How would I celebrate my birthday this month in the midst of the pandemic, I wondered. Getting on a plane was out of the question. Finally, I settled on doing short excursions not so far from home. So Wednesday eve,…
willowoak520
Snow Cookies and Little People
One casualty of COVID has been the absence of children in our lives--with a few exceptions. During a lovely snowfall a few weeks ago, our neighbor's children set up a "kitchen" to make snow cookies. As the snow became a…
Wreath Stories
This wreath had its beginning in my sister-in-law's back woods in Minnesota in October. She encouraged me to find and wrap my own grape vines while she gathered hers. The circle of vines traveled with us in our car back…
Sustaining our Souls
The brilliant moon rise over Massanutten mountain last night lifted my spirits, assuring me once more that not all things that can be touched by the virus. Beauty in tangible form continues to awe. And where the sources of beauty…
A Taste of Hope
Like the flash of blue gray-- the flutter of wings-- among the yellowing leaves of the willow oak, we catch only a glimpse of what could be, what might be in this still unsettled season-- carried on wings of hope.…
Snowprises
Snow falling on green leaves here in Minnesota seems symbolic of the times we are in. I wonder what is the hurry for this snow and cold to come so early. What is the hurry for the next Supreme Court…
Upper Midwest Musings
The earth is gifting us with great beauty this month. As my husband and I travelled through western Pennsylvania and then Michigan, from south to north, we were struck with the clarity and brilliance of maples and birches donning their…
Abundance
I never imagined we would harvest nearly thirty butternut squash from volunteer plants growing out of the compost we dumped on our garden. What joy to have abundance enough to share! Listening to zoom presentations and conversations with Irish poet…
What Remains
For three glorious days this past week, my husband and I were on the Eastern Shore--Chincoteague Island--with my sister and her husband. We felt far from the flames on the west coast and grateful for the clean spaciousness of the…
News to Ponder
This morning the Carolina Wren showed up on the ivy covering the base of the willow oak, searching for bugs. It's song announced the morning sunshine. Over the past week, other stories, other voices gave mixed outlooks. At our neighbor's…
