Walking the Old Scarbuck Trail at Genesee Forestry near East Concord, NY... I found the familiar trails well worn. The pandemic has removed many typical activities from our calendars, yet one of its ‘gifts’ is that more people are taking to the trail and connecting more with nature. Maybe the paths have been this worn … Continue reading Bare Roots
Category: In the Moment
Prodigious
There are two phrases the quarantine has given us, which have gotten old very quickly for me: 'unprecedented times' and ‘the new normal.’ I get it - these are unprecedented times! But for me, these terms carry with them a sort of ‘dark cloud,’ as if there is a siren running in the back ground … Continue reading Prodigious
We Choose the Roads that Lead Us to the Lessons We Must Learn…*
Hunter's Creek, S. Wales, NY I wasn’t on the trail more than a moment, when I knew today’s adventure would offer the gift of a life lesson. Immediately, the forest promised options aplenty. Well-worn paths divided and divided again, as I was reminded of the many, many life choices we come face to face with … Continue reading We Choose the Roads that Lead Us to the Lessons We Must Learn…*
May you know joy…
Yesterday, we took a ride to Angola, NY to pick strawberries. For me, this is an activity with benefits far and wide… Outdoors, easy pickings, no thorns, intermittent sunshine with billowy clouds offering bits of respite from the heat of the afternoon. Good exercise, (I cannot kneel since my knee replacements) so it’s plenty of … Continue reading May you know joy…
Creating the Space to Grow
I’ll be honest, this week has been the hardest yet for me, since the pandemic closed our country. I have read more posts, listened to more YouTube clips, heard more heartbreak than I ever dreamt possible. The thing that is breaking my heart, is the blame. The finger pointing. The “I’m right and you’re wrong” … Continue reading Creating the Space to Grow
Essential…?
Twelve long weeks ago, I was made keenly aware of how the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine was a wake-up call. Despite the challenges, I witnessed people becoming keenly aware of their priorities, asking those important questions... what really matters? Family. How do we Protect.? What is REALLY Essential? How can I best Connect? How … Continue reading Essential…?
Familiar
It caught me in the quiet whisper of awareness, as we turned the bend on our walk today. Since mid-March when the quarantine limited outdoor activity to national social distancing, we have been taking this opportunity to discover the trails and parks available for safe and peaceful exercise. Stiglmeier Park, Cheektowaga, NY One site in … Continue reading Familiar
Balance
Stacked rocks, more commonly known as Cairns, placed along the trail signify that you are on the right track. It is a marker guiding you to the correct path or trail in cases where navigation becomes difficult and the trail may be easily lost. https://trailandsummit.com/what-do-stacked-rocks-on-a-trail-mean/ Lincoln Park, Puget Sound From the time I saw my first cairn, … Continue reading Balance
Roots
Following my double total knee replacement, I felt so straight and strong that I embraced hiking with a renewed passion. Perhaps a bit cocky, I needed to slow down and respect the precepts of the forest; in particular the roots, which kept tripping me up… Roots always get me thinking. And not just when I … Continue reading Roots
Picture It…Week #3
Hoping this week's pictures of places to walk in Western New York will encourage people to get out and check out the many places to walk while still keeping social distance. While you're at it... PLEASE PLAY! ...a few correct answers can get you a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant of your choice … Continue reading Picture It…Week #3