Summer Meditation - Summit County, CO

snow frosting peaks

meadows greening
dance of wild iris

find an eddy
in life's rapid flow
wait in stillness
breathe


small wonders and grand vistas
only this moment
one good thing

A Reminder (to self)

Each day, a new beginning.

Linger in beauty.

(Find it everywhere.)

Rejoice in small wonders.

Sanctuary awaits.

Be aware:

One Good Thing

Celebrate Blooming

In the waning days of spring, I walk

the trails behind my house in Breckenridge.

In the forest, Heart Leaf Arnica is blooming profusely.

The leaves are covered with a fine yellow pollen from the Lodgepole Pines.

I see aspens hugging an evergreen. 

Delicate Violets say a shy hello.

Nearly hidden by the forest ground cover,

the Fairy Slipper Orchid (Calypso) is fading but still lovely.

I lie on the ground to speak to it face to face.

Tomorrow, I'll hike with a friend.

We hope to see more emerging wildflowers.

After a long winter, we celebrate blooming!

First Wildflowers at HIgh Altitude

Globeflowers along Lehman Creek

We took our first hike of the season above 10,000'.
Trails are still wet from snowmelt and streams run high.

Marsh Marigold 

Our winter extended through May, but wildflowers aren't wasting time.

Globeflowers along Lehman Creek

Globeflowers

Globeflowers and Marsh Marigolds bloom in boggy areas. 

The tiny Calypso Orchid (Fairy Slipper) is also blooming.
This fragile beauty manages to germinate as soon as the snow melts.

I celebrate the stamina and persistence of wildflowers:
One Good Thing

Possibilities

Last night I heard water running off the eaves.

Getting out of bed to investigate, I saw that the windows

of the Great Room were rain-spattered.

Rain and not snow!

Thank Goodness!

June 1, 2013 - ski trails melting - finally!

Spring has come to the high country at last.

I attended 2 school promotions the past 2 weeks.

My former student from 20 years ago now has young children of her own.

Originally from El Salvador, I met her and taught her English at Colorado Mountain College.

I helped her study for the General Education Diploma.

Finally, I became her tutor as she worked toward earning an associate degree at CMC.

After graduation, she became a US citizen.

My husband gave her away in marriage 11 years ago.

So many years have passed.

Today, it is her children I encourage.

Preschool "Graduation" - Kindergarten here he comes!

I am blessed to see another generation of children striving to better themselves.

My student and her daughter who will enter 6th grade at Middle School next session.

Happy smiles this spring.

Endless possibilities.

Desert-Mountains-City

Within a week, I've visited several different ecosystems.

The AZ desert landscape enveloped me in warmth.

Breckenridge, CO, (and fox) welcomed me home to a yard still snow-covered.

(Hopefully not for much longer - it is, after all, the end of May!)

So, to compromise, I'm staying in Denver for awhile.

My container gardens are already flourishing in the city.

I sit on our tiny patio to read and to relax.

In the filtered sunshine, I daydream of lizards and foxes and melting snow.

I'm rejuvenated from my travels.

For me, that's 

One Good Thing.

It's What I Make of It

I woke in darkness and thought,

"Today I'm 69."

I knew the alarm hadn't awakened me, so I dozed awhile longer.

When I finally opened my eyes again, the power was off.

I looked outside and realized why:

A foot of wet snow had fallen overnight.

I overslept - something I never do. 

Of course, this particular morning I had an early appointment. 

The fox watched silently as I rushed out the door to drive into town. 

Perhaps it came to say "Happy Birthday, Barb."

The mountain was nearly obscured by low hanging clouds.

Droplets of moisture and snow bombs fell onto my head as I entered the building.

Guess who I visited on the morning of my 69th birthday -

Yep, I had a 2 hour appointment to prep for a crown.

My long-time dentist is also the mayor of Breckenridge.

I asked him where the balloons, the cake, and the friends were hiding -

he said I'd have to settle for some novacaine and drilling instead.

Now, I'm in Denver where a loud thunderstorm just passed through.

Bob is preparing me a crab feast for my birthday dinner.

Snow, pain-free dentistry, and my husband cooking dinner - 

this may be my best birthday ever!

Surely, it's a birthday I won't forget!

On Monday, I leave on a Girlfriends' Vacation to AZ.

Today, for me, find one good thing  and pass it on.

Bryce Canyon at Sunrise

be mindful

look carefully

practice patience

show gratitude

Entering Bryce Canyon before dawn, we make our way slowly downward as pink tinges the eastern horizon. A sliver of moon hangs in the sky. We shiver in the chill air, waiting for the warmth of the sun. Walking alone with only the towering Hoodoos and ancient trees as companions, we speak quietly, respectful in Nature's sanctuary.

The beauty of rock surrounds us - One Good Thing.

Morning Light - Zion National Park

Zion is a Hebrew word meaning safe haven:

 

 

 

morning stillness

 

 

spring's awakening

 

 

the blessings of warmth

 

We hiked for 9 miles to Observation Point, awed by the steep cliffs, twisting canyons, and lush vegetation of Utah's Zion National Park.

We are now at Bryce Canyon.

I like the way the desert landscape speaks quietly but has a lot to say -

One Good Thing

 

Life's Rhythm

I've been staying with my four grandchildren for a week.

Life falls into a comforting rhythm.

I wake before dawn and brew my cup of tea. The house has the muted quiet of sleep.

I watch the sun rise over the distant peaks.
 

A new day is born.

Soon, I hear the eight year old on the stairs.

Always the first to rise, he likes this special time alone with me.

By 7, the 10 year old twins and 7 month old Sam are awake.

Eating breakfast, brushing teeth, changing a diaper, gathering backpacks -
off we go to the bus stop.
 

Sam and I wave goodbye and stroll up the road on our morning walk.

Birds sing and squirrels chatter. We see elk and fox and coyote tracks.

The day passes in a schedule of bottles, naps, and diaper changes.

 

Late afternoon, the front door crashes open. The children are "starved" after their day at school. Snacks and play time, dinner, homework, showers, pajamas - just enough time left for a book before lights out.
 

The house settles into sleep.

I brew a last cup of tea.

Life's quiet rhythm continues - One Good Thing...

Hope

I thought about writing a post on Monday, but after the bombing in Boston, I hesitated. I had friends in Boston for the Marathon. I needed to hear that they were safe. When word came that they were all OK, I felt relieved but also exhausted by random violence that forever changed so many lives.

It's been a snowy week in Denver, days and days of clouds and cold. Spring bulbs and blossoms that emerged too early were stunned by the below-freezing temperatures. Finally, today, the sun shines. Snow melts. Grass seems shades greener than yesterday.

Once again, I search for One Good Thing:

the warmth of the sun on my back, a robin ruffling its feathers, icicles dripping from the eaves, the smile of my Grandson.

I give thanks.

Life goes on.

A Feeling of Springtime in My Heart

Spring is more a feeling than a season at high altitude.

Though the calendar might indicate spring, it still looks like winter in Breckenridge, CO.

In fact, we had 7 inches (17 cm) of snow earlier in the week.

Most likely, we'll have snow on the ground through May.

However, the lighting is different - there is a soft glow on the snow.

Beautiful sunsets linger late over the western mountains.

Temperatures are warming, and the melt/freeze cycle has started.

fox tracks on the frozen Blue River, Breckenridge, CO

I want to thank all who have sent me positive wishes for healing.

I've posted some details about my illness and my journey toward health on Live and Learn.

I'm enjoying springtime both inside my heart and outside in my environment.

The feeling of spring is my One Good Thing today.

The Healing Path

Do you remember when I wrote of Finding the Tear?

Well, finally, after nearly 2 months of searching,

following the meandering trails of 5 different medical professionals,

I hope that I may be on the healing path.

I'll focus on wellness for the next several weeks.

I won't spend much time on the computer. 

Think of me occasionally, as I'll be thinking of you, my friends.

The photo of the inverted rainbow was taken early-morning,

February 22, when my grandchildren were leaving for skiing.

It's a very unusual phenomena.

I take it as a good omen. 

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In Perspective

a small object can cast a very large shadow

apply this to:

problems

worries

fears

advise to myself:

keep things in perspective

This and That - Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Not much photography to share this week. 

The sky's been alternately blue and gray.

However, even on sunny days, it stayed below freezing.

On the weekend, we babysat for Sam, who is 5 months old.

He's a smiling, content baby.

  His newest skill is blowing raspberries.

He especially delights in practicing while eating.

My glasses are coated in mashed banana

by the time I finish feeding him.

Gathering together a few photos for

Scavenger Hunt Sunday:

THE SMALL THINGS

Sam's fat little piggy-toes.

ILLUSTRATION

Bob and I bought this illustration in 1985 from a young artist

outside the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.

It's hung in several kitchens since then, in PA, in MD, and now in CO.

WORK of ART

My five year old grandson leads me through the fox installation at the Denver Art Museum.

WINDOW BEAUTY

A spruce laden with new snow provides some window beauty

as I snuggle inside with Sam.

VALENTINE

From my heart to yours:

Happy Valentine Day to all.

I hope your day isn't at all prickly!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday