The nights turn cool, chilly, with a sharpness that penetrates. The days grow short. Night envelopes more than its fair share. The once vibrantly colored leaves now brown, trodden, mudlike. Fat little bushtits fluff up and shiver, chirping out their protest to those passersby that will listen. Squirrels race, as if frantically searching, and nibble on strips of bark. They chatter, too, at passersby, but more like the grumpy old men in those too familiar stories. There are a few straggling wooly bears scrambling to find warmth, and the occassional hop of a frog after a deceptively warm rain. Otherwise it is quiet. It is winter.
Winter brings solace, necessary insulation, and sometimes a sense of loss; color gone from the landscape, warmth gone from the air, sounds gone from the winds. Misunderstanding. Winter is a time of rest and rejuvenation. This is the time to delve inward and heal. Storage for winter, hibernation, and slowed pace all participate in the healing of self. Solace allows for self reflection, so much harder to do when the world around you is a sensual feast. Insulation helps to retain the solace, to ensure the space necessary for the process. The loss; simply helps to make those things we miss in their absence that much more wonderful on their return. Cycles and Seasons.Embrace this winter. Take the time to heal. When spring comes back again your work will be rewarded. All things grow better in clean cultivated soils. Weeds are easier to pull in winter. Get in there and weed. Peace and health be with you.
Each journey begins with a step. Japanese Gardens, Portland, OR.
Tranqulity; often found after tumbling through rocks and hard places.
That seagull almost got bowled over by the waves. 
Sunset at Cape Arago, Charleston, OR. 
Sunset at Cape Arago, Charleston, OR. 
Waterfont Willamette River, Portland, OR. 
Sunset Near Umpqua Lighthouse, Winchester Bay, OR.
Breakfast with my brother in Anchorage, AK. Fun times... 
Sometimes Mother Earth just gives you the most amazing frame. Outside of Anchorage, AK. 
Beavers with a great view. Outside of Anchorage, AK. 
Reflections. Simply breathtaking. Outside Anchorage, AK. 
