Golden Light

When was the last time we headed out for a walk together? It must be days. Come along and dress warmly. The sun is about to set. It's golden bright but the air is still bit nippy. Speaking of nippy, I have a tiny bottle of Fireball Whiskey tucked away in my pocket to keep us fortified. Just me know when you want a sip.

It looks like we have a straggler. The poor thing is slipping and sliding on the ice. Doesn't she realize she could just fly?

I noticed this branch earlier in the week. It's no thicker than my thumb but it's a lot fuzzier. It's fine hairs remind me of the velvet surface of deer's antlers. Notice the tiny bud waiting patiently for spring.

Now that the sun is low in the sky, it provides rich, golden hues as a backdrop. Soak in its warmth - or would you rather have a wee nip from the bottle? I thought as much.

That beautiful orb in the west sure looks lovely filtered through the trees. It transforms everything into gold.

It's been such a mild winter that last year's growth of many plants have not fully deteriorated. The fine tendrils of this vine still rests against the railing despite having lost all its leaves.

And here's a golden sprig of leaves. It's unclear to me whether they're just well-preserved from last year or actually sprouted, grew, and then frosted over during this warmer than usual winter. It doesn't seem likely as this is early March in Canada, for goodness sake. And yet if you look closely, some of the tiny leaves in the center appear fresh and green. What do you think?

Oh, you think you'd like another sip of Fireball? Sure thing. Let's head home where we can enjoy it over ice.

Don't look now but we're being followed.

Think of a Tree

Think of a tree. When you think of a tree, you tend to think of a distinctly defined object; and on a certain level, it is. But when you look more closely at the tree, you will see that ultimately it has no independent existence. When you contemplate it, you will find that it dissolves into an extremely subtle net of relationships that stretches across the universe. The rain that falls on its leaves, the wind that sways it, the soil that nourishes and sustains it, all the seasons and the weather, moonlight and starlight and sunlight - all form part of this tree. As you begin to think about the tree more and more, you will discover that everything in the universe helps to make the tree what it is, that it cannot at any moment be isolated from anything else, and that at every moment its nature is subtly changing. ~ Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

On this day while walking, I paid particular notice to the trees. Come join me, please so that you can see them too.

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard. ~ Standing Bear

This was the sight that greeted me at the end of my driveway, one sunny morning. The pavement was still wet from an overnight drizzle but the sun was pouring its light onto the street from behind a small, bare-limbed tree.

You can't be suspicious of a tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion or challenge the ideology of a violet. ~ Hal Borland

This little cutie caught my attention by making all sorts of murmuring noises. I stopped to chat with him for a bit.

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. ~ William Shakespeare

I often notice a solitary oak or maple leaf which has become caught up in this fence but today, I was happy to see this pair wrapped up in a warm, oaky embrace.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~ Albert Einstein

A fuzzy branch seems to be budding. It was every bit as soft to the touch as it appears.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~ Lao Tzu

This pine tree stands at the end of the walkway which leads into the park. Even its dead lower limbs have a beauty to them in the right light.

“Listen to the trees talking in their sleep,' she whispered, as he lifted her to the ground. 'What nice dreams they must have!” ~ L.M. Montgomery

There's still some life in these multi-coloured leaves. This image was taken just one week ago.

“All our wisdom is stored in the trees.” ~ Santosh Kalwar

A simple bare branch. I liked its spotty markings.

Thanks for joining me on another one of my walks. You're the best company.

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit. ~ Elton Trueblood