The Gentle Journey

Storm's coming....

It’s been cold. Freezing cold.

 We have freezing cold water crystals on top of a layer of  previously liquid water. That’s snow on  ice for the non-scientist like me

Everyone's trying to stay warm

I hired my handyman to move stuff  from the deck to the garage,  from the garage to the barn.  Spring means a reevaluation on what stuff needs to stay and what needs to be tossed but that’s a task for later, lots of delayed decisions around here.  But the big truck should definitely go into the garage. Which proved to be similar to squeezing the baby back up the birth canal, technically possible but not recommended. That’s why I hire help- to do the things I can’t do myself and in this case, probably shouldn’t be doing anyway.

Two days  after squeezing a dually truck into a crowded garage, it snowed ten inches on ice and I was expected in town.  Removing the tight fitting truck proved to be almost as much fun as shoving it in- “When you back this out, remember to pull in those mirrors.” Good advice.  Of course, I forgot and almost took down the storage unit when the passenger side mirror reached out and grabbed a shelf.  I have a decent size garage but it's a really big truck. And, yes, there is space for a second car. It would all be so much easier with one great big door instead of two or so I tell myself

I drove the Beast for three days. Lord, I love that truck.  Love the heated seats.  Love the radio that puts my fancy car to shame. And, as I told the people expecting me in town,  “I could probably drive cross country the ten miles to town if the roads are too slick.” A slight exaggeration but snow is no problem for Clyde, the wonder truck.

Old picture but this is what Clyde loves to plow through! We don't have quite this much snow yet

By Thursday, I needed to get my recycling to town because heaven knows there is no room for anything like that in the garage.  So now I have both cars out the garage. And the recycling is in fancy car, which is a bit squirrely on the frozen water. Plus it needs new tires that I'll order in town.

But I know the secrets to driving on ice.

Two hands on the wheel.  Eyes on the road.

Watch for the other drivers and give them plenty of room.

Proceed in a way that never requires you to hit your brakes.

Brake gently before the turns and accelerate carefully coming out.

Don’t jerk the wheel- soft hands.

Everything gentle and careful.

I know all this. I’ve driven on ice for years.  But I’m so thirsty and dry- the cold has sucked the juice right out of me and my lips are parched.  I remove one glove and rummage through the console.  Cold eyeglass case, dental floss, a really cold flashlight.

Eyes on the road.

Maybe the Chapstick's in the purse. Stretch across the passenger seat, rummage in the purse.  Pen, spare key, checkbook, a pair of glasses for that case in the console. Maybe another section. Can I unzip it with one hand?

Eyes on the road.

I have a flash, an epiphany, I see the byline.

“Local women found in her car off Highway 16. The vehicle rolled the embankment.

Black ice blamed.

Her right hand was still in her purse, clutching  Chapstick .”

You know the still small voice we talk about? Sometimes it’s just common sense.

Eyes on the road.

Two hands on the wheel.

Pay attention to the task at hand. 

 **************

  

 How do we stay on any path?

How can we live well on this big blue ball of water?

Pay attention. Focus on Life.

Listen to the small Voice.

Slow down. Be gentle. Hold life with soft hands.

Avoid creating situations where you have to slam on your brakes.

Watch out for other travelers, not as a threat but as other fragile humans to serve.

Keep your eyes on the Road.

How’s your driving?

Keep safe this winter on the roads.....and be gentle with your life.

Walking in the light of his presence

I occasionally dip my toe into the identity of "writer".... and pray no one asks, "Have I read your work?"
"Probably not."
End of conversation.

So why is it that the Muse that often comes and smacks me in the head, holds a camera, not pen and paper?  I don't introduce myself as "photographer".

But when I wake and the South Dakota light is moody, overcast and sullen, I'm overcome by the urge to capture it. Perhaps because the sun is such a constant here, although I do jump in my car and chase sunset light of summer.  Whatever the cause, my Muse caused me to miss church and head for Pe Sla or Reynolds Prairie or the "place in between".

Many First Nations peoples consider the Black Hills to be the spiritual center of the universe. Various spiritual traditions reflect the belief that certain phenomena in the world, such as mist – which is neither air nor rain; dreams – which are not waking or sleeping; and mistletoe -which is neither tree nor plant, have special spiritual meaning. These are the "in between things" that are worthy of special reflection. 

http://www.borderlandsranch.org/about.htm

So I go to the place between sunshine and dark, between moody and reflective, between God and me. And I take photos.   I return home with freezing fingers and the hunger of creative anxiety; make a fire and warm oatmeal. It may be April but three inches of fresh moisture lays on the ground.

And I find a bookmark, given by a friend:

"Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord."

Psalm 89:15

I drove around the lake....

By the cattails. Frozen in place, waiting for spring. 

The road to worship isn't always the super highway. 

An the journey isn't desired to be traveled alone.
This is Linda's place.

She lives on the edge of Pe Sla and fights to protect it from development. 

 I leave her home, snug in a small valley, and climb into the wind.

Timeless

Empty; and full of peace. 

Here a lone tree is noticed. 

My drive took me past the lake and Linda's house, then across the edge of the place in between.  Now the road follows a stream as it twists through a canyon.



Trees are abundant here.  The camera is unable to distinguish the fragile from the background. Do we see what is truly there in our images?

Then I am back on the smaller prairie on the other side of the canyon.  Here man has tamed the land and guards his own. But even a cattle guard is soft and thoughtful in white. 

I'm home. Refreshed and inspired to write, work on some poems, express myself. pray, worship. It doesn't always look like this but worship doesn't have to be what I always thought. What I expect and search for.  Somedays, it's enough to follow my heart and walk in his presence.  Or drive somewhere and imagine; capture images and ponder.

 Now a warmer wind softly brings promise of spring;  snow melts in a gurgle.  It is a sweet Sabbath.

Prairie art.

And this is just for fun!

Home again and just in time....

I left my home in South Dakota a week before Christmas and I returned almost three months later. It was a good winter- Christmas with my sister and one of my sons in Denver. A road trip to Texas and meeting Mariam Charis Cleveland- big highlight!  All of my children were able to come and we had New Year's Eve together, although having two babies was a change from our usual parties. Life is all about change. And it's all good.

I had great fun wandering around the southwest and had a month in sunny Tucson- where is snowed and the snow actually stayed on the ground overnight. I took some fun pictures and decided that was my winter.

Ha!

Good morning, Black Hills!

View out my patio doors looking east. 

Out the front door- clearly I wasn't quite ready to open the doors and face the day.

The world awaits!

Finally we have enough snow and the neighbors are burning slash piles from the beetle trees cut last summer.
This is the view from my friend's house. Come back and play in the snow, Val!

Love the snow covered trees

 When I was a little girl in Alaska, I rode to school in a big yellow school bus. And in the winter-well, not the dead of winter because that bus ride was in total darkness!  But in late fall, the trees would sometimes be covered with hoar frost. Perfectly outlined branches were sparkly white against the blue sky. The frost coated each individual branch and made the world a fairy wonderland.

I thought of those Alaskan winters today and realized as a child, I never thought, "Gee I'm lucky to be living in such a beautiful place." People, when they learn I grew up in Alaska, ask me what it was like, "How did you like living in Alaska?"  And my sincere reply is, "Gee I don't know. How did you like growing up in... Brooklyn, Virginia, Wisconsin, etc?"   As a child, I took it for granted that everyone lived in a place that was ethereal in winter. That all kids rode to school and looked across a glacial river toward snow topped mountains that jutted five thousand feet above the valley floor.  That you could skate for miles on frozen fields and ski every weekend- for cheap.

But now I am an adult, to copy St Paul, "I've put aside childish things." I don't want to take anything for granted.  Now I want to be aware of the beauty that surrounds me. I want to be grateful for my good fortune and God's grace to have landed here after my safe world collapsed.  I want to look out my windows and not bemoan the cold and snow but to enjoy my next taste of winter. And it's much easier to have this attitude since I've been in the sunny, warm Southwest for the last three months!

So I'll celebrate winter and appreciate the fun and beauty.

Back on skis again!
On the way home I stopped in Cheyenne and  the Sierra Trading Post Company's outlet store..... new cross country skis!

First since 1971....it's about time. 

Those are my ski tracks! It's only about six inches of snow. 

I love snow! 

In case you missed it, I do live in paradise!

To Denver and Back.... and bargains to be found

I live 369 miles  or 6 hours from my sister. At least that's what Google tells me.
The trip is a bit boring. SO... I find new routes mostly involving western Nebraska.  So not exactly the most scenic and I haven't made it in less than ten.  I do wander... and the shopping distracts me.

I'm realizing that I get this goofy pleasure in finding bargains. I always say I don't shop- what I don't do is window shop or mall cruise or actually buy much at retail. Except Ikea.  And along the back roads and small towns between my house in Hill City and Janet's house in Parker, there are bargains to discover.  I think I may need to start a new side blog or link - Great Thrift Stores of the World.  Hey, think big.

My bargains include wool blankets and down comforters for each of my guest beds. I've found great original art, pillows and decor items.  But right now I'm in the market for winter clothes- in the past winter has been pretty short and not too cold. Now I'm realizing this is true winter country and I need winter stuff- and well, this is the place to find it!

In Sterling, Colorado there is a great Goodwill and on this trip I found my final down comforter for ten bucks.  I wanted silk long underwear ( really, really warm but lightweight for skiing) and my route went  south to Sidney, Nebraska- corporate home of Cabela's- Land of all things for Hunting, Camping, Being Outdoors in Cold Weather.  Don't ask but I kinda got lost in a town of 6,000 and couldn't find the biggest, possibly only industry in town.  BUT, I found the Salvation Army- a.k.a. Jackpot.  Three longjohns and two long sleeve tops- all silk, all Cabela's, all four dollars each.  Retail? $49.99 for the bottoms, $41.99 for the tops. Each. Whoopee!

And the fun was just starting. Oooo- winter coats. Need that. And a Columbia down vest for five dollar. I know they're about ninety-five dollars retail. Nice.  And that's a great looking white coat with a hood. I guess seven isn't too much.  All I need now is a pair of boots.

Off to Cabela's- why, I don't know and I never made it. But look down that street- Play it Again, Sam Thrift Store.  This is a work program for the developmentally disadvantaged and they were so sweet to ask me what I want. "Can I take those to the register?"  Sure, but what I really need is some prices.  And there in the corner-  cute white winter boots. And they match to the "new" coat.  Total price? - "I put your things in a bag for you. The boots are fifty cents and the bag is a dollar."  I did give a generous donation.  Or I thought it was generous until I got to Janet's.

"You got Sorel boots for fifty cents! Those things cost about a hundred bucks."

Women's Arctic Parka

 And here's the cute coat. "Is that real fur around the hood? You got a Woolrich winter coat for seven dollars? Good grief, girl."  Turns out the coat retails for $345.00. Nice.



Happy Shopping!  And look for the bargains in unexpected places.