Walking Winterthur http://www.annefarley.net Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:22:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 en Winterthur remembered http://www.annefarley.net/2012/04/12/winterthur-remembered/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/04/12/winterthur-remembered/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:22:54 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/04/12/winterthur-remembered/ It is almost two years since I moved from the cottage. The trails are memories as are the special places that I visited each day to watch the slow unfolding of spring. The sundial garden in April and May, the March bank from February to June, the Grotto, and of course the azaleas in May and June are sheer splendor. WOW so much. I can close my eyes and imagine being there. It brings me  comfort.

Knowing the woods, fields and trails, as I do the gardens permits me to go for a stroll through my imagination. But even my vivid imagination cannot do justice to the most lovely land that I ever walked.

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/04/12/winterthur-remembered/feed/ The song of the robin http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/24/the-song-of-the-robin/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/24/the-song-of-the-robin/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:16:26 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/24/the-song-of-the-robin/ How fortunate we are that one of the commonest of birds has such a sweet loving song.

In the eighties, Carolyn and I went to Penland School of Art. Carolyn took basket making and wove beautiful artistic baskets that everyone including the teacher admired. Collectively, all marveled at her creativity and skill. I, on the other hand, took, blacksmiting. The two flowers that I made sit by the fireplace and the tools that I made are in the shed. Though I enjoyed the challenge, I learned more than forging iron. I learned how it feels to be at the bottom of the class, to be the absolutely worse at something and to accept where I was and to literally continue to forge ahead.

We spent our days working our craft. In the morning we would sit with our coffee enjoying the landscape and a robin who would sing sing sing to us each morning. An elderly, kind, and gentle woman who sat with us would say each morning how much she loved the robin’s call. This morning, as I listen to the robin, I am also listening to my heart and both bring me joy.

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/24/the-song-of-the-robin/feed/ Perpsectives http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/23/perpsectives/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/23/perpsectives/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:12:00 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/23/perpsectives/ In my youth, I wanted to travel the world to see new countries, provinces, islands and states. Still I enjoy travel visiting beautiful places and learning first hand. But it has taken me many years to cultivate the joy of simply beholding the same view of the garden and learning the subtlety of the blooms each year.

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/23/perpsectives/feed/ Walkin’ with a spring in my step http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/21/walkin-with-a-spring-in-my-step/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/21/walkin-with-a-spring-in-my-step/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:34:52 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/21/walkin-with-a-spring-in-my-step/  Today I walk with a spring in my step exuding the joy of the season and of living. Jana was such a shining example of love and joy in the day and I want to be true to her spirit, her life and her values. I want to honor her by living, truly living.

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/21/walkin-with-a-spring-in-my-step/feed/ Spring Sunlight Streaming through the Woods http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/19/spring-sunlight-streaming-through-the-woods/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/19/spring-sunlight-streaming-through-the-woods/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:36:38 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/19/spring-sunlight-streaming-through-the-woods/ Brings a peaceful reassuring feeling. To see what is and not be left to discern. A simple joy in daily living if open to the invitation. Too often, I make myself available for the social and political rancor of the day and not this simple pleasure. Whats a matter me!

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/19/spring-sunlight-streaming-through-the-woods/feed/ Forget Promises of Spring- it is here http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/09/forget-promises-of-spring-it-is-here/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/09/forget-promises-of-spring-it-is-here/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:23:31 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/09/forget-promises-of-spring-it-is-here/ In our yard, Lenten rose, snow drops, daffodils, crocus and early flowering ground cover, warm weather yesterday, beautiful full full moon low in the sky, deep rich skies last night and a change within me rising from the coldness in my grief stricken heart. For all of this I am grateful.

Some friends are also like the wonders of spring that reach into your heart and soul stirring you to a distant memory of who you are and what you are made of despite life circumstances that pose challenges to question both. Last night, my partner and I were with my dear friends Bill and his son Michael,who is 25 years old. We went to a flyers game- my first and it was fantastic.

When Michael was 8 yrs. old, he suffered from childhood leukemia. His mom and I walked a marathon to raise funds for the Leukemia Society and his parents becamce strong to this day advocates for cancer prevention, screening, support to families and securing funding - their strength and resolution to take adversity and transform into social action has always inspired me. Michael, too is an advocated taking vacation each year to work at a summer camp for children with cancer. They will always be perennial flowers in the garden of my heart….an eternal spring.

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/09/forget-promises-of-spring-it-is-here/feed/ Morning chatter… http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/03/morning-chatter/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/03/morning-chatter/#comments Sat, 03 Mar 2012 15:57:11 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/03/morning-chatter/ If politicians were made to listen to the birds in the morning before being allowed to speak on the news shows and crow about this and that, we’d be all the more grateful.

Their chatter like that of the crows drives away the melodic voices and songs of inspiration that spring brings. Spring- A season of hope, of love, of new life, of expectation and of sheer joy. I delight in its unveiling and wished electoral politics also was seasonal.

Perhaps the chatter seems endless for there is no longer an election season but one continuous rhetoric stream. It is like a long cold merciless winter with no end in sight….which could explain voting fatigue and the sense of why bother.

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/03/morning-chatter/feed/ Bald Eagle on the banks of the Brandywine Creek…a walk in time http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/02/bald-eagle-on-the-banks-of-the-brandywine-creeka-walk-in-time/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/02/bald-eagle-on-the-banks-of-the-brandywine-creeka-walk-in-time/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:00:23 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/02/bald-eagle-on-the-banks-of-the-brandywine-creeka-walk-in-time/ My friend Susan and I went for a walk at Brandywine Creek State Park. We like to look for owls. Usually this time of year we enjoy walking Winterthur because we know where we are likely to find the great horned owl who perches in the woods between Wilmington Country Club and Winterthur.

Our walks are delightful as we become transformed by our child within to enjoy the freedom of the woods and the awe of nature.  As we begin we shed the day, the external adult world. In no time at all we are our authentic selves sharing feelings and perceptions and finally we transcend our self centered focus and become absorb in the surroundings.

We walked along a deer trail and next to the creek watching two geese feeding in the creek and ducks flying along. Then we heard the ducks alarmed ruckus as they flew past us. We turned and saw the eagle sitting low on the branches in clear view… Calm, serene, unfettered by our presence seeking the quiet comfort of digesting its meal.

We lingered awhile perhaps too long for dusk turned to nightfall and the siren of the park guard brought us jarringly back to reality and a lecture of being in the woods after dark. We could not have scripted a more perfect ending to delight our childhood feelings.

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/03/02/bald-eagle-on-the-banks-of-the-brandywine-creeka-walk-in-time/feed/ Owl hooting in the night http://www.annefarley.net/2012/02/04/owl-hooting-in-the-night/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/02/04/owl-hooting-in-the-night/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:04:49 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/02/04/owl-hooting-in-the-night/ Funny how irritable I get to be awakened from a deep sleep by the telephone or some other human noise but the incessant hooting of an owl outside my window brings me such a snese of wonder and contentment.  Hmm maybe they should invent natural sounding alarm clocks….

My dream was of my grandmother’s house. Why I have this recurrent dream befuddles me especially since we moved away from our coal mining town when I was a toddler and thereafter visited each month. Being the Irish sould that I am, I give symbolic meaninng to everything, making daily living a divine a mystical experience….that is why the Winterthur woods and gardens brought me such pleasure….

I must admit that I never toured the museum mansion….I like to think that the woods and gardens gave ole Henry a reprise from himself and his compulisve furniture collecting

]]> http://www.annefarley.net/2012/02/04/owl-hooting-in-the-night/feed/ Snowdrops on the March Bank, teardrops on my heart http://www.annefarley.net/2012/02/02/snowdrops-on-the-march-bank-teardrops-on-my-heart/ http://www.annefarley.net/2012/02/02/snowdrops-on-the-march-bank-teardrops-on-my-heart/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:44:49 +0000 Anne http://www.annefarley.net/2012/02/02/snowdrops-on-the-march-bank-teardrops-on-my-heart/ No matter how I would feel, a walk along the March Bank at Winterthur always brings joy and excitement. From now through the spring, the woods are carpeted with changing colors from the white snow drops through the spectrum of colors till the squill blooms in its splendor.

I am learning too to not be engulfed by grief but to feel my sorrow, let my tears fall, and embrace the present moment. To live in the beauty life offers, walk familiar paths at Winterthur and in my heart, and to simply be at peace with my life are gifts this day.

tomorrow might be another story

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