on a rainy day

The rain has been falling all day.  Through the dark morning hours and into this bleak afternoon, there are no signs that it will cease.  And that's okay.  This morning, it seemed almost impossible to get up and be motivated to do much of anything.  I scanned through films on Netflix hoping that something would rouse my mind from its slumber, but nothing.  Then I opened up the kitchen window, allowing some cool air to flow in, and that's when it hit me:  the gleeful sounds of birds singing in the distance, perhaps a tune of how much we all anticipate the arrival of Spring; the pattering of raindrops as they descend from the roof and into a small stream that now flows over the gravel in my driveway; then the hurried wind as it rushes through the pane and into this room as if to say, "Yes!  I too am here!"

Nature has a way of grounding me like nothing else.  The sacred connection between man and nature cannot be replaced or replicated by anything else.  It is pure in every sense of the word.  

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.  ~ William Shakespeare

And so, today, I will continue to write, read, and enjoy a nice warm cup of coffee.  Enjoy your day friends, whether it be rain or shine.  

.spotted leaf.

I found you by chance
as I walked up to the front door.
There were none others
like you anywhere around.
Your spots intrigued me.
I had to take you out of the cold
and look at you a little closer.
As I held you up to the light
this is what I saw.

5::365

.when the sun goes down.

There's just something so beautiful about sunsets. The display of color on a canvased sky. The way the sun casts its golden hue upon everything it touches, giving them such a magical radiance. In Autumn, that radiance gleams a hundred fold. I love this time of year. I have to admit, I'm gonna hate seeing the last leaf fall.

.02::30.

The sun is saying "good night"
with kisses upon her skin
bringing it to blush
in hues of coral and gold
Quiet now
hear her whispers
travel upon the gentle flow
Quiet now
hear her whisper
good night
good night
good night.

.01::30.

Great art picks up where nature ends.
~Marc Chagall

.it starts here.

Today marks my official entry into the National Blog Posting Month, also known as NaBloPoMo. I am determined, DETERMINED I tell you! I will also be posting photos here as well. Thirty days worth of posts. I will do it!

Hope everyone had a safe and fun filled Halloween! Sorry this is such a short and not very thought provoking entry. It's simply WAY pass my bed time, but again, I was determined to put up a post! Ha! Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks!

.the road to peace.

As Autumn gently approaches, I find myself desiring more time spent in the midst of trees and the open air. It seems as if it is truly nature that is aiding me in my quest to free my mind of clutter, to once again regain a sense of peace. And thank goodness for it!

Where do we find peace?

Peace is in the rosy softness

of a new dawn breaking.

It's the sound of the wind

across a mountain peak.

It's the waves breaking as

they splash upon the beach,

The quiet and mystical beauty

of a snowflake drifting

silently downward

to a land blanketed in white.

Peace is the elusive kingdom

of the soul which God alone

in his love does hold.

~Unknown

.the pace of nature.

Adopt the pace of nature:

her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Some say that immersing yourself in nature has a way of healing your soul. With the world in economic and political turmoil, sometimes it seems impossible to find peace. Closer to home, this is especially true when you're trying to balance making sure the bills are paid on time (or at least before they get cut off), work, home, spending quality time with family, and attempting to nurture your creativity. There are other things that can be added to the list, as I'm sure you have one. While reading Amanda Soule's The Creative Family (she has a new book out by the way) I came upon the chapter that touched on the topic of introducing and encouraging our children to play with natural objects such as leaves, rocks, sticks, etc. That's when I realized little Miss A. and I needed to make a trip out to Radnor Lake, a beautiful nature area right here in south Nashville.

It's probably been a good 7 years or so since my last visit to Radnor Lake. We made it out there around 10am. There was a good amount of people doing their morning walks, shaded by the trees along the trail that ran around the lake. With the little one holding my hand, we started our own little venture. Just a few yards in, we were greeted by some ladies who told us that there was a lot of wildlife around the trail, specifically some deer. Sure enough, just a few more yards away, we saw two deers nibbling away at some foliage. A. was thrilled! Of course, like many other inquisitive, animal loving two-year olds, she wanted to get closer to hug one. Fortunately, I caught her just in time to miss a patch of poison ivy. Fun! We continued on our trail. Flying bugs whizzing by our ears, terrifying the little one, so she ended up on my shoulders during a good portion of the walk. At some point, I realized that instead of slowing down to look at all the things around us, I was rushing through like many of the people who were passing by. That's when I stopped, and as I did, I just happened to look over to my right and saw a deer standing only a few feet away from us. It didn't flee. It just continued to snack away while we stood there and watched. After a little while, the woodland creature began to move on quietly, going deeper into the woods. The entire time we stood there, I saw that most of the passerbys never even noticed the deer. Their focus fixed on finishing the trail. Or maybe they have just become so used to the fact that these creatures are around. On our way back, I made a point to stop and allow A. to soak in her surroundings. She gathered some acorns, played with a furry little caterpillar, picked up a few rocks and sticks. Once we slowed our pace, it seemed as if the trail really started to come alive with even more wildlife. An owl flew above our heads in front of us, landing on a branch close by. Other birds, like red cardinals, made their presence known. Slowing our pace down made all the difference. It's amazing what you see when you do.

To lie sometimes on the grass under trees

on a summer's day,

listening to the murmur of the water,

or watching the clouds

float across the sky,

is by no means a waste of time.

~Sir John Lubbock