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

January 2, 2012

 Took a walk on the PB trail today.  The winds blew all this snow onto the trail and then the snowmobilers.  IT WAS A MESS!  

 But, the wind left a lot of nice snow drifts

 The beginning of the sunset, about 3pm

"Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven."

Happy Winter Solstice

"It has often been said that the greatest joy tends to follow deep sorrow. What is so wonderful about the winter solstice is that once we are past that moment of time we can look forward to brighter skies."

Winter Solstice and still no snow. 

But, you don't need much snow to get "snow art"

The fat muskrat and his shadow

I have been known to feed chickadees sunflower seeds, they have been known to hide their seeds in the pine cone.

So beautiful in black and white

Can you find the rabbit?  He thought he was hiding from me, silly rabbit

The red breasted Nut Hatch.  This bird is very friendly

This picture, and the next, was taken at the water front.

Maybe, just maybe, the trail will look like this soon

"It speaks well for the human spirit that our greatest religious celebrations take place at winter solstice time, as people radiate warmth of fellowship and love on these dimmer days. The festivals of darker days are really celebrations of light."

OH MY

 I was standing on the PB trail bridge at sunset tonight and this picture is the direct result of the next picture

what an amazing evening.  I have never been on the trail at dusk, but after tonight I will do it again and again.  In the right hand corner of this picture there is a tiny dot in the tree, it is an eagle.   

Fall

It was a moody day on the trail.  The day was Thursday, the Month September and the date 29th

It was, by far, the moodiest day that I have experienced on the trail

Sorry for the sun glare in this pic but I had to show you the wildness of this day, so windy, with  dark clouds, also clearing where the sun hit the yellows and they danced with the warmth laughing at the darkness that the clouds produced.

The sun laughing

the beginning

 my favorite moons come in October

The deep reds against the brown, my goodness

The European Larch is dressing for fall

Yes, the flowers are blooming in October

Watcher of the river

Observe the beauty this world offers, it will help you let go of the negativity

can you pick out the flower from the leaves?

If you stand out, alone, don't worry, others will soon follow

The color of August

August is the color of sunshine

The golden color 

August is a melancholy month for me. Thank goodness it's color is so alive, fun... a hint of energy

August leads the way to whimsy, fantasy that summer will not end. 

Live in August, the sun brings growth, energy, and a feeling of lightness

For September brings RED, sweaters and introspection of the spirit for...

The glistening water of August will bring the cooler days and nights of September which brings thoughts of the hard crust of snow, isolation and a time for deep thoughts for the soul