You just know. Most of us have met dogs that we think look like a wild one: a coyote, a fox, or a wolf. Sometimes they get named in accordance with their wild cousins. And perhaps, we wonder, if we saw them in the woods on their own, might we…

Seeing Solstice There is a pause now this quiet Solstice time before light slowly lengthens. The temptation? To count the days. To hold our breath until daylight stretches into evening and early morning forces back the darkness. What a relief it will be these light-starved eyes to see again no…

a cold and wild wind In a day, we went from 60 to 0. Degrees that is, at least the wind chill. It had been unnaturally balmy for early December.   Then big winds brought a front that arrived at our doorsteps, quickly cycling from rain to ice to a…

For the peace and promise of a sunrise. The quickening of breath that comes when we take in the beauty of our surroundings. For the mystery and humility of daring to see how we are all connected. For the opportunity, over and over again, to choose joy. For waking up…

The time between A wet fall has stretched out the season. Even still there are trees with deep green leaves alongside trees with leaves that have long since departed alongside leaves in their autumn glory: bright brilliant hues or orange, gold, and deep red. Often this happens for a week…

All You Need To Know This gift of human form and brain, able to reach such depths, able to look within, is also destined to lurch from past to future, sometimes only briefly visiting the present in its wanderings. I sigh. Another deep breath. Calling myself back to the world…

I wish you peace I wish you peaceful silence at least for moments in this world that holds so much volume. I wish for you moments of bliss when it is quiet inside and outside of you. Perhaps it will come late at night or in the pre-dawn morning. Perhaps…

What words can be said, really,
in the face of wind and water so strong
it tears down buildings or submerges them?
At the same time, fires rage unquenched out west
despite all that water swirling many miles away.

Sometimes all I can think to do is go outside.

When people or politics press too close.
When this country glaringly misaligns with what I hold dear.
When time feels slippery in its passing.

Sometimes all I can think to do is go outside.

There is no way there are golden retrievers in the Amazon.
I watch my wooly golden girl on humid days
as she walks slowly, heavily, even her whiskers droop.
She gives me a mournful look as we get back to the house
clearly asking if we can move further north than our Minnesota home.