Sunday Stroll - Last Sunday of the Year

The road to town is drifted with snow

from the last several days.

We have perhaps a foot of snow,

with deeper drifts 

where the wild winds 

have whipped through.

We have froged a trail

 from the house

to the chicken coop,

through the sleeping garden.

Micah follows me as I make my rounds,

feeding chickens and rabbits and farm cats.

He is eager to follow

the long trail to the woods,

though he disappears in the drifts

once in a while.

The woods are 

a serene and lovely place

in late December.

When we come inside,

tired from the extra effort involved

 in walking through deep snow,

it is a blessing to sit near the wood stove,

dreaming over garden catalogs,

as the time for seed ordering draws near.

Outside the windows,

the trees are sleeping

and the sun hides 

behind her veils of snow.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

Take a moment, if you can, to head over to Steve's blog, 

Out on the Prairie, 

for a beautiful glimpse of sunset, prairie style.

Wordless Wednesday - December Evening

Sunday Stroll - Last Sunday in Autumn

On days like this,

with the gray burden of sky overhead,

you have to make your own sunshine.

The garden sleeps,

while the wind whispers,

on the last Sunday in Autumn.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

Head over to Steve's blog to see what's been happening "lakely", Out on the Prairie.

Sunday Stroll - Winter's Approach

Today the skies are gray,

and the air so full of winter

that even our breath 

is flavored with snowflakes.

Yesterday, however,

 blue skies and morning sunshine,

lured us outdoors,

and the crisp beauty of December

encouraged us to linger.

 Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

If you enjoy strolling along with a knowledgeable nature lover, 

head on over to Steve's blog 

to see what treasures he found this week, Out on the Prairie.

Sunday Stroll - Wherever You Are

We are home after more travels.  

Expect some "catch up" posts over the next couple of weeks,

 as we attempt to return to what passes for "normal" around here!  ;)

In the meantime, just a few photos from our first evening back in Michigan.  

We were with family members at a park 

still several hours south of our farm, 

but it seemed that the skies welcomed us home.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you all the comforts of home.

Steve has faithfully posted a beautiful stroll every week, so take a look at his gorgeous nature photos if you have a few minutes: Out on the Prairie.

Sunday Stroll - Late Autumn in Tennessee

This is Ozone Falls,

along Fall Creek,

in beautiful Tennessee. 

We spent a beautiful week

with my mom,

touring the lovely hills,

and visiting with warm and friendly folk. 

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, 

I wish you good company.

Please take a moment to visit Steve's stroll, 

Out on the Prairie.

Sunday Stroll - Autumn in California Part Three

There were so many things to see and do

on our trip to California.  I have one last series of photos 

that I would like to share before I move on,

though I have many others stored on the computer 

to remember this wonderful trip!

We spent just one day in the city of San Francisco.

Some locals suggested that we take the 

double decker "hop on, hop off" bus tour.

So glad we did!

What a great way to see the city.

Our favorite "hop off" location

was the Japanese Tea Garden in

Golden Gate Park.

We wandered the five acre garden

marveling over the beautiful vistas

in every direction.

We enjoyed genmaicha tea and miso soup

in the tea house

at the heart of the garden.

The young woman at the cash register

offered me a tiny paper crane,

and the older gentleman who waited on us

told us the history of the gardens.

If you have the chance to visit this incredible 

oasis of peace

in the heart of a bustling city,

I strongly recommend it!

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

You can see Steve's colorful stroll Out on the Prairie.

Sunday Stroll : Autumn in California - Part Two

Though my Sunday Strolls are nearly always taken the same day that I post them, this time I am going to bring you the second part of my Autumn in California series.  We were so fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Yosemite National Park in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains on our trip.

I do not have the right camera or skill set to do justice to the beauty of this place, but I have the right attitude to appreciate the peace and majesty of Yosemite and I hope I can share a bit of that with you.

Not long after you pass through the welcome center, you find yourself driving around the iconic El Capitan, pictured below.

In fact, around every curve, there is a panoramic scene that takes your breath away.

That is the Clark Range behind me.

Hidden within the vast acres of forest and rock and running water,

are hundreds of different communities of connected plant and animal life.  

The photo above is taken from the fen.

This habitat is so similar to the familiar cedar swamps on our own acres,

but edged in ancient trees and massive geological formations of granite and other rock.

We walked the quiet pathways of the Happy Isles, 

an area between two branches of the tumbling Merced River.

We walked the steep mist trail

with two grandbabies sleeping in a stroller,

while we marveled over the beauty

of our surroundings.

There was grandeur in the vistas,

and sweetness in the small details.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

Don't miss Steve's beautiful stroll, Out on the Prairie!