Finding Place
I climb up the quickly ascending ridge, my legs and pulse calling out for stops along the way. I enjoy the opportunity of each stop to survey my surroundings. Most often the expansive views catch my attention, other times the tiny details draw me in.
The valley is covered in a slightly tattered blanket of snow. The recent weeks have been filled with a warming and cooling trend, a pattern that has compacted some of our snow, and all together freed some southern slopes, such as the one I was currently climbing. The warmth of the day eats away at the edge of the snow banks. The patches of open ground expanding quickly, but quietly. As if they are gently coaxing spring out of her slumber, being alert to not make too much noise as winter slowly drifts to sleep, lest he be roused in a moment of flurry before relinquishing his shift.
After many snow shoeing excursions, the novelty of walking on dirt is exciting, and freeing. I carry my snow shoes instead of wearing them. They become a somewhat useful walking/balancing stick as I traverse the steep hillside. I am watching the ground as I climb, and the smallest thing grabs my attention and halts me in my tracks. My snowshoes hold my weight as I lean forward to get a better look. There in front of me is a wee little red seedling, bursting forth from its seed. My heart flutters with excitement, and a smile spreads across my face. Indeed one of the first signs that spring is rousing. All in one moment the joy of life is playing itself out in front of me, and yet I am keenly aware that we will most likely have many more nights of very cold weather, which might just be the undoing of this little soul. The ebb and flow of life is so simply played out in nature.
There is no regret in nature. Everything is part of the greater rhythm. There is not life without death. And so I find myself cheering on this little seed. “Hang in there my little friend! Spring will be here in the blink of an eye.” Within one season these annual plants will live a life filled with beauty and passion. A whole lifetime, in just a blink of our own. And ours, less than a blink in the timeline of Earth.
I pause once more, this time to watch a herd of Mule Deer climbing the hill to my right. They move with ease up the slope, embodying the alertness of a prey animal, but the knowledge that their athleticism far exceeds mine. With keen awareness they sense me on many levels. No doubt they hear my heart, feel my breath, and can smell me miles away. It’s a funny thing, that within the evolution of human society, it has become an admirable trait to distance ones self from our animal nature as much as possible. This has separated us on many levels from the nature around us, and with that has deadened our senses on so many levels. As I moved from the realms of society, and explored nature through long distance hiking, I found senses that had been forgotten, starting to stir again. Thankfully I was raised in a household that nurtured my soul connection with nature more than many are allowed in our modern society, so perhaps I did not have as far of a leap to make. No matter how separated from nature we may have become, she will always be there to welcome us back into her womb to heal.
Cresting the hill I find myself standing before a bathtub sized boulder, a natural alter, looking out over the valley in silent contemplation of the passing of life. What had this rock witnessed sitting here in the time since it immerged from the dirt? Leaning my snowshoes up against it, I walk around and sit down in the middle of the rock. The Methow Valley is laid out before me, a spectacular scene.
The scale of the landscape embracing the valley has a remarkable way of dwarfing any human imprint. In this corner of the world, nature still commands the attention of all. While some still try to shelter themselves from the unknown forces that nature holds, those who live here can not help but become entangled with the soul of the land. This is why my soul has been called back here. Even the human development laced throughout the valley feels as if it is intertwined with nature.
My eyes float across the scene, the rawness of the mountains at the head of the valley, great jagged sentinels, always reminding us that we are held in the embrace of the North Cascade Mountains. Down the valley the jagged peaks become interspersed with tall rolling hills. An outcropping of rock here and there hinting at their one time grand status. The river below snaking through the heart of the valley, shedding its skin of deciduous trees along select stretches of wide valley floor.
It becomes clear from my post atop the hill, that there is no way that we can be separate from nature. Just like the images of earth from space, I get a greater view of my home. I can see that nature still permeates all things, especially in this magical place. Humans are simply one piece of a greater whole. I send out a prayer for the human race to remember what we are, and what we come from. With just a few changes we can start to heal ourselves, and our Earth together.
The Soul of the North Cascades
Bernie and I went to Big Valley to go snowshoeing on Thursday.
This is one of the few groomed multi use trails in the valley.
The groomed trail was so nice and compact that it was easy to walk on in just my boots.
And then at other times we made our own trail by snowshoe.
We made a track down to the Methow River.
We actually used to live across from Big Valley when we lived in Winthrop before.
We would cross the river by foot, and explore the trails that snake their way through
Big Valley.
It was good to visit this area again.
We enjoyed many expansive views from the large open fields.
See, here we are in BIG Valley.
(Bernie is showing us how big)
~
I have been practicing writing most mornings lately.
Below is a piece that I wrote that I am pondering sending into our
local weekly newspaper, just for the heck of it.
I am enjoying writing, and I look forward to improving on it.
Bernie and I just moved back to the Methow Valley after 3 years of exploring our country through the beauty of the Aleutian Islands in 2008, the Pacific Crest Trail in 2009 and the Appalachian Trail in 2010. Over the last three years the valley has been in the back of my mind and deep within my heart. We had only lived in Winthrop two and a half years during our previous stay from 2005 to 2007, but there is something so special about this area that it has felt like home from that first moment.
When we were pondering a place to move to for 2011, I kept trying to convince myself to try another part of the country, to experience something new and fresh. We visited the Southwest, and were in awe of the raw beauty that red rock country holds. And then we talked about the Oregon coast, to experience the wild call of the open ocean. The west still holds many places filled with the pureness of nature, and each of them would be spectacular to explore. But the more that I thought about exploring a new area, the more I felt the call of the Methow Valley.
In our travels through the United States, this area is still one of the most beautiful I have experienced. Being nestled in the North Cascade Mountains provides a setting that is nourishing for mind, body and soul. How can one not be moved by nature here in this place that is still so saturated by it. The sheer majesty of the North Cascades provides a picturesque backdrop to our little communities. Right in our backyard we have an almost endless playground to go explore, and the inhabitants of the valley make sure to take advantage of this. I am being reminded each day of the amazing bounty of outdoor recreation opportunities that this perfect location grants us. We are exploring on almost a daily basis by snowshoe, and the spring and summer months call to me with their endless trails that will be revealed as the snow slowly retreats higher and higher in the mountains.
The community that exists in the Valley was another strong draw to return to this area. Sadly there seems to be fewer true communities in our nation with each passing moment. I feel that small towns are one of the few hopes left for whole communities to exist. And the Methow Valley holds one of the kindest and loving group of people I have had the honor to experience. When living here it feels as if you are part of one large family, and yes, like any family we have our small upsets with each other. But more often I see everyone holding out their hand, asking how they can help each other, or simply being there with some kind words. During difficult times I think a community is measured by its kindness rather than its monetary gain, and with that I see the Methow Valley’s great riches.
And so after trying to ignore the melody of this area, it has called me back. I am excited to once again be an instrument in the great orchestra of the Methow Valley. We have been welcomed back with the warm embrace of the community, and the joyous beauty of nature. Our time here will never be measured by the turning of a calendar, but by the experiences that build ones mind, body and soul.
A little treasure of nature that I found on our trek through Big Valley.
Surrounded by Beauty
This post needs very few words other than to say I had forgotten
exactly how much beauty was here in the Valley.
It feels good to be back.
As you can tell it was a warmer day!
Bernie decided to do Polar Bear Sledding?
What would shirtless sledding be called exactly?
The sunshine felt good.
And it almost felt spring like.
And then it snowed the next day, haha!
All of these pictures (except the one of Bernie sledding) were taken
by Bernie. He has some great pictures of our wildlife neighbors at his blog
Sledding!!
I have not been sledding in forever,
so we decided to go have fun with our stylish sled.
We headed up to the Patterson Mountain Trail.
WooHoo!!
Staying forward facing was a challenge at times,
but it was fun to see the world backwards too!
Laying down like this is a great way to get snow in your shirt!
That’s a rush!
It was a blast, we both laughed and hooted all the way down.
We took turns on the sled,
and who ever was taking pictures was sure to be fast on their feet,
in case the sled decided to take a new course.
Oooh! Here comes a big bump!
(Look at that concern!)
Hey these bumps are fun!
(Oooo!)
Weeee!!!
(Grin!)
I got called away from sledding for a quick interview/chat
up at Sun Mountain Lodge (where I used to work).
And so Bernie took the opportunity to go for a showshoe trek from
where we were sledding, to the lodge.
He took these pictures along the way.
Above, Sun Mountain Lodge.
And Patterson Lake,
Frozen over.
Snowshoeing Between Worlds
We have been getting outside and snowshoeing almost every day since we have been here.
It is so nice to have easy access to the outdoors again!
Bellingham is not a bad town to be in, but its just that, a town.
We had to drive a minimum of 45 minutes to get to any kind of trail,
and most of them were much further than that.
Now within 10 to 30 minutes we have an amazing selection of all kinds of places to
explore the outdoors!
Yesterday was foggy, but we decided to take the camera with just for the heck of it.
I am glad we did.
It was beautiful, the fog had such a magical feeling.
I just loved the two ponderosa pines in the above photo.
As the fog drifted through the cool air of night it frosted the trees in a beautiful
crystal coating.
It was wonderful to sit and reflect upon them,
to study their elegant and regal stature.
To feel their patience and peace.
When I came across this stand of grass I was not sure the picture would be able to capture what
I was seeing and feeling.
To my delight when we uploaded the photos there it was.
The elegance of last years plants is amazing.
These grasses stood above the snow all around us.
Many of the seed heads had collected the same crystal frosting as the trees during the night.
Each one looked like someone had sat down and created a crystalline masterpiece upon it.
And perhaps someone did.
Did the frost faeries come out at night and spend hours weaving a fine basket
on the end of each grass stalk?
Blue skies peeked at us from time to time.
Teasing, playing, taunting us to come higher.
Sunlight played on the hills above us.
I stopped often to admire the beauty and grace of the ponderosas.
What majestic trees they are, and I missed them!
They looked beautiful in their cloaks of crystal.
I am amazed by the detail of each ice crystal.
There is a whole world in each one.
I had been studying these needles up close and had to take a little taste.
Mmmm!
And what better way to relax than to just plop down in a snow recliner?
It was a magic outing spent in the fog.
It truly felt like we were between worlds.
When we would stop there was an amazing silence,
broken only by the call of the birds.
(And once in a while someone hammering at a house down the hill)
We are home in Winthrop!
Welcome to our new little home in Winthrop Washington!
We packed up our cars (to the brim!) and headed over the mountains on Saturday.
We arrived here at about 4:30pm and started to unload the cars right away.
We had most of our stuff unloaded and unpacked by the end of the night.
We are settled into our new little home quite nicely!
We were welcomed into our home by a couple lovely little mule deer that were
lounging in our yard.
They come and go, what lovely yard decorations they make!
What a world of difference from the West Side of the Mountains!
Sunday we woke up to a beautifully bright day,
the snow glittered in the sunlight!
We wasted no time, we put on our snow gear,
grabbed our snowshoes and headed out.
How wonderful it is to only have to drive 15 minutes to have access to outdoor activities!
We would have to drive MUCH longer to have access to anything nearly as nice as these views
when we are on the west side!
In the picture above is Sun Mountain Lodge framed by the mountains.
This is where I used to work when we lived in Winthrop before.
I always had a spectacular view from the restaurant I worked at there.
The trail we took was the Patterson Mountain route.
It’s a beautiful winding trail that snakes up to the top of a hill with an amazing view
of the valley in all directions.
I just Love Snow Shoeing! Its such a peaceful way to enjoy the snow.
And a great workout too!
Bernie celebrating being in Winthrop again!
How can you beat a town set in the mountains like this?
Look at those views!
The Methow Valley is just amazing.
Home is always where the heart is, and so I feel at home almost everywhere we go,
but I have to say that Winthrop is my favorite home.
It just feels so comfortable!
It was nice to just stand and reflect on the beauty of the Valley.
My mind, body and soul are happy to be back here!
We had fun playing in the snow,
and even had a little snow ball fight.
It is so different being back in snow country!
Everything feels so different.
Today is a cloudy day, but its still brighter than the west side,
because the sunlight that does make it through reflects off of everything.
Bernie is getting to know the plant life again.
Here he is letting the Ponderosa Pine tree know he is happy to see them again.
Today is a day of job searching, and some basic errands around town.
Its nice to be back home here in the Methow Valley!
I look forward to sharing even more pictures of the beauty that surrounds us here!
We do not have internet at our home at this point,
and so we will make our way down to the Library to connect with the online world.
This is a nice opportunity for us to take a little break and explore some other aspects of
what we love to do.
Reflecting From Within
When we see the beauty within ourselves,
It reflects onto the world wround us,
And we find that we are immersed in beauty at all times.
So take the time to remember your beauty,
In all its forms.
So we did get snow this weekend, but it was only a couple inches, and did not lend itself to a photo opportunity. So I share this picture from a few winters ago, when my parents came to visit our home in Winthrop. My dad took this picture one morning. There were many moments filled with beauty in Winthrop.
Remembering Winthrop
I was looking through my photos yesterday, and came across my collection from when Bernie and I lived in Winthrop Washington. It really is a beautiful and magical place. Looking through the pictures brought back fond memories of our time there. It has such a peaceful “home” feel to it. This first picture was our “back yard”. It was a large field next to our house. It was a lovely open space with great views. On the other side of the house was a couple driveways, and then trees (state land, open for us to explore). We had some fun times out in that field. We hit bright orange golf balls out in that field with about 8 inches of snow. That was a hoot! The snow was pretty crunchy on top, so the ball wouldn’t sink in too often, but once in a while it would dissapear, and it became a treasure hunt.
This old building was always facinating. I loved its colour and strength. Right next to it was a pretty big, old orchard. We would go collect the apples when they were ready in the fall. They weren’t very good quality, very old trees, and very little care. But we would put them in a box in our kitchen, and feed them to the deer that visited our house through the winter. The apples would keep quite a while, and the deer loved the treat when they were having to walk through 4 feet of snow all day long. There was also a very little creeklet that ran right next to this house. It was clear why the house was built on this site, because water is much needed through the dry, hot summers in this area. There actually was a little spring that popped out in the basement of this house, you could see where they once piped this spring for use through the house.
There were so many beautiful plants in this area. This Pondorosa Pine was up where I used to work. I love the shape of it. It truely looks like a Bonsai. Ah, I do love looking at these pictures. I am sure I will spend more time in Winthrop some day. Until then, I will remember my time there with much love!
Sorry I have not been keeping up with posts well at all. I have been keeping up with Facebook much more than I have with my blog. I simply have not been taking pictures lately. But now that I have wandered back into my old photos, perhaps I will take you on a tour of my adventure in Winthrop.
Do What You Love
My outlook on life is: if you are being true to yourself, and following your dreams, you will make the world a better place. When we find our bliss in every day moments, its spreads to those around us. We will never be able to change another person, but if we change ourselves, the world will change with us. So as much as possible I try to live my life following my dreams, it’s a challenge to always accomplish this, but as the years pass I find I am doing it more and more.
I find myself getting frustrated at all the negativity, violence, sorrow and fear in the world. I know the human race could accomplish so much more than we are. And then I remember if I just take a little time to go out into the world, and spread my own brand of sunshine, those around me will be affected. When we are at peace and enjoying our life, the stress and dis-ease within us melts away.
So if you find yourself full of stress and anger towards an aspect of your life, I highly recommend sitting down and asking yourself, what you REALLY want out of life. What are your true desires that either you or other people have told you just couldn’t happen? What would you rather be doing? It might not seem like it at this moment, but you can do it. You just have to change your perspective on how you are living life. Its not something that changes over night, you don’t want to go quit your job tomorrow. Just start with the little things. Start with one little thing that you have always wanted to do, and have always told yourself it wasn’t practical, or you couldn’t afford it, or you just don’t have the time. Go to the spa, go for a hike, take a soak in the tub, splurge on a special culinary treat. What ever that first little thing is for you, take that moment in, realize that you are actually accomplishing something you have wanted to do for a while.
If you want, you can keep a journal of your journey into the life you have always wanted. You will find as you give yourself permission to do the things that you really want to in life, the easier it will be to do more. Things will fall into your lap as if they were meant to be. As you follow your heart and accomplish your dreams you will find the ‘guilt’ that society has programmed into us will just melt away. There is never any reason to feel guilt for following your heart. Most of the time guilt is projected on us by those that are jealous because they have not given themselves the permission to follow their dreams.
I live an very different life style than most, and I know that I am blessed. Many people do not understand the way I live, because of their programming. I live on very little, my expenses are pretty minimal, but at the same time, if I find something that really draws me I do not exclude it from my life just because it costs me money. I do not have a ‘real job’. The closest thing I have had to a real job in the last 6 years was my very part time job as a breakfast waitress when we lived in Winthrop for two years. The most I worked was 3 days a week, and that wasn’t very common, I usually worked one or two days a week, and usually got the days off that I wanted. If we wanted to leave for a couple of weeks, most of the time I got that time off. And the reason this worked for me was, I stated what I needed, I didn’t ask permission, I wasn’t rude, I just stated what I was up to in life, and most of the time the universe has provided for me. I suppose that is one lesson I have learned in life, there is no reason to have to ask permission for everything, we need to take responsibility for our lives. This doesn’t mean we should walk over other people, we can be courteous to those around us, but we don’t need to let them walk on us either.
When we did live in Winthrop, I worked for the grocery money, and Bernie worked for our landlords in trade for our rent. In the two and a half years that we lived there, the only rent we paid was first and last, and I believe one month. There are ways to live simply yet fully. With the schedule of ‘work’ that we had, we were free to explore as much as we wanted. Often we worked on the weekends, and had the rest of the week to hike, take pictures, play in the river near our house, travel, watch tv on those cold winter days, and what ever else we needed to do to follow our dreams.
We have also done quite a lot of long distance hiking. Since we are not tied into a job or a home, we can take all summer to go for a hike across the country. There are also all kinds of volunteer opportunities to see the world. This summer we spent in the Aleutian Islands doing Sea Otter research. We were not ‘paid’ for doing this work, but they pay for all our travel expenses to and from, and a per diem to cover all food and supply expenses. We got to experience a beautiful part of the world, in a way most people never will. Love the places that you are, and if you dont like it, then move yourself to a place that brings peace to you.
Another helpful way to bring yourself to the place that you want, is to surround yourself with like minded people. As you can change the world around you by finding your bliss, having people around you that are already following their dreams, you will find yourself changing for the better.
Spend some time thinking of what you want out of life. Nothing is impossible. Some things might be a long journey from where you are now, but you can get there. You have to start the journey to reach the end. And the easiest way is to start with the little things. And remember, Do What You Love, Love What You Do.
