A NATIONAL PARK JUNKIE...

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

John Muir

I have always loved nature but usually I've enjoyed it from my seat in the car or from my picture window.  If anyone had suggested, 20 years ago, that I should go camping or, for heaven sakes, take a "hike" I would have rolled my eyes and gone shopping.  

All that has changed. I am a self proclaimed National Park  "junkie" (this year it was Yosemite) I just can't get enough. 

Last week I took a local hike up a STEEP and rocky mountain trail that took me above the tree line. At the top was a lake completely secluded... and so the name "Cecret Lake" I had no idea that at 66 I could do that.  Don't get me wrong... it was hard and I ache from top to toe, but I walked slowly, took breaks, drank lots of water and applied the old adage... "one foot in front of the other" 

The thing that truly amazes me about nature is the transformation it creates in us as people. We get friendly. One would never think, in an urban setting, to speak to so many strangers, but nature somehow brings out the best in us. 

There were people all over my mountain, doing the same thing I was doing and almost without fail every person I crossed paths with at least said "hello." Those coming down the trail would shout out words of encouragement... "You're almost there" or "The view is worth the climb"  We laughed, we joked, we even exchanged one liners like... "don't look up, just live in the moment." John Muir was right, nature is healing to body and soul. 

"The mountains are calling and I must go"

John Muir

"ONCE IN A BLUE MOON"

I have heard this expression all my life but not until I sat in on a 4th grade science class last year, did I understand its origin. A "blue moon" is a phenomenon that occurs every few years when there are two full moons in one month. It happened just a few days ago... July 31st and won't come again until 2018. 

Love the stories that helped create our language!

HAPPY SUNDAY

This is so true for all of us...  
Have a Blessed Sunday!

Photography Workshop for Women

I just ran into this wonderful video clip of a Maine photography workshop just for women. This looks so exciting. I'm signing up for the one in the fall!

GREY... MY FAVORITE NEUTRAL

  

I have obsessed over the entire spectrum of "brown" for about eight years, never giving grey much thought. Then, in a daring moment, I painted my mudroom a robust deep "stormy weather" and was completely surprised by how much I loved it.  My house has become a monochromatic array of grey

What I truly love is how wonderfully color plays against this backdrop... the deep hues of orange and umber, the crisp of red and more recently the combination of grey and soft turquoise.

There is a blog that I look at quite often. I'm sure many of you are aware of "Dear Lillie"  I love the way she uses grey as her neutral and then adds color.  Its so easy on the eyes!

The formula is simple...

GREY + BLACK + WHITE + COLOR 

Its worth a look...

www.dearlillie.blogspot.com



NEW YORK CITY

IN THE RAIN...

 

 

I took a quick trip to New York City just before Christmas. It was magical, but as luck would have it we landed in a nor'easter.

We couldn't let the weather stop us so we set out in torrential rain with winds about 40 mph. At one point the wind was so strong that my favorite cashmere scarf blew right off of my neck and sailed down the street.

I thought I was prepared with my long Canada Goose Coat, a shearling hat and my warmest Uggs.... NOT!

My body was warm but my hat got drenched along with my boots. It turns out Uggs weren't the best choice for the rain.

Everywhere I looked I noticed the New Yorkers were wearing "rain boots"  and a little light went on in my head. How did I miss a good pair of "wellies"  I course corrected the moment I got home. Who knew there were such possibilities.

My first purchase was a mid-calf pair of black Hunter boots. I love the look but I don't like where they hit on my leg. Thank heavens they have become more comfortable with each wearing! I think a lot depends on the size and shape of your calves :(

What I really fell in love with was the short boots. Found this darling red plaid pair on Amazon and... couldn't resist a second pair with polka dots. 

I have always loved the rain but now it has 
become...  fashionable!

image from pinterest



NATURE IS AMAZING!!!

I'm yearning for a trip to the Grand Teton National Forest