Monday, December 31, 2007

At the Year's Ending

Here we are again at the last day of the conventional calendar year, an interval decreed by humankind as a bookend of sorts, along with (of course) tomorrow, the first day of the shiny new year. How shall I spend the last evening of this year so swiftly passed by, and what about the first day of the new year? Alas, there are no great surprises, revelations, festivities or events to be related here, just quiet reflections and slow mindful steps.

After sunset this evening, I shall go outside for a walk and look up hopefully for a glimpse of the stars and the waning moon, then return indoors for tea, music, books and conversation.

Tomorrow morning, there will be the usual trip out to the Lanark woods with a toboggan load of food and treats for the deer and the birds. At some point in the exercise, I shall visit the creek and watch it flowing over the rocks for a while - if it is still running freely and merrily among the trees, that is. If not, then I shall sit nearby for a while and watch the icicles forming along its banks - a Zen exercise if there ever was one. I shall peer over the edge of the gorge in search of the sitting rock which vanished into the snowdrifts down there weeks ago.

Mostly, I will just breathe in and out and try to be receptive to whatever gifts the day holds out to me. In other words, this year's rites and observances are just like last year's rites and observances. Such is this quiet little life of mine.

Happy New Year, Happy Hogmanay, a saining upon your hearth and house and clan...

11 comments:

Changes in the wind said...

Happy New Year to you Kerrdelune:)

Shelli said...

Your quiet little life sounds big and wonderful to me. Happy New Year!

Suzanne said...

Blessings to you today and always, Cate. Wishing you many moments of unexpected joy. Happy New Year!

jzr said...

May the New Year bring you happiness, health and an easeful life!

Unknown said...

Happy Bookend. :)

You know - it's the quiet little lives that tend to be the most beautiful. At least, that's been my experience.

Tsutsu said...

Happy New Year to you. I wish you more happy walks and discoveries in your woods.

Fran aka Redondowriter said...

Ah, ending the old year mindfully and entering the new year the same. Photos are beautiful, as always. Wishing you a blessed new year.

GreenishLady said...

And a Happy New Year to you, too. Your quiet patterns are deep and special; and reading of them, seeing your photos brings me to a quieter and deeper place. Thank you.

Ted Marshall said...

Thank you for all your special posts during 2007 and I look forward to more - including tales and photographs of the Lanark woods - in 2008.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing. I've always enjoyed reading daily journals and those inspired by nature are my favourites. Beautiful words, beautiful photographs. May the Wild Mother bless you in the New Year.

Mary Ann said...

Beautiful photographs. I like the way you made two out of one. Very nice. I'm new to your blog but appreciate the quietness that is here. Makes me want to walk through snowy woods again and listen to snowflakes settle on dry leaves.