On the Winding Path

Hi Reader, When it comes to answering icebreaker questions, I tend to freeze up. If you were an animal, what animal would you be, and why? A bit of anxiety starts to creep in. If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it, and why? How can I ensure I’ll go last in this circle of people? What's something people might be surprised to know about you? If you could live in any time period — past or present, when would you live, and why? I never feel witty enough to come up with something...

Hi Reader, With every year, comes a deeper appreciation for summer's slow transition into autumn. I relish the chilly mornings with its beam of warm sun that meets my face and the early fog that quietly lifts as dawn breaks. The tall, twisty wildflowers have turned brown, their seeds like little puffs of cloud, waiting to let go with the next breeze. Leaves fall slowly from the big maple tree, one by one, spotted orange and red. There's something inside of me that wants to join the flowers...

Hi friend, It's always about this time of the year when I find myself longing for autumn. Like someone eagerly waiting for a letter to arrive in the mail, I rush outside to see if today will be the day — disappointed when it's still warm and sunny. It sounds silly to say it out loud... And yet, come late autumn, I'll once again find myself checking the mailbox, wondering if today when be the day when fresh snow is finally delivered. Is there a piece of us that's always longing for what's new?...

Hi Reader, I hope your week is off to a gentle start — whatever that may look like to you here in the middle of summer! I don't know about you, but I'm sometimes overwhelmed with the fast pace of summer. With morning birds singing their songs at early hours of the day and the heat of the day advancing quickly, there's a kind of motivation to get moving, get going — go, go, go! Weed the garden, before it gets too hot. Keep going 'til the sun goes down — which we know happens much later now....

Dear friend, My goodness — it's been so long since my last letter. Before I say anything else, I want to acknowledge that yes, a lot of time has passed and I'm sorry — in fact, I believe there was still snow on the ground when I wrote you last! Thank you for your patience during this time of unexpected waiting... I stepped away from social media back in April for a 10-day trip to visit family and friends out of state. Upon returning home, I ended up taking more time away from the internet...

Hi Reader, Here in Vermont, spring is slowly making it known that she's on her way, announcing her upcoming arrival with hopping robins and patches of grass where once lay blankets of snow. It's the time of year when we can simultaneously step in mud and almost slip on the ice in one single stride. Nature's soundtrack now includes lively birds singing their odes to spring and snow melting off the roof in steady drips under the warm sun. And although we may see snowfall once or twice again...

Hi Reader, I don't know about you, but the second half of winter has felt much harder than the earlier days of the season. How is it that February - the shortest month of the year - often feels like the longest? I've found myself craving warmer temperatures and wishing for green sprouts in the garden. And while the high snow drifts along our shoveled walkway tell me spring is still a long way off, the subtle shift in daylight reminds me we're heading in the right direction. What to do during...

Dear Reader, The word "gentle" has come up in multiple conversations over the course of this past week. The desire for a gentle, slow start to the day. The need to be gentle with ourselves during periods of anxiety and grief. Treating someone with kindness and gentleness, even when it's hard. To go about something in a gentle way. I've learned a great deal about gentleness from taking care of our chickens. It doesn't matter how much of a rush I find myself in - when it comes time to grab each...

Hi Reader, How are animal tracks, fern leaf blankets, and acorn mugs of pine needle tea all connected? On my daily walks through the forest, I've been noticing all the little footprints in the snow. Animals of different sizes - foraging, gathering, hunting, seeking... living. Even in the middle of a quiet winter forest, there is such movement and life. Life at a slower pace. So slow, I've been able to daydream as my childhood self once did - of winter animals all nestled in with fern leaf...