nature – Page 5 – Site Title

I Choose Peace

“Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.” Pema Chodron

I took my walk this morning hoping to clear my head of the destructive thoughts that had been given a front-row seat last night. Something happened yesterday that threw my nicely-ordered emotions into chaos and anger emerged with vengeful thoughts ready to take aim and to shoot my opponent down and to slay the dragon with no ifs, ands or buts!

My mom once said, “You’re a Scorpio and like that scorpion you come out ready to sting when backed into a corner.” I tend to agree with her since I’ve put that “stinger” front and center before.

I came face to face with someone who was not only obnoxious but she didn’t give a flying flip about it. Having a discussion with her was like banging your head against a cement wall. Her goal was to get me down to her level and for me to wrestle in the mud with her. I was angry but I kept my cool and walked away patting myself on the back for standing my ground. However, I wanted to put that “stinger” out there and to let her have a dose of her own medicine!

I CHOOSE PEACE!

“Distance is my new answer to inconsistency, disrespect and bullsh*t. My mental peace is my priority. I simply remove access to me.”

The woman in question is a fascist. She was as ugly outside as what she stood for. An old battle-ax who had left her “Nazi” boots back in her closet! There, I’ve said it! Anyway, I spent the evening going over the things that bugged me. The thing is, you can’t talk sense or make someone see the light when they are so steeped in hate, intolerance and ugliness.

I CHOOSE PEACE!

Learn to be done, not mad, not bothered , just done.

Protect your peace at all costs. Unknown

The sun is shining and I just passed the guy with the dog. We are still beating around the bush. Today, I said, “Good morning” as we passed but he was tongue-tied and looked like a statue frozen in time and just stared! Oh well, some things are not meant to be.

I CHOOSE PEACE!

Have an amazing day.

Raincoat Weather

Looks like rain moved in and it had rained last night. I had planned on a long walk this morning but had to think twice about being out there in the fields with the winds picking up speed. I looked for my raincoat that I bought last year but never had a chance to wear and it was just taking up space in my cupboard.

Today, I reached for it. It is a black and white striped number that has sweatshirt material sewn into the hoodie. Nice looking and since I was hell-bent on going for a walk, I slipped it on, paired it with a pair of maroon sweats and grey boots. Piling my long hair on my head and fastening it with a clip, face bare of anything except for a light lip conditioner and I was ready to go.

The wind was blustery as I approached the fields. The indigo-colored clouds seemed to be holding more rain. They were moving in waves across the mountains. Nothing else was moving out there except for the occasional crow flying overhead and the pigeons grazing in the fields. The farmers had done a good job of clearing away the cornfields and the rapeseed plants were down to the roots.

I walked hands shoved into my pockets. It wasn’t cold but the wind was strong and I was glad I had my hair up because the wind was doing a job picking out strands as they whipped around my face. Something about the wind when it pulls and tugs. I like the feel of it brushing against my face. All was quiet today except for the cawing of a lone crow or two. Fall was definitely moving in on silent feet. Soon the leaves will start to turn and then they will fall and gather on the ground. It will be colder and much nicer for walks!

The walk took all of 40 minutes but my mind is clearer, my thoughts are taking shape and I am thankful for a brand new day. I know not what this day will hold and if it will be good or bad. However, I know I am equipped to handle whatever comes my way just as nature is doing.

Have an amazing day.

All Fogged Up!

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels.com

I woke up this morning all ready to go walking until I looked outside and saw the fog. It was pea soup thick and the fields seemed to be covered in it. Should I? Go walking that is. I decided to do it anyway.

Perhaps I will get a new perspective I thought. So it was on with the shoes, steady ones that could weather the mud that must be surely out there after two days of rain. I wasn’t wrong about that. As I stepped on the fields, they looked somber with just the cawing of the crows for company. This morning, however, they were loud and raucous! I paid them no mind as I kept walking on the familiar path heading towards the apple trees. The mountains were nowhere to be seen. They were hidden behind a thick veil of fog. However, I knew they were there silently watching.

Fall was in the air. The air was crisp and colder than a few days ago. The trees were still green but it was just a matter of time before the colors would show up. Brilliant oranges, deep dark reds and sunshiny yellows, all heralding a new season moving in, one to my liking. I pulled the sweat jacket closer around me as I approached the hill. Then I saw him. He had his trusted dog with him. It looked like a pit bull but I’m not sure. I’m not into dogs.

I had seen him many times before, always alone and always staring. I don’t really know him but I had seen him a long time ago when my son was in kindergarten and I would drop him off. This guy was always sitting in his car and staring. The stare seems to be a part of his DNA. Anyway, we never exchanged words but sometimes I would think, “Creep!”

Recently he has a big smile on his face when he sees me. Why? I don’t know. Last Friday we crossed paths again. He was coming out of the forest line and I was heading home. We stopped at the junction and there it was this huge smile plastered on his face! I heard something click! What? I don’t know. His blue gray eyes were huge and the whites perfectly white. I thought, “Definitely not a druggie and not a drunk either!” He didn’t look that bad, some might even call nice-looking. Dark hair with a beard to boot. Maybe the Ted Bundy type?!! Anyway, we both stopped, stared at each other and then I said, “hello” and skirted around him. What was that about? I don’t know!

There he was again this morning, his dog on the leash and staring in my direction. He didn’t take his eyes off me. As we approached each other, he gave me this “deep” look and then a smile came on like a neon light! I said, “Good morning” and he said the same and we went our separate ways like “two ships passing in the night” or rather in the morning fogged up light!

What was that click I heard? Perhaps, a twig breaking or my overactive imagination playing tricks on me. Why does he keep staring? Anyway, I’m back home and wondering if I would see him again.

Oh well, maybe it was nothing but who knows. Life plays its own choreography and I am but a tiny pawn in the grand scheme of things.

Have an amazing day.

A Blur!

Yesterday was a blur! The test went fine but spending almost 5 hours at the hospital and having this radioactive stuff shot into me and then doing three rounds with the machine to find out if there was anything wrong took the wind out of my sails!

I think it wasn’t just yesterday that brought about the exhaustion, it was the week leading up to it. Emotions were running wild and not knowing made it all the more nerve-racking. I had all kinds of “what if” scenarios running through my head and none of them good.

I crashed last night at around 8 and didn’t get up till 5 this morning. Still feeling tired but more than that, it is the radioactive stuff coursing through my veins that is causing problems, just psychological ones. I googled on how to get rid of it and was told, drink plenty of water to flush it out of your system. It takes about 24 to 48 hours before it is out and gone for good. I hope! The other thing is to keep away from pregnant women and small children. No problems there but Chachi was not too happy last night. I tried not to hug him, kiss him or to cuddle with him and the little bugger didn’t understand it at all.

This morning, I stripped the bedcovers and threw them in the wash. Then I took a shower and used scrub to get whatever is oozing out of my pores a run for the money! After that, I took a walk in nature. There was nothing going on there. The trees were a bright green with no show of changing anytime soon. Fall is taking its time getting here but it will be here sooner than later. However, I realized that nothing much had changed since I set foot on the fields which was about three days ago.

Here’s the thing. Life moves on, nature does the same and what you’ve got going on is your business alone. I recall when I was grieving for the friend I lost, nature and life went on and didn’t stand still not even for a moment. The burden was mine to carry alone and how I dealt with things even more so. I think the message is, YOU have to deal with whatever comes your way. It is all up to you and with that in mind, I feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life and I better put it to good use. I plan to.

The sun is just coming up and it is casting shadows and light as it weaves its way through the fields. A beautiful sight to see and I know that today is going to be a beautiful day.

Have an amazing day folks.

Book is Published!

Update: It seems that writing the story is not the hardest part, it is getting it out there. What’s happening? Not much I think but there is work being done in the background that I am not aware of. The eBook will take a couple of months before it shows up because there is a backlog and it takes time according to the publisher. For now, the book is just another title in Amazon’s massive children’s book category. I do see that booksellers have “one in stock” signs but not sure if that is a strategy to move the book or it is being bought. I’m telling myself be patient and it will work itself out if it was meant to be. You know how you want things to MOVE, that’s where I’m at right now!

I see it online but I can’t believe it yet! Anyway, it is on Amazon and other online booksellers but I don’t think you can order it yet. According to publisher, it is going to take a week or two to right itself out.

“The Excellent Adventures of Honey & Hubie.”

In the meantime, they are working on stocking the book. All I can tell you is that the cover looks good, it is very colorful, and stands out enough to catch a child’s eye. The characters look inviting enough for a child to want to read it and I don’t think they will be disappointed once they do. However, I am my own worst critic so I think, it could have been better! That’s coming out of a perfectionist’s mouth!

I hope it does well, fingers and toes crossed!

A Chill in the Air

There was a definite chill in the air as I took my morning walk. I was earlier than usual and not even the farmers were there ready to start their day. The hay bales stood as before, silent and heralding the approach of a new season. No deer to be seen today, perhaps I was too early even for them.

The sun was shining but the chill made me pull my sweat jacket closer around me. The Rapeseed plants have been mowed down and there is a clear view everywhere. I’m sure those plants will show up again in spring but for now, it is time to take a well-earned rest before they put on their glorious display next spring. I am grateful for the view ahead with nothing to block it. The mountains seem to emerging from their slumber and with the sun shining, they are clearly visible, no longer shrouded in mystery as they usually are.

I walked keeping an eye out for the herons but they are a no show today. They must be asleep as well. A sudden cawing of a crow brought me out of my reverie and as I moved my eyes skywards, one flew over my head. They are raucous creatures but they thrive over here. Something about the open spaces or maybe even the graveyard nearby. They often congregate there. Makes you wonder why doesn’t it?

I made it to where the apple trees are and they are bogged down with apples. A bumper crop this year it seems. I left them alone as I have enough apples on my one lone apple tree in the garden and I would have to give some of them away. However, I know where the wild grapes grow and I headed in that direction. There they were hanging like beautiful works of art waiting to be picked. Some were still green, but some were a dark purple and I picked a few for a snack later. There is nothing better than freshly picked anything!

The walk was uneventful but it helped to clear my mind of the cobwebs that were already gathering there. I have a clean slate to start my day on and it is a beautiful feeling of peace and unadulterated joy? Perhaps, not quite joy but just akin to that. Just then, the first farmer approached on his huge tractor blocking the pathway so I got on the field to let him pass. He waved as he passed and I waved back with a smile. They must be getting used to this lone female who loves the fields as much as they do!

Have an amazing day.

The Changing of the Guard

Just another morning in the grand scheme of things but it was a little different. Getting up early as usual, I found Chachi’s face almost plastered next to mine! The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were his big expressive eyes staring back at me. Nothing new there. Just the norm in our world of being hooked on each other.

The thing that was different was how dark it looked outside compared to yesterday. The sun was a no show and everything was shrouded in a veil of darkness. A change of season approaching quietly but surely? Chachi walked up to the big window in the kitchen and let out a loud meow and went, “My TV is not working Mommy!” Oh well, he needs to be patient and it will fix itself.

My daily walk in the fields a short while later was more of the same. It was a little lighter but the sun was sure taking its time this morning. I walked knowing my path well, I could have done it with my eyes closed! A lone deer emerged from the forest line and stood there for a while before taking off to where it was familiar just as I was doing. The sky was a pearl grey and streaks of pink were starting to appear at the mountain tops. It is supposed to be cooler today but it will be sunny and warm.

My eyes scanned the horizon as I walked, my feet heavy as I trudged along the rock strewn path. No one and nothing was moving BUT there was much happening beneath my feet that my naked eyes could not see. The changing of the guard was taking place and the preparation was well under way or wherever “nature” holds its meeting to get things moving.

Turning back I noticed six bales of hay stacked on top of each other and just in front of them three deer grazing. A beautiful sight to behold. Soon, there will be more signs of another season approaching and it will be done like clockwork. A miracle? Absolutely.

“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” Mary Davis

Have an amazing day.

HEATWAVE!

We’re in the throes of one and it doesn’t look like it is going to let up anytime soon! Summer is on its way out but not without a last hurrah!

Summer break is over with and school starts on Monday. Hopefully everything else will be back on track as well. Time stands still when vacation starts and everything is run with a skeleton crew. I’m looking forward to calling for an appointment and NOT being told, “Doctor is on vacation. You can get an appointment in two week’s time!”

Anyway, I woke up this morning with my t-shirt plastered to my body drenched in sweat. My freshly washed hair of two days ago has decided to kow-tow to the heat and is not doing much better. The only place in the house that is cool is the living room with its stone floors, the rest are like being in a sauna!

I’m looking forward to the next season when I can go walking for miles on end and have the cool breeze accompany me. Hot weather is for the birds but they are taking cover as well! We’re all waiting for the beauty of fall to step in wearing its golden colors and with it some reprieve.

According to the weather forecast, we have another week of slightly lower temps and then the rain moves in to cool things off. Until then, Chachi, the cat, is sweating his a** off and I have to cool him off with a damp towel two or three times a day. It also seems that no matter how much water I drink, it takes but minutes for it to evaporate in sweat!

Yucks?!! Exactly right. I had my shower this morning but I feel sticky already. Oh well, time to bite the bullet and let the day have its way.

Have an amazing Sunday and I hope it’s cooler where you’re at.

Paradise!

I love everything or almost everything about where I live. It is like living in a place where time stood still and the “old ways” are still present. The place is green, lush, and pristine at times.

The quiet is contagious and fills your whole being. I’ve lived in places where the hustle and bustle of city life was a constant. Along with it came the noise and “thinking” the kind you do and need for writing was next to impossible. Here, it is the perfect place to get your creative juices flowing and as I sit here at my computer, it faces the big window and outside there is a tall willow tree its branches softly dancing in the breeze. The sun is shining and NOT a sound can be heard! It is pure magic.

I’ve written about the fields where I wander and it takes me places. A muddled mind filled with thoughts that don’t need to be there are wiped away as I set foot on that almost sacred space. The mountains in the distance are often shrouded in haze but they are there silently watching. The open fields against a blue sky is beautiful and the seasonal plants and trees never fail to show up on time. It’s almost like they are cued to take off when the right time comes. No work on your part is needed. The pond in the woods is beautiful and it is where the herons come to roost. In spring, the slender streams criss -crossing the forest area put on a spectacular display of daffodils all along the way. In winter, it is bare but the beauty still remains but in a subdued way.

The sleepy little village doesn’t have much to offer but if you dive deeper there is more than enough to boggle the mind. The old architecture, the beautifully manicured and well-kept graveyard, the churches with their tiny pews, and the tiny little shops, they call them convenience stores here, all go to make up a place that is carved out of history but no matter how old it gets, the beauty of a place steeped in folklore and quiet elegance still remains.

I am grateful for this place and I call it home now. I love the symphony of the birds in the trees as dawn approaches and the late evening songs as they announce the end of another wonderful day. I love the horses that sometimes walk the cobblestone streets and I LOVE the beautifully kept gardens and how the people, especially the old folks who spend most of their summer days tending their gardens with such care and love and even if their backs are bent with age, those gardens keep them going. It is something to do and it is clear that they live for those days in the sun where planting and harvesting becomes important. When winter rolls around, they go indoors and take a well-deserved rest.

I am fully blessed! I love everything about this place and I can’t see myself going back to where life was a constant mad dash and my mind was filled with the unnecessary. I hope that never happens.

Daily writing prompt

What do you love about where you live?

View all responses

Chachi’s Say!

Waking up early this morning, I had a plan in mind. Breakfast, take out the trash, clean-up a little, put on my sweatpants, t-shirt and head on to where I feel the most comfortable and where my creative juices get to rev up. I did all of that except for the walk. It came to a screeching halt when I took the plastic trash bin out and realized that it was HOT!

I checked the weather forecast and it is going to be hot today. I’m not into sweaty weather so I came back in with another plan in mind. I have an appointment tomorrow so why not look my best. I decided to slater on the new black mask which is supposed to clean out any unwanted stuff on your face. Thirty minutes and your skin can breathe again. Instead of getting started right away, I decided to get lunch going. It was still early but I love to plan everything ahead of time.

On the menu today is stir-fried Chinese style noodles with Bok Choy and minced or ground meat. The sauce is spicy made more so by the addition of Gochuyang Hot Pepper Paste. This is my go to now when I want things spicy. It does the job pretty well and it tastes great. Anyway, I went out to the garden to see if I could add more stuff to the pan. Sure enough, the chilies were ready. They look like Jalapeno peppers so I added one to the pan. The cherry tomatoes were ripe so I added a couple chopped up as well. Looks like it is going to be a good meal.

Then it was back upstairs and I put the mask on. Chachi, the little Munchkin, walked in and immediately took a step back. The look was somewhere between I can’t believe this and yucks!

HIM: “MOM, you need to get a grip on things! This look is not going to do if you want to attract your one and only.”

ME: “What do you know about that? Anyway, you don’t like any of the guys.”

HIM: “No, I don’t like any of them especially the cheesecake guy! I’m glad he is a no show now! Still the sloppy look and now this is an absolute no go.”

ME: “You’re far from an expert.”

HIM: “Back in the day…..”

ME: “Back in the day?!! What day?”

HIM: “I know things and this is not going to do. You look like the creature from the Black Lagoon!”

I picked him up and brought him downstairs and laid him gently in his basket by the window. Look out there, maybe Little Miss Ipanema is out and about. That’s his on and off girlfriend. She is all black with piercing green eyes and she is known as the village beauty amongst other things! She was sitting on the shed sunning herself but her eyes were trained on Chachi.

“I’m going back upstairs to get some peace. Don’t get any ideas about that little thing out there. She’s not for you!”

Just then she turned her eyes on me.

“Hey Chach, your mom’s a B I * * H! You are a pretty boy but that mother of yours looks like she could scare the hell out of anyone!”

That’s it. I’ve decided that she is not a suitable candidate or rather good girlfriend material for my little guy. So dream on about the pretty boy and that’s where it’s going to stay!

Just then, Chachi piped up.

“See I told you so. That look is not taking you anywhere!”

Just the start to another day in Chachi Land!

Have an amazing day.