July 28, 2026 A dear friend reminded me of this helpful slogan when we walked yesterday. I was telling her how overwhelmed I felt about financial changes due to my retirement and all the many unknowns that were racing through my mind. My new insurance is starting on August first. As of yesterday morning, IContinue reading “Let Go and Let God”
Tag Archives: nature
Torn and Tattered
July 14, 2026 Walking on the beach this morning, I spotted a flag flying high above the dunes near some affluent beach houses. What struck me was how the flag had split almost in the middle, between the red and white stripes. Remnants of 4th of July decorations and special ones for the 250th areContinue reading “Torn and Tattered”
Summer Solstice Reflections
June 21, 2026 Today is officially the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, when the daylight is longest and the darkness is shortest. For me the summer solstice always seems part way through the summer because our culture in the US views summer and the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It corresponds toContinue reading “Summer Solstice Reflections”
I’m Free!
As I drove out of the parking lot at about 11:15 am on Friday, I blasted this old Who song on my stereo. 33 years as a high school educator in the books: computer turned in, keys returned, office empty. I was struck by a sense of elation mixed with utter exhaustion that still lingersContinue reading “I’m Free!”
Soil On My Fingers
May 5, 2026 Soil on my fingers. Freshly planted tomatoes in the ground with cages and a bit of organic fertilizer left over from last year in each hole. It all started with a moment of wanting to check on the state of my lettuce and spinach after work. That led to a bit ofContinue reading “Soil On My Fingers”
Rest, Reset, Retreat
April 11, 2026 Waking to the sounds of birds outside my open window is deeply soothing. I am in the “treetops” room at the Porches in Norwood, Virginia for another writing retreat with Wellspring Writing Collective. I don’t recall being here for a spring writing retreat before. I think I have only been here inContinue reading “Rest, Reset, Retreat”
Ch-ch-ch-changes
March 23, 2026 “Ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strange Changes, pretty soon now you’re gonna get older Time may change me, but I can’t trace time.” ~David Bowie Spring has fully sprung in central Virginia. I awake each morning to the sounds of happy birds calling out to mates and looking for nesting materials. WhenContinue reading “Ch-ch-ch-changes”
First Signs of Spring
February 22, 2026 For those of us who live in Virginia, the Winter of 2025-2026 has been a doozie! We had a snowstorm that shut schools down in December before Christmas and multiple snow and ice storms in January through February left the landscape an icy mess for over 3 weeks. Another snowfall is expectedContinue reading “First Signs of Spring”
This too, shall pass!
February 1, 2026 The Richmond area has turned into a giant ice sheet and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. For over a week I have been mostly stuck at home. School systems all around are closed and many businesses are still operating on reduced hours. My job as a school librarianContinue reading “This too, shall pass!”
Stillness of the Autumn Landscape
10/25/25 A walk today in the mid-afternoon sun on a nearly deserted lake front road stimulated my senses. As I approached the water, it was so quiet that I could hear the wind rustling the Pampas grass by the water’s edge while insects in the reeds trilled to each other, oblivious to my presence. AnContinue reading “Stillness of the Autumn Landscape”
Mindful Musings 