January 7, 2012

Oh what a beautiful day. About 15 minutes into my walk the clouds gave away to the sun. I was over dressed and had to roll my sleeves up. Take my scarf off that was around my neck and unzip my wind breaker. I had thick socks inside my boots so my feet were very warm. Right now, walking the trail is a lot of work and when you over dress it makes it more difficult.

The trail still has it's very challenging spots. Deep snow and slippery.  Walk carefully.

 Lake Bemidji was bustling with activity.  Trucks pulling ice houses, snowmobilers, people walking,  standing around their houses. In fact, Lake Bemidji was busier today than I have ever seen it. Busier than the summer months.  No wind today, so the sounds of the activity around me was very evident. Drilling ice, trucks going across the lake, snowmobiles, people talking, a train in the distance.  I didn't feel alone or isolated today.  Those feelings happen a lot to me during the winter months. But today was like a spring day ---on the lake--- in January.

 Many times during my walk a song will come to me.  Most of the time it will be a silly song. But today it was the Phantom of the Opera.  So over and over again I was singing, inside my mind 

"Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation ... 

Darkness stirs and wakes imagination ... 

Silently the senses abandon thier defences ... 

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour ... 

Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender ... 

Turn your face away from the garish light of day, 

turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light - 

and listen to the music of the night ... 

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams! 

Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before! 

Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar! 

And you'll live as you've never lived before ... 

Softly, deftly, music shall surround you ... 

Feel it, hear it, closing in around you ... 

Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind, 

in this darkness which you know you cannot fight - 

the darkness of the music of the night. 

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world! 

Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before! 

Let your soul 

Take you where you long to be! 

Only then can you belong to me ... 

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication! 

Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation! 

Let the dream begin, 

let your darker side give in to the power of 

the music that I write - the power of the music of the night ... 

You alone can make my song take flight - 

help me make the music of the night ... "

I don't know all the lyrics to the song, so I sing it the best I can.

Every now and then, especially on a windy day(ask her), I know that my friend Judy is on the trail for I will hear her incredible voice.  She will be singing away which will bring warmth to my heart.  Thank you Judy

See the tree leaning against the bridge? The birch tree to your left.  
Beavers!
  Well, I think they got tired of trying, they have given up and now this tree will probably die.  WHAT A BUMMER

  The red breasted nuthatch will be able to tell if there is a seed inside the shell by the weight of the seed in it's beak  

Look deep, deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything.-- Albert Einstein

I run into this guy a lot on the bridge. He will dive in...

Find itself some food...

and eat.

My best advice for today, find some balance in your life
The heart of a human being is no different from the soul of heaven and earth. In your practice always keep in your thoughts the interaction of heaven and earth, water and fire, yin and yang.
Morihei Ueshiba

When I see the Yin Yang symbol I know that my friend has been on the trail

My little dedication to my mother who died Friday, December 23, 2011

My friend Judy's mother died this year also. She died unexpectedly. This is dedicated to her.  Penny, you have a beautiful daughter. She is one hell of a talented woman!!

Judy's snow art
Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson