Thursday, February 5, 2009

Walking the Silver Spoon

Winter Porch

I miss the world outdoors,
in the way I knew it on warmer days.
The trails I walked, their hills and curves—
like tracing the bend of a spoon, turning it, over and over again, in my hand.
Even in stillness, without birds or bugs or blooms to discover,
the constancy of the walk I found very settling.
There is comfort in the familiar.

Icy Trees through upstairs window

I sit indoors, now, by a crackling wood stove, birds scattered on the fresh, white snow beyond the window.
Around me, a wealth of things and the faces I love.
A cup of hot tea at my elbow.
Browsing the photographs of a warmer day's walk -- almost as if in real time.
But, still, there is something missing.

Something that I find, only in my walking,
leaving wealth and warmth behind.
So, I walk.

Winter Walk


Crossing Paths

Praying Mantis egg case waiting on icy stems





Praying Mantis, female
from summer field

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19 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

That hedge lined path with untrampled snow looks so inviting Nina. I certainly know how you feel being cooped up during these long cold snowy spells. I get out there almost daily looking for what is missing. Most of the time I find it. Very frustrating when I don't even after a long walk, like today's walk on ice. I felt like I walked a tightrope for a half hour. UGH... This is one of those days when I should have walked through my sketchbook.

Anonymous said...

That photo with the barn and sun . . . stunning and everything was done textbook for being PERFECT! Great job on all the others!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

These are such lovely pictures.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Beautiful photos.There is something so special about a walk in nature.
Blessings,Ruth

Deejbrown said...

Your photos fairly dance off my screen and into my life! I could swallow some of them, and be better off for it....

Mary said...

Nina, I know just how you feel. I'm no encased in ice and snow but the wanting is the same.

Thanks for your walk. I thought it was pretty breathtaking!

Mary

Tom Arbour said...

Hi Nina- As it was snowing down your way this week, it was bright an sunny here in Columbus. Weird.

Tom

Unknown said...

Beautiful set of photos Nina. And such lovely prose. I need a walk now. thank goodness it is almost the weekend.

Kelly said...

...your porch is lovely. I would probably find it hard to leave it in the summer! "Something that I find, only in my walking" is such a power line. I feel that too and love the way you captured it.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful view out your upstairs window! And the sun-pouring-through-the-fence shot was just gorgeous.

I was out stomping through the snow this afternoon at Valley Forge, but had to cut my walk short when my frozen fingers violently protested the brutal cold. (My hubby called it "brisk," but I said brisk was ten degrees warmer than this!)

Cicero Sings said...

You sure do have a way with words ... and photos!

Isn't "Diary of a Fly" great? I bought it for our niece for her birthday. I'll look for a "Diary of a Spider" next. I have a fondness of kids books.

We bought our nephew a little field microscope and book on insects. He seemed to take some interest in insects last summer so I thought to nurture that interest along.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cicero Sings said...

Oh, and I agree with Kelly ... your porch IS lovely.

hitch writer said...

very beautiful pictures.. I love the one where the sun is shining !! lovely !

KaHolly said...

Such a joy to experience through your eyes.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

I really am a lover of winter. But, after hearing a story on the TV about SAD and how many people struggle through it, I thought about what triggers the frustrations for me.
I don't mind the temperatures, in fact, like the chance to bundle up in sweaters, hats and heavy mittens. I even think I make the best of the shorter days, by filling them with indoor activities I love.
But what I kept coming back to, was the time spent outside--which, even though I try, is not nearly what it is in warmer weather. I find myself standing at the window, longingly. I'd almost call it separation anxiety!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Monarch--thanks for the compliment on the photography! You're a pro--I'm glad you like it.

Deej--doesn't snow make everything look lovelier!

fudgelady--brrrrrr!

Kelly--I threw that porch picture in for an added picture bonus--I liked the white on gray on white.
Yes--it's wonderful in warmth.

Tom--this last storm snuck up on us--leaving almost a foot in some communities! (but it won't last--50 degrees this weekend!)

bobbie said...

Aside from your beautiful words - I do love the icy trees through the window, and oh, those wonderfully long fence post shadows!

Anonymous said...

Like they all said...and I like the new picture of YOU, too!!

RuthieJ said...

looks like you've got some nice tracks in your backyard snow too Nina.