Monthly Archives: March 2018

Yes, I am a wimp

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magicalMagical

I love being outdoors and communing with nature. However, if the temperature dips under 20° F, I am not going out. Yes, I am a wimp. I have always known this, but living in western New York, it has become ever so apparent. I keep running into hardy women who are 15 to 20 years my senior, who look at me strangely, when I tell them that I don’t hike on days colder than 20° F. They simply say – “Just put on another layer dear.” Well folks, no matter how many layers are on this body, it’s too damn cold. On days I walk to yoga from my car, just a couple of blocks, my lungs hurt from the cold air, even though I have a scarf covering my mouth and nose in an attempt to warm the air.

This winter has been brutal, but I did find some days to go out and hike. Recently, I visited some of my favorite spots. The ice was treacherous, making most paths impassable, but magical nonetheless.

The Universe is calling me outside when I wake up to winter blue skies and it's warmer than 20° F.

The Universe is calling me outside when I wake up to winter blue skies and it’s warmer than 20° F.

 

You would never know that there was a path on the other side of the bridge. The ice was so thick it would have been easier to skate on it, than to walk on it.

You would never guess that there was a path on the other side of the bridge. The ice was so thick it would have been easier to skate on it, than to walk on it.

Looking down into a frozen gorge and waterfall.

Looking down into a frozen gorge and waterfall.

frozen moss

Another frozen path

Another frozen path

Frozen stairs

Frozen stairs

clear isicle

Click on photos to enlarge.

Bring it on Spring ~ we are ready for you!

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YAY, SPRING! This lovely season brings us rebirth along with increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and ~ well, we can always hope. Regardless, I promise it will get warmer, greener and lusher, eventually (unless you are south of the equator, then it’s just the opposite and its autumn for you).

Technically speaking, spring begins today with the vernal equinox at 12:15 P.M. EDT. The word equinox is Latin for “equal night” (vernal means spring). In other words, today we will have approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime everywhere on the Earth. Moreover, the Sun rises and sets due east and west. This happens because today, the tilt of the Earth relative to the Sun is zero, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun (don’t forget, the tilt of Earth is relative to its plane of orbit, called the ecliptic plane, which is always about 23.5 degrees). This is very cool.

This morning, I went out looking for some signs of spring. I had to look hard, but found a couple. The stream by our house is starting to flow again.

We don’t have any spring flowers breaking through the ground yet but the buds on the trees are starting to develop. I always know spring is here when the landscape has evolved from grayish/brown to a reddish glow with the promise of leaves.

Although on other days, I have seen Redwing Black Birds around our feeders, which are another sign of spring for me. No Robins were out today either. But alas, there weren’t many birds out at all this morning.

In addition to today being the first day of spring, it is also the United Nations International Day of Happiness!  In 2011, all 193 United Nations members recognized that progress should be about increasing human happiness and well-being, not just growing the economy. That was a very profound declaration in a time of such immense greed. It is definitely a good step in the right direction. So today is a day to celebrate, rejoice and simply be happy.

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love! ~Sitting Bull