nature
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Embrace the Detour
I love a fabulously well-timed quote. Inspiration arriving in my in-box as I’m editing and working my way to the finish line with my novel. Have you heard this one? “The backstory isn’t a detour – it’s the past pressing in.” -Joyvity Joyvity is a site offering writing tips, one I’d never heard of but Continue reading
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Hello New Friends
We were delighted and relieved to see this adorable twosome last week. When we moved here, our neighbors told us the tiny glen in our backyard’s been a safe haven for generations of deer but every spring I find myself lurking and looking – anxiously awaiting the arrival of nature’s newest. I know the deer Continue reading
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Signs of Heart
The Faces of Deer by Mary Oliver When for too long I don’t go deep enoughinto the woods to see them, they begin toenter my dreams. Yes, there they are, in thepinewoods of my inner life. I want to live a lifefull of modesty and praise. Each hoof of eachanimal makes the sign of a Continue reading
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Squirrels Gone Wild
Simple things delight me. Especially in the morning. Alone with my cup of tea, the BEST entertainment EVER came scampering in yesterday…a couple of squirrely bruisers stopping by for breakfast. I know some folks are irked by the squirrels who eat their way through the pumpkins this time of year, but we love them. Their Continue reading
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Hello and Goodbye?
This photo – snipped in above of a dear deer peeking at me is not my own, but a darn good substitute given that it’s just a stock photo from Google images. Normally I take my own pics, but I had a good reason for restraint. I’ll explain… I’ve written about the deer that frequent Continue reading
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Backyard Buddies
I know, I know. The deer are a menace. We have several neighbors and friends who decry the horrors of deer this time of year because of their infernal appetites. The nerve, the nerve. I get it…but I figure our landscaping effort, in the end, is for our visual enjoyment. It’s not our source of Continue reading
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Bringing the Light
Dr. Stein posted a thought-provoking essay today about friendship. I highly recommend it! I love learning new things from him and in this piece, he offers insight about the nature of friendships, the nuances and varieties. There’s so much to worry about in the world at the moment but the one thing that sustains me Continue reading
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What Do You See?
Well-chosen words add richness to my life… when I slow down and let them in. I have a daily quote book that I love, but I’ll confess I’ve been remiss. Too busy to slow down and take a peek. I have favorites throughout – obvious when I see how the book is beginning to age Continue reading
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Keeping Company
There are two lines from a Mary Oliver poem, “Mysteries, Yes” that I adore, in part because it serves as a warning and a reminder that being selective about the people, the energy I allow into my life is an active effort. I’d planned to send a snippet of Oliver’s poem to a particular person Continue reading
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A Greeting Times Three
Sun, moon and stars… A pink stripe in the eastern sky while Venus twinkled heavenward The half-moon said both good day and goodbye And descended into the western horizon…tucking itself in for the day A greeting times three… I like it. This was a fleeting experience this morning. January is making itself known with a forecast Continue reading
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Happy New Dear?
I know we’re only getting started…but are you still with me? This morning, while the house was uber-duper-super-duper quiet, I spied a friend. Just as the sun rose, our backyard, which has been a haven for dear deer for years and years picked up a New Year’s dear deer visitor. (I have now officially tested Continue reading
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But Does it Make Coffee?
In another life, I suspect the hubster Paul was a meteorologist. Or a carpenter. Or a combo of the two. Proof? Our modest little indoor/outdoor thermometer bit the dust last week which meant Paul needed to go sleuthing for a suitable replacement. I think it’s one of his seasonal shifts, becoming more aware of the Continue reading
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Little One…and Mama
I spied…mama and baby deer this morning and I was shocked by how much “baby” has grown (first pic). The second photo (sorry for the grainy-ness through the screen) was taken just a couple of weeks ago when I wrote about my favorite twosome. Baby’s sweet markings and slight physique were obvious then…less so today. Continue reading
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Baby & Mama
A couple of weeks ago I posted about our worries about a “Dear Deer”…a sweet lonely and lame girl who became a frequent visitor in our backyard. Sadly, we’ve seen no signs of her recently, but other family members 😊popped by, reminding us that life goes on. The scene in the pic (snipped in above) Continue reading
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Dear Deer
When we moved into our current home a few years ago we were excited to see an abundance of wildlife in our backyard, especially the families of deer. Our neighbors shared that the little nook (honestly, I don’t know what it’s called – a glen?) in our yard’s been a birthing spot for deer for Continue reading
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I’m With Muir…
In yesterday’s post I mentioned that a pair of mourning doves ‘sauntered’ along our deck railing. Not long after she read it, a dear friend reached out to torment me 😉 with a text barrage about the origin of the word ‘saunter’. I love a good etymology rabbit hole, but I was unprepared for the Continue reading
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To Live Content…
William Ellery Channing’s beautiful wisdom in his poem “My Symphony” spoke to me this morning. Well, not literally. Poetry doesn’t speak…it was more of a resonating moment. 😊 At 4:30 am, with all the windows open, the earliest of early birds began their morning revelry. I’m terrible at identifying birdsongs but I suspect I heard wrens, Continue reading
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Three Pines? Who Knew!
We had no idea of the significance…symbols of sanctuary? Love! Continue reading
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Save Some For Me!
Happy, sad…intrigued? Only the tail knows for sure… Continue reading
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Swoopy Wave of Fun
Apologies to Elton John… Continue reading
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Frosting with My Morning Coffee…
I’m not a snow lover…but… Continue reading
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Who Needs the Leaves?
Look beyond the leaves…the beauty is still there… Continue reading
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Yes, I See You
Second chances and trees that please… Continue reading
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Family Traditions: Trees, Please
Patterns repeat – one family’s love of evergreen trees across the generations. Continue reading
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Nature Speaks
A reminder to pause and admire… Continue reading
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Fool the Eye – Sea or Sky?
Look for the magic. Roald Dahl quote. Continue reading
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