Holding Spring

Belated

Errrr. . . Happy New Year!

I took these pictures bright and early on New Year's morning. (Well, not so bright as you can see.)  It was a beautiful, grey, misty dawn--one of my most favorite settings to photograph.

My favorite way to start off a new year is to wake up very early and get out on a trail somewhere.

This particular trail was perfect and it being super early on New Year's day, Lexi and I had the place almost to ourselves.  I had time to wander and think.  To think about the past year. The mistakes (quite a few), the blessings (way more than I could ever deserve), the plans that worked out and the ones that didn't.  The chances I took and the fears that kept me from taking the chances I should have.

I had time to think about the year to come. The things I want to be different and the things I hope remain constant.  The person I want to become.  The ways I'm going to push myself towards my dreams and goals for my future.

It was a good walk and the most me way to start off a year.

And this post being 4 months late in the posting is sadly, very me too.  : )

Sepia Tone Morning

This morning I took Lexi to a place we love to walk in the summer. I realized we had never been there in the winter. In summer, it is lush and vibrant and colorful and beautiful--echoing with birdsong and the rustling of little critters in the underbrush.





How different it looks in winter. It is stark and sparse and serene and still beautiful. The birds still sing there, but it doesn't sound so carefree now. There's a tone of earnestness--the search for those elusive berries of summer a little more intense.

 

     Now I'm off to fill up my bird feeders.

The Road Home

Wandering

::along the Carolina Thread Trail::

Lexi found a Hobbit chair.

By the light of the moon

Sometimes, no, most of the time I can hardly believe that I am living in the setting I've always (or at least for as long as I can remember) dreamed of living in.

It was always one of those dreams that in my mind I thought would be nice, but I couldn't ever bring myself to believe it would come true. 

Now, here I am and I am still finding it hard to believe.

It's something I thank God for daily on my morning wanderings with Lexi.

In fact that's what I was doing when we walked back up to the house the morning I took this picture.

The moon through the trees looking like it wasn't about to give up it's place to the sun.

The warm lights glowing through the windows seeming to beam back the glow I feel in my chest every time I come back home.

Evening Light

What a perfect way to kick off the weekend. This was a great way to end a pretty great day.

Have you ever had one of those days when things just seemed to go your way effortlessly?

I had one of those days today.

Largest. Lichen. Ever.

Seriously large!

Yeah, we had a pretty good time.

I Almost Missed It

Last night, I stepped out back with my dog "one last time" for the evening.  I had the usual 50 things on my mind~thinking about all the things on my list that I didn't get done that day.  After telling Hope (sweetly) to "hurry", I turned around, looked up and saw this:

Beautiful. 
I started to wonder how many times I've missed such a sight while worrying about trivial things and hurrying to get one more thing done before the day ends.
And while I'm at it, I'm going to stop telling my dog to "Hurry" (even sweetly).  I think I can speak for the entire planet of human beings when I say that no one wants to be told to hurry when they are going to the bathroom.  I'm pretty sure dogs must feel the same way.

Storm Rolling In

Yosemite Continued

Can You Guess?

What is it?

No, it is not some close up of Hope's paw--you may have noticed she is my favorite subject.
Is it some exotic animal I got dangerously close to?


Some fancy fabric I'm going to cover my sofa in?

No, just a tree I have walked past for years and never stopped to notice how beautiful it is.

Now I smile everytime I pass by it.

I feel like I know a secret.