Bramlett Mountain Hills on a snowy morning ~kat 2025
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… 💚
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
After a day of sleet and frigid temperatures, loss of electricity for several hours, and interrupted sleep from the sound of trees snapping in the wind, ice shards from their branches pounding the roof and scattering like broken glass on the outside porch floor, I happened upon this glorious sight while assessing the damage (fortunately only a few branches and an old pine tree snapped and fell in the yard.)
Talk about glimmers!!! I do believe the universe is playing with me, but I don’t mind! These are glimmers on steroids! With upper tree branches coated in ice sparkling like diamonds in the morning sun, it reminds me that no matter how dark or scary the night might be, the dawn always, always comes with light, warmth and visibility. Darkness doesn’t last forever. It’s a good reminder.
Oh…and I wrote a little tanka poem to commemorate this eventful revelation…
Peace and glimmers to you.
frosted trees
winter tempests rage while we sleep, but come dawn, well… she gives us diamonds, shimmering glimmers of hope vanquishing the darkest night
behind these insulated walls I’ve everything I need, and all manner of life’s pleasantries words spinning into poetry books to read, trees for shade an office where I work for pay running water, air and heat pillows, a soft place to sleep the perfect view of dawn and dusk I needn’t leave, but if I must I make my ventures short and sweet to gather mostly food to eat the great pandemic sent me home to work remotely on my own this eremition’s grown on me when time slips and I cease to be will anyone remember me no matter, i am quite content to simply be, it’s time well spent behind these insulated walls I’ve everything I need, and all
~kat
Today’s “glimmer” is the joy of learning a new word and applying it in verse!
Eremition (eh-ruh-MIH-shun) (n.) The act of gradually fading from the lives of others, not out of malice but a desire for solitude or renewal.
Example: Over the years, his eremition went unnoticed, until one day he was simply gone.
I saw this word in my social media feed. A new word to me. What a thrill it was to happen upon it. I found resonance with its meaning. Since migrating from a brick and mortar cubicle to work from home during the pandemic, I have enjoyed the solitary aspect of working remotely. I don’t miss the petty office politics, the gossip, the backbiting, the time sucking commute. I’m more productive. Truly. Who knew that making a living could actually support having a life?
she is ferocious devouring the night dazzling day star brilliant angel of morning old man time is but a ghost i wake to magic in the air a new year to embrace
The photo above is my first glimmer of 2025…it’s a big one. As I was resting in my room thinking about what I would write on day one of this new year, the morning sun breached my window frame…no longer just an outside view but it was as if it came through the top corner of the window…talk about a glimmer! But that’s not all. Of course I took a photo and if you look deeply at it…just above the ball of light there is a kind face staring down…the rays of light almost appearing like wings. You might think I am seeing things…or that I certainly have a vivid imagination and you might be right. But I am counting this sight as my first glimmer of the new year, and a sign that it’s going to be okay come what may. We are not alone.
May you be inundated with your own tiny glimmers as we navigate the coming year…together. Namasté 💚
So it is easier for you to find all the parts/chapters of my ongoing fiction series, I created a new page that lists all the links. You can check it out HERE!
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