Category Archives: Tanka

Day 66 ~ grace

hubris

i woke up at dawn
so to see the sun rising
as if, just for me
but even when I sleep in
the sun fills the sky with light

~kat

Just sharing a thought that crossed my mind recently in my quest for glimmers. Glimmers are best when they are unexpected, and especially when they touch us, but not because they are presenting themselves to us personally. Such vanity…such hubris! Glimmers do what they do. They are best when we take the time and stop to notice their light and goodness.

The sun rising each day, the way a cool breeze feels on bare skin, the sound of birdsong, the sweet smell of ground-soaked rain…these wonders do not exist for me alone. I am learning as I pause to reflect on these daily glimmers that the gift of gratefulness is a powerful grace that feeds my soul in these moments. I am learning to be less expectant, more present, and more delighted by that grace as I learn to shed my self-centered tendencies as I embrace the world unfolding obliviously around me. Not just for me. But a precious gift that is life for us all!

Peace, love, and simple glimmers to you.

~kat


day 35


a simple question


how are you doing?
four words that are everything
especially
when I don’t have the answer
thank you friend…I’ll let you know


~kat

Honestly, I have no words. I’m sorry world. America has gone mad. But there were glimmers still. A friend sent me the text above late last night. I saw it this morning. It meant a lot when I read it…and even more as this day has progressed.

Today’s message…be a glimmer for someone. Reach out. You never know how a simple hello can change a person’s day.

Peace, Love, and keep on glimmering.

~kat


Day 17

Sometimes glimmers are gold! Last summer our feeders will filled with goldfinches. So we did a little research an learned that they love thistle seeds. So…as we do for the variety of wild visitors to our property, we set up a dedicated thistle seed tree for our new friends. You can see how popular that became in the photo below…

Then in September Hurricane Helene came roaring through! After days of a dangerous winds and massive rain here in the Blur Ridge foothills, our beloved little golden friends disappeared. 😟 I left the feeders up for months. No goldfinches came. We were heartbroken thinking they may have perished in the storm. We never gave up hoping they might return but I put away the seed to protect them from the weather. And then this week…

So…I set up the thistle seed feeders once again and they are back! A good number of them. And I am so happy and encouraged and reminded that we should always hold on to hope! Never give up!

Here’s another little one peaking around the seed bag… makes me smile, reminds me to breath…a big deep breath.


And finally a poem… peace and glimmers to you!!! Golden glimmers!!!! ✨

golden homecoming

finches have returned
gold flutters at the feeders
bellies thistle full
we thought they’d perished last fall
when the hurricane raged through

~kat

Day 12 – glimmer and grace

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

Day 11

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… 💚

Peace and glimmers to you,

~kat