Wednesday Yoga

Beginning yoga has been a positive and healthy experience for me. I have always been interested in the practice, but never stepped out to try it. So far this is my second week and I am looking forward to the continuation of the class as I become stronger and more comfortable with some of the poses. Already this week I felt more confident as I stood on my left leg, the right bent and my ankle resting on my left leg and my hands closed and held together at my heart (right now I don't recall what this one was named).

Concentration and balance are needed to stand in such a way, and I found as I focused, really focused, on what I was doing, each position was much easier to complete.

The instructor talked about keeping our lives in balance, keeping the negative aspects out of our minds, focusing on the positive. She asked us to be aware during the days ahead when we found ourselves in a negative situation and how we responded, hopefully positive, and if not, to start being more aware of our response. Interestingly enough, the sermon at church on Sunday paralleled that thought, only more focused on love and our response to one another.

There is so much to learn in this life, and I realize how much more I can enjoy my days when I am balanced and my eyes are fully opened to the beauty around me.

A February Night

Winter returns tonight as the snow whips around outside, gathering on the windows-mostly on the left side- displaying a collage from the tormenting wind. Drifts will line the road, giving the plows and tractors more snow to push up onto the already existing mounds, or creating even more places to play King of the Hill. People say they haven't seen this much snow in 15 years, but still consider this a more "normal" winter.

All day the sun showered down rays, warming the earth and melting snow and ice into small rivers. Our hours of being outside were extended, and doses of vitamin D helped to boost every mood and kept me from believing the flashing Weather Channel icon on my computer, the one telling me a Winter Weather Advisory would be in affect.

Now as I listen to the icy bits of snow hit my window and realize the neighbors houses are no longer visible through the torrent taking place outside, I wish the peek of spring I viewed before would be here to stay.

A few minutes alone and I have time to turn on the Christmas music, brew some tea, and sit and idly contemplate the season.

Our tree is up and decorated, the house is covered in Santa and nativity scenes, Christmas books from the library, and some of our own, are read in increments, our calendar is filled with upcoming activities, and yet the quiet, still snow outside reminds me to take each silent moment I have and revel in it.

Our lives pass so quickly, and it is moments like these when I can allow the peace of the day to calm my mind. I say a prayer, and I look forward to finding more quiet moments like this in the days ahead. I am ready for the good will of the Christmas season to come into my life, so I can go and share it elsewhere.

First Snow

Our first snow of the season came this week, leaving our mountains white and the evergreens with patches of snow glistening in the sun. We can usually anticipate a snow storm to arrive around Halloween, preparing us for the winter months ahead.

This snow was certainly enough to stick around for a few days, and still here, although not quite enough for building snowmen. We are reminded to get out our winter clothes, although most have never been put up, gather up the hoses, get the toys out of the yard, and prepare to cozy up by the fire.

We begin to settle into our slower routine. No longer the busy go, go of summer, enjoying the sun while we can, but now we can sit down and enjoy the warmth of something warm to drink, and fill the air with something sweet baking in the oven.

Although I am not fond of driving on snow packed roads, I am ready for a little slower pace. To curl up, like the squirrels must and the bears, and enjoy the warm fire. To rest awhile, while the snow does its magic and allows the earth to be quiet.

Bears on the trail

My sister and I were fortunate enough to be able to spend some time at one of our favorite places in the world. The catch was we stayed in a camper trailer with four kids under the age of 4. There were a few afternoons where we needed a break from being confined to small places and small people, so we took turns going off by ourselves while the little ones took a nap.

It was a hot afternoon and it was mine to go off and me on my own. I knew exactly where I was going. I would ride my bike to the trail head of a trail I hadn't taken before.

The heat from the Indian summer contributed to an early sweat, but I pushed the bike along, enjoying the breeze I made for myself. I made the trail head with plenty of time to hike the trail, see where it went, and still have enough energy to ride my bike back to the camper and help my sister with dinner.

My legs shook a little from the muscle power I used to climb the hills on my bike, but I felt strong. I wouldn't say I was nervous- although being alone in the woods can always be a bit apprehensive at first. I was in a location where there were no grizzlies, like where I live, and I could hike without a care or any worries of checking my back as I went.

I made it to a meadow, a very short way from the trail head, and stopped to look at the forest before me. A breeze touched the trees and I decided to wait until the breeze died down. Normally I would not have worried about a breeze, but with the massive amounts of trees in the Rocky Mountains being killed by beetles, weak root systems left them victim to the wind and many were know to fall down. I didn't want to take my chances.

Feeling the wind stop I decided to move on. I had nothing to be scared of, no trees fell.

Not far into the forest I heard a noise like a tree popping. I immediately stopped and turned towards the noise. Maybe I shouldn't have been hiking through the trees after all.

I saw movement, and realized it wasn't a tree but a black bear I had spooked. He or she was less than 20 yards away.

I had enough sense to turn around and start walking towards the trail head, away from the forest and away from where I saw the bear. Had it seen me? I had no idea, only a natural response of leaving- quick. I knew better than to start running, knowing the bears response to this would be to come after me, but I felt my feet carrying me away quicker than a walk.

In hind sights, I should have gathered myself enough to look around for more bears, but my flight instinct was taking over my brain. So when I heard another noise, I turned my head to look and see, out of the corner of my eye, a bear run up the meadow I had been hustling back through.

I don't know if it was the same bear or not.

I didn't stick around to find out.