Monday, February 4, 2008

Winter blues




The gray is beginning to affect even me.
Everywhere I look the landscape is painted in neutral colors.
And, although I find it relaxing to sit and look out over this colorless water backed by a white winter sky, I would rather be engaged with it, wading the shallows or peeking under rocks.

The silvery ice is almost gone.
Two birds fly past. Gulls. White and gray.
Above us on the bank, cedar trees in drab olive tones drop needles onto the rocks at the shoreline where we sit, bundled up, having lunch, wiggling toes to stay warm.


The intricate details of the fossils lining the shore are absorbing. And the afternoon light slants low upon them through the bare trees from across the cove.
All these little creatures...450 million years ago, now washing free from the gray shale.







I remember what it felt like to watch my children sleeping--a peaceful rest, while I waited for them to wake. How I looked forward to what we would be able to do together.
And how our lives paused until each nap was done.

Winter is about darkness and rest.
As those who long to engage with the earth, wait for her to wake.

Catching the winter blues


Caesar Creek State Park is well known for its fossils--brachiopods and bryozoans from the Ordovician period.
And one of the largest complete trilobites,
now in the Smithsonian.

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14 comments:

Mary said...

Yes, it's the winter blues, greys, browns that posses their own beauty. A time to rest. We need it, too, but I've had enough, I think :o)

Beautifully written, as usual, Nina!

Anonymous said...

I know exactly how you are feeling! Sounds like a great way to get out and enjoy the winter colors!

DianeSchuller.com said...

beautiful writing and photos, as usual.

Diane
Alberta Postcards
Diane's Flickr photos

Marvin said...

According to your temperature widget, it's 63ยบ outside your window tonight. Nature may be awakening sooner than anticipated -- and sooner than she really should.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Mary--I think those of us who love to be outdoors interacting with nature, whether by gardening, pond tending or exploring, feel the loss in winter as a void more than a dislike of temperature or appearance. (?)

Monarch--you know there isn't much excitement when I start ooohing and aaaahing over rocks!

Diane--I was struggling to get enough natural light, believe it or not, to be able to take this without flash or tripod. Ugh, gray winter days! (and no snow to brighten them)

Marvin--Yes! A warm night, but cold and only reaching the 20s this coming weekend. Hope it will be a more gradual awakening!

robin andrea said...

I was just thinking the other day that the hard part of winter is that we are expected to maintain the same energy and output as we do in the light times of the year. Winter is really a time for rest, when we should be eating what we have stored from our summer labors. Instead we have life at the same pace 365/24/7.

One of the reasons we came to California for winter was for the sunlight. It's amazing what even the low angle of the sun can do for the psyche. Vitamin D is a very good thing!

Those fossils are grand.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoy how you write your posts! Nice to see the fossils, too.

It's been a strange winter here in the UK - grey or bright, and occasionally cold but mostly snow-less. I'll be glad to see the spring.

Anonymous said...

"...waiting for her to wake." I'm waiting, too and dreaming of Spring.

Threadspider said...

We'll soon be there- already past half way from midwinter to the spring equinox. And the colour is coming slowly again like a true sunrise.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photos of the wonderful textures in our beautiful world. You might have walked past them if it had been a more colorful day, and we would have been all the poorer. Thank you for your gorgeous post.

P.S. Click on over to Christine Kane to learn how to see! She posts photographs, and then the paintings that they inspire. For example:

http://chicagonaturelady.blogspot.com/2008/02/watercolor-winter-tree.html

and

http://chicagonaturelady.blogspot.com/2008/01/still-holding-on.html

I think it's fascinating!

Kathie Brown said...

I love the way you write! You have a poet's heart!

Appalachian Lady said...

Nine--wonderful photographs of the fossil and fantastic writing. Thanks so much for sharing these. Rocks can be very exciting!

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

Boy, can I relate to the winter blues! I hold my breath until the first green sprout.

Cathy said...

Nina, this dreariness may have dampened a corner of your heart, but your writing has not been diminished and perhaps in defiance of torpor is vibrant with meaning.