Friday, November 15, 2013

Friday Ramble - Eight Years On

In the wee hours of Sunday past, time danced backward an hour in the little blue house in the village, and Daylight Saving Time waved goodbye until next year. This week also marked eight straight years of blogging at Beyond the Fields We Know - eight years of logging on here in the morning, posting mediocre (or downright awful) photos and muttering along for a few paragraphs. It's an astonishing state of affairs, and the idea boggles the mind.  After all this time, I still can't quite come to terms with my audacity in setting this e-journal up in the first place, let alone doing the blogging thing faithfully for eight years in a row.

This is a diary of sorts, and these are my morning pages or artist's pages, so they will probably remain pretty much as they are.  There will be a scant handful of font and banner tinkerings in the coming year, and that is about all. I don't foresee myself making any significant changes to this little corner of the blogging planet, and I expect life will simply go merrily on as it has been doing so far.

We will continue to meander along at our own pace, watching morning fogs enfold the village and oak leaves raining dew like honey in the park, tattered birches swaying against the sky, bright moons and night skies alight with winter stars, old Helios going down like a great ball of fire over Dalhousie Lake at the trailing edge of the year. Health stuff notwithstanding, it's grand to be here and all wrapped up in what I like to call simply, "the Great Round".  Every morning, the small adventures of our journeying will continue to make their way here and get spilled out on the computer screen some time around sunrise.  The words that came to mind as we all pottered along in the fog a few days ago were those of Mary Oliver, extracted from one of my favorite poems ever.

The years to come—this is a promise—
will grant you ample time

to try the difficult steps in the empire of thought
where you seek for the shining proofs you think you must have.

But nothing you ever understand will be sweeter, or more binding,
than this deep affinity between your eyes and the world.

Mary Oliver, Excerpt from Terns

Thank you for journeying along here with me this year. You are more precious and wonderful than you can ever know.

17 comments:

Kameshwari said...

Congratulations on these eight years of morning pages. For me, the pages are my connection to the juicy crone that lives in all of us. The photos are always enchanting, elegant and enticing.

I'm consistently inspired and uplifted by the Friday Ramble or the sharing of a great poem, like this particular Mary Oliver poem that appears here today.

Although I haven't connected with others who meet here and post comments, I have a sense that when I open to this page, I am coming to a sweet community.

Happy Eight Years On! Lighting a candle for this wonderful day.

Barbara Rogers said...

I settle when I read your blog every morning...coffee in hand. Sigh, appreciation, peaceful. Relax. Smile. What a lovely thing to offer others. Many a day I haven't got words, but I do think your photos are a cut above, and your way of weaving words is very artistic. Congrats for 8 wonderful years here...and I hope you do at least that many more!

Unknown said...

Congratulations and thank you for the words and photos that nourish the spirit every day.

Irene

Unknown said...

Congratulations and thank you for the words and photos that nourish the spirit every day.

Irene

Pienosole said...

Thank you! Congratulations on your blog anniversary. You enrich the lives of many. Looking forward to more :-).

Cindy R said...

This blog, your words and images, are a blessing for most every day for me. And you described yourself: "You are more precious and wonderful than you can ever know."

Mystic Meandering said...

Congratulations on 8 years! Wow...
It has been an absolute pleasure for me these past 4+ years to tag along on your journey, seeing life through your lens and words. Although you may think your photos are "mediocre" - I have been inspired by the light and inspiration that your photos have brought me... *You* are appreciated more than you know :) Heart to Heart...

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Oh my
have I been reading your special words and viewing your wonderful camera shots
that long ?
Time is sure going by.
Love
Mary Oliver's words
and always
you words...

Nan said...

So very glad you are in this blogging world. Always I find peace when I visit. Never have I seen 'mediocre or downright awful' photos! :<)

Loren said...

Your photos are a constant joy and challenge. See you tomorrow and the day after ...

What in the World said...

Thank You Cate, for all the Joy and Peace your Beautiful words and images bring me everyday! You are a Great Blessing to so many people!

What in the World said...

Thank You Cate, for all the Joy and Peace your Beautiful words and images bring me everyday! You are a Great Blessing to so many people!

Wyld Oak said...

Cate, I am so glad to have found your beautiful web log and to share in its daily doses of magic. I love reading about the wheel of the year in your particular place on this continent and how you experience the world around you...and I am in awe of your daily practice. Blessings of the full moon to you!

Dan Hardison said...

Your words and images are wonderful and I look forward to them each day. Thank you.

Shell said...

I always enjoy coming to your beautiful and soulful blog. Happy Eight years, Cate. Here's to many more. Thank you for always showing up with a full heart.

Anonymous said...

Your photos are not "awful" as you must know, nor is your writing. This blog is lovely.

Debbie said...

While my congratulations are a bit belated, my love and best wishes are still just as heartfelt as the day I first read this post of yours. And, lookie here, my smile is just as warm!

It's been such a joy to get to know you, dearest Cate, your dear doggie traveling companions, and your beautiful countryside just a little bit better thru your photos and descriptions of your potterings here on your blog.

Much love,