Wordless Wednesday - From Saturday Afternoon Hike

Monday Muse - River Jordan

Today I got to the halfway mark on editing my new novel.  Slippery roads and snowy skies made it an ideal day to stay inside and write, while listening to some "mood music."  This band, Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys is a Michigan band and a favorite of mine that I have seen in several small venues. The song, River Jordan, was written by another Michigan artist, May Erlewine, whom I love, but I like this version even better! 

What have you been listening to?  Feel free to leave a link in the comments!  

Sunday Stroll - With a twist

This week's stroll invitation comes with a twist: It is extended through out the week.  Sometimes Sundays just do not lend themselves to a long walk.  Perhaps the weather does not cooperate, perhaps you have a house full of guests.  Perhaps your Sunday is filled with social commitments, or blissfully filled with intentional idleness.

So, in recognition of that, I am leaving this post open-ended.  If you have time, anytime at all, to take a long leisurely walk with a camera in hand, and have the time and inclination to blog about it, please feel free to leave a link and/or comment about it on this post and I will add your name to the list of strollers.  

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, 

I wish you time and leisure to walk slowly, with your eyes wide open.



Strolling:

Steve at Out on the Prairiehttp://crazymountainman.blogspot.com/2017/01/sunday-stroll-at-park.html

Poetry Thursday - January Morn

"Bare branches of each tree

on this chilly January morn

look so cold so forlorn.

Gray skies dip ever so low

left from yesterday's dusting of snow.

Yet in the heart of each tree

waiting for each who wait to see

new life as warm sun and breeze will blow,

like magic, unlock springs sap to flow,

buds, new leaves, then blooms will grow."

-  Nelda Hartmann, January Morn  

This poem and others on a similar topic may be found at: http://www.gardendigest.com/monjan.htm

Monday Muse - Joni Mitchell River

I'm spending much of my "free time" in January editing a children's chapter book that I wrote this autumn during the annual online event known as "National Write a Novel Month" or NaNoWriMo, for short.  My story takes place on and near a river in Tennessee, outside of Knoxville.  As I edit, I find it pleasant to listen to music and I've been having fun finding songs that fit the theme of my novel.  I have loved and listened to this song by Joni Mitchell for much of my life.  The iconic Snoopy skating to this beautiful music is a delight, although I did have to stop editing long enough to watch.  Not sure how productive that was!

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, 

I wish you success in the pursuit of your personal goals this year, 

and most of all,, 

I wish you joy in the journey.

Sunday Stroll - A Beautiful New Day

full from earth to sky

of wonders,

and small miracles.

A day so full of color,

so full of life;

What a joy to spend it walking in the woods,

with a loved one.

What a wonder to find evidence of all the life that fills these woods:

from deer, to rabbits, to mice, 

to the porcupine that stripped the bark from these trees.

We are not alone.

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you a beautiful year ahead.

the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th photos were taken by my daughter, Ellis who also took many of the photographs in my book, linked at the top of the right sidebar.

Sunday Stroll Invitation - New Year's Day

And now we welcome the new year.

Full of things that have never been. 

– Rainer Maria Rilke

Perhaps you have let your habit of walking, not just for exercise, but also just for the joy of it, fall by the wayside over the past few weeks of holiday busyness.  With the new year, comes a new opportunity to begin to establish habits that celebrate being alive on this beautiful earth.  With all it's troubles and tribulations, our home planet is still a lovely world full of beauty and mystery, and an endless number of tiny wonders; if only we could remember to slow down and take notice.  As this year begins, I will walk into each day, with my senses fully open and awake. Won't you join me?

If you have time this week for a Sunday Stroll, please post 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 side bar if you would like. I will add participant names to this post so other strollers can walk through your "neck of the woods"  too. I'll check back often and try to keep the list updated.

quote from: http://idealistcareers.org/8-quotes-get-excited-new-year/