Rituals are the glue that hold together our days and weeks. Most mornings before breakfast, my husband and I take a walk up the hill to Summit Avenue where we can see Massanutten Ridge rise just beyond the city. Sometimes…
willowoak520
Farm Girl
I spent a chunk of the morning in the hayloft of the rambling old barn of my childhood and youth. That barn was there when my grandpa moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia in 1943, so I don't know how old…
First Family Gathering
June 13--My sister had been planning since last year for a family reunion for this summer when her son's family from Poland was due for a long state-side visit. When COVID hit, we all wondered how and if that could…
The Song that Will Not be Silenced
The house wren rules the backyard and sings his presence no matter what else is happening. Several days ago, I was mowing around the garden while a guy on a backhoe was digging up earth in the neighbor's yard. Noise…
Of Birds and Benevolence
The house wren has returned and fills the back yard with her cheering song, reminding me again of my mother. She was always so pleased when a wren nested in the little bird house in our front yard. One summer…
Peace Amidst Upheaval
In the midst of word and street clashes, a scary virus, and hot weather, I found a word of peace yesterday. I went to the bank drive-through to withdraw cash and there was my favorite teller at the window. She…
Morning at South River Falls
My husband and I were halfway up the hill near our house this morning when we decided this would be the best day to hike up on the Skyline at one of our favorite places. We missed our usual late…
Peonies
The peonies have burst through their buds, pink and white faces turned sunward as we too must turn toward light wherever we can find or give it. The neighbors return from a dip in the river at Raliegh Springs. The…
Sunshine and Mourning
With the sun finding a crack in the clouds, and warmth spilling out, we finally brought the two clivia out of the basement and set them under the willow oak to await their once-a-year bright orange blooms. We mourned the…
May 21
A sweet warble, a flit and flutter overhead, a flash of bright orange with black a rare redstart I usually see only in the forest took a detour to my willow oak to cheer this gray day
