HERE AT THE CABIN-IN-THE-WOODS, even in difficult times, good things abide. And it is part of our job, living in balance, to notice them, remember them, appreciate them. That is true wherever we find ourselves. From the old cabin in the piney woods, here are a few…
THE LAST BOUNDARY: We are bounded by good things. Things that enfold and nurture our lives. Things we notice and appreciate. The simple love of family and friends. The rising of the sun and the goodness of a new day. The warmth and comfort of home. An apprehension of beauty. Our lives are bounded by other things, too. By reality.
HERE AT THE CHURCH O’ THE PINES, we have an idea. It kind of permeates the whole place. The idea is that we all belong. Despite any differences. The red squirrel belongs and the gray squirrel belongs. The great horned owl belongs and the bald eagle belongs. The white tail deer belongs and the red fox belongs. The chickadee belongs
PARKAS. HOT DISH. AND DEFIANCE. This morning we awakened at the cabin-in-the-woods to below zero temperatures. Again. But this was a day when St. Cloud, Minnesota, not very far away, was having a major ICE-OUT rally. And since we were unable to attend the massive Minneapolis rallies of the last two weeks, It was time to go. So, the big
GOOD NEIGHBORS: If one is a cat, even an extraordinary cat like Koda-the-Forest-Kitten, one does not venture outdoors much when it is below zero day after day. Instead, one takes a nap. Then, after resting up a bit, one takes another nap. Then, after a bite to eat, perhaps, and bathing and resting a little more, it is no doubt
NO ASSURANCES: When traveling in the car, I often listen to the Sirius satellite radio service. It’s a wonderful idea and I don’t know how I ever got along without it. Although to be honest, out of the hundreds (?) of channel choices, I only listen to a very few. One of those few is 40’s Junction. For those unfamiliar,
FRIENDS: Thank you for being here at what we often call our virtual Facebook campfire. A campfire is many things, and as a wilderness guide I have sat beside hundreds of them. It can be a place of rest, of refuge, a place of warmth, a place to reflect and share stories, or simply a space to to absorb the
YESTERDAY, in a post about Kathy Ann’s family quilts, I happened to catch a photo of our little waif Paddy curled up for a nap. Many of you have followed the tale of Paddy, who showed up the day after last year’s St. Patrick’s Day. Cold, frightened and starving. A tentative, mutual adoption followed. And now Paddy is doing very
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS: It is axiomatic but often forgotten that light is only visible in the darkness. We see no stars in broad daylight. On the other hand, the most beautiful and subtle of lights—the stars, a candle or a lamp—find their greatest beauty, their glow, their meaning—when encompassed by the dark. I have thought of such things this
FRIENDS: Each year at about this time, for several years now, I have shared this little Christmas essay. Last year I included it in my memoir, ‘A Wild Path,’ as well. The essay expresses some of my thoughts, wonderings, and some river-woods wanderings… that seem appropriate to the season. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to share. Or to