A Perfect Tree Fall
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2018 11-16, 4039 - A PERFECT TREE FALL – My wife heard the old dead tree fall. We had been expecting it to topple at most anytime. It landed an inch away from a cedar tree we had transplanted from a friend’s house a few years ago. Nature expertly guided the old tree past the new.
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2018 11-15, 4038 - CROWNING THE PEAK – The way the sky appeared as I observed it over the top of a mountain, it looked as if the Cosmos was placing a crown on it. I wondered if the energy was coming down or going up.
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Crowning the Peak
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Decorated for the Holidays
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2018 11-14, 4037 - DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS – Nature has joined the spirit of the approaching holiday season by decorating a fir tree on the front lawn with colored leaves. Looking at this work of art opens my mind to think of the meaning of the holidays.
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2018 11-13, 4036 - NATURAL TERRARIUM – I discovered a natural terrarium growing out of an old pine stump. Just like my grandmother used to collect in the fall, there were Indian Matchsticks and a tiny tree, as well as mushrooms. I smiled and became a child again.
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Natural Terrarium
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Long Lasting Stonecrop
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2018 11-12, 4035 - LONG LASTING STONECROP – The succulent perennial known as stonecrop has pink blossoms that turn to a deeper red in the fall to provide beauty when most all other fall colors have faded away. There are people who inspire in the same way.
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2018 11-11, 4034 - INVASION OF THE BITTERSWEET – Growing out of a stonewall I saw a dreaded bittersweet with fall berries. We once embraced this invasive plant until it took over our landscape. It is a lesson from nature on planting seeds creating negativity by our actions.
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Invasion of the Bittersweet
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High Bush Blueberry in Stump
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2018 11-10, 4033 - HIGH BUSH BLUEBERRY GROWING IN A STUMP – A blueberry bush growing in a stump near the old garden caught my eye. It was a high bush variety, and I had only seen one other growing wild on our land. Nature chooses interesting spots to plant seeds.
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2018 11-09, 4032 - A LITTLE WALL – There were a few large rocks on the side of the Ledge Trail near the scenic view we expanded. I needed a place for some rocks the same size, and I created a little wall that may be finished or may still be waiting to grow.
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A Little Wall
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2018 11-08, 4031 - WHERE THE FAIRIES SLEEP – I know that the fairies are now ready for their winter sleep. The Enchanted Pathway is silent, and the houses and tiny statues have been placed under cover. The ferries are dreaming about next year and the new adventures ahead.
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2018 11-07, 4030 - INVESTING IN THE SPRING – Now is the time to invest in the spring by planting bulbs that will bloom after the snow melts. The goal is to bring pleasure to those that visit the gardens or sit on the memory bench. Acts of kindness are investments in the future.
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Investing in the Spring
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Ready for the Freeze
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2018 11-06, 4029 - READY FOR THE FREEZE – The little frog pond silently waits for the cold weather to freeze its surface into a sheet of ice. When I see it taking place, my mind goes back to the big adventures I had as a child exploring the frozen surface of the bog behind my house.
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2018 11-05, 4028 - NOVEMBER COLOR – I am aware that there is still a fair amount of muted color coming from the remaining leaves on the trees. Perhaps it’s just me, but everything seems to be a little bit more alive this fall. Whatever it is, I am grateful.
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November Color
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A Postcard View
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2018 11-04, 4027 - A POSTCARD VIEW – There are places on the trail the are just a little extra special, and with the right framing of a photo, have what I call, “a postcard view”. Sometimes we enhance the view by clearing away the understory. Nature can work well with man.
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2018 11-03, 4026 - THE MOON ABOVE THE CLOUDS – I gazed at the cloud-filled sky and spotted a blue patch; in the middle of this patch was a white moon. I took a few moments to appreciate Nature’s beauty and realized I could have missed it all.
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The Moon Above the Clouds
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I Could Hear the Wind
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2018 11-02, 4025 - I COULD HEAR THE WIND – As I approached the Lupine Field from the orchard I could hear the wind blowing through the valley. I knew winter with its icy fingers was trying to get a solid grip on the landscape. I retreated to the warmth of my home.
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2018 11-01, 4024 - A SINGLE TRACK – We can learn a lot from the tracks we make and by observing those of others. We followed a single tire track down the old Class XI Road until we came to a place where a tree had blocked it and our neighbor had backed up and got a saw.
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A Single Track
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Nature Celebrates Halloween
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2018 10-31, 4023 - NATURE CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN – Nature instructed its team of caterpillar decorators to create a spooky scene for the end of October when Halloween is celebrated. The result is a very scary tree. Nature is active all year long in whatever we celebrate.
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2018 10-30, 4022 – IMMERSED IN BEAUTY – We set out to walk the trail to the Lupine Field after the fresh snow and found ourselves immersed in Nature’s beauty created when fall and winter come together. I was reminded that all it takes is a few steps to be immersed.
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Immersed in Beauty
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Seasonal Conflict
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2018 10-29, 4021 – SEASONAL CONFLICT – The weather turned nasty as we drove back across the state. Several inches of snow coated the ground and what was left of the fall foliage on the trees. We were caught in a seasonal conflict filled with both beauty and drama.
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2018 10-28, 4020 – REST IN PEACE – We finished clearing the new growth from the old cemetery just before the winter snows are due to cover the landscape. It is a labor of love and respect for those that lived on the land many years ago. It feels good to respect history.
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Rest in Peace
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The Return of the Mountain
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2018 10-27, 4019 – THE RETURN OF THE MOUNTAIN – The disappearance of the foliage signals the return of the mountain. Actually, it never went anyplace. My view had been blocked all summer long. Now I can see it again. Life can cover up what is still there.
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2018 10-26, 4018 – ANOTHER LATE OCTOBER FLOWER – Another late October flower caught my eye when it bloomed for the first time. Its beauty was breathtaking as it stood out against the fall landscape and I celebrated this wonderful positive sign provided by Nature.
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Another Late October Flower
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Keeping Watch
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2018 10-25, 4017 – KEEPING WATCH – As I looked at a photo I had just taken of the mountains across the valley I saw something I had never seen before but often felt. There were eyes watching from near the top of one of the mountains. I was not alone.
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2018 10-24, 4016 – THE ROAD HOME – Recently I drove the old tractor home from the orchard, through the woods, and down the steep mountainside to our house. Even though the road seemed daunting, I have learned to trust the old tractor as I do trust the Cosmos in all the roads of life.
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The Road Home
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Expanding the View
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2018 10-23, 4015 – EXPANDING THE VIEW – A couple of years ago we started to thin the trees and cut out the understory at the edge of the Lupine Field to expand the view of the mountains across the valley. Expanding our view of nature helps expand our own views.
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2018 10-22, 4014 – A STUDY IN CONTRASTS – There was a dark cloud over the mountain and at the same time spots of sunshine on the lower slopes, framed by colorful late fall foliage in the foreground. It was a study in contrasts, an example of life itself.
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A Study in Contrasts
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Freshly Mowed
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2018 10-21, 4013 - FRESHLY MOWED – There is something about the smell of a freshly mowed field that refreshes the mind, body, spirit and soul. I often think of the farmers who first worked the land without the benefit of modern tools. Still they accomplished so much.
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2018 10-20, 4012 - SNOW ON THE LEAVES – I could see it coming across the valley, and the next morning I awoke to a coating of white on the leaves that were still on the trees. Nature created another beautiful artistic creation. I captured the beauty, so that I could experience it again.
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Snow on the Leaves
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The Road to the Orchard
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2018 10-19, 4011 - THE ROAD TO THE ORCHARD – The morning light was just right as I gazed down the road leading to the orchard. My mind began to drift back in time and wonder what the early settlers had experienced as they cleared the land. Perhaps they thought about what came before them.
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2018 10-18, 4010 – SLOWLY FADING – Many of the brilliant colors of autumn have slowly begun to fade away, but the goals for working on the land up until the snow flies still burn inside with the fires of passion. It is good to have goals that are flexible and yet always there.
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Slowly Fading
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Winter White Returns
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2018 10-17, 4009 – WINTER WHITE RETURNS – I paused a few moments to take in the white of winter as it adorned the top of the mountains to the north and I knew that we were now in transition to colder weather. Pauses help me be mindful of daily life.
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2018 10-16, 4008 - THE WILL TO BLOOM – The tiny flowers at the edge of the parking lot at the Center were blooming in the middle of October in very adverse conditions. I thought of people that have the will to share their abilities and positive actions under adverse conditions.
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The Will to Bloom
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Autumn Leaves Drift By
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2018 10-15, 4007 - THE AUTUMN LEAVES DRIFT BY MY WINDOW – I watched the leaves drift by my window, many of them landing in the small brook close by. I thought of a song with those exact words and then I thought of other songs about Nature and life.
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2018 10-14, 4006 - COLORED IN – Jack Frost has nearly completed this year’s art exhibit in Nature. The mountains and valleys are alive with brilliant color. We need to take time to appreciate what is alive around us. There is always some color in life to discover.
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Colored In
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Fall Beauty at the Landfill
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2018 10-13, 4005 - FALL BEAUTY AT THE LANDFILL – One does not normally think of where we recycle our garbage as a place of beauty, but when I look beyond it, I see the beautiful foliage of fall. I chose to take a photo of both together as an example of life.
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2018 10-12, 4004 - LAVENDER SKY – The evening sky went through constant color changes and at one point everything appeared to be lavender. Lavender is a color connected with spirituality and healing. The smell of lavender breathed in with love can change one’s view.
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Lavender Sky
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Fall Magic
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2018 10-11, 4003 - FALL MAGIC – There are so many things about fall that are magical: the colors, the cooling temperatures, and especially the aroma of apple pies baking. Many of us miss the little magic of change that is right in front of us. Magic and gratitude go together.
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2018 10-09, 4001 - TAKE TIME FOR THE MOMENT – Now is the time to take in the moments of fall. Soon they will have faded away. I have learned that I do not remember moments visually, so I take as many pictures as possible to bring back the feeling of being there.
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Take Time for the Moment
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Scattering the Seed
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2018 10-08, 4000 - SCATTERING THE SEEDS – On this 4000th podcast of “Message From the Mountain” I thought back to all the gratitude I have felt reflecting about what Nature has given me as I attempt to scatter the seeds for others to spread.
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2018 10-07, 3999 - PERFECT LIGHT – Once in a while I find the perfect light when I am taking pictures of Nature. I capture as many as I can at that time and then I have them to look back on. Still, I have come to believe that whatever light there is at the time is perfect, the light of love.
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Perfect Light
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2018 10-06, 3998 - SMILE FOR THE CAMERA – One of our game cameras captured a close-up of the head of a dear feeding on pears. I smiled at the photo and realized that I am the one who smiles through the camera as I attempt to capture the beauty of Nature.
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2018 10-05, 3997 - A HOME FOR THE WINTER – I recently discovered a very large “den” at the back of a big mound of dirt close to the cabin near the orchard. I think it is a bear that may have used it in the past or is preparing it for this winter. I am giving it distance just in case.
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A Home for the Winter
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Flowers Still Blooming
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2018 10-04, 3996 - FLOWERS STILL BLOOMING – The last of the flowers are still blooming in the field as frost has not yet spread its icy fingers across the landscape. I love to see these tiny splashes of color. It brings a smile to my face and gratitude to my heart.
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2018 10-03, 3995 - GRAY SEA – I watched the sailboat pass by the light house on the way to a safe port before the storm arrived. I thought back to a time when I had sailed on a friend’s boat into the same port. I was reminded how life is very similar to navigating the sea.
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Gray Sea
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A Great Place to Watch October
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2018 10-02, 3994 - A GREAT PLACE TO WATCH OCTOBER – The evening of the last day of September I walked to the clearing and was struck by the beauty that surrounded me. It is a great place to watch October as the season progresses. Any place can have the same benefit.
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2018 10-01, 3993 - THE BEAUTY OF FALL – Now is the time to take in the beauty of fall, from little arrangements to vast landscapes. It is a chance to be rejuvenated through Nature, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
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The Beauty of Fall
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Seasonal Changes
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2018 09-30, 3992 - SEASONAL CHANGES – The brilliant red leaves of a maple tree stood out against the green foliage in the background. Seasonal changes are taking place, and soon a wave of fall colors will overtake the hills and mountains. Today I celebrate the seasonal changes.
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2018 09-29, 3991 - UP FOR AIR – I watched a seal surface for air close to the shore on Cape Cod and then resume its dive in quest of food. I was reminded that we all need to pause and breathe when we need air. Sometimes we forget, causing our minds to race and our bodies to tense.
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Up for Air
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Seeing Red
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2018 09-28, 3990 - SEEING RED – “Seeing red” can have more than one meaning from immersed in anger to filled with passion. In this case I observed a beautiful peaceful scene that was totally red from the sky to the sea. I was filled with wonder at the beauty of Nature.
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2018 09-27, 3989 - PIECES OF A DREAM – In my mind I dreamed of creating a new planter near Jan’s memory bench. I knew where there were flat rocks to build a retaining wall. I gathered some from an old quarry and the dream that was real in my mind manifested.
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Pieces of a Dream
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Fall Favorite
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2018 09-26, 3988 - FALL FAVORITE – One of my favorite fall plants is the Stonecrop, with its pink blooms that will last through the season. After the leaves fade, a touch of color brightens the days before the snow flies. There is always something that adds beauty to life.
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2018 09-25, 3987 – LAUNCHING THE TOWER – Finally, after more than a dozen years, the tower has been launched and now stands upright waiting for its bell. I love to connect with nature’s landscape by assembling parts and pieces from the past to give them a new life.
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Launching the Tower
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Global Web
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2018 09-24, 3986 – GLOBAL WEB – The spider web appeared to be shaped like a round globe, and I thought of the world wide web known as the internet and how we are instantly connected to almost anything we want to know. There is another web connected through the mind.
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2018 09-23, 3985 – MUM’S THE WORD – The old saying “mum’s the word” seems to imply that one should not share something they know. Mum flowers are the opposite. They shout out the beauty of the season for all to appreciate. Hard to keep a secret like that.
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Mum's the Word
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Seed Blooms
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2018 09-22, 3984 - SEED BLOOMS – I discovered a group of tall white flowers growing at the edge of the clearing. Upon investigation I found that it was seeds creating the image of flowers. I knew soon that the wind would scatter them, so I took a picture to hold in my mind.
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2018 09-21, 3983 - EMERALD MOSS ON WHITE QUARTZ – The bright green moss covering a chunk of white quartz stood out in the forest landscape. It was as if I had discovered a hidden treasure, and in fact I had. I carried it with me in my heart.
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Emerald Moss on White Quartz
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Danger in the Woods
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2018 09-20, 3982 - DANGER IN THE WOODS – I saw a large dangling trunk of a tree caught up in the branches close to it, just a few feet off the trail. It was a danger to anyone who ventured too close. I was reminded that it is always good to be vigilant when walking our paths.
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2018 09-19, 3981 - READY FOR LAUNCH – We have had the playground tower for many years, as well as the bell for it. Now as the meditation hut is nearing completion we are ready to launch the tower to an upright position. Sometimes it takes a while to use our parts and pieces.
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Ready for Launch
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The Tiniest Apples
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2018 09-18, 3980 – THE TINIEST APPLES - The crab apple tree has some of the tiniest apples I have ever seen. The birds are about the only ones that notice the little fruit. There are people who have abilities that go unnoticed because they are not the flashy ones. They are often special.
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2018 09-17, 3979 - JUST ENOUGH FOR A TASTE – I had forgotten about the old plum tree that hardly ever bears fruit. When I took photos of surrounding trees, I discover one ripe plum. It was just enough for a taste to remind me of what Nature can provide for us.
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Just Enough for a Taste
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Hard to See
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2018 09-16, 3978 - HARD TO SEE – I caught a little movement out of the corner of my eye as I walked a trail and discovered a tiny toad almost impossible to see. I paused, photographed it, and went on my way with a smile, feeling grateful for this brief encounter.
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2018 09-15, 3977 - TOO MUCH TO BEAR – The bears have been enjoying the apples and pears this year. I discovered a broken limb on an apple tree in the orchard. A bear had climbed up to get the fruit. People often feel like life is too much to bear, but we have Belief to help us. |
Too Much to Bear
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Can You Hear the Bear Hollering
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2018 09-14, 3976 - CAN YOU HEAR THE BEAR HOLLERING? – The original title of this podcast was Copper Peak, but as I recorded the message I captured two bear hollers that were close to the house. You never know when wildlife wants to add their voices to the podcasts. |
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2018 09-13, 3975 - BEFORE THE LEAVES CHANGE – I wanted to capture one more photo before the leaves began their change into their autumn colors to remind me of the summer just past. Once the movement begins, we can all embrace positive changes in all part of our lives.
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Before the Leaves Change
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Old Tom
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2018 09-12, 3974 - OLD TOM – I watched a pair of large old Tom turkeys grubbing for food on our freshly mowed lawn. I thought back to a time when I longed to see this bird here in New Hampshire. I wondered what stories Old Tom could tell as well as old people’s tales.
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2018 09-11, 3973 - GRACEFUL FLOWERS – Earlier this summer, one of the Center Members planted some perennial flowers in the planter at the beginning of the Grace Trail. Now these graceful plants have beautiful flowers that may touch the lives of those that walk by.
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Graceful Flowers
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Blue Horizon
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2018 09-10, 3972 - BLUE HORIZON – I have special memories of the first time we traveled north toward the White Mountains many years ago and I first saw the blue mountains on the horizon. Now I see the same view from the mountain where we settled, and I can expand my soul to the vastness beyond.
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2018 09-09, 3971 - VISITING THE VIEW FOR THE FIRST TIME – I recently had the opportunity to show a student from years ago the views from the mountain for the first time. Then again, it is always like the first time for me with something new and wondrous to discover.
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Visiting the View for the First Time
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The Living Earth
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2018 09-08, 3970 - THE LIVING EARTH – I am constantly amazed at the different types of growth that make up the living earth. I wonder if other places in the Cosmos have experienced or will experience the same. To me it is a wonderful mystery of learning what life is really all about.
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2018 09-07, 3969 - WHERE THE GOLDENROD GROWS TALL – There is a place at the foot of the Lupine Field where the goldenrod grows tall enough to look like bushes. Other places where the soil is thin, the growth is stunted - like the landscape of life. |
Where the Goldenrod Grows Tall
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Sixteen Rod Jog
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2018 09-06, 3968 - SIXTEEN ROD JOG – There is a section of Robbins Way where an inner boundary line is marked with a stone wall that the deed calls “sixteen rod jog”. I am reminded that when we have special names for special places in Nature, they can help us reconnect again.
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2018 09-05, 3967 - LATE SUMMER SIP – I drove along the lower edge of the Lupine Field where the rough ground and thick grass made it impossible for the mower to cut. I saw a beautiful butterfly sipping sweet nectar as it prepared for a long flight south. I felt gratitude.
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Late Summer Sip
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Changeover
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2018 09-04, 3966 - CHANGEOVER – The calendar has changed its page and the transition season has begun. The first hints of autumn colors are now visible, and the cooler nights help spark thoughts of fall and winter projects put off by the warm summer weather.
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2018 09-03, 3965 - VIEW FROM UNDER THE PEAR TREE – Because there has been so much wildlife interested in our fruit trees this year, my wife moved a game camera to the trunk of a pear tree. A beautiful view was captured that reminded me that we all see things differently.
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View from Under the Pear Tree
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Hidden Energy
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2018 09-02, 3964 - HIDDEN ENERGY – There is a lot of quartz hidden just below the surface on the mountain. Every once in a while, I will find basketball sized quartz-filled rock. I am grateful for this energy that many people do not realize is there, other than a positive feeling.
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2018 09-01, 3963 - CONSTANT CHANGE – We are constantly changing the landscape of the Center. Recently we have focused on an area close to the end of the Grace Trail. Life is a constant change, and each positive action that one takes makes a difference in the landscape.
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Constant Change
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Sunny Rain
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2018 08-31, 3962 - SUNNY RAIN – It was a hot afternoon and thunderstorms were in the forecast. When I glanced out the window I saw a hard rain coming down in bright sunlight. I was struck by the contrasts and noted that life can offer many views within a fleeting moment.
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2018 08-30, 3961 - STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN – The bear that crossed the busy highway from our driveway could have paid better attention. It just made a run for it and somehow avoided the traffic. It is always good to stop, look, and listen in life.
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Stop, Look, and Listen
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Summer Is Fading
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2018 08-29, 3960 – SUMMER IS FADING – You can see it in the field and you can see it in the leaves of the trees. Summer is fading and soon it will be meteorological fall. Still, there is a lot of beauty to take in and soon the brilliance of fall will be upon us.
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2018 08-28, 3959 – BLUE BOUQUET – There is a blue bouquet in the garden by the cabin near the orchard that looks like it should be the center of a floral arrangement on table set for a feast. My eyes feasted on what I was observing, framing it in my mind’s eye.
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Blue Bouquet
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A Dragonfly Catching Some Rays
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2018 08-27, 3958 – A DRAGONFLY CATCHING SOME RAYS – I caught a reflection of the morning sun off the wings of a dragonfly catching warming rays. I took several pictures and discovered there was a hole in one of its wings. It was still perfect in my mind. |
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2018 08-26, 3957 – SMALL FLOWER WITH A BIG PRESENCE – A large patch of small white wildflowers in the orchard created a big presence when viewed from a distance. Single small acts of kindness when combined with others create a big presence in life.
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Small Flower with a Big Presence
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Escape
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2018 08-25, 3956 – ESCAPE – People seek to escape the stresses of life in many ways, some healthy and some not. Nature can provide a very positive escape where one is free to let their mind soar into the vastness of the Cosmos. We often escape to the bench at the Lupine Field.
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2018 08-24, 3955 – MANY COLORS AND SHAPES – The diverse landscape here in the foothills of the White Mountains is made up of many colors and shapes. It is the blend that makes it unique. The same is true when humans embrace the many colors and shapes of life.
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Many Colors and Shapes
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Looking Back at Me
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2018 08-23, 3954 – LOOKING BACK AT ME – I took a picture of a small white mushroom and saw that there was a tiny face staring back at me. I wondered if I was always being watched when out in Nature, and I concluded that life is a lot more than I am consciously aware of.
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2018 08-22, 3953 – GOING BIG – The largest flowers in the gardens at the Center are from the hibiscus. Their giant blooms create a flashy red show, mid-August. The roots of the hibiscus help sustain it over the year. When people go big, it is wise to have deep spiritual roots.
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Going Big
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Joining oi the Seasons
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2018 08-21, 3952 – JOINING OF THE SEASONS – The lupines have long since ceased to flower and their dry seedpods blend in with the wildflowers that bloom in August, joining the past, future and present together. Life is just that, the past, the future and the present joined together.
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2018 08-20, 3951 – FINDING AN OLD FRIEND IN A NEW PLACE – I discovered a flower growing in the Lupine Field that I had recently been thinking about. I had not seen many of them in our flower gardens this year. There it was in a new place. Discovery is part of life.
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Finding an Old Friend in a New Place
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Saving the Best for Last
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2018 08-19, 3950 – SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST – The last of the daylilies are now in bloom, and I think their lavender flowers are the best of the summer. Sometimes when we try to save the best for last, we miss the moments when they are their best. I just enjoy each moment.
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2018 08-18, 3949 – AUGUST AFTERNOONS – Now that the summer obligations have slowed down a bit, when the opportunity arises, we escape up the mountain to sit on a bench and connect to the peace and quiet.
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August Afternoons
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Understated Beauty
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2018 08-17, 3948 – UNDERSTATED BEAUTY- The small blossoms on the large leaved Hosta plants can easily go un-noticed as one walks by the flower garden. There are people who have understated inner beauty that can take a moment of focusing on them to find it.
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2018 08-16, 3947 – GRASSING IN – Last fall I cleared a small patch of land next to the Lupine Field as best as I could with the old tractor. It looked raw this spring, and now it has begun to grass in. Nature is healing the scars, as it does with time with humans.
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Grassing In
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