walk – Site Title

A Frosty Morning

The rooftops are sprinkled with white and so are the streets this morning. No snow yet but frost was there. It looked cold outside and it was. Brrr!!! I bundled up adding a thick scarf around my neck but no gloves and that was a mistake.

I walked as I usually do taking the same path and as I approached the apple trees, I noticed that the mountain was barely visible. It was shrouded in a haze. Yes, it was cold as I shoved my freezing hands deeper into my coat pockets. Nothing was moving out there, just a big fat crow cawing about something. My guess is, it was complaining about the weather as well. It kept me company for a while until a neighbor came into view with her dog. We stopped, exchanged niceties and the topic turned to our kids. She has twins, a boy and a girl, each one as different as night and day. The girl is dark-haired and the boy a blond. The boy sweet-natured and an absolute sweatheart and the girl, not so much. They are both the same age as my son. The conversation turned to the children and how they were doing. Turns out, I’m not the only one having to deal with the “walking on eggshells” concept. She was having the same problem which made me feel a little bit better. I waved her on and took the other path heading to the fields.

It was quiet, too quiet. The world was still asleep and the “cold” it was now kissing the tip of my nose and it was time to head back. The weather forecast is predicting snow for Saturday. I’m actually looking forward to some snow to get me in the Christmas spirit. My ex told me that our son will be heading home for the holidays. He doesn’t want to stay with me because I have strict rules about letting his friends using my place as party central. The last time it was late nights, lots of noise and a constant run to the bathroom! They are no longer scrawny kids but tall, strapping young men! So, my son has decided to stay at his Oma’s, just a stone’s throw from where I live. I won’t have the hassle and he will still come visit. A win-win situation either way.

It was time for another cup of coffee but Chachi, the cat, just walked in and let out a loud meow! He loves having his mommy at home 24/7 and absolutely hates it when I take off for an hour or two. Spoiled? Absolutely, but I’m not complaining. It is kiss and cuddle time with the little brat!

Have an amazing day.

A Gorgeous Day!

Fall is here and the mornings are covered in fog but by about 8:30 in the morning, the sun peeks out with blurry eyes as it tries to burn off some of the haze covering the mountains and the fields. It takes awhile before the fields are visible and the mountains are no longer hidden from view.

Today was no different. I was out there very early and not a single soul was in sight. A lone rabbit was sunning itself in the lukewarm sunshine, I guess tanking up energy for the rest of the day. One heron was visible as it stood alone pretending to not notice the human coming up the hill and heading towards its direction. The apple trees were still shrouded in white their spindly branches showing their fall cover. Not much to speak of as the apples are mostly gone and just a few leaves remain and these two will be gone in a week or two. The fields are bare, ready for their winter sleep. However, the cornfield is still there bare of corncobs but still standing straight and tall. Stephen King sure did spoil it for us didn’t he? I can’t look at cornfields without horrific images coming to mind. It is the same today as I pass them their leaves moving softly with the breeze. I try not to look in their direction as I pass them, my steps picking up pace!

Pulling my jacket closer around me to keep the cold at bay, I head to the open fields. It is cold today. As I reach the top of the hill, the rising sun is blazing orange as it heralds another beautiful fall day. Just the other day, I met my neighbor who was walking her dog and we chatted for a while. She said, gorgeous days are ahead and she wasn’t wrong about that. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and it never fails to mesmerize with its beauty. No, the leaves haven’t changed yet but they will soon enough and the whole place will be filled with color, blazing oranges, warm golds and rustic reds. It will be a sight to behold.

As I make my way back, my mind cleared of the cobwebs that had gathered there last night, I am ready to get going and to be grateful for another gorgeous day. It is going to be a beautiful day folks.

Have an amazing day.

The Breakthrough!

Remember the guy I wrote about, the one who walks his dog but is tongue-tied and never says anything and just stares every time we see each other? I had given up on him because the last time I smiled, I mean really flashed my 100 watt smile and he froze completely! So I decided this guy is a lost cause.

I just did my second walk today. Why? Just felt like it and because I love windy days. So I bundled up and headed up the hill again. It was quiet like it was this morning. I walked up to the apple trees and turned around, still no one. Then I made a turnaround and went the other way. Just then a crow let out a loud squawk which startled me. I looked up at the trees but couldn’t see it. I heard a sound behind me and this big black pit bull came walking up to me and sniffed my hand. I don’t like dogs especially pit bulls. Anyway, I looked up and there he was all bundled up against the cold with a big smile plastered on his face.

Hmm….I told myself, BE CALM. He said, “Good morning!” That threw me for a loop. Had he been practicing?!! Anyway, I greeted him back with a smile. He said, ” I see you a lot around here.” I nodded and asked, “Do you live around here?”

He pointed to a big yellow house and said he lived over there. The way this village is set up is that most of the houses are clumped together. However, farmers who owned a big portion of the land before have their houses separated from the rest. These properties usually have the main house and several smaller houses which are rented out. So he was a Little Lord of the Manor.

We talked for a while about nothing much in particular. Just about the weather and he came in with, “It should be this way sometimes don’t you think?” I agreed and told him that I love this weather and he laughed. We waved and he went on his way. That was it!

I will see what the next time brings. If he will be as forthcoming as he was today I don’t know. Perhaps he has a twin who freezes every time a woman greets him. This guy today was friendly and ready to mingle!

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.

My Sacred Place

It has been almost two weeks since I set foot in my sacred space. My daily walks in nature had come to a screeching halt. The rains along with the gusty winds had moved in and walking was the last thing on my mind.

However, I had missed my forays in nature and today that want was back in full force. I needed the freedom of being out in nature. This feeling of being caged in had to go so I found myself back on the familiar pathway again. It somehow felt different. The rapeseed plants were still there and they had grown a lot taller blocking visibility in every direction. The golden blooms were no longer there and now the plants stood swaying and dancing with the wind. I could feel claustrophobia taking hold. I wasn’t liking this one little bit.

The farmers around here are well-regimented and they’ve got crop-rotation down to a science but for some reason, they’ve let the plant life get out of control this time around. Could it be the rain? Whatever it was, I kept to the graveled pathway and decided to cut my walk short, unrest seeping in. I like open spaces but today I felt fenced in. I don’t know why and that bugged me to no end.

Making my way back I notice that the sun is slowly making a showing but the winds are still in full force. It’s as if nature can’t make up its mind but I know that this too shall pass and summer will come traipsing back in. I just hope that the farmers will get back to work making the fields visible so that my soul can fly again.

Have an amazing day.

Complicated

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I took a walk on Saturday but this time I wasn’t alone. Most days, I like to walk alone but this time around it was a different story. A friend decided to go along but not before we had this conversation.

ME: “You should bring your old, time-worn boots because it will be muddy in places.”

HIM: “I’m not walking in mud!”

ME: “Why not? I walked in mud yesterday and it was wonderful.”

HIM: “Well then, I’ll watch you.”

Complicated? He is, but he doesn’t think so. Or maybe I am.

The walk was great. We walked further than I would do when I’m by myself. The sun was trying to make a showing from behind dark grey clouds but it was a difficult task and a losing battle against the looming clouds. The ground had thawed out from the light snowfall of two days ago and there were some wet patches along the path and I think he did step into one or two mud puddles and if he noticed, he kept it quiet.

Nothing much was moving out there or so it seemed because we were deep in conversation and noise often blocks out what the mind sees when you are alone and your senses are on high alert. We talked about nothing in particular, just life in general. I kept looking for the herons, my new-found passion, but they were nowhere to be seen. We went up and down the hill and then to my surprise a few minutes later there they were, standing silently and pretending not to notice our intrusion into their sacred space. We watched them for a few minutes but they refused to move so we walked on and left them alone. It was a beautiful walk and sometimes having a friend there makes all the difference.

Later that evening, I received a text message from the same friend with this quote attached to it. It was by Jane Austen and it went like this:

“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”

He captioned it: “This fits you well. Somewhat of a compliment.”

Did he just call me complicated? If he did, he is not far from the truth. I’ve heard that label being placed on me many times before but it doesn’t faze me. I’ll wear it gladly. It’s nice to know that women back then had the same problem of trying NOT to fall for the wrong guy although the main theme in Sense and Sensibility is “the danger of excessive sensibility.” It could be the case with me but I am not settling, not just yet. Most of us want to find ‘love’ but falling in love takes more than just a chance meeting. However, I do agree that a man needs to be given a chance before I shut the door on him.

“I am made of little rooms full of thoughts, emotions and memories. You cannot define me by listening to me once. I’m too complex.” Unknown

Why wouldn’t I be complicated? I love spending time out in nature, traipsing around in mud, talking to wild life versus preferring human company and if that is not enough, Chachi, the cat, comes in picking up the slack when it is needed! I go by the motto, why give the milk for free or get the cow for free, something like that but you get the drift. Anyway more specifically, why invest in a cow when you can get the milk for free, dumb maybe BUT it holds some truth to it. If that makes me complicated, I AM.

“Sometimes I think maybe I’m just too complicated for anyone to love.” Unknown

Have an amazing day.