Sunday Stroll -Never Turn Down a Walk

Spring is opening slowly

here in the north woods.

Pale shades of green

are pushing up through the snow,

and blooming through the 

gray-brown bark of the 

slowly waking trees.

I almost opted out of this walk.

The temperature was barely above freezing.

The wind was fierce.

However, I am trying to adopt a new motto,

inspired by Micah, our husky friend:

Never turn down a walk.

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

Sunday Stroll - A Blessing of Trees

Weekends at the farm offer time 

for contemplation,

for sitting a while

in familiar places,

for walking slowly and looking down,

For noticing what is small and quiet,

and for breathing beneath the bright, expansive sky.

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

Sunday Stroll - Last weekend of Winter

We spent a lot of time outdoors 

on this last weekend of winter.

We lingered on the shoreline,

while cold wind bent the wild beach grass.

We ventured into the deep quiet

at the heart of the winter woods.

Today,

the blue sky beckoned,

hinting of the season

just around the bend.

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

Sunday Stroll - Late Winter

We wake to brilliant light,

glinting off clean expanses of snow,

in these days of late winter.

There is beauty everywhere

on the walk down to the river.

After a hike that was slightly more strenuous than expected,

my son and I warmed up with coffee and crepes 

at a little cafe in town.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather,

I wish you good company.

Sunday Stroll - Shadows and Light

The days of early March,

have carried in

blue skies and sunshine.

The air is very cold

 and the snow beneath our feet is crisp and clean.

The quiet winter afternoon

is serene and beautiful.

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

Sunday Stroll - In the Winter Wood

In the winter woods,

there is a quiet stillness.

Our feet crunch through the icy snow,

and the heavy branches 

reach down to greet us as we walk.

Everything rests.

The meadows sleep,

beneath blankets of snow.

We walk together,

barely speaking,

letting our pace be slowed,

by the winter wood.

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

Sunday Stroll - Slow Living

Will you walk with me on the quiet streets

of this sleepy town

on a foggy February afternoon?

We will see the colors and textures 

of the winter,

all around us.

We will hear the cold rain fall

and feel the snow turn to slush

beneath our carefull steps.

Above us,

everything stretches

toward the sky.

And down below

we lean into spring

though it is weeks away.

Shall we linger at the library?

It is a good day to read,

and to walk slowly

while the winter teases us

with glimpses of spring.

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