Message from the Mountain

The leaves are just about at full color as the season progresses. The stores are already decorated for Christmas, and in the winter, they will be filled with summer clothes. If we spend all our time anticipating, we miss the beauty of life in that moment. Support the show

I often look to Nature to give me signs from the Cosmos that I am on the right track. We finally have begun doing long overdue trail improvement on the mountain and my wife has been working with hand tools to create a beautiful path. There at the beginning was a tiny heart. Approval given. Support the show

Now that the goldenrod has gone to seed, I can see a patch of milkweed in the Lupine Field getting ready to release their own seeds to spread the nourishment next year for wildlife and for the eyes of those that come to Nature to nourish their minds. Support the show

It has been over a year since I have been able to do much work on the trails and several are overgrown, so my wife started out with hand clippers to open one of them up again. Each day she clears away a little more. I am reminded that big accomplishments in life often come from small steps. Support the show

Finally, the wait for fall color is over, and each day, the landscape is changing here in the foothills. Now is the time to pause and take in Nature’s spectacle. We often wait in life for miracles to happen, and when they do, we often do not take the time to fully appreciate them. Support the show

This summer and fall we have been subject to a constant smoky haze caused by western Canadian wildfires. It has impacted our beautiful views of the White Mountains and has been an allergy irritant for a lot of people. Brain haze can mentally impact our views of life. Support the show

The fishermen returned from the sea with their catches and came ashore in their dinghies, tying them up, side by side, ready for the next day. It reminded me of how, after a busy day, we can pause to rest our minds by “tying” up to our positive beliefs in the safe port of our minds. Support the show

I have taken many pictures over the years that I think would make great puzzles, including rocks on the shore of the ocean. Life is full of puzzles, from board games to crime investigations, to trying to figure out the meaning of life. Support the show

The fall foliage is right on schedule as we reach the first day of October. It is time to put worries aside as to whether the leaves will be as beautiful as years past and enjoy the splendor of the present. Overall, life does have a flexible schedule.   Support the show

As the last day of September arrives, it is a good time to take in the beauty that still remains from summer as we prepare to take in the beauty of autumn. It is a wonderful time to reflect on everything that we are grateful for in the past, moment, and future. Support the show

Small bright red berries with shiny green  leaves caught my eye as I walked along the trail. My mind instantly flashed back to my early childhood when my mother would make me checkerberry tea, a mixture of extract and hot water. Nature is full of memories. Support the show

At first glance we thought there was a small set of false teeth resting in the grass at the top of the Lupine Field. I wondered if they belonged to an older fairy. It was actually a mushroom, but it gave my mind a chance to play outside the box. Support the show

The tops of the white pine trees are loaded with pinecones that will soon cover the landscape with seeds, and some of their seeds will take root to grow the next generation. When we cast the seeds of positive intentions, the goal is to have as many as possible take root. Support the show

Over the years I have accidentally planted invasive vines on the property, including bittersweet. My intention was for something beautiful, but they took over and choked out other beautiful growth. Sometimes we let invasive thoughts take over, although our intentions were good. Support the show

As I walked along the edge of the Lupine Field looking for something to photograph, I found a pleasant surprise. It was a lupine flower in bloom almost three months late, after the rest went to seed. Had I not been looking, I would not have found it. Support the show

Our pear tree is dropping its fruit, covering the ground with succulent treats for the wildlife. The pears are the small variety, better for pickling than eating, so we really aren’t missing anything. It is good to share things that others might like to have. Support the show

This is the time of year when most of the wildflowers have gone to seed, but their beauty continues on, thanks to Nature’s grand design. Older people, often overlooked by younger generations, are full of knowledge and stories that add beauty to everyone’s life. Support the show

The first day of fall is a point in the year that people either look forward to or dread. This year the foliage seems to be developing slowly as the temperature is still above average. It is a time when people are re-evaluating their goals. One step at a time can bring positive outcomes. Support the show

As I begin my half mile walk down the old dirt road I know there may be a new adventure around every turn, and I have had many over the years. I also have come to believe that there may be an adventure waiting around every bend in the walk of life. Support the show

A splash of pink caught my eye as I stood at the top of the lupine field admiring the view. It was one remaining pink aster and my wife got close to it and discovered it was covered with butterflies. The aster was nourishing them as well as my soul. Support the show

The non-profit that partners with the Center recently held a fair that brought together crafters, musicians and nature lovers, many for the first time in some years. The positive energy was very special as many there were discovering life again for the first time. Support the show

I believe that I am not walking my soul’s path alone and that there are whole teams on both sides of reality watching over me as well as guiding me. Whenever I see a heart, it is an affirmation. Support the show

A thin, almost invisible, thread caught my eye as it shined briefly in the sun. It was the work of a spider connecting one tree to another. I marveled at its engineering ability and thought of people attempting to weave a thin thread in their lives. Belief and positive intentions help strengthen it. Support the show

I noticed recently that part of our driveway was littered with acorn shells, and I knew that the chipmunks were harvesting the meat and stockpiling it for the upcoming winter. People can stockpile gratitude in their hearts for when it is needed by practicing it every day. Support the show

There is a very large rock resting silently in the woods of Madison NH that is, in fact, the largest glacial erratic in North America that is in one piece. The glacier deposited it here. The power of belief is also awesome when practiced daily. Support the show