Winter Begins, NW Montana

Autumns often deep cold days

inspired the spirit and stance of hibernation early for me

the forest cloaked in snow is lovely 

with a deep sense of quiet

 

the little birds still come to me

inspiring joy and calm all at once

this mountain chickadee has a much narrower head than most of them 

sweet black capped chickadee

landing for a sunflower seed

chestnut-backed chickadee

These are the three chickadees that visit me

and then there is the nuthatch:

if it weren't for the tiny birds

a winter hush would be throughout the land

~

lovely holidays to you and yours

Sweet Solstice to one and all!

slowly our days will become longer......

~

* 

Home Sweet Home

I wandered South to visit loved ones

for the holidays

passed through lands

cloaked in frost and blue skies

got as far south as Southern California

where days were as warm

rather hot

as the gold in the setting sun's skies

found a tremendous amount of birds

and asked if they missed Montana

saw succulents bathing in the heat of day

saw trees that i love

that do not live in the northern realm where i live

trees that made me pause to breathe with

look close

what do you see!

a bear had climbed this tree!

(Ashland Oregon)

day after day of driving

(as it was a 24 hour drive each way)

i drove back into winter

to the land that i call home

~

wishing you a wonderful 2014

may the year overflow

with days

and nights

that feel wonderful 

to you!

Spring Equinox 2012

spring arrives slowly in North West Montana

there is a dance

much like a tango

back and forth between winter and spring 

it will be a month

or two before we see a wildflower

yet each day the snow retreats and the rings of earth around the trees grow larger

many of the days are shades of gray

making more evident where the inner spark of light 

of Spring

resides

in honor of the spring equinox

or autumn in other parts of the world

I offer you colored rocks

that remind me of both seasons

as I write the sun shines bright

tall trees dance in the wind

birds sing daily of arriving Spring
and our day nears it's end

~

lovely equinox to one and all

*