Sunday Stroll - A Day Late

I almost didn't go outside. The sound of the wind singing through the cracks around the doors and windows, the cold chill that came in with the sound, were enough to convince me that sometimes Sunday is a good day to stay indoors. I pulled on boots and coat long enough to snap an image or two of the snowy hills, and the sled at the ready on the front deck. The string is looped around a post to keep this lightweight glider from blowing away in these January winds.

Tiggy had the right idea, I believe, so I followed her lead and aside from some cooking I had a pretty lazy Sunday.

I couldn't get my photos to load yesterday, so here they are a day late. Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you rest and relaxation.

all photos January10, 2009

Sunday Stroll Invitation

"To be alive, to be able to see, to walk, to have houses, music, paintings - it's all a miracle. I have adopted the technique of living life miracle to miracle."
- Arthur Rubinstein

If you have time this week for a Sunday Stroll, to walk and see the miracles around you, please write about it on your blog and then come back here with a comment and a link to your post. You may use the Sunday Stroll button at the top of this post on your post or sidebar if you would like. I will add participant names to this post so that other strollers may walk through your garden too. I'll check back and try to keep the list updated.

Look who's strolling:
Margaret at Periodic Pearls
Heather at Heather's Homemaking
Cloudhands at Uncarved Block
Christiane at Spiraling
Linda at Vulture Peak Muse

Miss Maudie

Maude

May 15, 1995 to January 8, 2010

I would like to tell you all about this sweet, nutty girl who romped through our days for nearly 15 years, but how do you put so much vitality and verve into a written narrative? It has been clear for months now that Maude was slowing down... She kept her amazing spirit despite a growing list of aches and pains, but the last few weeks were difficult. Her little stubby tail had not wagged since before Christmas. We made the very difficult decision to ease our faithful companion's pain, and yesterday we had the veterinarian visit the house. Her lumpy plaid bed is empty now.

The brilliant sunshine glittering off the snow outside the windows makes my heart ache. What a beautiful day for a long walk. Maude would have loved to be outside on a day like this, but perhaps she is running in more beautiful fields now. I hope so.

"To sit with a dog on a hillside

on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,

where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace."

~Milan Kundera

Wordless Wednesday - Snowfall

(If you'd like to hear just the snowfall, you can turn off the music on my right sidebar.)

video by aisling, filmed 1/3/2009

Sunday Stroll - Betwixt the Snowflakes

Snow dominates earth and sky in a northern winter, but beneath the pale sunlight and betwixt the snowflakes, caught in the crooks of trees and piled on vacated nests, there are remnants of other seasons.

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you beautiful moments.

all photos by Aisling, January 3, 2009

Sunday Stroll Invitation

"Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening and even the most experienced gardener can learn from the unrestrained beauty around them."
- Vincent A. Simeone


This is one of those rare Sundays where I might not get outside and take photos. I don't think the camera would withstand the cold, cold temperature and the frenzied, blowing snow. I will wait to see what weather the afternoon hours bring. In the meantime, there are dishes still stacked on the counter from yesterday to tend to, and a novel calling my name from my bedside table.

If you have time this week for a Sunday Stroll, to walk into whatever weather the first Sunday of the year offers, please about about it on your blog and then come back here with a comment and a link to your post. You may use the Sunday Stroll button at the top of this post on your post or sidebar if you would like. I will add participant names to this post so that other strollers may walk through your garden too. I'll check back as often as my day allows and try to keep the list updated. Enjoy the day!

Look who is strolling:
Margaret at Periodic Pearls
Cloudhands at Uncarved Block
Me here at the Quiet Country House

A Little Quote and a Little Note: Nurture

"Nourish beginnings, let us nourish beginnings.

Not all things are blest, but the seeds of all things are blest.

The blessing is in the seed."
Muriel Rukeyser

I love this quote found today at the beginning of a new year which is attributed to Muriel Rukeyser, who is also responsible for one of my favorite quotes ever, "The universe is made of stories, not atoms," which you will find as a permanent feature of my sidebar. The idea that the blessing is in the seed speaks to me of nurture. As gardeners, we nurture. As parents, we nurture. As friends, we nurture. It is so elemental a component of who we are, or who we strive to be.

Let us nurture this seedling year, which is unfurling before us, a tender, sweet miracle of possibility.