Yesterday was the Winter Solstice: the first day of winter and the return of the light. The days grow longer and the nights grow shorter. Like Oliver’s bird, I grow ever more restless. I have an idea–ideas–unfolding from under my wings. Also like the white-eyed bird, I want to go to sleep. … More In Winter, We Rest
Hi friends! I have some news to share. Some of you Twitterers already know, so bear with me. Last year I applied for a residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. I leave this week for an 8-day stay. I’ve been really excited as several writing friends have told me what a … More Going Away (but not for good…)
This month marks my 3-year anniversary of blogging. Merriam Webster recognizes this event as a blogiversary, just not officially. Yet. I wanted to take a look back three years ago to the beginning of my blogging journey. But, I have to admit, this was not truly the beginning of blogging for me. I had been … More Growth: A Look Back
Yesterday morning I woke up to a winter wonderland. This morning, I watched as more snow came down. In between, we also saw some sleet, rain, and freezing rain. Welcome to North Carolina. I’m not a big fan of wintry precipitation. But I do believe fresh-fallen snow is just about one of the most magical … More View From the Back Door
April is National Poetry Month. … More Mary Oliver: How I Go to the Woods
I’ve been exploring my hometown the past few months. No, I’m not new to the area: I’ve lived here 31 years. I guess I’ve been like the man in the fable and not paying attention to the diamond in my own backyard. But that’s changed. I’ve discovered so much about Cary NC lately, especially the … More The Inevitable Hour and One Wild and Precious Life
Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. ~Mary Oliver This is exactly what I aspire to do on my daily walks and here on my blog. How do you define living a life? Remember, it’s not just exhaling and inhaling. Nor is it merely surviving. Those things are necessary, of … More The Instructions
Bleeding Heart: Lamprocapnos spectablis (formerly known as Dicentra spectablis) My garden, 2017 It is Spring! Finally. The dreamwork of Winter is over and we move into the active work of sowing the seeds that we have pondered and planned the last four months. The gardens in our minds, between the pages of a book, the … More Bleeding Hearts: Of Spring and Simple Things
White Ipheion uniflorum in my North Carolina garden. It’s a quiet Sunday morning and I’m going to keep it that way. No words from me, but I’m going to share one of my favorite Mary Oliver poems: Why I Wake Early. Hello, sun in my face. Hello, you who made the morning and spread it … More This Sunday Morning
I’ve been feeling a little meh lately. An uninspired, unenthused feeling has settled in my body. I’m not depressed or frustrated. (OK, I am a little frustrated.) I’m just not feeling like myself. I could blame the recent elections, the state of the world, the visceral contempt that is so prevalent on our streets, … More Stuck In The Mud: Nature as Motivator
Giving Voice to My Astonishment 
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