Finding Solace in Nature

Hello, Dear Friends. 

I want to thank you for your kind comments and sweet friendship. 

You always renew my faith in humanity.

xx

I've been finding solace in this troubled world

by spending time each day enjoying nature. 

Weather permitting! 

There's something so grounding and soothing 

when breathing in the fresh air

and listening to the sweet sounds of nature. 

Nature weaving created by me.
My Dad made the coat rack.

So, grab a warm flannel and come along with me, 

as we spend a bit of time enjoying nature right 

outside the door. 

It's cool, damp and very still, here at my little bistro table, 

high above the ground, safe on my wooden deck. 

The sky is layered in varying shades of gray, today. 

There is a rumbling in the distance - barely discernable. 

A jet? The river below? Or maybe heavy equipment from 

some distant logging camp. 

The resident Stellar Jay asks

"What, what, what?", in his shrill, throaty voice. 

A raven croaks as he flies overhead. 

Usually there are two. 

What happened to its mate? 

Perhaps they'll meet up in some wild, secret place 

only known to them. 

We've had a pair of bald eagles stopping by now and again 

this winter. 

They like to sit in the trees overlooking the foothills,

 making a hollow clacking sound to one another. 

Off they go! 

The piercing whistle of the Northern Flicker adds to the conversation 

as he hunts for grubs in the grass. 

Oh, yum - he's found a tasty slug!

These are the only woodpeckers that search for food on the ground. 

The tiny buzz of the Annas hummingbirds as they flit back and forth 

to the feeder, are a sweet, friendly presence, as are the 

ever-faithful dogs. 

Kai stays busy patrolling the grounds, following scents

and occasionally stopping to look past the fence 

that keeps him in bounds. 

Ricky is content to stay right beside me as I tickle 

his ears, occasionally leaving to stand by 

the deck rail to let out a startingly loud, 'Woof', 

hoping somebody answers. 

Eventually he gets bored and joins Kai, usually coming 

back stinky after rolling in who knows what. 

I can only imagine ... Lol!

These two (and sometimes several friends) have made themselves quite at home this year. 

They've forced me to reassess what I'm able to grow! 

The trees are covered in blankets of moss. 

Dark green on the maples - pale lichen and reindeer moss 

on the alder, plum and cherries. 

The dead hemlock snag near the house has mushrooms up and down the trunk. 

This tree recently died. 

A beetle has been decimating the population of our beautiful western hemlock trees. 

We've lost several in the last few years. 

We let the snags stand for the woodpeckers. 

xx

And, of course, it wouldn't be the Pacific Northwest without the 

occasional sighting of Bigfoot! 

This guy was gifted to us by our son, recently. 

It's a life-size metal sculpture (8 ft.), placed along our driveway. 

We knick-named him 'Buddy'. 

xx 

You would think that he might scare the deer. 

But no - they aren't fazed in the least. 

The gardens are sleepy and covered in a tapestry of leaves. 

Ferns, holly and evergreens steal the scene this time of year. 

It's quiet and peaceful and beautiful in its own way. 

Ivy, St. John's wort, and archangel carpet the ground, 

alongside sleeping clumps of forget-me-not, herb Robert, 

and buttercup waiting for spring. 

Up here on the deck, winter pansies still bloom through snow, rain 

and freezing temperatures, bouncing back to prove nature's resiliency. 

Pots of sleeping herbs wait for the sun. 

Artemesia, mint, oregano, chives and thyme. 

The rosemary survived the cold and will 

deserve a bigger pot come spring. 

There's much to do in the gardens before then, but not today. 

There's no sunshine to warm the bones and I have 

no desire to venture beyond this little table and my warm cup of tea. 

There's a slight breeze picking up, as the clouds 

grow darker and I catch the scent of rain. 

Perhaps soon the sun will shine, and I can clip the tansy, 

trim the old hydrangea blooms, cut back the ivy 

and the blackberry vines and fertilize the roses. 

Until then, nature can rest in peace. 

xx

"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."

- Vincent van Gogh -

"Nature is the source of all true knowledge."

- Leonardo Da Vinci -

"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads."

- Henry David Thoreau -

"We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, 

we borrow it from our children."

- Chief Seattle -

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed,

and to have my senses put in order."

- John Burroughs -

"I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."

- Anne Frank -

xx

Linking to: Saturdays Critters