Quarter Moon in the Night Sky

The moon has been hanging low in the night sky as it emerges from the darkness that was a new moon.  If you are one that gardens by the moon's cycles this would be a good time to plant some seeds for the new year's garden.  Unfortunately, my seed starting plans are indefinitely on hold until I find a place to live that will let me garden again.  For now I may settle for a few pots of lettuce under my grow lights.  Perhaps a few carrots and radishes too for good measure. 

I don't know what kicked off the craving for gardening that I find myself with day after day.  It seems as though once I had a taste of what I could do, I just wanted more and more of it.  I'm more than a little heartbroken that I had to leave such an awesome garden spot behind.  At least the door is always open for dreams of future gardens.  As the first quarter waxes into a full moon I will be planning for the future of my gardening life....where ever it may be.

 

A Walk in the Woods

Today I had a chance to go snowshoeing in a park by my house after work and I took it.  The weather was warmer than it had been and will be for a while, so I took my chance to get out with out freezing off any fingers or toes.  I had been hiking in 8 - 10 degree temps in the last couple of weeks, so when the thermometer was about 30 today it actually felt rather balmy.  I think I might have actually overdressed because I was sweating pretty good when I reached my halfway point.  I had to finish the hike without my hat and gloves just so I could cool off a little bit. 

While I was out enjoying the snow I heard the shouts of children playing in the distance which reminded me of my own child hood.  The joy of freshly fallen snow on a sledding hill, of building snow forts and snowmen  in the back yard, and having snowball fights on the run through the neighborhood.  It seems as though we forget about enjoying this weather when we grow up.  Snow becomes something to be dreaded because the roads will be bad for travel, and we have places we are supposed to be on time.  It also creates more work for us because we now need to shovel the sidewalks and the driveways and clean it off the car before we can leave. 

I hope that reminding myself about the fun side of a snowstorm can help to relieve some of the worry that I feel when I am dealing with the not so fun side of the snow.   Yes it can be treacherous for travel, but it can also open our eyes to the beauty of the world and maybe slow us down long enough that we can enjoy it.  Walking through the woods does just that - move me slow enough through my world that I can take notice of all the little beautiful details.

Bitter Cold on the Way

Winter has only been here for a couple of weeks and this weekend it will be sending the temperatures plummeting below zero for several days in a row.  I actually think it will be warmer in Alaska than it will be here.  At least the ground will be insulated under the heavy blanket of snow that mother nature laid down.  I am hoping that the garlic cloves I helped plant in my parent's garden bed are busy laying the ground work for a bustling spring.  Guess I just have to wait for the snow to melt to find out.....only 2 more months of waiting I hope.

New Year, New Moon, New Snow

Mother Nature is bringing in the new year in her own special way.  This January 1st has come with a new moon in the night sky - if you can see the night sky where you are.  Where I am the snow started to fall yesterday.  Not a heavy wet snow, but a light powdery snow that has sifted itself into tall drifts on either side of the paths I cleared today.  The snow has fallen all day, and promises to stay at least part of the night.  By morning we may have close to a foot - covering the world in a pure and fresh white as if to wipe the slate clean for us all again.  What a beautiful gift to start the new year with.