I have set my intentions to find something each day to be grateful for, and …

A couple of weeks ago the ground was brown. Now, with storm after storm, the snow is beginning to pile up, creating a problem for snow removal. People seem to have life stresses piling up on them lik…

The last couple of snowstorms have turned into rain events leaving a real mess for those that plow the wet heavy aftermath. The rain also leaves an interesting effect on the uneven surface of the rem…

It seems as if everything in Nature is topsy-turvy. It is hard to tell what season we are in. Maybe you have noticed: it is not only Nature that is topsy-turvy. All of life seems to be experiencing i…

The water is running down the mountainside in the brook on its way to the ocean. The warm weather continues to keep, normally frozen, water open. Life has a flow to it, sometimes moving rapidly and s…

The recent foot of snow, followed by an inch or two of rain and warm temperatures, turned the landscape to mush. It reminded me of certain fine chopped foods with an excess of moisture. Some are very…

Now that we are about three weeks away from the shortest day of the year, I am beginning to see and anticipate the expanding daylight. It is a January ritual for me. Sometimes we do not see the posit…

The weather forecast on the news said that there would be a red sky as daylight began which would indicate a big storm coming soon. The sky did turn red, and we planned our day with inclement weather…

We are back to a winter wonderland of white, at least for a few days. The weather and life seem to be going through a lot of changes. People often find their plans subject to change. The goal is to s…

Finally, two months into the season, it appears as if the snow drought has ended, and outdoor enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief. It seems as if we spend a good part of our lives waiting for so…

Recently, browsing the Internet, I stumbled on a beautiful leaded glass dragon fly, and seeing that it was local, I arranged to purchase it. A few years ago, my wife was rescued from an accident wher…

There is a birch tree at the edge of the orchard that is bent over to the point where it will never grow straight again. Each year the elements cause it to bend more. I am inspired by its spirit and …

As I have mentioned before, during this time when Nature presents a bleak landscape, my attention is drawn to elements that catch my eye, like a couple of leaves still hanging on the bark of a tree. …

With the weather turning colder, the ground, which is still very moist from all the recent rain, is beginning to freeze. Ice crystals are pushing their way to the surface, and they crunch when I step…

It was fun enjoying the different decorations we collected to help us celebrate the holidays, but our collecting actually goes on all year round. One way we do it is to find magnets that we can displ…

As we wait for the ground to be covered in snow, I look for a little bit of color in Nature to brighten the day; today I find the greens of moss growing on rocks to be grateful for. I believe there i…

Today we have a blank slate in front of us. It is a new year, and, yes, there are situations which carry over from last year, but, by following our hearts with gratitude for the opportunities in fron…

On this last day of 2023, many people will be making New Year’s resolutions that will more than likely last for just a short period of time. I prefer to establish a morning routine using heart-based …