deer at the bird feeders
how lovely, these three
deer friends happened by, their grace,
prompting me to breathe
we coexist peacefully
sisters from different mothers
~kat
Monthly Archives: January 2025
Day 12 – glimmer and grace
Day 11
snowscape at dawn
i could be, should be
with so many chores to do
but i’d miss this view
the sacred morning stillness
of a night’s snowfall, at dawn
~kat
We’ve been iced in for a week now. Last night a new layer of snow topped the ice. A part of me might be panicking a wee bit. Even if we needed to, we can’t get to the main road. I could be panicking, but I am choosing instead to embrace this respite from the world. We are safe and warm. We have a secure roof over our heads, electricity, water, food in the cupboards and toilet paper. 😉 The sun, and temperatures above freezing are forecast over the next few days. For today and maybe even tomorrow, I am going to do my best to break from the busy-ness that has dominated me for years. I may even stay in my pj’s for two days. Imagine that! If you know me, the thought of doing nothing has been an unthinkable proposition for a long, far too long a time, I’m sad to admit. Taking my cue from this detour from the race…thank you winter snow for the grace to just be… 💚
Peace and glimmers to you,
~kat
Day 10…Delayed
when hope is just a glimmer
there will sometimes be days
just like this one has been
a long twenty four hours
that drags on without end
a bleak, languishing dirge
I assure you my friend
it won’t last, it just won’t
because dusk’s round the bend
and the night, and sweet dreams
you can hang on ‘til then
just remember to breathe
a deep breath slowly in
then sit for a moment
while remembering when
you have been here before
find your center of zen
exhale all your troubles
repeat, do it again
until you feel peace
and calm settling in
please don’t fret, you’ll be fine
it’s a lot to take in
when the world’s spinning wild
no beginning or end
there will sometimes be days
just like this one has been
it won’t last, it just won’t
I assure you my friend
peace and glimmers to you…
~kat
Day 9
today
I remembered
to breathe today,
drenched in the warmth
of the morning sun.
savored slow sips
of earl grey, sweet with cream
feasted on hearty lentil soup
and buttery biscuits
worked a bit, tended to
my little dog, the cats,
the bird, and the fish
joined our nation vicariously
via tv to bid a final farewell
to a good man…a very good man
a life, lived well, inspiring
honesty, integrity, and justice…
we need all those things
and more, these days
it was a full day
it was a good day
I remembered to breathe
~kat
Today’s glimmer…actually succeeding at living intentionally….remembering to breathe. Peace and glimmers to you!
Day 8
Day 8
Today’s glimmer is a little different. It wasn’t a thing, but a feeling, rather a realization that I am tougher and more capable than I ever thought I could be.
Let me tell you about my day…
This was our driveway today. Several days ago we had a winter storm rage through. We didn’t get much snow, but we got ice…lots of it. Enough to down trees and cause us to lose power for half a day. The cold and winds haven’t let up so we are basically ice-locked from civilization. By civilization I mean the road and the mailbox. Our driveway is about 1/8 of a mile long and has a 35 degree incline. Even on a good day it’s quite a trek to the mailbox. I generally hop in the car and drive down to get the mail.
Well the world below has resumed to business as usual. The roads are plowed and dry, and delivery trucks have been doing what they do. My order trackers had informed me that there were several packages in and around the mailbox. I figured I’d best make my way down the hill to get them, along with some important mail I had been waiting for.
I bundled up in layers, put on my hiking boots, and grabbed one of my partner’s crutches to use as a walking stick. My plan was to walk along the edge that is made up of gravel and leaves. The paved driveway was coated with 1/2 an inch of slick, solid ice.
I had only taken a few steps when the crutch slid out from under me over the ice tumbling me into the blackberry brambles. I may have rolled a bit before regaining my footing, because I had to pry the branches off my coat to get free. At this point I was determined, pressing on until I realized that the side of the driveway was narrowing, leaving me limited safe ground to walk on. I was now teetering on the edge of a ravine that ran along the driveway. I think you know where this is heading!!! Yep, I tumbled once again. This time into the ravine!
Undaunted, I pressed on measuring my steps along the base of the ravine as far as I could. Unfortunately that path wouldn’t get me to the bottom so I decided I needed to get back to the driveway to make my way to the grassy edge on the other side. I punched the icy hill with my hands to give myself something to hold as I made my way up to the driveway’s edge. A delivery driver on the road who had been watching me asked if I was okay. I told him I thought so. He waved and wasted no time getting into his van, driving away.
In hindsight this was probably a good thing for my dignity! I had finally reached the driveway. I tossed the crutch to the other side and tried to crawl. That turned out to be a bad idea. I started sliding back down toward the ravine. So I dropped to my belly and slither-slid across the driveway. Once i reached the gully and got back on my feet, the remaining descent was easy. I found one package leaning against a tree, and several more, along with some mail, stuffed in the mailbox. Mission accomplished? Well, not exactly. I had to figure out a way to get back up the hill.
I decided I would cut through the woods rather than up the driveway. The ice and snow there seemed less solid and I figured I would have better footing. I headed up the gully until I got to a moderately steep entrance to the woods. I was able to dig my toes into the ice which gave me footing. It was a long grueling trek. When I got to the clearing in view of the house, I discovered that the yard had a thick layer of ice. I was forced to walk along the perimeter until I found an area where ice had melted and patches of grass were popping through. I dug my feet into the ice and slowly made my way up the sloped yard.
If you’re still with me, I hope you now understand today’s glimmer. As hard as it was, I felt so empowered as I stepped into the warmth and safety of my home with that satchel of packages. To have faced and overcome so many challenges gave me such a rush.
A few hours later, another delivery truck left a package at the mailbox. They even sent me a picture. haha. Well, it’ll keep until things thaw. One great adventure was enough for today!!!!
I wrote a little poem to commemorate this achievement! Peace and glimmers to you!
mission possible
empowerment is
scaling an ice-glazed driveway
and living to tell
~kat
Most Inspirational Blogger Nominee
like mercury colliding... 