My Morning Walk

 Cooper wanted to go for a walk this morning.

I'm taking a break from sewing for a couple of days

so

I decided to go then rather than wait till later.

 I took my coffee and my I phone for music. 

I kept seeing such beautiful things

so I took some photos to share with you. 

 Why do these have to be hated so much?

I consider them wild mums!

Mixed with the purple they are so pretty!

 Click on this to make it bigger. 

Look at the dew.  This I phone is pretty impressive.

 Teenyy tiny little flowers.  Yup in God's eyes these are flowers not weeds.

 Wild violets beside the wheet field!

Stopped by the creek just to hear the water.

Hope you have a great week!

Book Review Barbara Kingsolver

I just finished an older book I have been meaning to read from my personal library for a long time. I have set aside 9 books from my personal library to read in between book club choices and The Library Things early book review winnings.

Here is my review 5 stars

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kinsolver for me is a story about 3 women trying to live true, honest lives going against some strong traditions and long held beliefs in the mountains of Appalachia. In each ones way they try to live in harmony with the way nature intends for life to unfold; Life, death, reproduction and just the wonder and beauty of the earth. Accepting the good, as well as the bad. I enjoyed the willingness of each of the women to see the natural way of things all around them each season and not try to change things but seek to be part of the ebb and flow of nature and find enjoyment in all the earth provides as well as learning to live with people who think different than you. Working with the land and the people not against them.


What I really enjoy about Barbara’s writing style is that she weaves a great story into an issue that is important to her without being preachy and offensive. She has a way of presenting both sides but helping nudge you to see her side. Having family from the Appalachia area, I related to the language and the ways of thought. If you are a hard core modern farmer or hunter you probably will have difficulty with the themes of this book but I feel it’s time we started taking a long hard look at what our greed is doing to our land and food supply. Also how mistrust and unacceptance is hurting our relationships with each other.

Over all, a great read I thoroughly enjoyed all the way through.

Next up I'm starting a book from The Library Thing
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle  available March 26, 2013

Beginning to thaw

For the first time in over 1 month I was able to walk the whole perimeter of the lower half of the golf course. The snow has melted enough to see grass in some areas making it possible to walk without difficulty. As I walked just before sunset it was so beautiful to see the trees silhouetted against the colorful sky. I love winter and all the snow has been beautiful but just seeing the grass peak out and the beautiful sunset did make me long for the coming buds on the trees and early spring flowers to poke their heads out. I'm not letting winter go yet. It is only early March in Ohio so anything is possible!

Today was a better day and a good walk with God in nature always help!

Things That Go Bump In The Night

On my walk today, Cooper decided to go into the woods. Since all the foliage is gone, I can see to follow the deer paths through the inner part of the woods and follow him. I get to see areas I normally can't see in the summer.

The weather has been a bit gloomy lately and today was drizzly and dark.

The twisted grapevines and gnarly bushes made for an eerie site.

I was beginning to feel how eerie the woods seemed when a hawk cried out as it flew out of a tree above me. Warning the animals of my arrival.

But

as he continued to circle I wondered if he was warning me of something

lurking in there.

As I wound myself around the path to get out into the meadow

I heard a strange sound.

not quite an animal sound

not quite human either.

Then I heard it again

a

screeching

sound

still not sure what it was.

I

stopped,

looked

up,

the bare trees were swaying against the dark foreboding clouds

and they were moaning with the wind.

There really wasn't anything scary there. It was all in my imagination. It was just nature making winter sounds. I am thankful for my imagination, it made my normal walk a little bit more interesting today.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I woke up this morning to see this scene across the street. We had a frozen fog all around! It was beautiful.

It is 3 degrees right now. I grabbed my point and shoot and went outside for a few quick shots. Even the snow did not stick to my socks! Woops, you caught me. Yeah, I sleep in socks.

I couldn't get very good shots so I put on some boots and a sweatshirt and ran out for these. Not great with this camera but I think you can see how beautiful the frozen fog looks on all the plants

Even the birds are enjoying the pretty snow and fog.

Really?

I think, maybe not.

They are probably contemplating flying south a bit further.

I will be putting food out later today for them.

I just love how fuzzy everything looks! Have a great day! Stay warm if you are in the US. It seems to be cold everywhere here.

SNOW!

Yesterday afternoon it started to snow.




My daughter and her girl friends did a no-pants snow dance the night before

(Don't ask, I didn't.) But it worked!




We got over 4 inches and it was soft and powdery. Everything looks so magical.





It was to cold and windy to walk during the storm but this morning I couldn't wait to get out with Cooper and take some photos.







It was still lightly snowing and it was so peaceful. As Cooper ran and sniffed out all the small animals I looked around to see what I could photograph to share with you.



I was a bit nervous to get so close to this groundhogs hole but alas, no one was home. Or at least not ready to come out while I was there.
I spied this cozy nest up in the tree. I don't suppose the previous occupants are actually still here but it did look nice and warm all covered up like that.


And then I came upon this exit from one of the large trees on the golf course. Nature was nice to leave the opening clear so the squirrels could get out later if they felt so inclined.



I took a few more photos of interesting things I hope you will enjoy.

These little snow covered weeds reminded me of Marie Antoinette's hairdo. What do you think?

While my oldest daughter was here for the holidays we made some ice wreaths I saw at http://resurrectionfern.typepad.com/. She has such great ideas! I made matching candles to put on my front porch bristo table.

These were so much fun to make! We never have tempretures low enough for these last but I think they will last for several more weeks this year!

Who says winter is dull and ugly? Just take a walk and look around, there is beauty and wonder all around.

Have a great weekend!

Beautiful Winter

This morning I took Cooper for his walk. I took my camera and got so wrapped up in what I was seeing that he got tired and went home without me! I have always thought Winter was ugly without snow but today I found so much beauty all around me. I want to share some of my images in a slide show and then I'll post more soon!

Enjoy, and have a great week.



Remember to look for the beauty...sometimes you have to look close.

Come Walk With Me

Since I share about my walks with Cooper so much, I thought I share the woods behind my home where I do most of my walking with Cooper. If we go at the right time and the golfers are gone this time of year we will also walk on the golf course. I will share photos from there another time. So sit back relax and enjoy a wonderful stroll through my woods.

This is the path behind my house that connects to the entrance into the woods. Unfortunately, I can't cut through our yard to this path right now because it is full of poison ivy! I barrow my neighbors backyard in the summer to cut across.

Entrance into the woods on the way to the meadow. Isn't this a beautiful site? These trees have to be 30 ft tall.

further on the path to the meadow.

The meadow. There are 2 paths off to the right you can take or we go forward to the other end and left and it opens into the golf course.

Honeysuckle abounds here!

Deer path off to the side.

Side path

Pretty flowers (weeds)

Trees. Love the texture here.

Cooper running through the high grass.

For comic relief I thought I'd include what I am usually looking at!

Wild Phlox are my favorite! I hope you enjoyed your walk today. Have a wonderful Sunday!