The coming of winter

"Nature now, like an athlete, begins to strip herself in earnest for her contest with her great antagonist, Winter. In the bare trees and twigs what a display of muscle!" HDT

This quote comes from the "Blog of Henry David Thoreau" this morning. What a beautiful illustration of nature at this moment in time. Thoreau observes nature in the most passionate, artistic way. Walking through the Walden woods so many times, observing the trees, a wonder arises as to what he saw and thought as he sauntered on his daily walks. There is a connection and a feeling of being alive walking those trails. Comfort in the season of comfort.

Autumn is much like a dance or ball, a formal when the trees are dressed up and beautiful, saying "look at me." It is a time when nature is at its best, in its glory. And when the sun reflects on the leaves there is that glistening that makes you smile, because it is so beautiful. Like sequins, or jewels sparkling under the lights as the wind blows, and there is that glimmer that awakens your senses. It reaches down inside you and you feel alive. Autumn is so alive.  The spirit of nature dancing with your spirit. That is the most extraordinary sensation. Then nature slowly disrobes revealing all of her self to you; inviting you to breathe in her energy, to become alive and whole. It's beautiful how Thoreau sees muscle and beauty and not imperfection. 

Hindoo Wisdom

"That which makes the eye see but cannot be Seen by the eye, that is the Self indeed. This Self is not someone other than you."

- Kena Upanishad

Fall Leaves In Sleepy Hollow

Channing's Walden

It is not far beyond the Village church, 

After we pass the wood that skirts the road, 

A Lake,-the blue-eyed Walden, that doth smile 

Most tenderly upon its neighbor Pines, 

And they as if to recompense this love, 

In double beauty spread their branches forth. 

This Lake had tranquil loveliness and breadth, 

And of late years has added to its charms, 

For one attracted to its pleasant edge, 

Has built himself a little Hermitage, 

Where with much piety he passes life. 

William Ellery Channing on Walden

Woke up this morning craving nature...

We can NEVER have enough of nature!
HDT

"A lake is the landscapes most beautiful and expressive feature. It is the earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature." Henry David Thoreau

Postcrossing

I've been exchanging cards with people around the world through the website Postcrossing. I have receieved some interesting cards from all over the world. It's like taking a trip around the world without leaving my house. It can become quite an addiction at times too. What is amazing about this is some days I will receive a card that is so uplifting, so appropriate, so meaningful to my life, it just makes you wonder how does that happen. How does someone who doesn't know you at all send you a postcard with so much meaning? That touches you and brings an amazing sense of peace?

Life has been topsy turvy for the past year. I have been having an exhausting emotional time with life. We always seem to be at odds. I received this postcard yesterday...

"Just Relax"

The sender wrote on the back this means "Just Relax!" 

Perfect!!

A walk through Walden

Walked through the woods at Walden. It was the most amazing hike. Venturing from the usual pond path that surrounds Walden Pond I walked some of the other paths in the woodland surrounding the pond. Along the Bean Field path the animals were scurrying about in the leaves, rustling and foraging. Autumn has arrived in New England. I love walking in the woods listening to the crunching of the fallen leaves. It reminds me of being a child exploring the woods around my house in Maryland, for which I invariably was grounded for when I returned home with hitch hikers on my pants.

Pond Path at Walden

This isn't usually something I encounter walking along the pond path, the most widely used path at the pond. Out to Ice Fort Cove path down to the pond for some shots of the pond, which is now surrounded by beautiful autumn colors, still not quite at their peak.

The path intersects with  Fire Road, both north and south. A steep down grade I walked along Heywood's meadow. Walking along this path I heard what sounded like the plucking of a harp string, which made me think of Thoreau describing a similar incident in his journal. I always find those things intriguing when they happen, something he has written about happens, or I see. I gives a whole new dimension to the experience. Walden is such a spiritual place. I always feel at peace there. On a trip there in January Jim told me I completely changed when I saw the pond. It does have a strange effect on me. Not sure how to describe it. I suppose, to pilfer one of Emerson's favorite words, it's sublime, ethereal perhaps? I always feel like I have come home when I visit here. This trip when I pulled into Concord center I sat in my car looking around feeling very at peace and whole. I sat and took in the smell and sounds of Heywood meadow for a few minutes then walked up the path imagining camping there, which is not allowed, but I can still imagine how peaceful it would be. The past few times I have been to Walden I have looked for Emerson's cliff, but never succeeded. I found today! I have passed the path to the cliff several times, but have never been facing the right way to catch the sign pointing to the cliff. Eureka!

Climbed the cliff to look out at the vista and take in the quiet of the woods. A few people could be heard off in the distance, but it appears people rarely walk the other paths in the Concord and Lincoln land conservation, or not when I do. I walked around the cliff for a while, then laid on the rock smelling the autumn air and taking in the colors of the forest, which is mostly yellow now with splashes or orange and red. I could look out and see the pond bathed in all the colors of the seasons, green, red, orange, and a multitude of hues of yellow. The colors of fall seem to awaken the senses.

As I meandered through the trails back to the pond I could hear the exuberant voices of young people relaxing by the pond, looking to be in their teens I surmised a break in the day from school as they were all wearing their packs. What a great place to have to visit between sessions of learning. I sat on the beach a while admiring the colors of the water. Studying the people at the pond. A woman reading, two men fishing, Joe and Frank I learned earlier, and high school aged students sitting on the retaining wall talking and eating lunch.  I love the water at Walden the colors are spectacular. The pond consists of so many colors, especially in the autumn.

I headed back up to the parking lot, stopping by the replica constructed of the cabin Thoreau spent two years, two months and two days living in by the pond in 1845. The ruins of the cabin are not too far off the pond path along the highway side of the pond. The light streaming into the cabin illuminated the entire house. The light and shadows on the aged door were alluring. And the smell of the cabin. I always love the smell of it.

Happy Birthday Jesse!!

Today my boy turns 29. Hard to believe it was that long ago. Thank you for making life fun, interesting and complete! I am so very proud of all your accomplishments.

October 15, 1981

October 1985

And in 2009 on his wedding day.

Exploring music on Facebook

I don't use Facebook much anymore; it became too superficial for me. So I decided to take a break from it. However, there is a page I always liked to check out in the mornings. The posts represent the music in history on that day. Always an interesting selection of music.  A lot of Beatle selections, which I really enjoy, because I love the Beatles, especially George and John. I guess my sisters passed that down to me. Seemed it was always playing when I was growing up developing my own taste of music. Great music that lives on through every generation.

I Love It Loud

The page owner is looking to increase the likes on the page.

Happy Birthday Scott!

Happy Birthday Scotty. Even though you're no longer with us. The time you spent on earth and enriching our lives with your love and affection will never be forgotten! RIP sweet man.

Hindu Wisdom

Like strangers in an unfamiliar country walking over a hidden treasure, day by day we enter the world of Brahman while in deep sleep but never find it, carried away by what is false.

- Chandogya Upanishad

Golden Leaves of the Season!

the best time of the year

the colors of fall are so inviting and comforting, vibrant and bold.

*Criminal*

"Criminal"

Chrissie Hynde

difficulties in life

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.


William Ellery Channing II

Crimson

Running hasn't been very consistent lately, however, I have been observing this one tree when I do get out and run. This morning it was a beautiful crimson red. It is so deep and vibrant it just awakens every cell. You feel alive. It is so vibrant you can see it pulsing, vibrating, throbbing, keeping rhythm to some beautiful aria in nature.

I have been re-reading, as I do every autumn Thoreau's "Autumnal Tints." Every time I read it I pick up something new. It is so beautifully written. He observed, and seemingly absorbed everything he saw or touched. What stuck with me this morning as I was running down my suburban street was how he described the oldest leaves turning first, the top usually the last. This tree is nearly all red except for the top branches. Also his observation of red leaves how they grab your attention, standing out with their vibrant stimulating presence.

I love running in the fall, not only are the temperatures perfect, but the colors and smells and feel of the air is so comforting. I can't wait for Halloween, even though I won't be with my girl I love spending All Hallows Eve with her. I want to carve pumpkins. I love carving pumpkins. There is nothing like the smell of a cut pumpkin digging into it's slimy body, pulling all the innards out, reminds me of Thoreau pulling out the marrow, and the smell of my hands when I'm finished.

"I seem to be more constantly merged in nature; my intellectual life is more obedient to nature than formerly ..." HDT 10/12/1851

The Cat's Song

Mine, says the cat,, putting out his paw of darkness

My lover, my friend, my slave, my toy says

the cat making on your chest his gesture of drawing

milk from his mother's forgotten breasts. 

Let us walk in the woods says the cat.

I'll teach you to read the tabloid of scents,

to fade into shadow, wait like a trap, to hunt.

Now I lay this plump warm mouse on your mat. 

You feed me, I try to feed you, we are friends,

says the cat, although I am more equal than you.

Can you leap twenty times the height of your body?

Can you run up and down trees? Jump between roofs?

Let us rub our bodies together and talk of touch. 

My emotions are pure as salt crystals and as hard.

My lusts glow like my eyes. I sing to you in the mornings

walking round and round your bed and into your face.

Come I will teach you to dance as naturally

as falling asleep and waking and stretching long, long.

I speak greed with my paws and fear with my whiskers.

Envy lashes my tail. Love speaks me entire, a word

of fur. I will teach you to be still as an egg

and to slip like the ghost of wind through the grass.

Marge Piercy

the world transformed

"The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed."
J. Krishnamurti

"Men Say They Know Many Things" by Henry David Thoreau

Men say they know many things;

But lo! they have taken wings, —
The arts and sciences,
And a thousand appliances;
The wind that blows
Is all that any body knows.

Friendship

Friendship By Henry David Thoreau

I think awhile of Love, and while I think,

         Love is to me a world,
         Sole meat and sweetest drink,
         And close connecting link
            Tween heaven and earth.

I only know it is, not how or why,
         My greatest happiness;
         However hard I try,
         Not if I were to die,
            Can I explain.

I fain would ask my friend how it can be,
         But when the time arrives,
         Then Love is more lovely
         Than anything to me,
            And so I'm dumb.

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak,
         But only thinks and does;
         Though surely out 'twill leak
         Without the help of Greek,
            Or any tongue.

A man may love the truth and practise it,
         Beauty he may admire,
         And goodness not omit,
         As much as may befit
            To reverence.

But only when these three together meet,
         As they always incline,
         And make one soul the seat,
         And favorite retreat,
            Of loveliness;

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates
         And a kindred nature,
         Proclaim us to be mates,
         Exposed to equal fates
            Eternally;

And each may other help, and service do,
         Drawing Love's bands more tight,
         Service he ne'er shall rue
         While one and one make two,
            And two are one;
In such case only doth man fully prove
         Fully as man can do,
         What power there is in Love
         His inmost soul to move
            Resistlessly.
               ______
Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side,
         Withstand the winter's storm,
         And spite of wind and tide,
         Grow up the meadow's pride,
            For both are strong
Above they barely touch, but undermined
         Down to their deepest source,
         Admiring you shall find
         Their roots are intertwined
            Insep'rably.


HDT

Ellery on Henry

"His journals should not be permitted to be read by any, as I

think they were not meant to be read. I alone might read them
intelligently. To most others they would only give false
impressions. I have never been able to understand what he
meant by his life. Why did he care so much about being a writer?
Why did he pay so much attention to his own thoughts? Why
was he so dissatisfied with everyone else, etc? Why was he so
much interested in the river and the woods and the sky, etc?"

Something peculiar, I judge.

- Ellery Channing, friend of Thoreau's


I have often wondered this, what would Thoreau think of us reading his journals? I love reading them and getting into them they are so thought provoking. I love his observations and the way he thinks about every intricate thing. He thinks so deeply, and looks so far into and examines very part of life down to the cellular level. I get into that. Such a brilliant mind. But I'm not certain he would approve of the world reading his thoughts, also I'm not convinced we interpret them as he meant, even the greatest scholar I believe is flawed in some way. I mean really how could you know what he was thinking, feeling, enduring, what was pressing on his mind, who was he thinking about, was he thinking about anyone, when he wrote his thoughts down? What was his mood, the weather, what was he looking at, where was he, what was on his mind? I have such deep respect for Thoreau. I believe him to be a very private, intelligent, deeply loving and caring person. I have enormous respect him. As did Ellery.


And of course I could be completely off track here.

Imagine

Happy Birthday John!!

WWTT

What would Thoreau think?

I ordered a book for my son, who lives in Maine, from the Thoreau Society store located at Walden Pond. I received an email confirming my order, completely cool with that. Received an email about my order shipping, rather quickly I might add, very cool with that too. So I have these two emails, and in addition I can also go to the website and view my order and print any time I want. In the mail I received a printed receipt of my order, and another piece of paper notifying me it was shipped to Maine to my son and billed to me. My discount was not applied, but no matter ... what is with the paper waste?

My question is, why isn't the Thoreau Society living by Thoreau's principles?  I find it a bit wasteful to send me a receipt that I can print out myself, and what if I had? Not to mention the extra paper enclosed and the envelope. Shouldn't they be "printing responsibly?"

Robert Scott

I woke up thinking of you this morning. When I was in that place between sleep and wake I thought you were still here. Seven years ago was your last day. I was remembering the last time we we're together; riding through the Maine woods, sitting on a log talking about nature. How in awe you were.  I still remember you looking up at the trees and saying, "wow, nature is so cool." I also remember the last thing you said to me as we parted that day:  "I love you Aunt Deb, try to be good." I miss your hugs, I miss your laugh, I miss your smile ... I miss you.

Robert Scott Dabbondanza

October 14, 1979 ~ October 8, 2003

In the city...

Urban walking in Philadelphia

The Layfayette Building in Philadelphia.

Fifth Street Station after everyone's gone home

30th Street ... waiting!

Watch the Gap

Simplicity

An arrowhead. Filled my pockets with acorns. Found another gouge on Dennis's Hill. To have found the Indian gouges, and tasted sweet acorns, -- is that not enough for one afternoon? October 8, 1851 HDT

Thinking of Thoreau...

I love this one by Thoreau.. This evokes so many emotions, memories, and thoughts. From childhood to present day. "The hunters horn awakes the dawn" takes me back to my room as a teenager hearing the sounds of gunshot and the honking of the geese flying over the refuge near my parents home. Laying on on the bed wondering, 'did you escape the hunter?'The last time I was at Walden I was watching the fish just under the surface of the water glide from side to side. "Far in the wood the traveller dreams" brings thoughts of my trip this summer. Absolutely my favorite line being the incurable traveller that I am. "I melt I flow"..thanks Henry. 

A Winter and Spring Scene

The willows droop, 

The alders stoop, The pheasants group,

Beneath the snow;

The fishes glide

From side to side

In the clear tide,

The ice below.

The ferret weeps,

The marmot sleeps,

The owlet keeps,

In his snug nook.

The rabbit leaps,

The mouse out-creeps,

The flag out-peeps,

Beside the brook.

The snow-dust falls,

The otter crawls,

The partridge calls

Far in the wood;

The traveller dreams,

The tree ice-gleams,

The blue jay screams,

In angry mood.

The apples thaw,

The ravens caw,

The squirrels gnaw

The frozen fruit;

To their retreat

I track the feet

Of mice that eat

The apple's root.

The axe resounds,

The bay of hounds,

And tinkling sounds

Of wintery fame;

The hunter's horn

Awakes the dawn

On field forlorn,

And frightens the game.

The tinkling air

Doth echo bear

To rabbit's lair,

With dreadful din;

She scents the air,

And far doth fare,

Returning where

She did begin.

The fox stands still 

Upon the hill

Not fearing ill

From trackless wind.

But to his foes

The still wind shows

In treacherous snows

He tracks behind.

Now melts the snow

In the warm sun.

The meadows flow, 

The streamiest run.

The spring is born,

The wild bees bum,

The insects hum,

The trees drop gum,

And winter's gone,

And summer's come.

The chic-a-dee

x Lisps in the tree,

The winter bee

Not fearing frost: The small nuthatch The bark doth scratch some worm to catch

At any cost.

The catkins green

Cast o'er the scene

A summer sheen,

A genial glow.

I melt, I flow,

And rippling run,

rr e

Like melting snow

In this warm sun

HDT

Word of the day

Interesting word of the day today:

nympholepsy [NIM-fuh-lep-see] :
A frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable.

on being awake

To be awake is to be alive.  I have never yet met a man who was quite awake. HDT

Laurel and Hardy meet Santana

October is its sunset sky!

October is the month of painted leaves. Their rich glow now flashes round the world. As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall, the year near it's setting. Henry David Thoreau 1817 - 1862
Sent from my iPhone

Thoreau + Calli = perfection

To live each day completely

how many live deeply and experience life?

"I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, … to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. For most men, it appears to me, are in a strange uncertainty about it, whether it is of the devil or of God.." HDT

Reading this is so profound at this juncture in life. I've come to understand what he's saying completely. His emotion is so incredibly intense here. I do find life to be mean. Life is to find the meaning of the meanness and learn from it.