AUTUMN
DECEMBER 2012

Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts

January 31, 2011

WORDS

 a poem for today . . .











Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.








My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake








The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.


Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
    
happy day!


January 21, 2011

{this moment}

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember." 

Inspiration from SouleMama:

                                                           happy day!

January 19, 2011

ONE WORD WEDNESDAY

                                             
                                        ~ angel ~



(Please feel free to join in One Word Wednesday, just leave your link in the comments).

                                               happy day!

January 14, 2011

{this moment}

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."    Inspiration from SouleMama:

ENTER MY GIVEAWAY !
A book, a sketchpad, and drawing pens.
                                   Go HERE to see how                                                             
                             happy day!



January 12, 2011

SCULPTING IN SNOW . and a Nature Book GIVEAWAY!

An abundance of wet snow is the perfect medium for SCULPTING!

Dressing in layers and armed with a garden shovel and wooden spoon, my "sweet birdie" came into fruition. And how appropriate that she keep watch over our Bird Haven.
Noone was available to join in the sculpting, but that didn't stop me. The child within took over and I was having so much fun. WE need as much creative play as the children!

After shoveling off the branches and bird feeders, I stood back and looked at the pile of snow and thought of the sweet Mourning doves out the kitchen window this morning waiting for sunflower seeds to drop from the birdfeeder. (They are ground feeders!)
They were my inspiration for the snow sculpture.
Notice how they puff their tummy, I mean their feathers? That's how they keep warm.
Air is an insulator, and the air that is trapped in the puffed up feathers of the bird is warmed by the birds own body heat and stays trapped close to the birds skin.
Had I glanced at a picture of the Mourning dove before sculpting, I would have made longer tail feathers, but this is my rendition and exactness and perfection do not matter. It's the process of creating and being in the elements and breathing in the fresh cold air that matters.

I carved out a small hideaway in front of the sculpture, just enough for a bird to get respite from the wind and partake of birdseed.
It wasn't long before the birds came, as soon as I got out of their way.
If you want YOUR sculpture to be included in my SNOW SCULPTURE SHOWCASE , an upcoming blog post: 

1) Go outside and create a snow sculpture. . .with or without your children
2) Take a picture of it 
3) Post it on your blog and send me the link to your blog picture in the comments.
                OR
4) If you don't have a blog, just email me the picture and I will include it .



THE GIVEWAY ( it has nothing to do with the snow sculpture)

In light of being passionate about connecting people with our earth and being in tune with Nature, and that my blog has reached 100 followers; followers who I am grateful for and with hope that I have inspired in some small way, I am offering up one of my favorite books. . . AND a sketchpad and drawing pens so you can get started drawing right away :) 
This book is full to the brim with inspiration and the know how to connect with nature by drawing what you see.  What better way to start your new year than beginning a nature journal recording the natural world around you. 

Start a nature journal yourself, encourage your children, or do one together! You will see an even deeper connection to our earth.

To enter the giveway, please 
1) LEAVE A COMMENT - why you are interested in the book.
2) FOLLOW this blog ( link on right sidebar)


The winner will be drawn next Thursday, January 20th.


happy day, happy snow!


January 10, 2011

WORDS


A quote for today . . .

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech tree, or a yellow birch, or an old aquaintance among the pines.
                                  - Henry David Thoreau 


    happy day!


December 30, 2010

MORNING LIGHT


 a quiet cloak 
 solid stillness 
 light plays
 awareness
thoughts mesh
senses magnify
emotion deep
appreciation 
love being
beauty surround
inner beauty 
peace          ~mjs

I am in rest mode right now, taking the days slow and being in the moment; caring for animals, enjoying time with my children and reading, reading reading. There is a room waiting to be painted purple. . . perhaps today or tomorrow.

may your day be happy!



December 26, 2010

BLIZZARD

I believe in free choice, but not today.
The snow is coming down heavy now and the wind has picked up speed. The forecast is blizzard conditions that will dump about 14-16 inches of snow in our area of southeastern Massachusetts. 
Noone will be staying out in the paddocks all night or roosting on the limb high in the pine tree. Everyone will be tucked in their own abode to stay safe and warm during the storm.
It took me almost an hour to coax the hens into their coop, Some were taking shelter under the pines or under our deck and didn't want to trek through the deep snow, so I shoveled a path for them. Others seemed to love the weather and wanted no part of going inside.

I sprinkled a trail of cracked corn all the way to the coop ( think Hansel and Gretel!) and little by little, bite by bite, they made their way inside.


The horses tend to stay in the farthest paddock when it snows, as if to say,"Don't even think about putting us in the barn!" 
But once the wind picked up speed they thought it best to stay closer to the barn and made their way on their own.

I was deciding just how long I would let them stay outside when a big gust of wind came, spooked the horses and each one ran into their stall.  
The stall doors were shut and snow brushed off backs. I left them munching their hay and knew I made the right decision for tonight.


happy day, happy snow!



December 21, 2010

THROUGH THE WINDOW

the covered garden gate

 pine boughs adorned

a garden asleep

a teepee standing tall . . . 

amidst the white
 in stillness
and in peace.
                     ~mjs

I'm playing Tuesday Through. . .The Winter Window hosted by Swedish House . 
This is the view out my kitchen windows during the morning snowfall.

 Just delightful!


happy day! 
Wishing you peace and joy!