January Musings and a Country Drive

It has been still since our orb stealing storm, 

with fog and mist and secret silence that settles into the earth at night,

allowing us a clear vision of The Big and Little Dipper 

as they arc through the skies on their heavenly path.

The sun rises in brief glory as the mist lies low in the valleys, 

still heavy with cold night air. 

But as the forces of nature vie for the skies, 

the heat of the rising sun causes the mist to rise,

And leaves the clouds crying. 

In moments, the view is diffused -

Until mist wins out. 

But it is a temporary victory, on occasion. 

So on a beautiful, Sunny day I took a drive to the market. 

Come along with me and we will enjoy a country drive on a Northwest January day. 

Along our mountain road this fuzzy fellow basks in the rare January sun. 

Even my stopping to take a photo, did not disturb him from his happy nap. 

Further along we see another fellow that has been taking a very long nap, indeed. 

If only they could talk. 

What tales would they tell? 

As we wind our way down to the plateau valley, we find clear blue skies over tawny fields. 

Can you see the silo peeking through the trees? 

It is late morning, but the January sun leaves long shadows. 

Still, the sunshine feels warm through the glass. 

An in-congruent sight in the rural countryside; 

this defunct crane retires in a field. 

As we look behind us,

 Mt. Rainier rises from the valley floor, 

dwarfing the high Cascade mountain range. 

We leave behind the fields and farms,

 and pass through thick forest

 as we enter the little town for a day of marketing. 

Oh, I do love this day of browsing thrift shops, craft shops and the weekly supply of groceries. 

I take my time and little by little the list gets crossed off. 

And if I am lucky, I find some treasures. (I will leave that for a future post)

The sun is low as we make our way home,

casting long shadows between golden rays of light. 

A vintage pump house survives another winter

bringing to mind the swiftness of time. 

The barest hint of color lights up the sleeping trees - 

a promise of Spring. 

With that faith we soldier on, 

braving the cold, and the forces of nature. 

Because even with Winter clutching us in its icy grip, 

that promise is always there. 

I want to thank each and every one of you 

for your very kind and thoughtful comments on my last post. 

I was touched by your stories of your own amazing Mother's and Grandmother's, 

and how through their simple acts of courage and resilience, 

they carried on through adversity and heartache 

to set an example for generations to come. 

I started this blog as a tribute to all those who devote their lives to the simple, 

but very complicated role of keeping home and family -

 those who came before us and those who carry on. 

It is most times an unrecognized and under appreciated virtue. 

But it is an art. 

To take virtually nothing but a promise and a loving idea, and turn it into a home and family, 

despite all that this world throws up as obstacles, 

is nothing short of miraculous. 

I can see by your stories that I am not alone in this thinking. 

Thank you, Dear Friends for sharing and celebrating these humble acts by these remarkable women who came before us. 

We owe it to them to continue the story.....

xoxo