Celebrate!

I  celebrate a high altitude summer:

globe flowers

paintbrush

paintbrush and senecio

trails beckon

junco eggs in our backdoor wreath

life is renewed

In March, I had a medical emergency:

two ambulance rides
two hospitals
two procedures

Now I'm back in the mountainous landscape I love.

I'm feeling well and continue to regain strength.

I celebrate July 4th - America's Birthday.

My one good thing today is the gift of life.

I turned 81 in May.

Each day is a new beginning.

Thank you for visiting.

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Healing Thoughts

Good News!

My physical therapist told me last week I could begin exercising outdoors.

As soon as I returned home from his office, I got myself ready for a walk.

I left from the house and walked a half hour on the plowed dirt road nearby.

I was careful.

I was v-e-r-y slow....

I was exhilarated!

At one point, I realized my face was wet with tears.

How embarrassing - I was crying tears of joy.

I pulled myself together and kept striding.

Now, I go for a walk nearly every day.

I take a hiking pole but only use it if there is an icy patch.

I'm able to walk over an hour most days.

My ankle is stiff by evening, but I see improvement daily.

I continue meeting with my PT.

storm clouds hide Red Mountain

Winter landscapes are constantly changing.

Clouds move in and bring snow.

Each dawn bestows the gift of a new day.

 

This photo is for a blog friend who loves foxes.

She recently received a troubling diagnosis, so I send her healing thoughts.

My One Good Thing today is the body's ability to heal.

I wish you strength.

I wish you sunshine.

I wish you healing.

Barb

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Hello 2023

 Hello 2023!

Yes, I know I'm a little late.

The landscape is wearing winter white.

I'm in physical therapy 2X a week for my ankle.

I do special exercises at home to improve leg/ankle strength and balance. 

I'm improving day by day.

There is no quick fix.

Determination, patience, and a great physical therapist help my healing.

I'm still inside looking out.

I have forest creatures to keep me company.

Their antics make me smile.

Though we don't feed them, they're ever hopeful.

Also, they're curious and often peek in our windows.

My mother taught me that self-worth lives inside all of us.

It is not bestowed by anyone or anything outside ourselves.

What we think about ourselves matters.

We are all inherently worthy.

Today, in my first post of 2023, I celebrate the good we all have inside.

Thank you for visiting.

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Goodbye 2022

I spent November and December inside because of my torn ankle tendon. The cast was removed 2 weeks ago. I must use extreme caution bearing weight again. My left leg/ankle/foot are weak from disuse. Range of motion is a problem. So, I begin prescribed rehab exercises carefully at home. Slowly, day by day, I feel less discomfort. Early in 2023, I start rehab at my Physical Therapist's office. Tendons are slow to heal. 

It's a lesson in patience for me.

It's very,very cold in Breckenridge, CO.

Our streets and sidewalks are icy and snow-covered.

Walking outdoors is not an option for me.

Instead, I do floor exercises and ride a stationary bike.

I'm lucky to have spectacular views of the outdoors.

Nature beckons me.

Patience and gratitude are my good things today.

morning moon over Imperial Peak

I tell myself to stay present.

Thank you for visiting.

Stay well!

Goodbye 2022.

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A Setback but Still Good Things

 There are good and bad times in every life. 

Sometimes life feels easy and sometimes it seems hard.

About a week ago, I had a major setback with my ankle. I tripped in the house and felt something snap. I knew I'd reinjured the tendon. An MRI confirmed that the tendon is now torn. I'm in a soft air cast for at least a month and in a brace at night. It's a walking cast, but the DR prefers I stay off it as much as possible. I'm mostly sitting with my leg elevated.

scattering wildflower seeds 

Bob is running himself ragged taking care of me, cooking meals, and doing all the chores. 

Yesterday, he scattered wildflower seeds while I "supervised" from a chair on the deck.

Snow is starting to accumulate. I admire the falling flakes from inside the house.

Obviously, I can't venture outside in icy/snowy conditions.

I try to focus on the many good things in my life:

a husband who takes care of me

books that help pass the time

family and friends who offer love and support

A former student heard I was ailing and sent 2 dozen roses.

They were quite spectacular.

I still have a few in bud vases to enjoy.

I watch the moon set to the west.

A rising sun casts a glow over Red Mountain to the south.

Can you find 3 moose in the photo?
Only the ears and head of one of the calves are visible through the middle evergreen.
The twin calves are huge though they were only born this spring.

Wild things still wander near the house.

I'm grateful for these Good Things.

Thank You for visiting - I hope you're well.

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Goodbye Fall, Hello Winter

It's been a long time since I posted.

People are starting to email asking if I'm OK.

The answer is yes and no.

behind my house - Red Mountain at sunset

I injured a tendon in my left ankle in the spring.

It's not completely healed so I must be careful.

I'm going to physical therapy.

In late September, I tested positive for Covid.

I was very sick and have some residual health issues.

Luckily, Bob remains well.

I feel better day by day, but my normal active life is at a slower pace.

I've gone off all social media except the blog. 

I've given some thought to making One Good Thing private.

I don't want to spend too much time on the computer.

Nature and the outdoors beckon me.

I need to be more physically active, not less.

Recently, I took a short hike with my 10 year old grandson.

I smiled as he chattered about what's going on in his life.

Four moose just ambled through my property.

The foxes came to visit this morning.

I'm sitting by the fire to write this.

It's snowing off and on.

There are many good things in my life.

I hope there are many good things in yours.

Stay well.

Barb

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Let Your Spirit Bloom

 

Spring is an elusive season at high altitude.

do bees have knees?

I've planted some deck boxes with pansies which tolerate cold.

Other more delicate annuals must wait a bit longer.

We live just above 10,000' (3,000m).

Days in June remain pleasantly cool, and nights are still chilly.

Hiking in the early morning, especially when gaining elevation, requires a jacket.

I'm alert while climbing through the forest, but so far in June haven't encountered a bear or moose.

Pausing at this skeletal tree, I send positive and healing thoughts to family and friends.

I entreat myself to extend kindness, stay calm, show tolerance. 

I believe that we all put powerful signals into the Universe.

May mine be free of anger and judgement.

Globeflowers

Wildflowers are blooming in boggy areas of the forest.

Marsh Marigolds

Globeflowers and Marsh Marigolds raise their fresh faces toward the sun.

Globeflowers

light shining through delicate petals

They are both fragile and tenacious.

(Perhaps like you....)

There is a pervading quiet on winding trails through old growth forest.

Rustling of small forest creatures and songs of birds accompany me.

The burbling of Lehman Creek permeates the silence.

I'm thankful for wilderness that heals the spirit.

Hiking through springtime wild places is my one good thing today.

Thank you for spending time with me.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit.

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