The Arboretum
is still sleeping
under cover of Winter,
but it begins to stir
as it dreams its dreams
of unfurling shoots,
and pregnant buds,
and of bulbs pushing up from the dark.


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Sunlight filtering in like we were underwater.

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February in the Winter Garden.

We walked beside
sweet-smelling witch hazel
on a day full of sunshine,
as unexpected as a gift.

.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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There is something so
stark,
spare,
and elemental
about the landscape
this time of year.

I love how everything extraneous
has been stripped away,
and the bones of things are revealed.


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A Wintry mix
of all instrumentals
for pearl-grey days
and quiet hours.


Dove, Diamond, & Sky - February 2014

+ Edge of The World - Josh Ritter
+ Falling Catching - Agnes Obel
+ Disfarmer Theme - Bill Frisell
+ Sacred Shabbat - Loreena McKennitt
+ To Hugo - Clogs
+ Glamur - Amiina
+ - - Jonquil
+ Jynweythek Ylow - Aphex Twin
+ Songs My Friends Taught Me (Inst.) - Laura Veirs
+ Baby Bat - Jason Steel
+ La Valse A Huit Ans - Le Vent Du Nord
+ Sad Violin Thing - Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
+ Ninkon Lookps - Fredrik
+ Katniss Afoot - James Newton Howard
+ Blue Mottetto - Maggie Sansone
+ Tabarly - Yann Tiersen
+ Lit From Underneath - Andrew Bird
+ Pacific Siren - Zak Riles

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There is a new wreath
up in my shop!

This one is a Winter Garden,
full of those plants which remind us that,
truly,
this stark time of year
is still full of beauty:
hellebores
(one of my favorite flowers!),
hardy ferns,
Solomon's Seal,
and witch hazel.


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Well.

After the relaxed peacefulness of the holidays,
January was quite the doozy of a month.

It caught me off guard,
and overall,
the month was a challenging struggle.

I must admit
that turning the calendar page
to February
felt very good.


.

Wishing you warmth,
peaceful moments,
and some winter wonder
at this Christmastime.



I am thankful for an amazing and eventful 2013,
and excited for the beginning of bright '14!




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It was so quiet
that we heard the creaking of the trees in the wind
and the stream running away beneath its layer of ice.



.

Color in the Wintertime!

One of my favorite things:
spotting the rich, earthy colors
of this jewel-tone season,
when the blossoms and fresh green leaves
have fallen away.

.

Happy December!

.

Sunday is my birthday,
and we'll be heading out to my family's house
to celebrate an early Thanksgiving together
(we are spending Thanksgiving Day
with my husband's family).
I am so looking forward to it all.

I know that this is not the case for everyone,
but I love this season of the year so much
because it holds my memories
of other golden holiday times
like a cup holds water.

I sip from it and taste last year,
and the year before that,
and each taste adds richness
to this year's cup.



Happy Thanksgiving!



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