The Change of Beauty!

The need for beauty is as positive a natural impulsion

as the need for food.

          Luther Burke

I am pretty sure I found my lost hour while sitting at the kitchen table at two in the morning and listening to the sound of my beautiful snowy world disappearing last night. The pounding rain bounces off the window, a sound so loud I cannot hear the usually loud ticking of that clock behind.

 My mind wanders to just one day ago hiking in the bush with those Pink Cadillac Boots making a slushy trail over the ridge and down to the valley below. I loved playing in this slushy mess while hopping, skipping and splashing like a child. I hope I never lose that ability to never feel my age I know my Mom never did and I  am happy about that. I cannot believe I will turn sixty in just two weeks, I feel like a ten year old on days like this.

The wind is bending and swaying those tall Pines and I listen to the snapping always conscious of looking up to watch for falling branches. I could see where my snowshoe tracks are melted into perfectly formed prints of ice, I walked around them as not to slip and fall. I made my way to the pond and the leaning tree that the Woodpeckers have obliterated it is leaning so much now I am sure this will be the year we will have to cut it down for safety. The creatures of the forest floor will enjoy hiding in that hollow log. I could see the water surrounded by ice on the pond, I knew enough not to try to step anywhere near that beauty as it was very deep and since I am alone that would not be a good situation to place myself.

The Cadillac Boots are warm and with the great traction I am confident, I slide over the ice and slop through the slush, being aware of my surroundings and any impending danger. I was distracted by some Canada Geese flying over my head as I made myself across a snowy patch and while looking up I felt one foot break through and just as fast the other one fell through the snow to the racing water hidden below. I stood there to get my footing hoping that this was the bottom as I stood almost knee deep in cold water. I must tell you those Pink Cadillac Boots (Muck Boots) made with the diving suit material are not only pretty they are incredible. I stood in that water which was swirling under the slush and around my legs well protected by this lovely pinkness and realized I felt neither cold nor wet. The bottom of those Stylin’ Coveralls were not so lucky, the boots had passed the” Buttons test”.

I did have Leo around my neck and my first thought when I broke through was for its safety. I remember telling someone I would rather break an arm then break Leo, on one of these crazy adventures I seem to find myself in. I know those of you who read this blog regularly know what this camera means to me. We were both safe standing in this racing river of melted ice and snow where no river had flowed yesterday, so I decided I needed to take advantage of the shot.

I hiked with the dripping wet Stylin’ Coveralls now clinging to the boots and passed where a couple of Deer had been sleeping. I was puzzled why they were sleeping out in the open rather than under a tree. I know there has been a lot of Coyote activity because I am seeing many more tracks and wonder if that is the reason. I realized that soon the snow would be gone and I would not be able to see the tracks and those telltale signs of the creatures that share this bush with me. I was a little sad as I made my way to the house, but I took the beauty all in. I stopped to take just one more photo of the pump house and that beautiful snow knowing it will be changing very soon.

 Sitting here in the middle of this night listening to the pounding rain I head back to bed and wonder what change in my beautiful world the morning will bring. I cannot wait.

Later