No Signs of Green Spring But...

 Photo: John Price / unsplash.com

No, there are no signs of green around here yet. The snow piles are deep and the temperature still plummets to freezing levels at night, but I'll have you know, there is a change in air.  And, I hear it rather then see it. You see, the song of the chickadee has shifted from its winter whistle to its spring aria as mating rituals begin to stir.

Although the sky might still be gray outside, I am feeling like the little green shoots of my soul are poking out from under the cover of winter. Hope begins to stir. And I'm planning some little giveaways on this blog to inaugurate my own 'spring' season in writing.  And, of course, like any self-respecting woman, we're not only thinking about a spring wardrobe makeover, but something fresh and sprightly outfit to make it feel like spring here on my blog.

So stay tuned. In the meantime, here's something Marcel Proust once said that we can ponder as we scan landscapes for hints of spring:

"The real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes."

 

Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda
xox
 

Snowed In and Silent

No, I did not get buried under the latest snowstorm... although it kind of looks like it. That's a pile of snow in front of my house.  

I've been quite content to snuggle inside for many days, looking out on nature's artistry, like these frost-laced branches from our front window and the very interesting scallops along the deck railing from the kitchen window.

  

My days have been gently quiet as I read, snoozed, baked muffins, simmered hearty soups, listened to Mozart, and filled journals with new thoughts and re-read some old ones. Even cleaned whatnot piled-up down in my basement.

This snow-day kind of weather is perfect timing as I had been feeling the need to 'come away and rest awhile'. To stop and notice life happening in the moment, rather than watching them race by in a blur. It's a feeling I don't like so when I saw this quote from Evelyn Underhill, I wanted to jot it down so I could be reminded: 

"For lack of attention,

a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day."

...to each of you who got in touch to find out what was happening. It was lovely to find your notes in my in-box.

And my heart apologies to everyone for just disappearing without a trace. At the time, I didn't even want to turn on the computer to let you know I was going to be away, lest I got caught up in the web.

I won't say that I'm back for good, because we're still rediscovering those thousand forms of loveliness, but I did want to finally break the silence.  I do miss each of you and think of you often. I do look forward to touching base with you soon and catching up on all your doings.

In the meantime, remember to keep looking for those glimpses of heaven in unexpected places.

Hugs,
Brenda
xox

A Snowy Delight

I love how the berry clusters on our mountain ash caught the snow -- they look like little woolen toques trimmed in red.  Since we're still digging ourselves out from our huge snowfall, I thought I'd hunt up some snow quotes... found the following at thinkexist.com.

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing,
wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;
there is really no such thing as bad weather,
only different kinds of good weather."
~ John Ruskin


When it snows, you have two choices:
shovel or make snow angels.
~ Unknown


"Kindness is like snow
~ it beautifies everything it covers."
~ Unknown


"The future lies before you
like paths of pure white snow.
Be careful how you tread it,
for every step will show."
~ Unknown


"Advice is like snow; the softer it falls,
the longer it dwells upon,
and the deeper it sinks into, the mind."
~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge




Enjoy your day,

Brenda

Simply Sunday: Sitting Pretty

Sitting pretty on a sunless Sunday
Satisfied with seeds from a tray

Sparrows in a sugary tree top
Songs are silent like the snow

Savoring the peacefulness of this snow-muffled Sunday,

Brenda

Snow... Snow... Snow...

Did I mention that it's SNOWING today? Early this morning I donned my heavy knit jacket and headed out the door, shovel in hand, to dig out the bird feeders. Everything is snowed under today. Thankfully it's not blustering so it was delightful to be outside a few minutes. I could hear the chickadees in the trees -- methinks they were saying thanks for digging out their breakfast trays!

I'm still in jammies and fuzzy slippers and I feel a cooking spree coming on. It's a great day for serving up steaming bowls of hearty vegetable beef soup and warm crusty bread. In that case, I best go gather the ingredients and trip my fuzzy-slippered feet to the kitchen.

Wishing you pleasant hours whatever you're up to today!

Brenda