Today I had to stop.   I am not one of those people where “stops” come naturally.  I have a nasty head cold.  I am not a good patient.  I am not someone who is sick often, nor for long.  I have learned along the way that when it happens, the best thing I can do is stop and honor the need for my body to heal.

It does not mean I am happy about it.

I enjoy watching rebirth of the sleeping world in springtime.  Although there are still spots of snow in the yard at the homestead, the tips of the trees are starting to swell into buds, and the bird song has started to shift to a new melody.  Spring is a magical time.

I just had Jaxon outside for a play session in the yard.  I use the term “yard” loosely, as it is more a bog right now than a yard.  The ground is squishy and soft making for a muddy mess of both of us.  I have gotten wise to his games, and keep my rain gear (pants and jacket) hanging by the door. I garb up before going out, thus making a bit less laundry and only one of us needs wiped down when we come in. 

Winter is an interesting time.  I often feel, like the bear, my soul goes into a sort of hibernation.  I turn in.  Due to the longer stretches of darkness, I spend more time looking closely at myself… and IN myself.

Happy New Year!

I decided I could not wait for Monday to post my blog.

It is an absolutely gorgeous winter day here in Pennsylvania, USA.  We do not get many sunny, blue-sky days in this corner of the globe during the winter season.  I am grateful for it.  I took Jaxon out for a walk and smiled the entire time, despite his incessant pulling on the leash to get me to hurry.

The day feels fresh and new, as it should on January 1st.

Writing today seems a very good way to start the year off right.

I woke up this morning well before the sun came up. 

Although this is not a day I wanted to wake up at 4:00 AM, I woke up because Jaxon literally walked on me… his communication that he had to go outside. 

Yesterday was a day of rest and relaxation in San Mateo.  Katie Q took the seat as passenger and her hubby took us to Half Moon Bay, along the Pacific coast for a fantastic lunch at Half Moon Bay Brewery.  Her hubby and I opted for a Dungeness crab roll and fries.  I sipped a Pumpkin Ale with my meal and it was delightful.  Katie Q found a vegan option in a Portabella mushroom burger, also with fries, and a pumpkin stout.  We all had our fill and enjoyed the trip to the coast.

Best laid plans… Right?

Today I planned to take Jaxon outside to play and tire him so I could do some trip planning at the computer enjoying peace and quiet.

It has been raining almost constantly.

This week a friend of a friend passed away quite suddenly.  I feel such a mixture of emotions when an event like this passes on to me.  When I was communicating with another friend about it, the topic of mortality came up.  We pondered how this loss affected us in how we see ourselves living our lives.

Mortality.

I started trying to recall how old I was when I realized I would eventually die.  It seems a morbid thought, but I think it is more practical than morbid.

I cannot believe the first week of September has flown by.  There are times it seems life is all about getting things done in a hurry. 

Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.