seasons – Long walks and dark chocolate

What the River Knows

November 17, 2025 3 Comments

I sat upon the bank atop the mossy bed.
Settling in, I watched it pass, while visions filled my head.
What tales could old man River tell? The stories he must know.
Of seasons, weather, work, and play; of people, friend or foe?

The rains of spring that fall for weeks and raise his levels high,
The welcome heat of summer sun and days of cloudless sky,
Autumn leaves that take a ride upon his steady flow,
Winter’s icy wonderland, replete with glistening snow.

Children playing at his edge beneath Mom’s watchful eye
Find wonder in his treasures as he rushes quickly by.
A fisherman in waders, hopeful for a trout,
Stands patiently awaiting as his line goes in and out.

A trout, who is no dummy, hides behind a rock.
He plans to keep on swimming, not end up in a crock.
A spotted fawn looks brightly at his reflection as he drinks.
Does he wonder how his twin anticipates his every blink?

An ancient, twisted limb dips gnarled fingers in the creek;
After years of current passing through, this old branch is getting weak.
A young man skips a stone, his brow furrowed in thought;
This time in nature helps him think—make decisions that he ought.

The river slips past the beaver lodge, pulling branches as he flows.
Up ahead, beyond the turn, the pawpaws grow and the herons pose.
The river runs all day and night under moon and stars and sun;
Although he runs and ebbs and flows, his work is never done.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:2

Filed Under: Christian, Inspirational, Poetry Tagged With: adventure, fall, Fish, landscape, outdoor photography, outdoors, reflections, River, river poem, seasons, spring, story telling, summer, water

How Love and Faith Rekindled My Creativity

November 7, 2025 8 Comments

My last post was back in 2021, and somewhere along the way, life took a few turns. For a while, I lost the spark for writing. The words just wouldn’t come. But here we are in 2025, and I’m back, heart full and pen in hand, ready to share new thoughts and stories.

This year has been one of the happiest chapters of my life. In March, I married a wonderful, Christian man who has been my biggest encourager on every creative journey. He’s an artist, one who works in a fascinating medium called gyotaku. Have you heard of it? I hadn’t either, until he introduced me to this beautiful Japanese art form that captures real fish impressions in ink. It’s as peaceful as it is powerful and it’s inspired me to look at art, nature, and even storytelling in new ways.

And speaking of stories… I’m thrilled to say I’m about to publish my very first children’s book!

There’s something about rediscovering creativity after a long pause. It feels a bit like waking up from winter. The ideas start to stir again, gently at first, until you realize they’ve been there all along, just waiting for the right season.

For me, that season came with peace, prayer, and a slower pace. I stopped trying to force creativity and began to notice it again in the little things; the rhythm of morning coffee, the sound of pencil on paper, the gentle fall breeze, and the way sunlight filters through the trees, setting the autumn leaves aglow.

I realized that creativity isn’t something we lose; it just changes shape for a while. Sometimes it hides beneath the busyness, or the changes life can bring, only to return when we’re ready to see beauty again.

A dear friend once told me, years ago, that my writing wasn’t finished. She said that there would be a season for it, and not to lose heart. I spoke with her today and reminded her of those words, and how right she was. Her encouragement stayed with me, even in the quiet years, and I’m so grateful for it now.

Now, as I step into this new chapter; writing, creating, and sharing stories, I feel that spark again. It’s humbler this time, steadier, grounded in gratitude and faith.

If you’ve ever felt that your own creativity has gone quiet, take heart. It’s still there, waiting for you. Sometimes we just need a little stillness, a little grace, and maybe a nudge from someone who believes in us to bring it back to life.

I’m so grateful to be creating again; writing, learning, and sharing and even more grateful that you’re here to walk this path with me. Here’s to new beginnings, rekindled passions, and the beautiful ways God reminds us that it’s never too late to start again.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

Filed Under: Christian, Inspirational Tagged With: creative renewal, creativity, encouragement, faith, faith journey, God, God’s timing, Gratitude, inspiration, Jesus, life, new beginnings, seasons, writing

Descent

October 6, 2019 2 Comments

Oh, let the wind blow cried the little leaf

While I hold on tight to this big oak tree

It’s not quite my time to make the journey down

Not until another hue of color I see

I’ll hang here and listen to the wind in the trees

And enjoy the crispness of an autumn breeze

But it’s not quite time to make my journey down

A little yellow like the others hanging close to me

Feeling like a pumpkin with this orangey glow

My grip a little looser as the days go by

It’s still not time to make my journey down

But I’m feeling pretty certain that soon I’ll fly

Flaming red and gorgeous although feeling old

Folks are smiling with delight as they gaze at me

Thinking more about making my journey down

This red is the highlight of my life, you see

Turning brown and crunchy with not much strength left

Leaves are dry and branches barren all around

Letting go with the next big gust of wind I feel

Soaring, gliding to an unknown destination on the ground

Filed Under: Poetry, Uncategorized Tagged With: Autumn, fall, falling, leaves, poetry, seasons

Mid-Winter Musings

January 27, 2019 5 Comments

It’s that time of year when many of the trees are bare except for a few stragglers; dried out crunchy leaves that shiver in the wind but seem to cling ever so tightly to the only home they have ever known.

The days can get overcast, over-long and over-dreary if you let them. The beautiful colors of fall have disappeared and at first glance, we are left with a monotonous, almost colorless picture.

Oh, but if we look a little deeper, we may catch the flamboyant male cardinal, a mighty splash of red against a mass of drab, dry branches. Or, we could admire the gentle descent of a pristine snowflake, falling, falling, falling.

One of the things that I find to love about winter is knowing that it’s hiding something beautiful in it’s depths.

Inside the sturdy tree bark, underneath the frozen ground, change is lurking. Just when it looks like all is dead and cold, the chilly curtain of winter will close and colorful spring will arrive dancing, with all of it’s change and hustle and bustle.

I always say that God used seasons because we are such fickle creatures. We get bored entirely too quickly. As soon as spring arrives, we will pine for summer.

If you know me at all, you know that glorious fall is my favorite season of all, but I continue to enjoy the beauty in all of them.

Such is life…We have to learn to find the beauty in the seasons of our lives as well. Hold fast, spring is coming!

While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22

Filed Under: Christian, Family and Home, Inspirational, Uncategorized Tagged With: God, life, seasons, spring, winter

Summarizing summer

June 30, 2015 Leave a Comment

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “In the Summertime.”

Summer only began on June 21, which was a week ago last Sunday. I was shocked when I saw someone say something about it being the first day of summer, as I thought we were already deep in the midst of it judging by the temperatures and humidity. But, I do live in South Florida, so it’s not like I am not fully aware of my lot every year after the winter-less winter and a day or two of Spring. This year though, the heat is really bothering me. So much so, that if I had the money, I would have a house somewhere up north and retreat there until at least October.

I remember a time when I lived for summer; my favorite place was on the beach; multi colored towel spread in the sand, radio blasting. Smelling like Hawaiian Tropic I baked in the sun damaging my young, tender, spot free, wrinkle free, skin. Ah, didn’t I just write a post about unheeded advice? These days, after several non-benign skin cancer removals, I’m not as likely to be found sunbathing.

When you are school age, summer is synonymous with “no-school” so of course it’s your favorite season. There is staying up late followed by sleeping in, vacation, summer camp, and many adventures with friends. Then you grow older and while your children are still in school, you have mixed emotions about summer. At first, it’s great and you are excitedly planning trips and activities. Your precious pumpkins will be home with you and you anticipate lots of quality time, family fun and long talks. Near the end of July however, you are counting down the days until you don’t have to hear “I’m bored” anymore. That lasts until they don their new school clothes and backpack and head up the walk the first day, and you turn into a puddle of tears because you know you will miss them.

At my age (we will call it the young grandmother age), with no one at home except myself and my love, I am free to pick a season as my favorite for other reasons. Mine, for as long as I can remember has been fall. I love all seasons and they signify different seasons of life and I thank my Creator for each and every one of them. Most of the time, I am content and can put on my Pollyanna hat and find all the goodness about summer. Today is not one of those days.

So, here I am, enjoying my beautiful, blossoming plants and green grass as I sit sweating in a lawn chair in the shade, swatting mosquitoes…..waiting for fall.

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: heat, seasons, Southwest Florida, summer

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflection

March 22, 2014 6 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflection

The Weekly Photo Challenge said, THIS WEEK, IN A POST CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHOW US AN IMAGE THAT SAYS REFLECTION.

It could be a person who helps you see things clearly, a place you go to collect your thoughts, or an object that reminds you of your achievements.

At the end of the day, there is nothing more soothing than watching a gorgeous south Florida sunset while reflecting on your day. Take the time at least every once in a while. It is well worth it.

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: dp challenge, reflection, seasons, south florida sunset, sunsets, weekly photo challenge

Next season please

February 7, 2013 2 Comments

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

I’ve been thinking a lot about seasons this week. It’s so funny how they do parallel our lives. The bible even says to everything there is a season.

When I’m asked what my favorite season is, I often say fall and winter. I think this has always been due to the accompanying holidays and knowing I’ll be spending quality time with family and friends.

However, after contemplating it more carefully, I have realized that my favorite season is the one that’s around the corner. The one that isn’t quite here yet, the one I’m currently longing for.

Take right now, for instance. We’ve had our fill of winter (some more than others, depending on our locale); the cold, dreariness, the bare trees and raggedly looking lawns and landscapes. We are ready for spring. We desire something new; the flowers, the birdsong, a change in the weather, some refreshing showers.

I remember at the end of last summer, I was dreamily desiring the arrival of fall. I could almost taste the fall flavors of pumpkin and apple cider and smell the cinnamon and feel the slight dip in temperature. In my mind were visions of scarecrows and carvings and leaves turning and descending to the earth. It was something to look forward to and thinking about it filled me with anticipation.

When the temperatures began to drop and I began my Christmas shopping, I was already giddy with excitement for winter and the hopes of seeing snow (if I traveled out of my home state). Bring on the sweaters and scarves and boots. The love of Christmas and thoughts of enjoying more time with those I care about made me anxious for this glorious season.

And around it goes, year after year, season after season. I guess the old saying is true, “we always want what we don’t have”. We eagerly anticipate the next chapter, the next season.

It’s like our Creator to know this would suit us; the changing. We change; our lives are lived out in seasons. Our short lived attention spans and longing for more is somewhat satiated by the change in seasons.

So on this last day of winter, I say, bring on the spring! May yours be filled with a spring in your step, March madness and April showers, Easter and excitement over things to come and abundant love, joy and peace!