Yuletide

I walked in the cemetery.
It is warm outside,
49 degrees and sunny.

I stopped at my Grandson's tree.
It is bejeweled with shimmering glass ornaments.
I said my Yuletide blessing.

Many graves have been tended to in these last few days.
Many homemade tokens decorate the tombstones.

Almost all the snow is melted now.
The geese find plenty of fresh water in the puddles.

I am thinking about how once the coming of longer days was celebrated.
In the olde ways people celebrated Winter Solstice also known as Yule.
For the next week I will be walking in Portland, Oregon.
I will be walking with my daughter.
We will celebrate the Yuletide.

Back to the woods

My son and I waked up to Cave Springs.
He has fond memories of the woods.
He used to skip rocks at the little pond.

We circumvented the pond
following the trails the animals had made.

Almost all the snow is melted now.

We watched as Robins flipped leaves
in search of worms.

My son found interesting leaves still green on the vine.
Another winter storm is headed our way for the weekend.

A walk in the woods

My husband and I went for a walk
in the nearby woods.
We checked on the little pond.

This was the most dazzling,
landscape I had ever seen.

The air was filled with shimmering lights
as was the ground.

A few birds called out our arrival.

As we left the woods a small hawk flew in.

To the woods

By mid-morning the sun was shining brightly.
I wanted to check on Little Pond.
I wanted to see the woods.

The Crows flew over and I began to walk.
The two blocks to the woods took me thirty minutes.
I penguin walked and stopped often to take pictures.

When I arrived the gate was closed.
I could have wiggled around it.
I was tired.
I still had the walk back.

My eyes needed to close and rest.
My legs ached and my back was tired.
Two cameras and extra lens and filters
made for a heavy pack.
This is my way of doing weight bearing exercise.

I had taken hundreds of photos.
Maybe tomorrow my husband will go with
and I can check on Little Pond.
Snow is in the forecast.
I hope the Mallards are okay.
I hope they are finding food.

Splendor

The sun came out.
I began to walk.

The light was brilliant.

The air was filled with magnificent light.

The radiance overwhelmed me.

I walked for an hour.
I am dazzled by the light.

Full of care

Carefully I walked around the yard.

Each step cracked and echoed.

I stood under the Maple tree.
It was not too long ago I had sought shade here.

I shall not venture forth any farther.

I am being careful.
I am seeking warmth by the fire.

In the neighborhood

I bundled up and went walking.

Lisa at Greenbow wrote about her pyracantha bush.
I saw these orange berries on one of my neighbor's bushes and thought this must be the bush. I think I will plant a couple in my yard next spring. I think the birds would like the berries and the added nesting branches. I think of Lisa as my neighbor even though she lives in a different state.

The rose bush in my neighbor's yard has roses that have dried and now are frozen.
I think they are lovely. When I see them I think of Anna at Nature Trail.
I call her, "Goddess of the Roses". Her rose garden looks so beautiful. I think of Anna as my neighbor even though she lives far north of me and in a different country.

As I came up the hill towards my house I saw a bush full of red berries.
I do not know its name. I could ask Tom at Monarch's Nature Blog.
He knows the names of many plants, birds and butterflies.
I think of him as my neighbor even though he lives in a different time zone.

The Magnolia Tree in my neighbor's yard reminds me of Chris. She has a beautiful tree in her yard. After seeing her wonderful photos on her blog, Notes from a Somerset Garden, I went looking for Magnolias. I think of Chris as my neighbor even though she lives on a different continent.
I love my neighborhood of friends from all over the world.
Thank you for walking with me.

Drive about

About a mile from my house is a large city park.
It has two golf courses and a zoo in it.
It also has lots of woods and a nature center.

Driving through the park is exciting any time of year.
I have seen wild turkeys and deer right near the road.
It was beautiful today with the ice and snow.

Every year the Parks Department has a poinsettia display in their green houses.
We have never stopped.

On our drive about today we did!
Fantastic display.
Thousands of plants with Christmas Trees
all decorated in different colors and themes.

Just beautiful!

Walking in the snow

I went out early to feed the birds.
I wanted to see if we had visitors during the night.



Deer tracks lets me know
it is time to put some food out for them.



The rabbits will find little bits of green under the snow.
I can put some lettuce out for them if we get another storm,
or if the snow becomes too deep.

This snow fall was not very deep.
Not even a beak's worth.

I just walked about the yard.
My friend was coming for brunch
I had to get inside and set the table.

We laughed and shared stories.
This was our December time together.

Preparing for a winter storm

I filled all the feeders
in the gardens this morning.

There are 40 different spots for nuts and seed.

I filled the seven bird baths too.
The birds need water.



A winter storm is coming in.

I wrapped up in three blankets
and sat with them for a little while.

The wind has died down. It is cold.
I am waiting for the snow to start.
I want to walk in the snow.

To Little Pond

It warmed by mid-morning to 50 degrees.
I went to visit the little pond in the woods.

Many Juncos this year.
More than I can remember ever being here.

The Mallard Ducks were swimming
on the pond when I arrived.
Some flew, some swam into a sheltered area.
They are not accustom to me yet.
.

I gazed at the reflections in Little Pond.
I am adding blue to my Christmas decorations
and am letting nature inspire me.

On my walk home I saw beautiful berries tucked in the woods.
I wonder if it is wild bittersweet.

Across the street

It has been awhile since I walked
in the cemetery.
The leaves have now left the trees.

The geese are staying close to their water.

The pine trees are full of pine cones.

Loved ones are decorating graves
for Christmas.

It was sunny but cold.
The wind was blowing.
My eyes were watering.

I wanted to get back home.
I wanted to be warm and cozy.
I wanted a cup of cocoa.

At my desk

There is an inner walk
I take each day.
It is a walk in gratitude.

The woodpeckers come to the suet cakes
that are in the window boxes.
They come to the nut feeders that are under the soffit
outside of my office windows.
In the winter they come for food and shelter.
I can provide this for them.

They can see me.
They learn to trust me.
I learn to trust me too.

Every now and again I stop my work.
For two minutes I watch the woodpeckers.
For two minutes I stretch my legs and my neck.
For two minutes I connect with my source.

The woodpeckers remind me.
Thank you woodpeckers.