WELCOME BACK COOL CATAMOUNTS AND KITTENS! This week I went back to the lush sandy beach, as you would expect in Vermont, to meditate at the confluence. I settled into a nice smooth spot on a cool rock and dug my feet into the sand. A thick layer of clouds I laid back in nature’s handmade chair (a cluster of perfectly positioned rocks), closed my eyes, and settled my mind. Achieving a state of full relaxation was at first difficult. Anyone who meditates knows that it takes time to learn how to clear the mind. It helped that my place is not near much traffic or other human activity. Instead, I got to soak in the seagulls chirping, onslaught of waves lapping at the shore, and wind ruffling the trees while chilling my cheeks. The longer I sat, the deeper the chill sunk into my bones, thus requiring me to bring my attention back to my breath and the wisp of campfire smoke that I caught on the tip of my nose — could a nearby neighbor be lighting up a burn pile? Then at last I felt a droplet atop my head — am I imagining it? Then another. Then another. A steady drizzle began, and that’s when I knew it was my cue to pack up in leave.
Engaging all the senses for a full 15 minutes was no easy task, but demanding the focus to find a state of peace was very rewarding. We don’t often get a nature escape, so when we can take time from our day to get a little dose of Mother Nature, it leaves us feeling freshly renewed and reenergized.
This week when I visited my spot, I noticed a yellowing of the leaves on the Sugar Maples and Beeches — the little buggers are holding on for dear life! Luckily they have one more week of sunshine ahead of them before storms progress. The coniferous trees of the area, the pines and hemlocks, had dropped a few needles as a result of the weekend weather systems. No major changes, but I look forward to returning next time. Hopefully I will get to catch a glimpse of sunshine then!
In the mean time, here’s a glimpse of the bird’s eye view of my phenology place! Toodles!