Sunday Stroll - The Wide Way

In addition to all of the trails featured in my last week's Sunday Stroll, there is a wide swath through the center of the property, which was probably clear cut at one time,but is now starting to fill in. Today, we headed out to The Wide Way for a long, slow meander  to the southern end.

 The Wide Way is flanked on both sides by cedar and juniper,

and the best blackberry bramble on the farm.

The trees all around are full of pattern and texture,

and if you look down, you never know what you might find.

The far south end opens onto the sprawling corn field

of another farm.

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

Steve strolled Out On the Prairie

Sunday Stroll Invitation

“‘Is the spring coming?’ he said. 

‘What is it like?’ …

‘It is the sun shining on the rain

 and the rain falling on the sunshine, 

and things pushing up

 and working under the earth.’”

—Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Will you be indoors or outdoors for the most part today?  It is warm here, but overcast, with  a thunderstorm forecast for early evening.  I have been dividing my time between indoor necessities and whatever I can find to tend to outdoors for the past couple of days.  I wish I could be entirely in the fresh warm air, despite the clouds.  Nevertheless, the are still meals to make, dishes to wash, laundry to do, and some tending to our (indoor) seedlings that must be done today.

I invite you to join me in a Sunday Stroll, if your time allows.  I would love to see what is blooming or growing where you are, and to read your thoughts on the natural world.  If yoHu do walk and post photos to your blog, please comment here and I will add you to a list of strollers on this Invitation post and on my own Sunday Stroll post.


Steve strolled Out On The Prairie. 

quote from: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarrylee/this-grand-show?utm_term=.gdg0A7B1L#.ctmbJyAaX

Loving Arms

“If we surrendered
to earth’s intelligence
we could rise up rooted, like trees.”

—Rainer Maria Rilke, Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God

 We have several trees on the property, similar to this one.  

I love to sit here and listen to the creek flow. 

I feel like I am in loving arms when I rest here.

When my children were small, and we hiked,

we would always say that a "natural arch" was a portal

to another place or time.

I guess Micah has been transported.

Mabel is feeling a bit transported too.

It has been months since she laid outside on the warm concrete

bathed in sunshine.

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

quote from: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarrylee/this-grand-show?utm_term=.ghmOjpzB8#.pgW8N3oV6

Many Happy Returns

Today is a celebration of many happy returns.

After several days of soaking rain, 

the sun finally came out late this afternoon.

Just in time, the camera I usually use for my blog posts was returned 

and so, I could not resist taking it along on our afternoon ramble.

What a joy to take clear crisp photos of

 the moon caught in the maple tree

and ancient history caught in stone.

Looking up, there are this year's buds,

and looking down,

last years news.

As we left the woods, we were able to celebrate 

the happiest return of all,

this year's chorus of spring peepers has awoken

and we were overjoyed to hear their song.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you a wellspring of joy.

Sunday Stroll - Happy Trails

"The groves were God's first temples."

~ William C. Bryant

On this overcast afternoon,

we step quietly into the woods 

on the Main Trail, 

walking toward the east .

We could choose to turn down the Moss Trail,

where the fern grow in summertime.

We could take the Ridge Trail through a 

stand of maple and then a grove of pale birch trees.

We step over the boulder that marks the

steep shortcut down through the cedars

back to the main trail.

But, instead, let's take our time.

Let's meander through the silvery maple wood,

and walk past the place where the trail crosses the creek,

so that we may duck beneath the low hanging branches on the

Northern Maple Trail,

while wayward seagulls soar overhead.

When we get to the bone tree, the trail curves southward again,

leading through a tightly-knit copse

where maples rub elbows with cedar,

and just through there,

we rejoin the main trail, 

turning westward toward home.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you happy trails.

quote from: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_c_bryant.html

Sunday Stroll Invitation

There is no glory in star or blossom 

till looked upon by a loving eye; 

There is no fragrance in April breezes

 till breathed with joy as they wander by. 

~ William C. Bryant

How is April rising in your neighborhood?  Here in the cool north country, on the edge of Lake Michigan, we have blue skies and gently rising mercury.

I have a crafting class to attend in the middle of the day, so anticipate a late afternoon or early evening stroll. If you have a chance to get outside... even just a few moments in your own back yard.. I would love to get a glimpse of your Sunday Stroll.  If you leave a comment here about a Sunday Stroll post on your own blog, I will share a link on mine this evening.  I love the idea of nature lovers all over the world sharing in the excitement of what is blooming, growing, creeping or flying.

Whether you stroll or not, I wish you a beautiful Sunday spent in your favorite way.

quote from: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_c_bryant.html

Saturday Snapshot: April One

As I take this photo, we are lounging in the meadow immediately south of the garden enclosure.  Well, actually, I am completely sprawled out on the ground while Micah scurries around exploring, smelling everything, and tasting something now and then for good measure. 

April sailed in on a blue sky.  Hurrah for April!  

On this beautiful blue sky afternoon, I feel grateful for this season of growth.

The birds are mostly quiet in the late afternoon.  As I lay in the field appreciating the wide sweep of blue I see above me, I hear only Micah's excited frisking and the occasional sharp call of our resident crows.  An eagle glides across the expanse of brilliant blue in absolute silence.

I smell fresh air and warm puppy, as I push up from the cool earth.  It is time to get moving. I have to water the seedlings in the house, which will be planted into the garden in a few short weeks.  

Walking into the kitchen, spritzing the seedlings with a little mister, I pluck a tiny leaf from my tray of Asian Greens, and I taste vitality and freshness.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you a fulfilling season.

Tomorrow: Sunday Stroll.  Join in with a post on your own blog if you can!